Free MacKenzie's Lady by Dallas Schulze Page B

with lazy amusement.
    It seemed they couldn't agree on anything. Maryann ordered a steak, Ken ordered a vegetarian platter. She accused him of trying to make everyone else feel guilty and he called her a carnivore. It didn't seem to matter what their companions ordered. They argued about every subject that came up. She was a liberal, he was a conservative. She liked classical music, he liked jazz. They couldn't even agree to differ.
    The final cap to the evening was when the waiter bumped Ken's drink and spilled wine all over Maryann's lap. She made all the right noises, saying that, of course, it wasn't his fault, but her frigid tone got across a different message.
    Naturally, the evening came to a grinding halt. Maryann could not sit around in a wet dress. There was a general feeling of relief that the evening was almost over. Mac had other plans.
    He smiled genially as they all rose. "I'm sure you can manage to see Maryann home without our assistance, Ken. I promised Holly a long walk in the rain," he lied calmly. "It was nice meeting you, Maryann. I hope your dress isn't ruined. Holly and I will pick up a cab later. See you tomorrow, Ken."
    Holly hesitated when she caught Maryann's frantic expression. It was a look that clearly said she didn't want to be left alone with Ken. But Mac's arm wrapped gently around Holly's shoulder. With an apologetic smile at her roommate, Holly let herself be led away. She waited until the elevator doors had shut behind them before she spoke.
    "I will never, ever arrange a date for anyone again. Nobody told me that it could be so dangerous. What happened?"
    "I think it was a case of hate at first sight. I just hope they don't kill each other before they get home."
    He opened his umbrella and stepped out into the rain, putting one arm around Holly's shoulders to hold her close. "I know a nice little place about a block away where we can stop and have a drink."
    "I feel guilty about abandoning Maryann like that."
    "Ken will get her safely home. He's got some odd habits but attacking women has never been one of them. Besides, they deserve each other after what they put us through."
    She snuggled her head against the hard strength of his arm. "I could use a few minutes of quiet."
    The rain was heavy enough to discourage all but the most determined of pedestrians, and they had the street to themselves. They had gone perhaps half a block when Holly came to a stop. Mac looked down at her questioningly.
    "Do you know what my favorite movie is?"
    He raised his brows. "Is there a reason that we have to stand in the rain while you tell me?"
    "It's Singin' in the Rain. "
    He met the mischievous smile in her eyes and shook his head, the beginnings of a smile tilting his thick mustache. "No. I absolutely refuse to dance in the streets like Gene Kelly. I could get arrested."
    She pulled the umbrella away from him, folding it with a snap and leaving them both standing in the downpour. "This is Los Angeles, home of strange things and even stranger people. Nobody will even notice."
    She spun on her toes, her arms thrown out, face tilted to the sky. "After the evening we just spent, I need to rinse away the dust of battle."
    "You go ahead. I'm not going to dance in the street." But he made no move to put up the umbrella.
    "Just one little bitty step?" she coaxed.
    He shook his head, his teeth gleaming beneath the mustache. He followed her as she hopped from puddle to puddle. "You're ruining your shoes," he pointed out.
    "They're only shoes," she dismissed grandly.
    "How many glasses of wine did you have?"
    "I'm not drunk," she said indignantly. "I'm just enjoying the weather. After all, this could be the last rain we have until fall."
    "So you're going to absorb as much water as possible to see you through the coming drought?"
    She had thrown open her coat and was skipping her way down the sidewalk, kicking up water with total disregard for her clothes. Watching her, Mac was reminded of a little girl playing