Lacey’s breath caught in her throat, and her eyes drilled into him. “And who are you… when you’re with me?”
Bolstered by the desire he saw written in her eyes, he dipped his face even closer. “I’m happy—happier than I’ve ever been. I would never risk losing that feeling. Ever.”
She continued to stare at him. He wasn’t sure if he’d gotten through to her until she shook her head. “I can’t. Angela… she’s not doing so great. Some guy…” She didn’t have to finish that statement. Mack already knew. Some guy had hurt her—led her on, more like. Lacey placed both of her hands on his chest and gave him a gentle shove. “You need to go before she sees you and thinks…”
He took a step back, allowing her to put distance between them, but still shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere until you give me a chance.”
Lacey’s eyes widened in surprise and perhaps irritation. “I told you?—”
“Just give me a chance. Go out with me again. Let me prove it.”
A muffled voice from inside the apartment that sounded a lot like Angela calling out for Lacey drew his attention. Lacey stiffened, and she paled. “You have to go.”
“Not until you?—”
“Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll go out with you. Just…go.”
A wicked grin spread across his face as he took another step back from her. “I’ll text you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go, Mack.”
“You’ll see. We belong together.”
Lacey folded her arms, her eyes shooting daggers at him. He ducked away and hurried down the stairs before she rescinded her agreement.
Finally.Finally,he was making headway.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“I can’t believeyou’re going on a date.”
Lacey glanced up at the mirror to see her sister standing in the bathroom doorway, her arms crossed and leaning against the doorjamb. She turned and faced Angela with a frown. “I don’t have to go.” On the one hand, she really didn’t want to. She knew that spending time with Mack was only going to make matters worse for herself. She could feel herself falling for him with each passing day that she saw him.
And on the other hand, she really didn’t want to let this night go to waste. She could feel the excitement growing at being able to be with him one on one without worrying about her sister catching them. Angela would be safely tucked away at home watching Bridger.
Her sister rolled her eyes. “Of course you should go. You don’t date enough in my opinion. You never talk about anyone you’re seeing.”
“That’s because I’m notseeinganyone.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. That silly one-date rule.” She tilted her head, resting it against the wall where she’d propped herself. “So… do I know the guy? Is he someone we grew up with?”
It took all of Lacey’s power not to give herself away. Angela would be able to read her like a book if she reacted to the question in any other way besides pure nonchalance. “No, I don’t think so.” She turned back to the mirror and leaned forward to apply her mascara. Mack had offered to pick her up, but Lacey had put her foot down. If Angela saw him, she’d know immediately what was happening. It was safer for Lacey to meet him in town.
“Where did you meet?”
Lacey’s eyes darted to her sister’s reflection. “Work.” It was the only response that would help her keep her secret. Angela knew that Lacey didn’t go hang out at clubs or other places where people usually met. Work was the safest bet.
Angela nodded. “Does that mean you’ll let me meet him? If I stop by the restaurant?”
A knot formed in Lacey’s throat. She nearly snapped at her sister, telling her absolutely not. Thankfully, she’d managed to take a deep breath before responding. “He doesn’t work there. He put his number on the receipt.”
Dang it! Her lies were getting too convoluted. Angela was bound to ask more questions now. She knew that Lacey refused to date anyone who wasn’t a good fit to be around her son. Going out with a stranger was out of character.
Shoot! Shoot! Shoot! She should have just said that a friend from work introduced them.
Angela lifted both of her brows. “And you were willing to go out with him?”
Lacey scrambled for something intelligent to say. She needed an out. But the only thing that stuck in her head was the excuse she knew she should have made before. Slowly, she turned to face her sister. “He’s friends with someone at work. I wouldn’t have just… you know… accepted if someone couldn’t vouch for him.”
