The Other Side of Us - By Sarah Mayberry Page 0,89

was great fun. A real hoot.”

Patrick sounded utterly sincere, but Oliver figured that came naturally. The man was an actor, after all.

Mackenzie turned toward the house. “Come on. It’s too cold to stand around outside.”

Oliver hesitated, but she hooked her arm through his and all but forced him to walk with her toward the house. He was aware of Langtry noting the gesture and couldn’t help feeling pleased that Mackenzie had indicated they were more than friends.

Stop being a territorial dick. Next you’ll be competing with Mr. Smith to mark the yard.

“Who wants coffee, who wants tea?” Mackenzie asked as she entered the house.

Oliver followed her inside, Langtry on his heels.

“Have you got any of that French Earl Gray tea you had last time I was down?” Patrick asked.

“I have no idea. I’ll have to have a rummage,” Mackenzie said. “What about you, Oliver?”

“Tea’s good for me, too, thanks.”

Oliver could feel Langtry studying him, no doubt wondering if Oliver had registered his familiarity with Mackenzie, her house, her dog and her tea supply. Apparently, Oliver wasn’t the only one feeling the urge to piss in a few corners.

Mackenzie headed down the hall, her back very straight. He couldn’t help thinking of how fragile she’d been last night, and how trusting. The possessiveness working its way through his bloodstream dissipated as he remembered the things she’d asked him last night, and the way she’d fallen asleep in his arms.

Patrick Langtry might be almost offensively good-looking; he might drive the ultimate big boy’s toy; he might have charisma and charm to spare; but he was Mackenzie’s ex. He’d had his shot to make her happy and had failed and Mackenzie had moved on. It was stupid to get into a dick-stretching competition with someone who wasn’t even a contender.

Mackenzie threw Oliver a warm smile as he joined her in the kitchen.

“Would you mind grabbing that tin at the back of the pantry?” she asked, pointing to the highest shelf.

“Sure.”

He grabbed the tin in question and handed it to her.

“You’re a lifesaver.”

“Wait till you see my next trick.”

“Okay, I will.” She reached out and brushed a speck of lint off his coat, a world of affection in the small gesture.

The last of his stupid jealousy drifted away. Which was good, because he wasn’t a jealous kind of guy. Certainly it wasn’t an emotion that had had a lot of airplay in his life to date.

“You need any more help here?” he asked.

“Thanks, but I’m good for now. You go grab a seat.”

She sent him on his way with a small tap on the butt, making him smile.

Langtry had already made himself comfortable on the couch and was flipping through a magazine. Oliver took the armchair and girded his loins to make small talk and whatever else was required of him until the other man got in his fast car and went on his way.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

MACKENZIE WAITED FOR the water to boil, one eye on the kettle, the other on the two men in her living room. They were talking about Oliver’s work in Sydney, Patrick asking polite questions, Oliver answering them equally politely.

It was very, very strange seeing Patrick and Oliver in the same space. Revealing, too. She’d always been powerfully aware of Patrick’s charisma—the man wielded it like a weapon, it was hard to ignore it—but it was a little surprising to realize that Oliver more than held his own on that score. He had the edge on Patrick, actually, because not only was he good-looking with a lovely body and an engaging, compelling way about him, he was also sincere. When he asked a question, he waited for the answer because he genuinely wanted to know. With Patrick, there was often the sense that he was simply going through the motions of social niceties before he could hear the sound of his own voice again.

Meow. Saucer of milk, table two.

Mackenzie shrugged. She figured she was allowed to be a bit pissy with her ex. In the years since their divorce, they’d slipped into an easy friendship consisting of phone calls and emails and occasional dinners. They’d listened to each other’s woes and offered each other advice and enjoyed each other without the burden of forever hanging over them. They had become so comfortable she hadn’t hesitated to offer him the role on Time and Again when she took over the show. But letting their friendship become something more had been a mistake. That didn’t excuse Patrick from his shitty behavior since