Coming Home
Mackenzie’s POV
Letting out a relaxed sigh, I dusted off my hands walking away from the barn after passing Permian off to one of the ranch hands trying to ignore the fact he was most definitely checking out the sway of my ass in these ancient jeans as I walked away. The stallion with a coat the color of crude oil was aptly named, and my favorite horse to ride when I was here. I took a cleansing breath of early summer Texas air. You know the not some thick with humid kind that would be suffocating the further into June it came to be. A fast-paced horseback ride across the rolling green pastures had been just what I needed this morning. Twelve Oaks had always felt like home after almost growing up here myself. Best of all this morning in the morning hours of just woman and horse had been no ringing phones, no pinging off emails and best of all, no bitching. I took my leisurely time walking up the gravel pathway. Pausing to look up at the massive brick and wood log house in front of me surrounded by twelve sturdy ancient oaks, I smiled thinking of the jokes of where this place got its name but it had long been named that before the legendary film Gone with the Wind came out.
Getting out of the city this weekend truly was what I needed I just resented that it had taken Lily bribing me with Rosa’s home cooking to do it. Her forever sassy tail had marched into my office yesterday afternoon with my frazzled secretary scrambling behind her because I was on a conference call that she disconnected with a flick of her wrist pulling a low growl from me. Her chestnut hair flying with a shake of her head and one long manicured nail shook at me in time with the tap of her designer heel demanding I put away the mass of papers on my desk. Told me that she had already packed me a bag. Never mind the fact I argued with her for twenty minutes I was too busy to play hooky with her for the weekend. In typical McCoy fashion, she had bullied me into it. Lilianna McCoy and I had been friends since our childhood despite the two year age difference between us. Our fathers had been lifelong friends so Lily had always been in my life.
Toeing off my boots in the mudroom to keep me from getting yelled at by Rose over her floors I quietly walked towards the kitchen pulling off the ball cap I had slipped over my blonde braid. Rose was bustling around queen of her domain as I walked over to pull out a bottle of water from the massive sub-zero refrigerator.
“Enjoy your ride Miss Mac?” Rosa asked with a twinkle in her warm green eyes sliding a huge muffin over to me. I shook my head then opened my mouth to tell her I wasn’t hungry but those kind eyes narrowed in warning that I wasn’t going to argue. Like the good girl I was, I pulled out a barstool settling down on it and taking the banana nut muffin taking a small bite letting out a quiet moan. Rosa chuckled knowing I would bow down plus these were my favorite and she knew it. When Lily and I arrived last night, Rosa had fussed giving me third degree after she hugged me grumbling I needed to put some weight on. Needed a good night sleep and to take a break from work. This woman had been the motherly/grandmother figure in my life for years so I considered myself properly chastised. “Permian has missed you. We all have.”
“I did,” I said smiling watching her bustle around the kitchen checking everything she had cooking. Along with taking care of the family, she helped the bunkhouse cook feeds the hands when the family wasn’t here. “Fresh air and wind did some good.”
“Good,” she said turning to rest a hand on her hip shaking a wooden spoon at me making my head duck sheepishly. “Need to put some weight on missy. Getting too skinny and frying crying out loud get a good night slip. You look like an elegant raccoon with all those circles.’’
“Gee thanks Rosa,” I snarked taking a sip of water rolling my eyes. A yelp slipped out when quick as a snake she wrapped my knuckles with the spoon getting her point across for sassing her. I sat the bottle down holding my hands up in defeat. “Yes mam. Yes mam. I know. This quarter had just been so busy but I promise I will do better. Lily fussed at me the entire drive in from Houston last night. She had already been by my condo to pack a bag then practically ear tugged me out of my office. Sure the staff will have a field day with that this next week. Apparently I was coming this weekend whether I wanted to or not.”
