Emergency Response Read Free Page A

open in disbelief. “I didn’t mean I wanted to be kissed by  you ! I meant I want someone who  loves  me to kiss me the way Joel kisses Kate.”
    Liam stood the same time as she did and stared down at her. “What’s one little kiss between friends?”
    “Friends?” Mackenzie spluttered. She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him. “I just met you!”
    He laughed. “Relax Mackenzie. You’re so uptight. That’s why you needed to be kissed.”
    She opened her mouth then closed it again. Uptight? The nerve of the guy! Was he drunk?
    “I’ve been watching you all day, Mackenzie,” he continued, ignoring the daggers she was giving him. “You’re insecure. You don’t think you’re as beautiful as the other women here. I can see it written across your face, but you’re wrong. You’re one very sexy woman and I wanted to show you that by giving you a little kiss.” He shrugged and swayed a little. “What else can I say?”
    Yep, definitely drunk.
    “What else can you say? How about nothing?!” She picked up her bag and slung it across her shoulder. “I think you’ve said more than enough.” She turned on her heel and marched toward the house, hoping no one had seen their little exchange. Nor the tears of humiliation forming in her eyes.
    How was she going to get through the wedding tomorrow?

Chapter 3
    Of course Kate was late.
    Mackenzie stepped out of the small red brick church and shaded her eyes with one hand. She stared down the hill toward the main road but there was still no sign of the cars. Kate was over half an hour behind schedule and Joel was getting nervous.
    The pungent smell of pine needles filled Mackenzie’s nostrils and she looked up, grateful for the shady canopy overhead providing much- needed relief from the relentless sun. When it was obvious the bridal party was running late, the crowd of guests and onlookers had moved inside to the cool recess of the church to escape the scorching temperatures outside. Mackenzie didn’t mind the heat and had volunteered to remain on lookout duty.
    She peered toward the main road again. Squinting in the bright sunlight, she smiled with relief. In the distance a cloud of dust hovered low on the horizon. That had to be them.
    Minutes later two four-wheel drives pulled off the gravel road into the church grounds, bumping their way slowly over the dry grass and twisted pine tree roots toward her. The bride was here!
    Mackenzie ducked back into the church and gave the thumbs-up sign to the minister who was squinting expectantly in her direction. He gave a tiny nod and the gathered guests took a deep breath and released it almost in unison. The groom wasn’t about to be left standing at the altar!
    Mackenzie glanced at the three men who stood impatiently at the front of the church. Nathan was shifting from one foot to the other, looking worried. She caught his eye and gave him a quick smile. Relief washed over his face and he returned the smile. Again, it struck Mackenzie how handsome he was. Today in his dark suit and white shirt, he looked like a model. She refused to look at Liam.
    Back outside, Emma O’Connor, Joel and Liam’s younger sister, was the first to step out of the car. At twenty-two she was naturally blonde, thin and stunning. Emma looked down, carefully placing her feet on the narrow strip of red carpet outside the front of the church so her high heels didn’t touch the dirt. Mackenzie didn’t know why she bothered – by the end of the day everything would be covered in a thin layer of pale yellow dust. Turning back to the car, Emma accepted two bouquets of flowers from Melissa Bennett. Like Emma, Melissa was also blonde and petite. As well as being one of Kate’s closest friends, Melissa was also the unit manager where Mackenzie worked in Sydney – the place where Mackenzie, Melissa and Kate had become friends years earlier.
    If Emma or Melissa were surprised Mackenzie was the only one waiting to greet them outside the