Free Desired (Restless Nights) by Mila Elizabeth Brenton

Chapter One: Mackenzie
Regrets Of The Past
     
     
    The 101 stretched out in front of us. My head was pounding and my cheek hurt like hell. The bruise would be an issue for my upcoming photo shoots, but I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if Cameron had already pushed it. I glanced over to my brother in the driver’s seat. His jaw was tight and his eyes were set with determination on the freeway ahead of us.
    “Where are we headed Cameron?”
    He hadn’t said much since we left the hospital. He’d somehow pulled a Houdini and managed to get us out of there without a single paparazzi spotting us. It was a true feat since they had pretty much surrounded the hospital. My nightmare would already be on all the gossip sites, and I was sure at least one person got a good shot of me entering the hospital or worse one of me getting slammed against the vehicle. Those shots would definitely end up littering the magazine stands.
    “Cameron?”
    My brother, who also managed my career sighed. “We’re going to the beach house.”
    “Why the beach house?” I asked.
    “Because it’s the one place the paparazzi hasn’t found out about. Plus, the fences and security camera’s make it a secure place for you.”
    “Are we going to talk about what happened?” I knew Cameron felt some absurd responsibility for the night’s events.
    It was completely unfair for him to take that guilt on. I’d had plenty of obsessive fans, but there was no way we could have known some inconspicuous jack-off would decide to attack me. We were about to get in the vehicle when he struck, slamming my face against the hard cold metal of the limo we’d taken to the event. No one would have expected someone to push through the surrounding photographers and past my security guard, Erick, who I was certain knew he needed to start looking for a new job.
    Cam sighed. “You need new security Kenzi, there isn’t much more to say.”
    I didn’t argue. I understood the tone he was using. It was one he’d been using most of my life. No dad in the picture and a less then attentive mother left my big brother as the only parental figure I’d ever really known. It was why he had ended up as my manager. He stayed around after graduation to take care of me and as soon as I made the move to San Francisco he followed me. That’s when I decided to try my hand at modeling. My career took off and Cam stuck by my side, not trusting the world I threw myself into. As it turned out Cam is an excellent manager and now has a handful of other models he takes care of, but I’ve remained his number one client.
    “Did you already call Avery to cancel the shoot?” I asked, knowing of all the people I worked for my friend would understand. She would want me at my best for the cover shoot for her book. I was a little bummed; I loved stepping into the sexy vixen persona of Addy from Avery Davis’ award winning Crimson Heart series.
    Cameron nodded. “Yep, she said she’d take care of calling Natalie and Ryan.”
    I smiled, knowing Natalie would be bummed that she wasn’t going to get her camera on Ryan Christensen. Natalie had an eye for the gorgeous model who really fit the persona of Stone magnificently.
    “Nat will be disappointed,” I murmured.
    Cameron grunted. “And you think Ryan won’t?”
    My gaze slid from the dark freeway ahead of us to look at my brother. “What do you know?”
    A devilish smile stretched his face. “Have you really never noticed the way he looks at her? The second Natalie enters the room Ryan’s eyes don’t stray from her. He doesn’t even seem to notice you.”
    I nodded reflectively. Was I really that unaware of the emotions of others? I’d never been great at reading those around me. I was stunted when it came to people, friendships and relationships. It had lead to painful choices that I often regretted even to this day.
    “Kenzi, we need to talk about what we’re going to do.”
    I shrugged. “One crazy person pushed me aside. I