MacKenzie Fire(83)

“No I’m not.”

“You’re arguing again.”

“It’s you, not me.”

He stands up on the running board of the truck and kisses me quick on the lips before I realize what he’s even doing. “Liar,” he says, before he hops down and goes around the back of the truck.

I take four deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. Going all crybaby on Ian right now is the last thing I want to do. I have a life waiting for me in Florida. I cannot let this little fling get out of control.

We ride the rest of the way back to the ranch in silence.





Chapter Thirty-Eight





I WALK IN THE DOOR and hear voices in the kitchen. Following the sounds, I find Andie there sitting at the table and holding the baby. Maeve is hovering over them.

“Oh, Sarah’s here!” I say, dropping my purse on the ground at the entrance to the room.

“Her mother’s here too,” Andie says in a wry tone.

I wave her off. “Yeah, yeah, but it’s the baby that everyone wants to see, you know that. She’s new, you’re old. Get used to it.”

Andie tries to kick me as I approach, but I’m too nimble for her post-pregnant butt. I jump to the side and keep coming until I’m able to crouch down by my god-daughter.

Sarah is completely wrapped up in a puffy blanket. The only thing showing is her tiny pink face. Her eyes are closed and she’s making sucking faces.

“Awww … look … she’s dreaming about nursing. How cute is that?”

Andie smiles. “She’s pretty cute, that’s for sure. I can’t stop staring at her. She’s such a miracle.”

I look up at the weird tone in her voice to see Andie crying.

“Why are you sad about that?”

“I’m not sad,” she says, all weepy, “I’m so happy, I can’t stand it. I never knew being a mother would feel like this.”

I nod. “I know exactly what you mean.”

“You do?” Maeve asks. “Do you have any children?”

“Yes.”

Andie’s eyes bug out. “No, you don’t.” She’s frowning in confusion.

“Yes, I do. Her name is Candy and she’s out in the barn.” I lift my chin a little. “Ian and I are her foster parents.”

Andie shakes her head. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy like a fox.” I look up and wink at Maeve.

“What was that?” Andie’s pointing at my face.

“What was what?” I am innocence personified. There’s no way she’ll get anything out of me. All I have to do is play stupid for a few minutes and this will all blow over.

“That wink.” She’s still pointing at my face. “You just winked at Maeve and don’t act like you didn’t.”

I blink several times. “I had a snowflake in my eye.”

Andie narrows her eyes at me. “Snowflakes, my ass. It’s too warm in here for a snowflake.”

“It was snowflake residue, silly. From all the pollution.”

“You are so full of it.” Andie turns her attention to Maeve. “Tell me what she’s scheming about. I know she’s got you involved.”

Maeve’s eyes open wide and she looks from Andie to me.

I pantomime slicing my throat, but Andie turns really quick and catches me.

She slams her hand palm down on the table, startling the baby. “Tell me!” she insists.

“Whoa,” I say, standing and backing up a little. “Hello, hormones.”

She glares at me as she bounces the baby, trying to get the little thing to close her eyes again. From what I can see over here, she’s too terrified to let her guard down, and I don’t blame her. Andie’s acting crazy.

“It’s not hormones. It’s me being cranky about being in the dark.”

I pat her on the hand. “Never you mind. Auntie Candice has it all under control.”

“Auntie Candice is going to get a chunk of hair cut out of her ‘do while she’s sleeping if she doesn’t start talking,” Andie says in a deadly calm voice.

I put my hands on my head in a protective gesture. “Holy harsh. What has Baker City done to my friend, anyway?” I feel like I’ve been accosted by a terrorist. What’s next? My fingers? Is she going to lop those off too?

“It made me a no nonsense person is what it did. Tell me what you’ve been up to while I’ve been up all night feeding this little monster.”

I walk over to Andie slowly and reach down. “Give the babyyyy to meeee … there we gooooo … everybody’s happyyyy…”

Andie slaps me away. “You can hold her after you’ve confessed.”

My hands go to my hips, angry that I’m being not only threatened but thwarted. “Are you denying me my rights as a godmother?”

“I’ll be denying you a whole lot more than that if you don’t start talking.”

I’m completely deflated. I barely make it into a chair before I’m totally boneless. I can hardly hold my head up to look at the shell of my former best friend. She looks like a pudgy Andie on the outside, but inside …? She’s pure demon.

“Don’t you think you’re being a just a little … hard?” Maeve asks, acting like she’s ready for Andie to blow. Andie is a grenade, that’s for sure.