Haven Point, Volume 1 by RaeAnne Thayne

Author:RaeAnne Thayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2019-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWO

FOR A MOMENT, McKenzie could only stare at the man. It took her another minute before she could find her voice.

“This must be a record,” she finally said. “The Haven Point rumor mill actually nailed it, for once. You are back.”

Her sister was usually right but why did she have to be right about this, darn it?

Why was he here? She highly doubted he had come to make amends for all he had done. Judging by history, he was probably here to cause more trouble.

“Hello, McKenzie. Long time, and all that.”

He gave her an almost-smile, though she didn’t miss the rather bleak look in his blue eyes that made her suspect the rumor mill had something else right—Ben Kilpatrick wasn’t any happier to find himself back in Haven Point than she was.

Even with the dark shadows in his gaze, he was far more gorgeous than he’d been when she was a girl. That chiseled jaw was more, well, chisel-y, his eyes seemed more intense, his features masculine and strong.

The last time she had seen Ben in person had been at Lily’s funeral. The sudden realization sent a wave of remembered grief washing over her for her friend and his sister, one of the most courageous people she had ever met. Lily had lost her battle against cystic fibrosis the year they both turned thirteen.

She pushed away the echoing sadness. Lily had been gone a long time. As much as she might despise Ben, McKenzie could never fault him for his care of his sister. In all the years she had been friends with Lily, she had never seen Ben be anything but loving and kind with her, patient under very difficult circumstances.

She had a long list of other sins she could lay at his feet, however, starting with the abrupt way he had left town right after the funeral and taken her idealism and trust with him.

“I’d like to say I’m happy to see you, but I’ve never been a very good liar.”

“Oh, ouch.”

His mouth quirked up in a smile and he appeared more amused than offended.

She had a hundred accusations she wanted to hurl at him, years of helpless frustration as she watched her town die inch by inch.

Instead, she focused on what was really the least important of them all.

“Is this your dog?” she demanded.

“No. Okay. Yes. Sort of. This is Hondo.”

The dog’s tongue lolled out and he appeared to beam broadly at his name.

“Like the John Wayne movie?”

“I suppose. I didn’t name him.”

The dog nosed her hand in a friendly way but McKenzie only frowned, refusing to be charmed by anything associated with Ben. Unlike Rika, she had a few standards. “Is he your dog or isn’t he?”

“Technically, he’s mine, I guess. Until a few weeks ago, he belonged to a good friend. He died unexpectedly but stipulated in his will that I take him. I’m not sure why. It’s a temporary situation. Until I can find him a good home, I guess we’re stuck with each other.

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