Mackenzie knew she'd run into him sooner or later but she hadn't been prepared to see him her first day back in Orlando. He'd changed quite a lot in the last seven years. He was still slender and wiry but he'd added muscle to his build. And the tattoos and facial hair were really outrageous. His eyes were the same though, a rich chocolate brown that could make any woman melt.
"I'm sorry, " Alex said, clearly puzzled. "Have we met?" There was something just vaguely familiar about the woman, yet her identity eluded him. She laughed. "I would have thought you'd remember me considering all the fights we used to have." Mackenzie sighed as she realized he still didn't recognize her. "Mackenzie Ross," she said, arching one brow.
"Mack?" AJ said disbelievingly, his eyes widening in surprise. He laughed delightedly, wrapping his arms around her and spinning around as he hugged her. He thought back to the first day he had met Mackenzie, Howie's cousin. They'd both been around eleven or twelve years old. She had come to live with Howie's family after her parents had been killed in an auto accident. She'd had gorgeous red hair and intense green eyes but she'd been a little overweight. She had also been injured in the same accident that had taken her parents' lives and as a result she had a scar on her face that extended from her temple almost to her chin. On top of that, she was the most unpleasant person he had ever encountered, always feeling sorry for herself and being negative. Still, AJ hadn't even wanted to imagine what it would be like to lose his mom and so had tried to be kind to the girl. It was an almost impossible task, however, particularly when Mackenzie insisted on tagging along everywhere he and Howie went. Howie's mom had refused to stop her and in retaliation, the boys teased and tormented her relentlessly. Their efforts to drive her away from them had been unsuccessful for the most part. And in fact, Mackenzie had pulled off some pretty good pranks on them in turn. When she had left Florida to attend school in California, Alex was surprised to find out how much he missed her. He'd often wondered in the last seven years how she was and what she was doing. Howie never seemed to know anything and with their hectic schedule, Alex had never found the time to look her up himself.
Alex held Mackenzie at arms length, as he looked her up and down. "Wow, you have really changed," he exclaimed. "You look totally different with blond hair. I didn't even recognize you!"
"I know," she said ruefully as Alex pulled her to him for another hug.
"How are you?" he asked. "And how come you never wrote to me or came home? And how come Howie didn't tell me you were back?"
Mackenzie laughed. "Fine, I did, but you guys were always gone, and I showed up on his doorstep last night." Alex leaned against the desk, still holding her hands in his. He ran his eyes over her again. "You look great," he said.
"Thanks," she said, blushing. She was unaccustomed to receiving compliments from AJ. She'd been a pudgy, shy child who had covered her grief over losing her parents with hostility. Even though she'd been in love with AJ since the day she'd met him, Mackenzie knew he had never been attracted to her. He'd been really nice to her at first, even trying to convince her that her face wasn't disfigured, but her obnoxious behavior had soon alienated both him and Howie. Despite the fact that she knew the boys didn't want her around, she managed to tag after them just so she could be near AJ. It wasn't until the guys had formed the band that Mackenzie had given up hope of AJ ever being interested in her. That was the year that AJ had started dating Marissa Jackson, their manager's beautiful and confident daughter. Mackenzie knew she could never compete with Marissa. And even worse, somehow Marissa had known how Mack felt about AJ. The girl had taken every opportunity to remind Mackenzie that AJ was hers and that he would never be interested in a "circus freak" like her.
That was when Mackenzie had decided to attend boarding school, and later college, in California. She knew through her aunt's letters that Howie and the guys were doing well with their careers, but other than that she avoided reading anything about the Backstreet Boys. She had never attended any of their concerts and she only went home for visits when she could be sure the guys were on the road.
"Nice rock," AJ commented, toying with the ring on her finger. "I guess this means you're engaged?" he asked.
Mackenzie grinned. "Yep, in spite of all of your dire predictions to the contrary," she gloated.
"Hey, what the hell do I know anyway?" AJ said. "Congratulations, sweetheart," he said hugging her yet again. He couldn't help but notice how good she felt against him. "So who's the lucky guy? And when do I get to meet him?" Alex asked.
"His name is Charles," she said. "Charles Abercrombie the Third," she added in a snooty voice.
"Ooh. I'm impressed, " AJ laughed. "So where is he?"
"He's still in New York," Mack explained. "He's a banker and he couldn't get away to come with me. So I came on ahead, " she continued. "I was just a little homesick, I guess. And I wanted to tell Uncle Hoke and Aunt Paula about the engagement in person." She didn't mention the fight she and Charles had had before she left. He had forbidden her to go to Orlando at all, much less without him. "He'll probably be down soon," she hedged.
"So when is the wedding?" AJ asked.
"I don't know," Mackenzie admitted sheepishly. "Charles' mother is taking care of the arrangements and she hasn't told me yet. But you'll come, right?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure. Just let me know when and where and I'll be there," AJ assured her. AJ was developing a distinct dislike for Mackenzie's absent fiancé. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something just didn't seem right. And he sure didn't think Mackenzie looked like a woman in love. He gave a mental shrug as his mom walked into the room.
"I thought I heard your voice," Denise said, hugging her son.
"I was on my way to your office when Mackenzie dragged me in here," AJ told his mom. "Honest." Denise rolled her eyes and smiled at the two young people. "I'm sure that's exactly what happened," she told him. "Look, honey, I'm not going to be able to get away for lunch. Why don't you and Mackenzie go?" she suggested.
"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Mackenzie asked.
"Yes, you can have lunch with AJ," Denise answered, "and keep him out of trouble."
"Oh, great," groaned Mackenzie. "I'm gonna get fired my first day on
the
job!"
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