Four, the woman said with a pointed expression. You havent played golf in four years. Since-
I remember, Mac said, a strained smile on his lips. Im just too busy these days.
Ah, the woman said with that same pointed expression.
Mac looked at Taylor, and if shed known better, shed have sworn he looked rather adorably panicked. Well, weve got to-
No, wait. Were just heading off to lunch, the man said. Come with us. Both of you, he said politely, eyeing Taylor with friendly curiosity. He had a look to him, and he reminded her of-
Taylor. Mac swiped at his cheek, which had the womans lipstick on it. This is Assistant District Attorney Lynn Mackenzie, and her husband Judge Thomas Mackenzie.
The assistant DA grinned. Taylor, what a lovely name. To Mac she said, And you! You got yourself a girlfriend! Oh, Mac, and you never said a word.
Uh Mac avoided looking at Taylor. No, Im just working on her building.
Ah, a business relationship. The woman lifted a teasing brow. I get it.
No, really. Mac shifted on his feet, which Taylor found fascinating. Shes a client.
Also fascinating, was the slight tinge on his tanned cheeks.
Mac was blushing.
Its just a business thing, he said.
The assistant DA studied Mac closely, her eyes lit as if she was onto a scoop. Are you just saying that so Ill go away?
Absolutely not. Mac still hadnt looked at Taylor.
Darn it, the woman said forcefully, glaring at the man with her. Darn it!
Now, Lynn, Im sure hell come around one day soon, and-
No he wont, hes too stubborn.
Yeah, wellweve really got to go Grabbing Taylors elbow, Mac tried to back out of the circle. Nice see youuhJudge.
Hold it right there, Thomas Ian Mackenzie. The assistant DA put her hands on her hips. Are you trying to hide the fact that were youre parents?
And though Taylor should have seen that one coming, her jaw dropped. She stared at Mac. Youre the son of the judge?
Mac sighed. Yeah.
And the son of one of the assistant DAs?
That, too, he admitted.
You are kidding me!
Lynns smile faded a bit. Is this a problem?
Taylor sighed. No. Its not a problem. Itsum, lovely to meet you.
Lynn crossed her arms. Why dont I believe you?
No, really. Taylor eyed Mac, thinking shed kill him later. Its just that Mac might have mentioned any time over the past few months he was the son of the judge and an assistant DA, sometime likeoh, I dont knowmaybe when I told him Im Isabel Craftsmans daughter.
Isabel Craftsman, the mayor?
Yes, Taylor, said, staring at Mac, who was still avoiding her gaze.
Hmm. Lynn raised her eyebrows as she eyed Mac. I think I see.
Mom-
Oh, now he calls me Mom. Much more friendly now, Lynn shook her head at Taylor. Honestly, Taylor, Ive never seen this man before and hes calling me Mom.
Taylor had to laugh at the easy wit and charm, but she supposed she would have expected no less from whoever had raised Mac.
So why dont the two of you join us for lunch? his father asked.
Taylor looked at Mac, interested to see if hed allow this.
Sorry. Mac kissed both his parents, then gripped Taylors arm. We have to go. And he dragged her out of there so fast her head spun.
Smooth, she said when they were both out on the busy street. Making sure I couldnt drill the parentals.
Hey, I was just making sure they couldnt drill you. I love them, but believe me, theyre ruthless matchmakers. He stopped at a hot dog vendor on the corner. One or two dogs? he asked Taylor.
She gaped at him. This is the lunch you offered me? The one that is supposed to make me sigh in bliss?
One or two?
South Village had nearly as many cafés and restaurants as it did people, and most of them were excellent. On weekends, 20,000 people from all over flocked to the streets to experience the food. It was one of her favorite things about living here, something she hadnt been able to afford lately, and Mac, who had earned a good chunk of her money recently, was going to buy her hot dogs? From a street vendor? Two, she sighed, and made him buy her barbecue chips, too. She didnt say a word as he took their food and started walking, she just followed.
Which brought her to another bone of contention. When had she ever followed a man?
They walked around the block to the back of the town hall, where the botanical gardens bloomed in vivid, vibrant colors. In the light of day, they dazzled in every shape and hue, and Taylor had to admit, just walking through on one of the brick trails, with the scents and sights, she sighed in sheer pleasure of being outside.
They sat down and he handed her a hot dog. Ketchup?
Shaking her head, she took a bite. It was heavenly. Damn, she hated when he was right. Sowhy didnt you tell me?
Mac was suddenly very busy eating. Tell you what?
That you come from the same kind of world I do?
We dont.
