It was no use.
He’d been trying to focus on work for the past several hours. Trying hard. But every time he’d start reading, his mind drifted off to other things. Well . . . one other thing.
OK, one other person.
Mackenzie leaned back in his chair. “This is ridiculous.” A soft huff told him Ivan agreed. He lowered a hand to scratch the husky’s ears. Amazing how second nature that action had become.
The doorbell sounded, and Mackenzie was up and out of his chair. He pulled the door open, anticipating the smile on Kylie’s face. “I was just thinking about you—”
His sister’s eyes widened. “You were? Really?”
A flash of disappointment hit him, but it was fleeting. He hadn’t seen Lindsay since she stormed out that day almost four weeks ago. He’d tried to call her a couple of times, but he’d gotten only voicemail. He opened the door wider. “Come on in, Sis.”
She did so. “I can’t stay for more than a few minutes, but I wanted to stop by.” Were those tears in her eyes? “I’ve missed you, Bear.”
“Missed you, too, Changeling.” He took hold of her and drew her into a hug. He knew she was surprised by the action—he’d never been big on hugging—but he didn’t care. Seeing her face made his heart happy.
“Well”—she followed him into the living room—“I should stay away more often if I’m going to get a greeting like that.”
“Tell you what. You forgive me for being a total goon, and I’ll greet you that way every time you come around.”
With a tip of her head, she studied him. “A total goon?”
He led her to the kitchen, lifting the coffee carafe and casting a questioning glance her way. She nodded, and he poured her a cup and handed it to her. “I’ve been thinking. A lot, actually. And well, Amanda and I . . . actually, I’m not convinced we’re right together.”
Lindsay whooped, jumped up from the stool where she’d lighted, and wrapped him in a crushing hug, raining kisses on his face. Ivan danced around them, yodeling like crazy.
When Lindsay finally calmed down and sank back onto the breakfast stool, Mackenzie patted the dog beside him. “Ivan, lie down.”
The dog went to his crate in the living room, circled three times, and plopped down. Mackenzie reached down for one of Ivan’s squeaky toys—once he discovered that Ivan would chew on them rather than shoes, he hadn’t hesitated to buy a dozen of them—and tossed it to the husky.
When he looked up, Lindsay was staring at him, a strange expression in her eyes. “So, this is the stray that’s turned your life upside down?”
“In the furry flesh.”
She sipped her coffee. “I’ve got to say, I was amazed by the message about him you left on my machine. At first I thought it was a brotherly ploy to get me to come back so you could apologize.”
He grinned. “Now there’s an idea. I wish it had occurred to me.”
Lindsay studied him for a moment.
“What?”
She met his curious gaze. “Are you sure you want to get rid of Ivan?”
The question took him aback. He’d forgotten about that. Ivan wasn’t his. “I’m not getting rid of him. It’s just . . . well, he doesn’t belong to me.”
“Suppose he doesn’t belong to anyone else? I mean, what if no one claims him?”
The words had an odd effect on Mackenzie: hope seized his heart and emotion tightened his throat. He looked at Ivan, who stared at him, an adoring expression in his doggie eyes.
“You’re sure not going to find anyone else in this world who looks at you like that!”
Mackenzie didn’t respond. He couldn’t get any words past that tight throat.
Lindsay came to wrap her arms around his neck. “That dog has been a gift to you, Bear. He’s made you laugh again. If for no other reason than that, you should think about keeping him.” She stepped back, then went to pull a small bundle from her purse. She set it on the coffee table.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“A gift. From Kylie.”
From Kylie? “Why didn’t she bring it over herself?”
“I don’t know, Bear. She just asked me to give it to you.”
He leaned forward and picked it up, then looked up at his sister. “She’s giving me a Bible?”
Lindsay nodded as she moved toward the door. “Kylie said she marked places that pertained to your discussion the other night.” She angled a look over her shoulder. “Sounds as though you two are getting along pretty well.”
He started to respond, but she halted as she noticed her tree.
At least it was in a stand now. Mackenzie bought one the day after Ivan showed up. And he’d been watering it faithfully, though he wasn’t quite certain why. It was still as bare as the day Lindsay hauled it through the door.
“Bear—”
At the reproach in her voice, he held up a hand. “I’ve had a few things on my mind, Linds. And they were a bit more important than putting tinsel on a tree.”
“Hmmm. You might be surprised how important that really is.” She opened the door and cast a glance back at him. “Think hard about keeping Ivan, OK?”
“I will.” He followed her and stood by the door. “When I have time.” But he knew, as he watched her walk away, that he’d probably think of little else for the next several days.
Mackenzie couldn’t believe he was doing this. If Kylie wanted to see him, she’d come over. What was he doing on her doorstep. He wasn’t some love-struck teenager.
Still, since he was here . . .
He lifted his hand to knock on the door just as Kylie pulled it open. She stared at him, wide-eyed—and he felt his heart surge. He opened his mouth to speak and found his throat was dry as a desert. Clearing it, he tried again. “Hi.”
She leaned against the door jamb. “Hi.”
He frowned. Something was wrong. She seemed distant. He slid his hands into his jeans pockets, suddenly uneasy. “I wondered if you had a few minutes to talk.”
Something flickered in her eyes—a gladness, a warm eagerness—and then it was gone, locked behind a remote veil that he’d never seen in her expression before.
“I don’t know.” She glanced around as though seeking some excuse.
“If it’s a bad time—” He wasn’t sure what confused him more—her behavior or the sharp hurt washing over him. He had the oddest feeling he was losing something precious, and he didn’t even know what or why. His head spun, and his chest ached as though an anvil were sitting on it. Get hold of yourself, St. Clair! So she doesn’t want to see you. Big deal.
Exactly, his heart echoed. Very big deal.
He had to get away from there. To think. “Well, never mind. I’m sorry to bother you.” He spun and walked away with long, rapid strides.
“Mac—Mackenzie!”
She was too late. He was gone. And she couldn’t blame him after the way she’d just acted. Kylie went back inside, more miserable than she’d felt in a very long time. Sinking into her rocking chair, she leaned her head back as tears began to slide down her cheeks.
Father, help me. I don’t know what to do.
Fear not.
Kylie stilled. The words came again.
Fear not.
But . . . she wasn’t afraid. She just wanted to do what was right. And poaching another woman’s man definitely wasn’t right. True? Besides, Mac had never said he was interested in her. She could just see baring her soul to the man only to have him give her a pitying look. After all, it wasn’t like she belonged in Mac’s world. The world of the wealthy. She wasn’t Amanda Carr. She was just a vet, a woman who loved animals and kids and nature. She’d be out of place in Mac’s world. In his life. And she’d probably embarrass him left and right—
Fear. Not.
Kylie closed her eyes. I hear you, Lord. I do. But . . . I’m just not sure.
With a sigh she pushed out of the chair and headed for her bedroom. What she needed was a good night’s sleep. Things would make more sense in the morning. And if they didn’t . . .
Well, she’d deal with that when she came to it.