Mack shrugged. “How to be a cowboy, sure.”
“Really?”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it,” he murmured quietly. “I really think he’d like the chance to be around animals on a regular basis.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she nodded. “I think he’d like that, too.”
“What would I like?” Bridger asked, suddenly listening in on the conversation at hand.
She smiled down at him. “What would you think about spending some time with Mack at the ranch? Would you like to learn how to take care of horses?”
Bridger’s eyes had never gotten so large. He released her hand and jumped up and down. “Yes! Yes! Can I?”
Lacey shot a quick smile to Mack. “I suppose there is your answer.”
Bridger wrapped his arms around the man and tilted his head up with a huge grin on his face. “Will you teach me how to be a cowboy just like you? Please?”
Mack chuckled and ruffled her son’s hair before removing the cowboy hat he wore and placing it atop Bridger’s head. “It would be my pleasure, kid.”
Lacey’s heart swam with warmth and love as she watched this man with her child. He didn’t owe either of them anything, and yet here he was treating them both like he was all in.
Maybe he was.
The thought made her nervous, excited, and terrified all at once. What would she do if things didn’t work out? They were already getting too attached.
She couldn’t let her fears get the better of her. That was the one thing she’d promised herself when she’d told Mack she’d give him a chance.
And based on what she was seeing day in and day out, she’d made the right decision.
For the rest of their walk, Bridger held tight to Mack’s hand. The only male figure he’d had in his life was Lacey’s own father. She watched the two of them more than she cared to admit. It was getting harder and harder for her to see a future where Mack wasn’t part of it. He was perfect for them, and she was only realizing that now.
Mack caught her eye, a grin pulling at his lips. It wasn’t the first time he’d caught her staring, and the look he gave her made her insides churn and her toes curl with anticipation. Could it really be that easy—to let him in and allow him to be part of their lives? She hadn’t thought so. But now it was looking like it could.
When they arrived home, they paused outside of the apartment door. She didn’t want him to leave yet, but it was getting late, and Bridger needed to be put to bed. If she let him in, she knew they’d all end up staying awake. Bridger couldn’t get enough of him.
He cupped her face with his hand and leaned in close, his lips nearly touching hers when he whispered, “We need to do this again.”
Was he talking about going out—all three of them?
As if he could hear her question, he smiled. “And then I’m going to take you out and show you just how special you are.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She loved when he said stuff like that.
“I’ve been wondering,” he murmured, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Do your lips taste as good as they look?”
She wanted to give him a little shove. His use of cheesy pickup lines in moments like this both amused her and made her feel special. It was ridiculous. And yet, she wanted more. Before she could tell him he was being silly, he brushed a kiss to her lips. As far as kisses went, it was tame. Mack was really good about being respectful when Bridger was present. But it wasn’t Bridger they had to be worried about.
The door to the apartment flung open, and standing there, wide-eyed was Angela.
Lacey and Mack burst apart from one another. Angela’s narrowed eyes darted from Lacey to Mack with disgust before she flung the door shut with a hard slam.
Gasping, Lacey reached for Mack. “Can you stay out here with Bridger for a minute?”
Mack’s brows creased. Part of her wanted to laugh at the concern on his face, while the other part felt it with her entire soul. This was what she’d been worried about. They’d been sneaking around, spending time with each other when Angela wasn’t aware. Lacey had been a fool to believe that it wouldn’t all come back to bite her. Mack reached out to take her hand before she pushed the door open. “You sure you don’t want me to come in there with you?”
His offer was tempting. But ultimately, she knew the answer. “I have to take care of this on my own.” Lacey squeezed his hand, hoping he could feel her reassurance through her touch. Then she glanced down at her frowning son. “I’ll be just a minute, okay? Aunt Angela is upset, and I’m going to try to make her feel better.”
Without waiting for a response, she entered the apartment. On the side of the front room where the couch was located, Angela muttered to herself as she threw things into her suitcase. She glanced up, emotion brimming in her eyes when they locked with Lacey’s. “How could you?”
