Trouble Maker: A MacKenzie Family Novel (The MacKenzie Family) by Liliana Hart Read Free Book Online

there wasn’t a need for it anymore and the space went to waste. The people of Surrender weren’t fond of change, but they also weren’t fond of tearing down historic buildings, so it was turned into a library.
    Beckett was halfway across the street when he heard Hazel yell out. Pedestrian traffic in town stopped as everyone’s eyes turned toward the latest entertainment. When she called out a second time, he had no choice but to acknowledge that he’d heard her.
    He turned around slowly and plastered an easygoing grin on his face. She’d followed him out into the street and stood at the opposite end so they faced each other like gunslingers.
    Looking at her now, he wasn’t sure what he’d ever seen in her. She was a pretty girl—or would’ve been if bitterness and anger hadn’t etched itself permanently on her face—but she was still in her early twenties and immature with it. She was petite and trim and blonde, which had been his type for the past fifteen years. His luck with brunettes had run out the day Marnie had left town. And he could appreciate the way Hazel filled out the jeans and red sweater she wore. But looks only went so far.
    “You’re a goddamned liar, Beckett Hamilton,” she yelled from down the street.
    His eyebrows rose at her language and he could see crowds growing on each side of the street as customers and shop owners came outside to watch.
    “Watch your language, Hazel. There might be children in earshot. Why don’t we go inside and talk about this like adults?”
    “You’d like that wouldn’t you, mister high and mighty Hamilton.” She dashed a tear off her cheek and then planted both fists on her hips. “I’ve been trying to talk to you for weeks, and you just ignore me. Well, I’m tired of being ignored. I’m gonna say what I have to say, and I’m going to do it right here.”
    “If that’s the way you want to do it, then get it done. You’re giving everyone their entertainment for the evening, and you’ll be lucky if your mama doesn’t wash your mouth out with soap after hearing about your language. I said what I had to say to you weeks ago. We had some good times together. Nothing more. I told you from the start I’m not ready to settle down, and I’ve got no interest in a serious relationship. So if you’ve got something to add to that then let’s get this over with. I’ve got hay to bale this afternoon and I have no intention of being the center of the town’s gossip today.”
    “Too late!” someone called out from the sidewalk. There was a smattering of chuckles, and he could see Thomas and Riley standing in front of the diner, arms crossed and smiling like loons. They were going to give him hell when this was over.
    “You can’t tell me we didn’t have something special,” Hazel called out. “We could’ve made a life together. I would’ve given you everything if you’d let me.” She sniffled and her empowered speech was turning into a whine. “I believed in you. You said you loved me.”
    “Oh, no,” Beckett said, reaching his limit. “Those words never crossed my lips. I’m sorry that you thought you could change my mind, but I was up-front with you from the beginning. I won’t be pressured into anything.”
    “I’m pregnant,” she yelled out, finding her mad again.
    “Hazel, you and I both know that’s a bald-faced lie.”
    “How do you know? We had sex, didn’t we? Accidents happen.” She looked entirely too smug.
    “Then you head over to the doctor and bring me the results of the pregnancy test. And of course, we’ll do a paternity test as well.”
    She gasped, the insult clear. “How dare you insinuate that I sleep around.”
    “It’s been more than long enough for you to find someone else to try and rope and wrangle. I wasn’t born yesterday and I know how these things work. If you were pregnant you would’ve known before today and would’ve been throwing it in my face and telling anyone who would listen. You’ve got