His parents had just about dripped elegant sophistication. Of course we did, I just met-
You just met the two nosiest, bossiest, most interfering parents on the face of this earth, yes. And they love me, ridiculously so, but they never sent me away to schools for years on end, and they sure as hell never ignored me, not my hopes and dreams, not me as a person. Not once. He nudged her arm with his, his eyes painfully deep. That never should have happened to you either, Taylor.
All her life shed felt like a bug on a slide, people waiting for her to make a fool out of her familys name, people waiting for her to fall on her face. And all her life there hadnt been many to understand what that had been like. Only Jeff.
But Mache was looking at her with empathy, too. Because he understood. He understood her.
While thinking about this, she inhaled every last chip in the bag, and didnt even flinch over the calorie content. What I mean is, she said, trying again.
While thinking about this, she inhaled every last chip in the bag, and didnt even flinch over the calorie content. What I mean is, she said, trying again.
We both came from considerable wealth.
Some of the warmth faded from his eyes. I dont consider myself that way.
Oh, come on Mac, I saw your moms shoes.
Prada, she said with a sigh, licking mustard off her thumb. She started in on the second hot dog. And the diamond earrings. Stunning. You cant tell me they dont pull down mind-boggling salaries.
With careful consideration, he took his last bite of hot dog. Polished off his soda. Leaned back, away from her, he slid his sunglasses over his eyes as he viewed the incredible colors around them. I suppose they do.
So all those times you called me a princess? Why didnt you ever say anything about it?
And when should I have done that? When we first met and I needed your job? He set down his drink and stood. Or maybe when you were snubbed by those women at the historical society meeting? Yeah, maybe I should have told you then, when you were smarting over what theyd said to you.
Shocked at his bitter tone, she rose, too. Im just saying, that as two people who share some of the same experiences-
No. That we havent done. We dont share anything. He dumped their trash and took her back to the truck.
Shed expected the silence. She didnt expect him to drive in the opposite direction of which she lived. Where are we going?
Youll see.
I dont like surprises.
Well, then, chances are, youre not going to like this, he said grimly.
He turned into The Tracks. The streets here had gone through changes. Like many others in town, the buildings dated back to the turn of the twentieth century. But somewhere in the past fifty years, the neighborhood had started to go. Many of the houses had been declared off-limits due to dangerous conditions. Slowly, with the resurgence of neighbor hood pride and the Historical Societys interference, some of that had started to change. Houses had been purchased, slated for rehaul, and were in various stages of renovation.
They made a left and ended up on a cul-de-sac.
Houses gleamed with the quaint and charming aura of the old redone.
Except for one.
The two-story Victorian, with its busted turrets, cracked paint and lovely but crooked wraparound porch hadnt been touched, though there did seem to be signs of life. The lawn had been mowed. There was a potted plant on an upstairs windowsill.
Mac parked in front of it. Home sweet home, he said wryly. Come on.
The foyer had orange shag carpet. From 1972, he said, disgusted. The idiots put it over hardwood floors. Ill be restoring that soon as I can, before I go blind from the glow.
The living room had an ornately carved fireplace, painted nauseous green. The 1970s were a bitch on good taste, he said. Green and orange should have been outlawed. Im going to restore that, too.
The kitchen was a treasure trove of nooks and crannies, but there the cabinet doors had been removed, the edgings painted in black.
Not sure what the hell year someone tortured this poor kitchen, but its so bad Ill probably start here. He looked at her from inscrutable eyes. If I ever get out of debt.
Debt?
His expression was grim, and definitely said back off. Fine. But she resented his obvious thought process-that because shed seen his parents and knew his background, that shed assumed he had money. Youre an amazing talent when it comes to renovation, she said slowly. You need to get into some of South Villages renovation projects. Theres lots of money there.
I plan to. After your building is finished, my resume is complete. I have several bids in with the town council, bids Im staking everything on.
So Im a stepping stone.
If you want to look at it that way.
A stepping stone, and apparently a gold digger as well.
He winced and rubbed the days growth of beard on his jaw.
The sound of it made her belly quiver, but temper took precedence. Its true, isnt it? Youre showing me all this to make sure I know you dont have any money like your parents. That pisses me off, Mac.
Look, I sold everything I had to get into this place. I think I even promised the bank my firstborn child. Im feeling a little protective.
Which, she figured, was as much an apology as she was going to get.
Im not who you think I am, he said.
She put her hands on her hips. And just who do I think you are?
A man with a trust fund.
Well, isnt that flattering. Oh, she was so out of there. She got two steps before he grabbed her arm.
Okay, listen, he said to her back. My ex-wife took just about everything I had in the divorce.