“Miss Lily has missed you honey,” Rosa said with a sigh shaking her head making her graying blonde ponytail shake. “Between her trips to New York and you being buried in the office or traveling, she has missed her best friend. Can take it to the bank you were coming this weekend whether you wanted to or not. Been too long since you have been home. Make no mistake Twelve Oaks has been and always will be home for you sweetheart. Mr. Allan had already told her that he would drag you kicking and screaming himself if she came back empty handed.”
“Shit,” I muttered pulling my hand back in time to keep from getting another pop across the knuckles along with noting Rosa’s raised eyebrow and side eye at the bottle of Dawn near the large sink. I gulped knowing she would wash my mouth out like she did when I was thirteen reminding me that I would not talk like a roughneck even though I was raised by one. Allan McCoy had always been my second father, as well as being my boss now. I battled my hazel eyes at Rosa poking my bottom lip out in a playful pout. “Can I have my phone back now?”
“Depends,” she snapped back crossing her arms over her apron covered chest raising an eyebrow at me. “You gonna be on it all day or relax?”
“Just let me check my emails and then I will put it down,” I begged hoping she would buy it. She had taken my phone before I could even pull my boots on and walk out the door this morning. I crossed my fingers on my left hand behind my back praying to the good lord she didn’t see me. “I promise.”
“Fine,” Rosa grumbled pulling it out of the apron pocket that she had on over her jeans and shirt. Fingers were snapped at me about the time I wrapped my finger around the smooth plastic of my phone case. I didn’t even want to think about the million emails that had piled up just this morning. “Mr. Allan wants to see you in his office. Said to tell you when you got back.” I looked down at my faded jeans with holes in the knees and faded, worn t-shirt with the company logo on it that were tossed on this morning since I was only going for a ride. I bit my lip looking up at the ceiling thinking about the linen slacks and button up shirt in my closet knowing it would be a little more presentable to meet with my boss. A snicker yanked my attention back to the woman across from me seeing her roll her eyes because she completely read my mind. “You look fine honey. The man was yelling into his phone earlier when I took him some more coffee still in his t-shirt and pajama pants. You are good to go.”
I nodded sliding off the stool rounding the island giving Rosa a kiss on the cheek then turning to head towards the office at the back of the house. I snickered at the thought of Allan chewing ass while still in his pajamas but had to admit I’d seen it a time or two. The man had convinced Ralph Lauren to make him an order of pearl snap shirts, so he had a style. His own. He could con a rattlesnake into a business deal wearing a clown suit. He was that charismatic. I noticed the door was cracked open as I walked closer on my socked feet trying to not slip a little on the polished wood floor. Rosa would get after any of us with her dreaded wooden spoon for putting boot marks on her precious floors. I could hear Allan’s deep, gravelly voice on the phone as I approached the heavy oak door. I knocked lightly making him look up from the call he was on. He waved a big hand at me to come on in before running it through his salt and pepper hair grumbling into the phone. I walked further into the room shaking my head at the conversation he was having.
“I don’t care how you do it Sam,” he snarled making me fold my lips to smother a smile listening to him berate the vice president that was under me. “Just get it taken care of and safely dammit. We are in negotiations to renew their contract and I’d like to not lose business over some careless bullshit. No.” He let out a low growl throwing his hand up in the air. “God dammit Sam! No you can’t call Mackenzie. I fucking mean it you idiot. I had to make her take the damn weekend off as it is so hell no. Deal with Clyde on your own.”
I snickered at the argument knowing that regardless of what he was telling, okay threatening Sam with, my phone would be chiming with an email soon. I could practically feel it vibrating in my pocket even though it was still powered off. I jumped when I heard a voice behind me spoke sending me on high alert.
