Her parents were probably shocked that she had found someone who claimed to want not only her, but her son as well.
A sob caught in her throat, and she did her best to swallow it back. Mack’s speech had been the most romantic thing she’d ever witnessed, and she didn’t have the words to express it to him.
He took a step toward her. “Lacey,” he whispered, an apology in his tone. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you…” His brows creased, drawing together as he ran a hand through his perfectly coiffed hair—mussing it up just the way she liked. “Will you say something?”
There was a pain in his words that tore her heart into pieces. She’d pushed him away, hurled insults at him, demanded that he leave her alone, and yet here he was—stillfighting for her. He reallywasperfect.
Tears stung her eyes, and she sucked in another deep, shuddering breath. “Did you mean what you said?” she whimpered.
In two large steps, he was before her, taking her hands in his and bringing them to his lips. “There are only so many ways I can try to convince you.” He hadn’t meant for his words to cut, but they did all the same. He was right. He’d tried to tell her over and over that he cared for her—that he wanted her, and he wasn’t giving up on her.
“I don’t deserve you,” she whispered.
He let out a sad chuckle. “Love is unconditional, babe. No onedeservesanything. If we’re blessed, then we find that person who’s our other half, and if we’re smart, we do everything we can to latch onto it and never let go.” He kissed her hands again before he pulled her into his chest and hugged her so tight, she thought he might never let her go.
She wanted to wrap her arms around him, cling to him and show him just how much she loved him back, but something still held her back. That something being her parents—and they were hovering just on the outskirts of her periphery.
Lacey glanced up to find her father standing beside her mother. He seemed to be contemplating something—likely the scene that had just played out among all of them. When his eyes found hers, he asked. “Do you love him?” His voice was gruff, and she wasn’t sure, but she thought she heard a little bit of hope just beneath the surface.
Mack tensed, his arms tightening further around her.
She nodded. “I do,” she whispered. “If I’m honest, I can’t imagine a future where I’m happy if he’s not in my life.”
He pulled back just enough to search her gaze, his eyes brimming with desire and an emotion that both terrified her and thrilled her to no end. “Really?” he breathed.
Lacey nodded again but couldn’t get a word out before his lips crushed over hers, searching, delving deeper with a desperation that she understood right down to her soul. It didn’t matter how often she tried to convince herself that she didn’t need him in her life or that she’d be able to get over him eventually, she would never be the same after she’d fallen in love with Mack.
They were two sides of the same coin. They understood each other on a level that she’d never experienced with anyone else. And she didn’t think she’d ever be able to find another man like him.
She pushed her hands into his hair as she pulled him closer, unable to squash the need she had for this man. He was her everything, and it had taken too long for her to realize that.
Her father cleared his throat, and she gasped as she attempted to pull away from Mack with embarrassment. He nipped at her lips one last time before releasing her enough for her to face her parents.
His hand found hers, and he kept her close, his eyes trained on her parents as if he expected them to tear her from him.
A blush crept over her face, and she looked away. Thankfully, neither one of her parents looked inherently angry with her. If anything, there was concern on their faces—it was strange to see that emotion play out. Up until she’d fought and won custody of Bridger, all she’d seen was judgment from them.
This change was… nice.
Her mother was the first to comment, her arms folding as her distrustful gaze swept over Mack. “Sweetheart, it’s not that we don’t trust you.”
Mack scoffed, earning a hard look from her, but he didn’t comment as her mother continued.
“It’s that you haven’t had the best track record when it’s come to the men in your life.”
“To be fair, Bri, she hasn’t really dated anyone seriously since…” Her father trailed off, and his gaze found Mack’s. That shrewd gaze was enough to make Lacey start fidgeting all over again.
Mack’s hand tightened on hers, indicating he wasn’t going anywhere, and she loved him even more for it.
Lacey looked at him and blinked. “I haven’t dated because I’m not going to just let anyone into Bridger’s life. Mack has proven time and time again that he’s worthy of Bridger’s love.”
Once more, Mack’s hand squeezed hers, and she could practically feel the joy radiating off him.
“You’ve been wrong about me,” Lacey added. “That sixteen-year-old girl you knew—the one who made one big mistake in her life—she’s gone. I’m not that girl anymore. I love Bridger more than life itself, and I would do anything to make him happy—anything to keep him safe. And Mack?—”
“Me too,” Mack interrupted with fervor. “I’d take a bullet for that kid.”
Her father’s brows rose, and one corner of his mouth twitched upward.
