She looked up to Derrick, who took her face into her hands and kissed her hard on the lips. “I know,” he whispered.
Mackenzie was shocked. Whatever Courtney couldn’t express, Derrick understood without her having to say a word. How did he do that? She didn’t know that type of connection was possible for a couple.
“Mac, let me take you home,” Derk said, stepping in front of her. “Party’s over.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll tell Court you said goodbye,” Derk said. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and led her out of the Murphy home.
Mackenzie didn’t want to leave, she wanted to stick around and make sure Courtney was all right. Whatever happened in that kitchen, it was something upsetting to the woman who’d welcomed Mackenzie into her home and made her feel like part of a family, for once in her life−however brief that’d been.
26
Derk escorted Mackenzie up to her apartment. They’d been silent the entire car ride home. He knew the Murphy family had gotten under her skin. He’d seen it in her eyes and the way she interacted with the women. But she’d made it clear that wasn’t something that could sway her. He didn’t understand why, but disappointment poured off him in waves. He despised the feeling.
When Mac unlocked the door and stepped inside, she turned to him and gave him a solemn smile. “I had a good time tonight. Thank you.”
He nodded, grabbed her around the waist, and yanked her into his body. Quickly he descended for a fiery kiss. One that would leave her breathless and give him a final taste. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she willingly let him take what he wanted. He pushed her against the near wall and ground himself against her. His tongue reached to the far depths of her mouth, beseeching her to change her mind. Entangling his fingers into her thick, auburn hair, he held her tight, fully aware she wouldn’t relent. His Mackenzie was stubborn and didn’t know what was good for her. She was afraid of him and what emotional harm he’d cause her. Reasonably he couldn’t blame her.
Reluctantly he pulled away, gasping for air to fill his lungs. He rested his head on the top of hers and closed his eyes. A piece of him felt like he was losing something of importance. Like he was letting go of something that would have forever changed his world. But he couldn’t dwell on it. He needed to let her go despite voicing otherwise. He couldn’t fight for someone who wanted nothing to do with him. He refused to fall into his father’s footsteps by begging, pleading, chasing and showing weakness for a woman who didn’t want him. Their relationship would have been better than his parents. They’d have been good together. He’d have made certain of it. Not only that, Mackenzie wasn’t an attention seeker nor would she have played him. That he was confident in. But she was the one who needed to come to grips that they’d make an excellent couple. He couldn’t spend energy fighting a brick wall. For the first time in his life, it killed him to walk away from a woman. A woman he’d give up everything for. A woman he’d sacrifice everything for. Never in his life had he thought he’d be in such a place, but Mac had broken through his black, dead heart and brought it to life.
“Good-bye, Mac,” he whispered. “If you ever need anything, you call me.” Because he’d never refuse her.
Without looking at her one last time, he turned and walked out of the apartment, leaving Mackenzie alone like she asked. It was the least he could do for her. She deserved that amount of respect.
***
Seated on the large, leather sofa in Mr. Murphy’s office, Derk hadn’t recovered from his breakup with Mackenzie three days ago. Though, when a couple wasn’t officially together, could the torturous event be classified as a split?
He was vaguely aware of the business discussions bouncing back and forth in the room. Murphy continued to be livid with him and Smith, but the man had bigger fish to fry at the moment. Namely, in-laws that were stressing out his wife.
“We think we have a lead on your man,” Jack said, interrupting Derk’s misery. Man, he hated himself.
“Yeah?” He pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
“Don’t even think about lighting up in my office,” Murphy snarled. “Get your ass outside. Courtney bitches every damn time you smoke in the house, here, in the car, wherever. If I’m going to argue with my wife, it’s going to be over something far more important than your disgusting habit.”
He sighed and shoved the pack back into his jeans.
A knock on the door interrupted them. All heads swiveled to find Sean and Ryan Millen standing in the entryway.