“And how would little ol’ Mac be able to put that fire out?” I heard drawled dripping with sarcasm making me teeth clench and the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I closed my eyes clinching my fists as the rough timber of his voice coupled with his Texas drawl grated on my nerves like nails on a chalk board. I whirled around my eyes flashing with my temper biting the inside of my cheek to keep it in check. I noted the slightly rumpled black dress slacks, dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar revealing a glimpse of tanned chest, sleeves rolled up to reveal powerful inked forearms that would make a blind woman drool. Hmmm… must have just flown in. Probably from the pits of hell. Satan must have had gotten bored with him for the weekend. Long legs stretched before him that were outfitted in a pair of expensive cowboy boots that I knew if he was anything like his father still, they were custom made. Messy dark hair just long enough to run fingers through it. I put my hands on my slim hips growing madder than a hornet knowing those iced baby blues trailed from the top of my head to the tips of my socked feet. So, Colton Ryder McCoy had finally drug his prima donna ass home. While he and Lily were twins, we had always clashed. I lie. We used to be close then after he went to college things changed. He became lesser in his eyes somehow.
“Aww look at what the cat drug in,” I snarled baring even white teeth slightly already preparing to go for the kill. I raised a perfectly arched eyebrow in challenge. “Run out of model pussy to chase so thought you would lick your wounds by coming home?”
“Really Mac,” Colt grumbled running a hand over the slight beard he had grown since the last pictures Lily had showed me thinking I would care for some reason. I faked interest for her knowing the sight of him since my blood pressure up. Never mind the thought of him making my heart race. I chose to ignore that. I did my best to avoid him on the rare occasion he was back in Texas. We had been butting heads since our teenage years. Allan swore he was going to lock us in a room one day letting us duke it out once and for all. He sighed shaking his head pushing to his feet raising long arms over his head with a bored stretch then stepped closer to tower over me. Compared to his 6’3, my 5’4 had always been tiny near him. Hell, even Lily was taller than me at times, especially in her favored heels. But nowhere near as much as her twin brother. I got a whiff of his cologne as he looked down narrowing his eyes at me. Damn he smelled good. “We want to start there huh babydoll?”
“Don’t you call me that!” I snapped glaring up at him with venom in my eyes bristling at the damnable nickname. “You know if…”
“Fucking hell Sam,” Allan growled cutting me off narrowing his eyes at us. “I’ve got to go. About to have to referee a knock down drag out between the kids. Of course, they are in the same damn room aren’t they? What else do you expect? Yea, I agree. My money is on Mac. Fix that shit.” He knocked his knuckles on the gleaming mahogany wood of his desk before bracing his big hands on it giving both of us a look as we glared at each other. We both whirled around facing him like good soldiers. I had to bite back a laugh because I was just noticing Rosa had been right. Allan was still stalking around his office running his empire in his pajamas. As the owner and CEO of McCoy Energy Worldwide, he looked every inch the shrewd businessman he was even dressed in those. I had interned for him in high school and college before graduating with a double major in petroleum engineering and business. Lily had complained the entire time I was in school saying all I ever did was study. At two years older, she had been ahead of but had already launched her own fashion line before she even graduated college. Girl had her daddy’s business sense. “You two!” he pointed a long finger at us shaking his head. “Not even five minutes in the same damn room and already about to trade blows. Lock that shit down. Now.”
“Yes sir,” we both grumbled cutting a look at each other before nodding.
“Good,” Allan said with a wide grin settling down in his leather office chair. “Colt, glad to have you home son. It’s past time.”
“Yes Dad,” Cold said with a half-smile shoving his hands into his pants pockets. I noticed him clench his chiseled jaw stifling a yawn. No telling where in the world he was coming from I thought to myself keeping an eye roll in. Wherever the latest fling resided I am sure. “Glad to be home.” He gave me a smirk that I wanted to knock off his face rocking back on his heels. “Brought you those figures for that Russian deal that’s on the table.”
“Sounds good,” Allan said nodding his head then picked up the stack of papers in front of him shuffling through them while slipping his reading glasses on. “Put them on my desk after you get unpacked. Then relax. Both of you. That is an order. I don’t want any more talk of business until Monday morning in the office. Before you even open that mouth to argue with me Mackenzie Katherine, I mean it.”
