“Nice try.” Mack kicked off his boots and headed farther into the house. Then he glanced over his shoulder and murmured, “You’ll hear about it when everyone else gets the news.”
“News? What news? Are you saying you actually want to marry that girl?”
Mack didn’t answer. He couldn’t bring himself to utter a single word regarding his brother’s question. The truth of the matter was he could see himself with her for the long haul. Mack had never seen himself dating a girl with a kid—until Lacey. He’d never thought he’d connect with said kid—until Bridger. Now all he thought about was them. He just needed to convince Lacey they could be good together.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Okay,I’ve waited long enough. What’s with that stupid smile?”
Lacey jumped as she glanced up from her morning coffee. For how late her sister was out last night, she sure got up early—especially for a Sunday.
Bridger was still asleep, and Angela had slipped out to get them both a pastry and a drink from her favorite coffee shop. They currently sat next to one another on the couch. The blankets and pillow that Angela had used last night were strewn on the floor, and she closed her eyes with pure bliss as she took a sip.
Then she opened her eyes and gave Lacey a pointed look. “Come on, tell me. What’s up with you and that grin?”
Lacey flattened her expression, pressing her lips together into a thin line. “I’m not smiling.”
“Yes, you are! You’re smiling like a fool. What’s going on? Please? I can keep your secret.” While she pressed Lacey, it was clear she’d enjoyed her evening just as much as Lacey had, andperhaps this was a way to lead into a conversation about her night.
Lacey shook her head. “I’m just having a good weekend. I think you should be telling me how your night was. Did you meet anyone interesting?”
Angela jumped on the question without hesitation. She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “I met this amazing guy. He competes, but in that one event with the barrels? He’s so hot.”
Smiling behind the brim of her cup, Lacey listened to her sister talk about the group of friends she’d spent most of her evening with. She even got asked out on an official date by the guy she was fawning over.
It appeared that was all Angela had needed to get her thoughts off Lacey’s smile. When she was done gushing, she settled back on the couch, spent. Lacey bit back a laugh. In the quiet of the morning, Lacey was able to revel in her own memories.
Mack had nearly kissed her. They’d come so close to crossing a line she’d told herself she would never cross. There was a huge problem with that. What was going to happen if she started having feelings for the guy?
Or had she already started?
“What isthat?” Angela leaned forward, pointing.
Lacey stilled and followed Angela’s attention to the small gorilla that had been placed in the corner of the room among the other toys. “Bridger’s gorilla?”
Angela turned her focus to Lacey, her eyes boring into her, a sly smile touching her lips. “Who came over last night, Lacey?”
Throat closing up, Lacey couldn’t breathe. Her sister was far too attentive. “What makes you think someone came over?”
Angela’s gaze swept through the room, and a triumphant look crossed over her face. “There’s a new movie on the television stand. The toy in the corner. And snacks on the counter. I’d thought maybe you ran out and got some stuff, but I know you. You wouldn’t just splurge on a movie—even if Bridger is sick. That’s what streaming services are for.” She shifted closer to Lacey. “Spill. You’re not going to get out of this.”
There were two ways to play this. Lacey could admit that Mack had come, and he’d done it because he was interested in her… or that he’d come but only because he was a good guy.
Lacey chose the latter.
She shrugged and took a long sip of her coffee before quietly saying, “Mack came over last night.”
Angela’s brows lifted into her bangs. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was no big deal,” Lacey brushed her off. “He’d heard that Bridger wasn’t feeling well, so he brought him some stuff.” Lacey steeled herself for the inevitable. Angela was smart. She’d probably ask how Mack had heard about Bridger. Then what would Lacey be able to say to that?
Thankfully, Angela didn’t focus on that tidbit of information. She swooned. “Really? That issosweet!” She shook her head. “Man! I wish he wasn’t already interested in someone else. He would be the perfect guy for me.”
Lacey grimaced then froze, praying that her sister hadn’t noticed her reaction. She wasn’t about to let it slip that Mack wasinterested in her. And she definitely wouldn’t admit that Mack had nearly kissed her.
No, she definitely wouldn’t let Angela know about any of that.
She turned slightly so she didn’t have to look straight on at her sister. There was no way Angela would understand. Her crush ran too deep.
