Chapter 1 #2
She sighed, turning her attention back to him. “Because I’m not interested.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“Of course it is,” Lacey scoffed. “I don’t need to explain myself to you.”
“No, you don’t,” Mack agreed, drawing her focus back to him once more.
She lifted a brow. “Then why are you being so persistent?”
“How else am I going to replace my number?”
“What?” This time she truly was lost. But the second she saw his eyes sparkling and his smile growing, she instantly regretted asking him.
Mack laced his hands behind his head, still leaning in his chair. “You see, I lost my number, and I was hoping I could get yours instead. I swear I’ll be careful. I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t lose it.”
Lacey snorted, fighting the silly grin that threatened to cross her face. The man was incorrigible. He’d managed to take her from amusement to frustration and back so quickly, she felt like she was riding a rollercoaster. “You’re not going to let up, are you?”
“Where would the fun in that be?”
She couldn’t believe she was actually considering his request. Mack was just like most men. They wanted one thing. Men like Caleb were rare finds.
No, that wasn’t true.
She sincerely thought that there were plenty of good men out there—they were simply only good for that one woman who could tame their heart.
And Lacey had learned the hard way that she wasn’t that woman.
Still, as she watched Mack from across the table, she couldn’t help but wonder what the harm would be in accepting.
One date.
That was simple enough. She’d gone on dates over the years. Heck, she’d gone on one just a few weeks ago. It had been a blind date, compliments of Sammie and Caleb, but she’d actually done it.
No second dates. That was her hard and fast rule. No man was allowed into her home. Rarely did she allow them to meet her son. She’d keep Bridger shielded from anything or anyone that could hurt him—and that included men he might grow attached to.
Lacey eyed Mack, feeling her defenses lowering in real time. “I don’t date,” she hedged.
His expression didn’t shift. “I don’t believe you.”
“I mean, I go on dates, but I don’t date. I won’t go out with you again.”
Mack smirked at her. “We’ll see.”
She let out a mirthless laugh. “You really think highly of yourself.”
All he did was shrug.
Finally, she heaved a sigh. “You know what? Fine. I’ll go on a date with you. One .”
The stars in his eyes practically twinkled.
He opened his mouth, probably to sling another retort about her falling for him at this point.
But at that exact moment, Bridger barreled into her side.
“Mom!” he muttered breathlessly. “I won tag. I froze everyone, and they couldn’t move.
” His face was flushed, and his scalp was damp with sweat.
Her heart warmed at the sight of him having so much fun.
A crash had them both jumping, and she swiveled her head around to find Mack scrambling back to his feet.
She watched him with shrewd focus. A flush crawled up his neck, his eyes bouncing from Bridger to Lacey. There was question and surprise in his eyes, now. So, he hadn’t realized she had a son. That was interesting.
Lacey pulled her son into her arms, brushing a kiss to his head before pushing some of his hair from his forehead. “That’s wonderful, Bridger. We’re going to be leaving soon, so if you want to play one more round, you better do it now.”
Bridger nodded, grinning. “Okay.”
When he was out hearing range, Mack settled into his chair. “You have a kid.” It wasn’t a question.
Lacey dragged her focus to Mack, her body tense. She didn’t care what he thought. She didn’t care what anyone thought. But it was still easy to rile her up when it came to people not accepting her innocent boy. “Is that a problem?”
Mack’s gaze shifted to meet hers, speaking far too quickly. “No, of course not.”
“You might want to tell your face that.”
His embarrassment spread from his neck to his ears. Mack cleared his throat. “I mean it.”
“Then what’s this?” She waved a finger in front of his face.
“You just… well, you look so young to have a kid…”
She swallowed hard, turning away from him. “Hasn’t anyone told you it’s impolite to comment on a woman’s age?”
He chuckled nervously. “Touché.”
Lacey got to her feet. “It’s been fun.”
Mack shot to his feet. “You’re leaving?”
She gave him a look that probably gave away just how little patience she had left. “I’ve got a kid and other responsibilities.” Namely, a shift at work.
“You didn’t give me your number.”
She froze. From the looks of it, he was being serious.
Mack pulled his phone from his pocket, and slowly, that smile of his returned—the one that seemed to be capable of making her stomach churn. “You agreed to a date… or do I need to tattle to that kid of yours that his mother is a liar?”
“Careful, Matt, or you might give me the wrong impression that you’re prepared to start a war.”
He didn’t seem phased one bit, merely nudged his phone again.
Lacey eyed it, then with resignation, picked it up. She was already regretting this.