Return of the Last McKenna (Harlequin Romance) Read Free Page A

that seemed like they’d have an easy, gentle touch.
    She took the credit card, slid it through the register, pushed
a few buttons, then waited for a receipt to print. She glanced down at his name
as she handed him back the card. “Mr. McKenna, is it?”
    He braced himself. Did she recognize the last name? But her
smile remained friendly.
    Yes, I’m Brody McKenna. The doctor who let
your brother die.
    Not the answer he wanted to give. Call him selfish, call him a
coward, but for right now, he wanted only to see her smile again. He told
himself it was because that was what Andrew had wanted, but really, Brody liked
Kate’s smile. A lot.
    “Yes. But I prefer Brody.” He scrawled his name across the
receipt and slid it back to her.
    “Well, thank you, Brody.” His name slid off her tongue with an
easy, sweet lilt. “I hope you return if you’re in the neighborhood again.”
    “Thank you, Kate.” He picked up his basket and headed for the
door. As he pushed on the exit, he paused, turned back. He had come here for a
reason, and had yet to fulfill even a tenth of that purpose. “Maybe someday I
can return the favor.”
    “I didn’t do anything special, just my job. If you want to
return the favor, then tell all your friends to shop here and to call on us to
help them celebrate special moments.” And then, like a gift, she smiled at him
again. “That’ll be more than enough.”
    “No, it won’t,” he said, his voice low and quiet, then headed
out the door.

CHAPTER TWO
    W HAT had hebeen thinking?
    He’d gone into that little shop planning…what?
    To tell Kate the truth? That her little brother had charged him
with making sure his sister was okay. That Brody was supposed to make sure she
wasn’t letting her grief overwhelm her, and that she was staying on track with
her life, despite losing Andrew. Instead Brody had bought a basket of
chocolates, and chickened out at the last minute. Damn.
    “Tell me you’re quiet because you’re distracted by that pretty
hostess over there,” Riley said to Brody. The dim interior provided the perfect
backdrop for the microbrewery/restaurant that had become their newest favorite
stop for lunch. Brody had called Riley yesterday after his visit to Nora’s Sweet
Shop, and made plans for lunch today. That, he figured, would keep him from
making another visit. And leaving without saying or doing what he’d gone there
to do.
    “Why are you mentioning the hostess?” Brody asked. “Aren’t you
getting married soon?”
    “I am indeed. But that doesn’t mean I can’t keep my eye out for
a pretty girl…” Riley leaned across the table and grinned, “for you. You’re the last of the McKenna boys who isn’t
married. Better pony up to the bar, brother, and join the club.”
    “No way. I’ve tried that—”
    “You got engaged. Not married. Doesn’t count. You came to the
edge of the cliff and didn’t jump.”
    “For good reason.” Melissa had been more interested in the
glamour of being a doctor’s wife than in being Brody’s wife. Once she’d realized he had opted for a small family practice
instead of a lucrative practice like plastic surgery or cardiac care, she’d
called off the engagement. She didn’t want a man who spent his life
“sacrificing,” she’d said. No matter what Brody said or did, he couldn’t fix
their relationship and couldn’t get it back on track. Brody’s family dream had
evaporated like a puddle on a summer day.
    Brody picked up the menu and scanned the offerings. “How’s work
going?”
    That drew more laughter from Riley. “Don’t think I’m falling
for that. You’re changing the subject.”
    “You got me.” Brody put up his hands. “I don’t want to talk
about the hostess or my love life or why I didn’t get married. I want to visit
with my little brother before he attaches the ball and chain to his ankle.”
    “No need for that. I’m head over heels in love with my wife to
be.” A goofy grin spread across