“Keep at it, kid. Practice makes perfect,” Mack said, though his eyes never left her face. “Tell you what, if I hold your hand, it’s a date.”
“Absolutely not,” she hissed. “I’d die first.” Even to her, the threat sounded weak. The thought of his touch on her caused a thrill to ripple along her skin. Her body was threatening to betray her.
“We’ll see,” he murmured.
“No, we won’t.”
Mack moved closer. She’d never felt more vulnerable than in this moment. It was like he could see past the walls she’d built up and knew the truth of her growing attraction. No one had ever fought this hard to spend time with her.
While she’d never been interested in anything more than a first date, somehow she knew most of the guys who asked her out wouldn’t want to be locked into something with a kid. She loved Bridger more than life itself, and he deserved someone who wanted him as much as they wanted her.
He’s good with Bridger. The admission made her heart clench. Mack knew about her son, and he still insisted he wanted to take her out again.
The realization that he was touching her again dragged her out of her stupor. Her skin pebbled beneath his feather-light caress along her jaw. His fingers were calloused, but he was so gentle. Her breath stilled in her chest, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from him as he moved even closer.
“Yes!” Bridger called out. “Mom! Mom! Look!”
She jumped, and Mack’s hand dropped to his side. Her breaths came out in sharp spurts, and her hands trembled as she turned toward her son just in time to see him lunge for the swinging door. Bridger pulled out a stuffed horse and held it up with two hands.
“I knew you could do it, kid!” Mack clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You still have one chance left. You want to take it?”
Bridger shook his head. “I got my horse. You can try.”
Mack ruffled her son’s hair then glanced up at Lacey with a wink. “Maybe I can win your mom something.”
That idea seemed to thrill Bridger even more. He moved around and pointed out a stuffed ladybug. “She’d like that. She has other ladybug stuff at home.”
“Does she now?”
Lacey rolled her eyes. “Come on, Bridger, Aunt Angela is waiting for us. I’m sure she’s wondering where we are.” She attempted to herd her son in the direction of the table, but he resisted.
“I want to see if Mack wins.”
She released a groan. “Okay, but you come back with him.” Lacey returned to the table, more flustered than she wanted to admit.
Angela glanced at her over the menu. “Wanna share a chicken parm?”
“Sure. Whatever.”
“You okay?”
Lacey’s eyes snapped to her sister. “Fine.”
Before her sister could dig a little deeper and demand answers as to Lacey’s different attitude, Bridger returned with Mack, a broad smile on his face as he held out the ladybug. “We won it for you, Mom!”
Lacey didn’t have to meet Mack’s eyes to know he was grinning just as much as Bridger.
“Aww, that’s so sweet,” Angela gushed. “Isn’t that sweet, Lacey?”
She forced a smile. “Incredibly sweet.” She pulled Bridger closer and pressed a kiss to his temple. “Thanks, bud.”
“You have to thank Mack. He’s the one who got it.”
Lacey forced herself to meet the man’s eyes. “Thank you, Mack.”
He winked. The blasted man actually winked at her. Thank goodness Angela hadn’t noticed.
Conversation died as they looked through the menu to choose their meals. Then it picked up again when Angela turned her full attention to Mack. “Fill me in. What’s going on with you?”
