CHAPTER 1

"Why couldn't you have rented the house to a crotchety old maid,one who liked nothing better than to sit on her verandah andabuse everyone in the street as they went past?" Mackenzie asked,knowing that she was being totally unreasonable.

She could see the humour starting to build on her friend's face,so she tagged on, "No, I mean it. Anything would be better thanthe situation your moving is going to place me in. My god, Jazz,what were you and Rob thinking when you agreed to rent yourhouse to that horrible man?"

A mischievous smile was starting to tug at the corners ofJazz's mouth. This was the absolute last straw. She was unable tostop the flow of laughter that bubbled up from within her. Thethought of Mackenzie being daunted by her new neighbour wastoo hilarious to contemplate. Day after day, she stood in front ofvarious classrooms full of reluctant students whose one aim in life,according to Jazz, was to make their teacher's life miserable; yethere she was, complaining about the presence of one mere male.

"Mackenzie, you're exaggerating. I've met the man, and he seemedvery nice. In fact, I thought you'd think he was kind of cute."

It suddenly hit Mackenzie that this man's presence in the housenext door wasn't the random choosing she'd thought it to be but acarefully orchestrated plan on the part of her soon-to-be ex-neighbour.

"Jazz, you didn't!" Mackenzie stared at her friend in horror asrealisation started to set in. Surely, she hadn't planned this awfulchain of events in the hope of getting her together with that awfulman. The thought didn't bear thinking about, but it was the kindof warped idea that Jazz would come up with in order to get herfriend fixed up as she was fond of telling Mackenzie.

"No, I didn't!"

Mackenzie threw her friend a look which clearly stated that shewasn't about to believe a single word of the explanation which wasto follow.

"Honestly, Mac," Jazz continued, "I didn't, but I didn't thinkyou'd protest this much. I thought you'd like having a neighbourthat you had something in common with." Seeing the incredulouslook on Mackenzie's face, Jazz tacked on, "You know, being ateacher and all, I must admit it did cross my mind that you mightgo out sometimes. I certainly didn't envisage World War IIIbreaking out between the two of you or that our fence line wouldbecome the Great Wall of China or the Berlin Wall or whatever.Think of the great times we've had talking over the fence sincewe first arrived five years ago ..." She looked across at her friend,wanting confirmation. "We'd work in our respective gardens,talking about anything and everything that came into our minds."

"Yes, but that was with you!" Mackenzie wailed. "I can't verywell strike up a conversation with him, telling him that I thoughtthe baker's buns looked extra good, can I?"

Jazz laughed. She knew she was going to miss these intimateconversations she shared with Mackenzie. She told her impishly,"Perhaps not, but you could tell him that his aren't too bad."

"I don't want a man in my life, remember?" Mackenzie toldher friend as she abruptly stood up, not wanting to pursue thisparticular conversation any further. She was happy with her lot inlife. She didn't want, or need, the hassles that would arise fromhaving a man in her life again, although she had to admit that therewere times when she missed the physical relationship she'd enjoyedwith Steve. Her face clouded as she thought of her late husband.The words rang in her ears—"late husband." It was still so hard tobelieve. Steve had been dead for more than three years now.

"Hey, where did you go?" Jazz wanted to know as she slowlypushed herself up from the verandah step.

"What?" Mackenzie asked, looking at her friend. She was stillnot clearly back in the land of the living.

"Just as I thought," Jazz accused, pointing a finger towards herfriend.

"Mackenzie, I know you loved Steve dearly, but it's time to lethim go. You've buried yourself along with him, and that's not good.You're still young and alive. It's time you got on with your life."

"Jazz, please, let's not start this again." Mackenzie attempted asmile that barely lifted the corners of her mouth. It certainly didn'treach her lovely brown eyes.

"Okay, you win for now, but one day, a man is going to comealong and knock you flying off that pedestal of yours. I just hopeyou're going to be ready for it when it happens." Jazz was genuinelyconcerned about her friend's welfare. She'd been out with theoccasional man since the death of her husband, but none of themhad held her interest for longer than one or two outings. It was justso wrong. It filled her with dismay to see someone as beautiful asMackenzie throwing herself away on a memory.

Mackenzie's beauty wasn't just on the outside. She was one ofthose rare people who cared about everyone. Just once, Jazz wouldlike to see someone give some of that special love back.

"The moment it happens, you'll be the first to know, alright?"Mackenzie told her as she tried to hold back the slight grin that wasthreatening to break the serious composure of her fair features.

Her complete lack of enthusiasm was evident because Jazzresponded smugly, "You can laugh now, but you just wait until ithappens. They say love can hit you like a bolt out of the blue."

Mackenzie's nonchalant gaze took in the cloudless blue skybefore looking once more at her friend. "Well, not today, my friend,the horizon looks perfectly clear. Now come on, Rob will thinkyou've forgotten about him ... or had you?" Mackenzie askedcasually, knowing full well that this wasn't the case. Jazz andRob had a wonderful marriage; as a couple, they were completelysuited.

Jazz threw her friend a glance that told her their conversationwas by no means over, but for now, she'd have to put it on hold."No, I hadn't forgotten, it's wonderful to know that there's a big,sexy man waiting at home for me. Has it been so long that you'veforgotten?"

"Hello ... Would you be Mrs. Phillips, by any chance? Hello."Mackenzie wasn't to know what a fetching picture she made sittingthere as she was, framed in the open doorway. Strands of tawnybrown hair had escaped from the brightly coloured band she woreto keep the errant strands in place. They tumbled down her backin vibrant disarray, catching shards of light from the late morningsun as it made its way slowly across a cloudless blue sky. Nothingseemed to be in a hurry on this lazy Saturday morning, least ofall this attractive young woman sitting before him. She seemed tobe oblivious to his presence. He was about to try again when shefinally seemed to come to life. Well, to notice him anyway.

Slowly coming out of her trancelike state, Mackenzie stareduncomprehendingly up at the individual who stood before her.She'd literally been miles away, thinking once again of the coupleshe'd so recently been forced to say her good-byes to. As her mindcleared of the reminiscent fog that had enshrouded it, she beganto focus on the man who was lounging casually against the railingon her back steps. Heavens, how long had he been standing there,waiting for her to acknowledge his presence?

He had a distinct advantage, standing over her the way hewas. He was very tall, Mackenzie noticed. She'd be dwarfed evenif she was standing against him. He'd have to be well over six feettall, Mackenzie surmised from where she sat, sprawled across thedoorway in her usual unladylike position.

"Um, I'm sorry. What did you say?" If she had...