A Montana Perfect Family (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Among the shouts of congratulations and loud whistles, Lacey’s son tugged on her shirt.

“Where’s Sammie going?”

Lacey beamed down at him, dropping until they were eye-to-eye. “Sammie’s going to have her baby.”

His eyes grew wide. “Really?”

She nodded. “I’m sure she’s gonna want you to meet the baby when she comes, too. Would you like to do that?”

Bridger’s vigorous nod and excited smile said it all. “Do you think she’ll like me?”

“I’m sure she’ll love you.” Lacey ruffled his hair. Six years ago, she’d gone into labor. She’d been a teenager and absolutely terrified. Her eyes followed her son as he hurried away to play with some of the other children at the party.

Five years of his life had been taken from her. Five years where her parents stole custody of her son while disowning her for her mistakes.

Lacey’s heart lurched from the memories. They’d destroyed any relationship they might have had with her. And now that she’d taken Bridger back, tensions between them were even higher. She still had a hard time having respectful conversations with both of her parents.

Folding her arms, she leaned her hip against a table filled with refreshments. A smile tugged on her lips. It was just the two of them. Bridger would forever be her one and only. They didn’t need anyone else. Not her parents, and definitely not Bridger’s father.

“They’re cute, aren’t they?” A low, husky voice spoke close to her ear.

Too close.

Lacey was used to it. She made her tips off men who were a little too friendly. She didn’t react to his nearness, but simply tilted her head and asked, “The children? You got any?”

He chuckled, the sound nearly lifting the hairs on her arms. “No, but I want them someday.”

She cocked a brow, turning to the guy who couldn’t seem to stop flirting with her. Caleb’s brother. Sammie’s brother-in-law. “Really,” she said flatly, “you want kids.”

His smirk might have been charming if she didn’t see right through it.

Guys like him were a dime a dozen. He reminded her of guys she used to date before she finally won custody of Bridger back.

The way he ran his hand through his dark locks said it all.

He knew he was attractive, and he was ridiculously confident about it.

His name was Mack. It was her curse to remember names after hearing them once. He’d probably told her three or four times already since she’d started hanging out with Sammie. And every single time, she pretended not to remember—just to mess with him.

Lacey narrowed her eyes. “Mark, right?”

His jaw tensed almost imperceptibly. “Mack.”

She laughed, making her sound embarrassed. “Oh, right. Sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

“Mack,” she murmured. “I’ll remember next time.”

He walked around her and plucked a chip from the bowl nearby before dunking it into ranch dip. With a flick of his hand, he tossed the snack into his mouth and grinned at her. “You like kids?”

“I do,” she murmured, turning her attention once more to the children playing. “They’re sweet. Innocent.” Lacey gave him a knowing look. “They haven’t been corrupted yet.”

Mack chuckled. “I don’t know. Some of those kids belong to my cousins, and I’m pretty sure they’re nothing but spoiled. How could they not be? I don’t know about you, but growing up in a place like this? Horses? Cattle? Land to go wherever they want? It’s heaven on earth.”

He wasn’t wrong. What she wouldn’t have given to have a life like this. But it wasn’t the property or the animals she envied. She’d been paying attention to the bigger picture. The Reese family was something else. She’d never seen any group of people so close.

It was hard not to wonder what would have happened if she had a supportive family when she’d found out she’d gotten pregnant. Would she have been able to be in Bridger’s life during his more impressionable years? A lump formed in her throat, and the anger simmered beneath the surface.

“You okay?”

Lacey jumped and glanced over at Mack. The look of concern in his eyes was almost believable. But she knew better. They were strangers. He didn’t really care about her. She forced a smile. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Mack didn’t look convinced. Thankfully, he didn’t appear to be the kind of guy to push the issue. Smart man. He took another chip and chewed thoughtfully before turning to face her. “You know, the first time we met, I thought you looked familiar.”

She brushed him off. “I just have one of those faces.”

“Yeah, a beautiful one.”

Lacey snorted. “Does that line really work for you?”

As much as she hated to admit it, his grin was as charming as all get out. His eyes sparked with amusement. “Honestly, I’ve never used that one.”

“Oh? What usually works for you?” Lacey’s grin grew.

“I wouldn’t dare use those ones. They’re not good enough for someone of your caliber.”

