“What’s his name?” This time the question came from lower. Bridger poked his head into the bathroom. “Is it Mack?”
Blood drained from Lacey’s face, then she flushed as she shot a look in Angela’s direction. Her sister only laughed. “Sweetie, I know you like Mack, but he’s got someone else he likes.”
Bridger’s brows creased, and he frowned. “But I thought he liked you.”
That heat refused to abate.
Angela didn’t seem to grasp just how on the nose Bridger’s statement was. “That’s so adorable.” She glanced at Lacey. “See? It’s too bad Mack is taken. I would have loved to date him, and then if everything worked out, he could have been Bridger’s uncle.” Her voice held notes of disappointment, but it seemed less related to Mack and more to the guy who had ghosted her. She heaved a sigh and ruffled Bridger’s hair. “You’ll see Mack around. I’m sure of it. Your mom is close to Sammie. And Sammie’s married to Mack’s brother.”
Bridger ducked out from under his aunt’s touch, irritation flickering in his eyes. “I knowthat.” There was something he wasn’t saying. Was he upset that Lacey wasn’t going out with Mack? Well, according to the current conversation?
Lacey didn’t want to think about that. She couldn’t deal with her son getting so attached to Mack right now when she didn’t even know where things might lead between the two of them.
Her sister must have interpreted the frown that filled her features wrong. She reached out and took Lacey’s hand in her own. Then she squeezed it. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll be fine. You should just focus on enjoying your night out. I’ll put this little guy to bed, and when you get home, you can tell me all about this mystery man.”
That wasn’t going to happen. But Angela wasn’t going to figure that out until later. Lacey gave her an appreciative smile. “Thanks. I’ll be heading out in about five minutes.”
“I still don’t understand why you don’t let these guys pick you up. They don’t have to come to the door, you know. What’s the harm in them knowing you live in this complex?”
It was a question Angela had asked before—one she already knew the answer to. Thankfully, it was also the perfect excuse as to why Mack wasn’t picking her up, even though the real reason had more to do with who he was and less about him knowing her address.
Lacey glancedup at the run-down brick building before her. She must have the wrong address. She’d never been here. It was located two towns away from Rocky Ridge. If it wasn’t so busy, she might have turned around and gone right back home.
It didn’t appear that Mack was here yet, but she’d meant to arrive early.
Couples came and went from the building. Each time the metal doors opened, country music filtered through the air. Mack had said they’d be going dancing, but she hadn’t expected the activity to happen at a place that looked as though a stiff wind could knock it over.
She climbed out of her car and leaned against the door after she shut it. Her eyes followed the people in and out. They were all smiling. And each couple was more different than the last. There were teenagers, adults, and elderly. Some were dressed up, others wore tattered jeans and boots. No two couples looked the same.
The only thing they had in common was the way they smiled at one another in greeting. They might not know each other, but they all had a common interest.
Dancing.
A smile tugged at Lacey’s lips as the thought filtered through her mind. It was moments like this one that reminded her there was still good in the world. People could still connect in ways that were unexpected.
Something brushed against the back of her neck, and she jumped to find Mack brushing her hair away. The touch was more intimate than she’d been prepared for, and goosebumps rippled across her skin.
His eyes found hers, and he whispered, “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey,” she rasped back. The last time they’d been this close, he’d nearly kissed her.
Well, he’d actually kissed her, but his lips had only brushed against her forehead. Right about now, she couldn’t get herthoughts off those lips and wondering what they’d feel like touching her own.
Mack grinned, and she startled, realizing she’d been caught staring at something so obvious, there was no way for her to make excuses. He leaned closer, and she sucked in a breath, expecting him to show her exactly what she’d been curious about, but rather than kissing her, he brought his mouth to her ear. “If you wanted to kiss me, you should have just done so.”
She pressed a hand to his chest with a scoff. “I don’t kiss on the first date.”
“This isn’t a first date.”
Lacey rolled her eyes. “Okay. Second.”
Slowly, he shook his head. “By my count, we’re on date six.”
She sputtered. “Six? You really are delusional, aren’t you?”
Mack chuckled, holding up a finger with each one he listed. “Our first date when it was just the two of us. The dinner we had with your sister and your son.”
She scoffed at that one.
