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

brother Cooper.
    Beckett slid in so his back was to the wall and checked his phone. It had been buzzing constantly since his little showdown with Hazel. He winced at the thought. He hated being the center of anyone’s attention, not to mention the fact that he didn’t like airing his dirty laundry. He’d always been private and discreet when it came to his relationships.
    The diner was filling up fast, and heads turned and looked his way before going about their business. A couple walked in that immediately caught Beckett’s attention. The man was tall and built like a truck. His blond hair was cut close to the scalp and he looked military. And dangerous. The woman with him was young and pretty and so city she might as well have been wearing a sign on her back. She had the body of a pinup, and her hair was long and black. Every eye in the place moved from looking at him to them. Thank God.
    Thomas groaned and looked at the military guy. “Dammit, Devon, why can’t I get rid of you? You’re everywhere I turn.”
    “I guess I’m just your cross to bear. That’s what you get for marrying my sister.”
    “Which should tell you how much I love that woman. When are you leaving again?”
    “Kylie and I are on our way out, and we’ll be out of your hair. But don’t worry. I’ll be back for Christmas.”
    “Good. I was worried you wouldn’t make it,” Thomas said dryly.
    Devon grinned and then the two men shook hands.
    “Y’all have a safe trip,” Thomas said, and then he and Riley slid into the booth across from Beckett.
    “My brother-in-law,” Thomas said by way of explanation. “He’s a new fixture in our lives and takes a little getting used to.”
    “Hell, he’s the least of our problems,” Riley said. “I’m more concerned about what Gladys is planning on teaching Shane. I can’t decide whether to tell him to keep hiding in his house or convince him to come out just so I can watch Gladys put the moves on him.” He shuddered and then lowered his voice to a whisper. “And I hate to admit it, but as soon as she said what she did I imagined her naked with Shane strapped to her bed. I’m going to have to go to therapy to erase that one.”
    Thomas laughed out loud and Beckett grinned at the thought of Riley laid out on a couch trying to describe that little fantasy.
    Shane MacKenzie had been a Navy SEAL commander, but he’d been on leave and back home at the MacKenzie compound when an enemy had shown up on their doorstep, endangering the whole family. Shane had managed to save his sister-in-law, but the explosion had taken one of his legs and badly damaged the other. It was fortunate Thomas, who was a doctor, had been close by, otherwise Shane probably would’ve died.
    It was something none of the MacKenzies liked to talk about because they all felt helpless when it came to Shane. He’d gone from a decorated soldier who’d commanded others to losing his leg and career in one fell swoop. He wasn’t adjusting well. And they were all concerned for him.
    “You’re sick, man,” Thomas said. “And that’s saying something. Because now it’s in my head and I blame you. I’m going to punch you later as compensation for the trauma.”
    “You haven’t been able to punch me since you were fifteen.”
    “That’s not true. I got in a doozy a couple of Christmases ago. You just didn’t notice because you were on the bottom of the dog pile.”
    “That was you?” Riley asked, his eyes narrowed. “I had a black eye for almost two weeks.”
    “It’s nice to see some things never change,” Beckett said. “Though I’m surprised your wives let you get away with stuff like that anymore. Y’all have kids.”
    “Hell, are you kidding?” Riley asked. “They’re the ones betting money on it. Aunt Mary usually ends it by turning the hose on everyone.”
    “If you think Aunt Mary’s bad, what do you think your mother is going to do when she hears about this stunt Hazel tried to pull?” Thomas