She laughed despite herself. “That’s terrible.”

Mack shifted closer, his voice lowering.

Then he leaned in. “You want terrible ?” The huskiness of his tone made her stomach flip.

He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, letting his fingertips barely graze her skin.

“There’s something wrong with my eyes because I can’t take them off of you. ”

Lacey blinked. That one was actually pretty good. Maybe it was the way he said it. Or maybe it had been too long since she’d been touched like this, but she had to fight the instinct to lean into him. Forcing a laugh, she pressed her fingers against his chest. “You’re right. That was terrible.”

He chuckled as he took a step back to accommodate her. Then he winked.

Mack actually winked!

And she must be losing it, because she laughed again. “Nice try.”

Rubbing his jaw, he seemed to contemplate her dismissal. “You know, I’ve been trying to come up with something charming to say all afternoon, but all I can think about is how cute you are.”

This time Lacey snorted. “Okay, that one really is bad.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m sure there are plenty of other women who would be thrilled to capture your attention, why don’t you try some of those lines on them?”

Mack lifted a shoulder. “I wasn’t lying, Lacey.

Those lines might be cheesy, but they’re true.

” He wasn’t looking at her, now. Instead, his eyes were focused on the others who were at the party.

His focus took on an almost far-off quality.

“I can’t explain it, but I feel like we could understand each other. ”

“Oh? How’s that?” She glanced away from him, though admittedly, he’d captured her attention with that one.

He blew out a long breath, folding his arms as he did so. Then he eyed her, and one corner of his mouth quirked upward. “We live our lives on the outskirts.”

“I beg your pardon?” She faced him fully, not sure if she should be offended or not.

Mack’s smile didn’t waver. “Few friends. No one pays us any mind. For me? It’s because I’m the middle child.

Easily overlooked.” He chuckled again, but there was something disheartening about the words he said.

Did he really feel that way? He nodded toward her.

“But you? It’s something different. I think you revel in not being noticed at parties like this one. ”

“And when I’m not at a party?”

His grin widened. “You and I both know that your reputation precedes you. Lacey the waitress is the kind of girl who knows how to have a good time.”

And just like that, her walls came right back up.

What was he referring to? Did he know about her son?

Or was he referring to the way she flirted with her tables to get better tips?

She knew there were rumors in town. The women working at the salon did their worst when they really wanted to.

It wasn’t their fault, really. Rocky Ridge was small enough that no one had secrets for long.

However, Mack and his brother had only recently moved to Rocky Ridge permanently. She didn’t know just how much they knew or if they paid much attention to the stories spun by Christine and Bonnie. Salon 406 was a breeding ground for everything salacious.

“Did I say something wrong?”

She started, her head snapping back so she could take him in again. Gone was his boyish grin, replaced by that look of concern that threw her off her guard. “What?”

“I’m sorry if I did. I didn’t mean to?—”

Lacey waved a dismissive hand. “It’s nothing I haven’t heard.” That was the truth. It just hurt to think he might have come to his conclusions based on senseless gossip rather than getting to know her.

He stepped back into her bubble. “Hey,” he whispered, hooking a finger under her chin. The gesture was too intimate—too strange. She preferred the lighthearted banter over… whatever this was.

Lacey stepped back, forcing him to drop his hand.

She plastered on the smile that she wore for every single customer she got at the restaurant.

“You must think highly of yourself to believe your words can affect me like that.” It was her turn to lean in.

“I’ll let you in on a little secret. You’re not that special. ”

His expression slackened, then that stupid charming grin reappeared as he slapped a hand over his chest. “You wound me, m’lady.”

Lacey rolled her eyes. And he was back. The guy couldn’t be down for long. She folded her arms and moved toward a table with chairs. When she took a seat, he pulled out a chair across from her, blocking her view of Bridger.

Of course he was following her.

He leaned back in his chair until the front legs lifted from the earth. “So…” he drawled. “should I tell you my life story right now, or should we wait until our first date?"

Lacey groaned. “You really don’t let up, do you?”

“Never,” he purred.

“Pass,” she murmured, peering around him to see Bridger playing tag with some children slightly smaller than he was. Good. He’d been alone for so long. As much as she wished she could give him a sibling, she knew that just wasn’t in the cards for them.

“Why not?”