“Of course. I can’t have my best bud feeling sick without doing my best to bring him back to the epitome of health, now can I?”
Lacey had made it to his side by the time those words had filled the air, and she wanted to wring his neck. “He’s not your bud,” she seethed.
He arched a brow at her, but his amusement never left his face. “I think the kid begs to differ.” He moved to get a better view of her son, but she stepped between the two of them.
“You can’t be here. He’s sick. And Angela?—”
“I guarantee that Angela won’t be coming back any time soon. She’s hanging with my younger brother and a bunch of his friends. They’re going to be out late.”
Heat blossomed beneath the skin of her cheeks. Had he planned this? No. She refused to believe that. This was just Mack pushing his luck like he’d been doing since the moment he entered her life.
Lacey’s lips pressed into a tight line. She could sense the growing anticipation from her son just a few feet away. He wasn’t going to understand if she kicked Mack out of their apartment when he’d come to dote on him.
He must have seen the resignation written clearly on her face because his grin widened, and he started pulling things from his bag. Chips, crackers, applesauce, pudding, and other snacks that kids loved filled the small counterspace. Then he pulled out a movie and held it up for Bridger’s benefit. “I hope you likeit.” When she got a closer look, she noted it was the film, “We Bought a Zoo”.
Bridger let out a gasp. “I always wanted to see that!”
Then, as if it couldn’t get any better for Bridger, Mack pulled out a small gorilla.
Lacey didn’t think Bridger’s eyes could grow any larger. The gorilla looked as though it was meant to be partnered with the one they’d gotten from the fairgrounds last night. Blinking, Lacey couldn’t bring herself to move from where she stood. What was it with this guy? Did he honestly think that he was going to win her heart through her kid?
Of course he did. Because he was smarter than she gave him credit for.
She watched him walk around the counter and move into the living room before he tossed the gorilla toward her son. Bridger’s smile was a boon to Lacey’s unsteady heart. It was the simplest gesture. He’d come all the way over here, not to win her over, but to win over her son.
The man was utterly devious.
When he turned toward her to head back to the counter for the food, he winked at her. His fingertips brushed against her hand, sending a wave of goosebumps up her arm and coursing over the rest of her body.
She was officially in trouble.
There wasn’t much she could do besides join them on the couch. Bridger settled between them, chatting happily with Mack while they watched the movie. Every so often, the man would look over in Lacey’s direction, and one side of his mouth quirked upward.
He was charming. He was good with her son. And he wasn’t afraid of her turning him down. What more could she ask for?
At some point, Bridger fell asleep against Mack’s arm. If it wasn’t so adorable, Lacey would have been mortified that her son had left a spot of drool on the man’s long-sleeved shirt.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Lacey said, getting to her feet. “I’ll take him to his bed?—”
“Let me. It’s not a big deal, really.” Mack adjusted the way he sat and carefully scooped a sleeping Bridger into his arms.
A flash of what her future could be with Mack filtered through Lacey’s mind. It was too good to be true. She watched him move across the room, and her heart sang. It practically performed a one-woman show with the feelings that had been stirred within her.
She nearly stood to follow him and show him where her son slept, but the second he got to the room, he’d know. Sure enough, he returned only moments later. His brows were creased slightly.
“The room is too small for two beds. It’s best if we share a queen—” She felt the urge to explain why they were cramped in this small apartment. He’d been here before, but he’d never been back in her bedroom.
“It’s none of my business,” he said quietly. Surprisingly, he didn’t sound as judgmental as she thought he would. “You’re doing the best you can taking care of that kid. You’re on your own. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
Those words alone were enough to make her want to completely dissolve in front of him. Angela had been the only one to lay it allout like that for her, but she was family. Her parents didn’t feel the same way. They always thought she could do more—at least that was how she felt.
Her voice caught in her throat. There was nothing she could say to him to express how much what he’d said meant to her. He would never understand the full depth of it, so she kept her mouth shut.
Mack returned to her side. The movie had ended, and the room was quiet.
Too quiet.
He met her gaze, and all the unsaid words seemed to pass between them. She wouldn’t have been surprised if Mack ended up turning the tables and pointing out that he should be given a chance.
