multicolored wool, it was lumpy and misshapen and far too long, but it was also incredibly warm and it never failed to touch her that the niece she almost never saw had labored for hours to produce it. Wrapping it around her neck several times, Mackenzie headed for the door.
Her faithful hound did the happy dance when he saw her collect his lead and harness from the hook in the kitchen. She waited until his excitement had subsided before securing him. Then they went to join Oliver and Strudel.
As she’d half expected, he was waiting for her in the street, Strudel sitting patiently with a long-suffering expression on her face. The schnauzer perked up the moment she saw Mr. Smith, however, and Mackenzie and Oliver waited patiently while they fawned over each other before turning in the direction of the beach.
“Just as well you’re with me. I wasn’t really sure how to find the beach,” Oliver said.
“Somehow I feel pretty confident you would have worked it out,” Mackenzie said as they left the road and started down the path that led through a narrow band of bush to the sand. The sound of the surf was clearly audible, readily indicating which way the beach lay.
“You’d be surprised. I have a gift for getting lost. No sense of direction whatsoever.”
“He said proudly.”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t say I’m proud. More resigned.”
“Have you considered GPS?”
“That would be cheating.”
They reached the part of the path where it narrowed to single file and Mackenzie fell back, an action that afforded her a perfect view of Oliver’s backside as he strode ahead. He was wearing faded jeans today, the worn denim hugging his firm, round butt.
It occurred to her that it would have been far better for her peace of mind if he’d been one of those men with a tiny, disappearing backside or womanly hips.
No such luck, however.
“Does that mean you never stop to ask for directions, either?” she asked, forcing her gaze away from temptation.
“Correct. Directions are also cheating.”
She could hear the laughter in his voice.
“Remind me not to take a road trip with you.”
They emerged from the protection of the bush onto a windswept expanse of sand. The water was a dull pewter color, the waves white tipped as they hammered against the shore. An icy wind found its way beneath Mackenzie’s coat and she immediately buttoned it all the way to the neck and thrust her hands deep into her pockets.
“Dear God, it’s like Antarctica down here,” Oliver said, copying her actions.
She watched as he flipped up the collar on his coat, feeling guilty for not having warned him that the beach could be harsh in winter.
“That’s probably because the wind comes straight from Antarctica.”
“No kidding.”
They let the dogs loose and watched as they bolted along the sand, taking turns chasing one another.
“Kids, eh?” Oliver said, tucking Strudel’s lead into his jacket pocket.
They started walking, following the trail the dogs had left in the wet sand.
“So, you ever been married?” Oliver asked.
The subject was such a non sequitur it threw her for a moment. Although, perhaps his curiosity made sense in light of their recent mutual confessions. “Yep. Three years.” She pulled a face. “Not exactly a stellar achievement, but we both realized early on that we’d made a mistake.”
“How long ago?”
“Nearly four years.” It seemed hard to believe that much time had passed. Of course, part of her disbelief could be because she’d been silly enough to fall into an affair with Patrick more recently—but Oliver didn’t need to know that.
“Edie and I should never have gotten married. I have no idea why she said yes when I asked her, since she pretty much picked up with Nick the moment we got back from the honeymoon.”
Mackenzie winced mentally. He hadn’t referred to his wife by name before, but she understood now that he’d married the lead singer of the band, Edie Somers. It was too unusual a name for him to be referring to some other Edie. And last night Mackenzie had blathered on about how special and talented the other woman was.
Open mouth, insert foot.
“Are they still together?” she asked.
“I have no idea and I don’t want to know. If I could walk away from it all and never hear about them again, I would.” There was a world of anger beneath his words.
She opened her mouth to apologize for prying but he stopped in his tracks and blew his breath out in a rush.
The look he gave her was