“Yes sir,” I sighed crossing my arms like a petulant child while he looked at me over the tops of his glasses. At sixty, the damn man was still scary as hell when he wanted to be and showed no signs of slowing down.
“Good,” he said giving me a wink. “Unless it is just major. And I mean a blowout the size of Montana, ignore the damn phone please.”
“Okay, okay,” I grumbled making Colt snicker beside me. I calmly lifted my leg reaching over to kick his shin making him yelp.
“Still a pistol I see babydoll,” Colt winced shifting his leg. I batted my eyes at him then turned to head out of the office hearing Allan’s booming laugh behind me.
Colt’s POV
I watched Mackenzie saunter out of Dad’s office shaking my head. Hadn’t dialed that sass down a bit over the years that was for damn sure. Woman could fill out a pair of jeans though but even I noticed the loss of weight from working too damn much. I heard a throat clear and swiveled my head back around meeting Dad’s amused look. Shit, I just got busted checking out Mac’s ass.
“Son,’’ he said with a deep chuckle leaning back in his chair with a twinkle in his eyes. “You couldn’t hang even if you wanted to. That one right there is not one of the sticks that typically fall all over you because of your money.”
“I wasn’t looking,” I grumbled having the decency to blush. I knew Mac was out of my league. Why I put a distance between the two of us years ago. He arched a knowing eyebrow at me pulling a tired sigh from my lips. “Much.”
“Let’s try to not go there,” he muttered rolling his eyes. “I don’t need my Houston office turning into a warzone any more than it is because you can’t keep your damn hands to yourself.”
“I think you are safe there old man,” I scoffed. “I don’t see Mac like that and never have. I’m back home to help take a load off of you. Done with women for a little while.”
“Blow smoke up someone else’s ass Colton,” he snickered calling me out. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the way your eyes followed her before you left for college. Wasted that tuition for one years worth.”
“Not again Dad,” I sighed feeling beyond tired from this conversation. “Being stuck in a room wasn’t for me and you know it. I still got my business degree online like I promised. I just got to learn this business and this world from the ground up.”
“Worked pretty well for you I will say,” Dad said with a quiet laugh. “Keeping up the playboy appearance helps them underestimate you when it comes to deal.”
“Damn right,” I said with a wide grin. “Let them think I’m just coasting on your coat tails and never gotten my hands dirty until I lower the boom when it’s time to close and get exactly what I want.”
“Made that sheik in Dubai almost shit himself from what I heard,” he smirked. “Lord, I would have loved to have seen that.”
“Was a thing of beauty,” I chuckled stifling another yawn stretching my long arms over my head. “Think I am going to go catch a safety nap before I unpack.”
“Go ahead son,” he said giving me a soft smile. “It’s good to have you home. Get some rest before your sister figures out you are home. We’ll be able to hear a squeal across three counties when she does. She has missed you. And do me a favor please?”
“What’s that?” I asked pausing at his office door leaning my broad shoulder against the door frame.
“Don’t piss Mac off too bad,” Dad warned with wry smile. That was a tall order. Sometimes all I had to do was just breathe and it set her off. “Damn girl” is amazing at what she does. Youngest ever at her job and a woman to boot. I’ve got headhunters from Chevron to BP trying to poach her from me and that’s not happening. Heaven forbid if Glenn Patterson was still alive. He would have lured her away by now.”
“Yes sir,” I said with a chuckle turning to head out the door. “I’ll do my best to not piss her off. But you know how it goes.”
“That’s what worries me!” I heard yelled after me as I made my way towards the stairs. I knew Mac was damn good at her job. My only problem was that come Monday morning, she would be doing everything she could to put me in my place and I was gonna balk. I just knew it. But I could keep my hands off her. I had done it for years, but not butting heads with her in a business sense, yea that wasn’t gonna happen. We each had learned what we knew from the master himself.here…
