Free MacKenzie's Lady by Dallas Schulze

say against him and you and I both know it."
    "And you can't tell me a single concrete fact to support your theory that he's perfect."
    "I don't think he's perfect." Holly slid a hanger into the blouse and laid it across the ironing board to carefully button the neck. "I'm not an idiot, Maryann. I'm being cautious. But for the first time I've met someone I can imagine spending the rest of my life with. I'm not going to throw that away just because he doesn't come with the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval."
    "I still think you're risking an awful lot of hurt but you always have been pigheaded. Just remember that I'm going to say 'I told you so' if he turns out to be an ax murderer."
    "If he turns out to be an ax murderer, then I suspect you'll be saying that at my funeral, which should make it doubly satisfying for you."
    "You're impossible!" Maryann gestured one time too many with the banana. This time the abused fruit popped out of its skin with the force of her exasperation. The two women watched as the soft fruit sailed through the air and landed with a squishy splat...right on Holly's newly ironed blouse.
    Holly stared at the mess for a moment before lifting her gaze to Maryann. The other woman looked from the ruined blouse to the empty banana skin still clutched in her fingers and then up at her friend. She shrugged weakly. "They just don't make bananas like they used to."
    ❧
    It would have made Maryann feel better if she had known that her words were not falling on totally deaf ears. Though Holly easily dismissed any thought of Mac's having a wife and children, she could not quite so easily set aside his job. That was real and right in front of her any time she chose to look.
    So far she had been dealing with it by not looking, but sooner or later she was going to have to face the issue. Could she cope with loving a cop? Maybe it was too late to be asking that question. Wasn't she already in love with him?
    She stopped, the mascara brush suspended halfway to her eye. Was she in love with Mac? She stared blankly at her reflection for a moment before shaking her head. No. It was too soon. She wasn't going to be in love with him yet. And if she was by some bizarre mistake already in love with him, she didn't have to face it yet. She would just put it out of her mind for now.
    Maybe it was time Maryann got to know Mac. Then she'd see for herself how nice he was and she'd stop predicting disaster. She finished stroking mascara on her lashes and then smiled at her reflection. Yes, that was definitely the thing to do. Maybe she would invite Mac to dinner and Maryann could get to know him a little. Of course, she'd have to browbeat Maryann into showing up but Maryann owed her one after throwing that banana on her best blouse.
    ❧
    "Hurry up, Maryann. They're supposed to be here in ten minutes and you aren't even dressed yet."
    Maryann gave her friend a sour look. "This is a stupid idea," she said flatly. "It's a stupid idea and it's your stupid idea. I'm going along with it, but don't expect me to smile while I do it."
    "It's not a stupid idea," Holly defended. She handed Maryann a simple black dress that made the most of her friend's pale skin and richly colored hair. "This is called killing two birds with one stone."
    "Not to mention ruining a good friendship."
    Holly went on as if nothing had been said. "Ken wanted to have dinner with us and I wanted you to meet Mac. This way, you get to meet Mac and Ken..."
    "Oh, boy, I can hardly contain my excitement."
    "I get to see Mac..."
    "It's been at least a whole day since you did that."
    "...and we both get a nice dinner in pleasant company."
    "That remains to be seen."
    "Stop grousing. You haven't been out on a date since Jason left and it's about time you stopped mooning around, thinking about him."
    "I have not been thinking about that shifty little weasel." Maryann turned to glare at Holly. "I've been busy at the hospital. You know that."
    Holly moved until she could reach