Page 28 of Hearts Don't Lie
“Then leave as soon as we return. I’m not on your schedule, nor am I beholden to you.”
“No. I’m not leaving until I get the answers I came for and to give you some.”
“I don’t need any or anything from you. I’ve moved on, as you can tell. I have a wonderful life in Piñon Ridge.”
“You’re single, right?”
“That’s been established,” she said, feeling defensive.
“Let me clarify. Are you involved with anyone?”
“That’s none of your business,” she hissed at him.
“You aren’t.”
“I am.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “You never were a good liar, Mac. You haven’t improved.”
“Fine. I’m not seeing anyone right now, and my love life is none of your business. You need to call me Kenna.”
“Fuck that. I’m not calling you Kenna. To me, you’re Mac. You always were and always will be. Why’d you change your name?”
“I was ready for a change. Decided I like Kenna better.”
“I’m not buying it. You know what I think? I think you’re hiding something. I think you covered your tracks purposely, that you didn’t want to be found. Hell, Alicia had no idea of your whereabouts. Look how long it took me to find you.”
“You found her?”
“Liberty did. Within a few days of me asking her to look.”
“And?”
“She was living the life in Florida. Married an octogenarian who was in the last stage of terminal cancer. She stood to inherit a nice sum of money. Had a much younger guy on the side. Want to know more?”
“I’d rather not,” she said disgustedly. “I’m over her.”
“Are you over me?”
“What’s your end game here, Hardin?”
His eyes flashed and he grabbed her hands and held them, pulling her closer. “You. Us. I haven’t been able to move past us, no matter how hard I’ve tried.”
She attempted to pull free, but he held firmly, somehow not hurting her. “Really?” she spat out. “You live a charmed life that’s astronomically wealthier than what even you were raised in. Why in hell would you want to be with me, a poor girl who never will travel and doesn’t want to travel in your circle? From my view, it seems you’ve moved past me just fine. You have your pick of powerful, influential friends. Fast, expensive cars. Beautiful women who probably can’t drop their panties fast enough. I mean, how many women, Hardin?”
He let go of her hands, leaned back, and smirked. “So you keep track of the women?”
“I’ve heard things,” she said with contempt.
“Interesting. I’ve been with women—”
She couldn’t help herself and gave him a scathing look.
“Okay, more than a few women. You don’t know the situations or context, so park your judgment.”
“I’m not judging. I’m simply mentioning it. The boy I knew, who was singularly committed to me, appears to have evolved into a major player. And I’m not speaking of soccer.”
“Tabloid fodder, Mac. This is tabled for now, just like any discussion of your relationships and child. Fair?” He stared at her with a grim expression. “I want to get back to the crux of my being here.”
