He straightened. “Why wouldn’t she like working here?”
“Environment.”
“What are you saying?” Grant huffed.
“Mackenzie, Derrick needs a secretary. You could work full time in a job that includes benefits and a great hourly rate. You’ll get paid holidays, vacation days, and sick days. You’ll know exactly what your income will be and you’ll get paid weekly. You won’t have to work evenings or late nights, and you’ll have weekends off. Monday through Friday. You won’t have men pawing at you, in front of or behind the bar,” Courtney said, her last point a direct hit to Grant.
“Who the fuck are you?” Grant growled.
“She’s my wife,” a low menacing voice said from behind them.
“Shit,” Courtney whispered.
They all spun to find a caravan of vehicles flanked by a group of about fifteen men.
“Mrs. Murphy,” Derrick said, holding out his hand. “My side…now.”
Mackenzie scanned the intimidating group of men that stood next to and behind Mr. Murphy.
“Holy hell,” Kayla gasped.
Derk stood beside Mr. Murphy, casually leaning against the brick of the building, but his laser glare zeroed in on Grant.
Courtney scooted to her husband. “I was just here to see Mackenzie.”
“We’ll discuss this at home,” Mr. Murphy rebuked her.
“Mackenzie,” Kayla whispered, shaking her head. She knew what her girlfriend was saying. It was one thing to look up this group online, it was an entirely different environment to have it smack dab in front of them.
“You stay out of this, blondie,” Derk barked.
“You don’t speak to her that way,” Grant bellowed and took a step his direction.
Kayla jumped in front of him and placed a hand on his chest. “Don’t. Please.”
Good lord, the last thing they needed was for Grant to get in over his head. The man had no idea who these people were and what they were capable of doing. Luckily, Grant stopped at Kayla’s plea. He looked down at her hand on his chest then up into her eyes, back down, then up, confusion written all over his features.
Mackenzie needed to have a discussion with Grant but in a private setting. She needed to apologize to him and explain that her heart wasn’t in the right place for them to date. Maybe further down the road when she got her shit together. But not today, this week, or next.
She looked to Derk. If she took Courtney’s job offer, she’d constantly see him. She’d be tortured day in and day out by his overbearing presence.
“Mac,” Derk said, his tone pleading and placating. “I miss you.”
Everything around them stopped, ceased to exist.
“I know what you’re afraid of.” He pushed off the wall and pointed to Courtney and Derrick. “That’s what you want? That’s what I’ll give you. You want a safe home? You want stability? I’ll make sure you have it. You’ll never have to work in a place like this again. I love you, Mac. I’m fuckin’ sick of this shit-game we’ve got going on. Come home with me now and let’s start where we should have been months ago.”
Mackenzie could have sworn her heart stopped and the air left her lungs. Stunned wasn’t an accurate enough description at Derk’s proclamation. Tears slid down her cheeks. Conflicted, she didn’t know what she wanted. Yes, she craved everything Derk offered. Yes, she wanted what the Murphy’s had. But Derk was on an entirely different level than any man she’d ever met, from a world she had no business entering.
“What do you want, Mac? Do you want me to say we’ll be together forever? I can tell you this, I can’t ever see myself with another woman. You’ve fucked with my head. You’ve gotten under my skin. I can’t stop thinking about you, twenty-four seven. All I want is you.” He slowly approached her. “Can I promise you I won’t fuck up? No. Can I promise you I’m a hearts and flowers guy? No. You’ll get a gun and a wad of cash to go shopping. You’ll never get a diamond ring from me because I don’t believe in marriage, but you’ll get my fucking loyalty. That means more to me than a rock.” When he reached her, he brushed her hair off her shoulder.
His less than stellar pronouncement got to her, but her mind raced with the possibilities of what could happen if she accepted him.
“Mac, I’ll protect you. You’ll never worry about me sticking my dick in another woman. You’ll never worry about money. I’ll never let you worry about me. I’ll take care of you, baby. I love you. Do you understand what that means?” he said.
She didn’t. She had no clue what that meant to Derk. But she knew what it meant to her. Her entire life she’d been alone. No one fought for her. No one came after her. No one vowed to take care of her or protect her. No one promised to have her back no matter the situation. Her eyes swung to the group of people that came with Mr. Murphy, whose arm was wrapped around his wife, whose warm smile and own tears made her melt. Suddenly it occurred to her that it wouldn’t be only Derk she’d gain into her life. She’d also get Courtney, who showed up this evening to try and forge a friendship. Something women didn’t do with her. Mr. Murphy, who would have her back because she was friends with Courtney. Smith, who silently stood off to the side, because he was Derk’s best friend. Derk would give her the family she’d craved. She needed to accept what he did for a living and his lifestyle. She could demand he not bring it home, that wouldn’t be unreasonable. Maybe someday he’d leave that world, but until then, she would ask help from Courtney on how to accept and move forward and lead a full life with the man she loved. Because she did love him. No matter how much she’d fought it, he’d snaked his way around her heart and bit down to clamp a solid hold.