Some Like It Charming - By Megan Bryce Page 0,58

was, and always had been, him.

Because even though he started all his relationships clear that it was only for fun, only for a little while, it never stayed that way. Even this time, when they’d signed a contract.

His relationship with Mackenzie hadn’t stayed a business relationship. It hadn’t stayed uncomplicated. He couldn’t leave things well enough alone and they’d become a couple. He just couldn’t seem to be around anyone without trying to get under their skin.

Ethan looked into the jagged mirror, at his cracked reflection, and realized. . .

He hadn’t gotten under Mackenzie’s skin. She wasn’t the one whose favorite part of the day was walking through the door after work. Who made notes about funny things that happened when they weren’t together.

She wasn’t the one who planned activities just to see him smile. Who couldn’t imagine life now without him. Laughing, competing, fighting, loving.

Mackenzie wasn’t going to be the one broken and crying when he left.

He just couldn’t see it. He couldn’t see Mackenzie ever crying over him.

He’d put her on a plane and she would say something snarky about the half million dollars and leave him.

And fly home. And start her new boring life.

Without ever crying over him.

Without ever realizing that he was at home, wandering around his now lifeless apartment lost and alone, because she’d left him.

Because he’d loved her and she’d left him.

Fucking hell again.

He didn’t just love Mackenzie Wyatt. He was in love with her.

A knock at the door surprised Mackenzie. Ethan had gone to work before she woke up, leaving her to wander around his apartment. She’d hid a few more candy bars, wondering if she did have some kind of squirreling thing, because she was having a lot of fun trying to find hiding places.

She was in the middle of screwing the air vent cover back on and she got up to look through the peephole. She stared glumly at his mother.

Mackenzie opened the door slowly. “He’s not here.”

“I know. I’ve come to speak to you.”

Mackenzie stepped back, letting her in reluctantly.

Christine walked in, stopping when she saw the vent cover and screwdriver. She turned to look at Mackenzie with one eyebrow raised.

“I was just. . . hiding chocolate.” Christine simply stared at her, waiting, and Mackenzie said with an embarrassed shrug, “He thinks it’s fun to find them.”

Christine clutched her purse and said, “I want you to leave.”

Mackenzie nodded. “I know. But Ethan and I have an agreement. I will leave when it runs up.”

Christine opened her purse and pulled out a check. “I want you to leave now.”

Mackenzie glanced at it, noting just how many zeros could fit on one small check. Her eyebrows raised involuntarily.

“Have you paid all his girlfriends to leave?”

“I’ve never needed to before.”

Mackenzie shook her head. “That’s nowhere near half his fortune.”

Christine blanched. “He told you about that?”

Christine looked at the check, then put it back in her purse and closed it with a snap. “I’ll never get you to leave, will I?”

“No.” Mackenzie let her worry about that for a few seconds, then said, “But I will anyway.” In one week and three days. But who was counting.

“I don’t believe you.”

“He paid me a million dollars to be his fiancé for six weeks. I’ll be gone in a little over a week.”

Mackenzie could see the sneer start on Christine’s face so she said, “He offered me three percent of O’Connor Capital. I talked him into the money.”

Christine’s sneer froze on her face. “He offered you a part of the company? Why would he do that?”

“I guess he wanted to prove to me he was sincere.”

“He couldn’t give you a share without. . . Ellen.”

Mackenzie nearly laughed.

Christine said, “And you’ll leave when this ends?”

Mackenzie nodded. Christine didn’t look like she believed her.

Christine said, “My son is fascinated by you. Challenged by you. And you are not what he needs. He needs a woman who will put him first. Who would forgive him if he falters. He doesn’t need a woman who would destroy everything his family built if he hurt her.”

Mackenzie looked at her, thinking. Surprised that this was why Christine didn’t like her.

“Well. I think you underestimate your son. I don’t think he has ever faltered, will ever falter. But you’re right that if he ever hurt me I would destroy him. Probably gut him and leave him on the floor bleeding.”

His mother grabbed her pearls, her face going white.

And Mackenzie said, “But he could only hurt me if I loved him. If he loved