Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Anger was the first sensation Mack recognized when he’d heard Lacey’s confession.
He released it just as quickly as it came.
He didn’t know the whole story. She was a teenager.
She’d likely needed to have help raising Bridger.
There was no telling what she was going through and how her parents chose to help.
The only reason that anger came to the surface was the way Lacey had said it. Clearly, she’d been hurt or betrayed by her parents in this situation. Regardless, he’d spoken the truth.
Lacey was a good mother. She did everything she could to take care of her son. He might even say she was overly protective.
They finished their dance, and a faster song started playing. He didn’t want to yell over the music, so he led her toward the counter where they could order some drinks, and then he took her to a corner of the room.
She didn’t seem against the idea of sitting for a little while. He got the distinct feeling that she might even want to talk more about her past. But when they settled down in their chairs, she didn’t add to her story.
Mack could have pried. He could have asked her to tell him more so he knew whether or not he should be mad at her parents. Instead, he chose to share something himself.
He stared at his soda and spun the cup around as he gathered his thoughts.
“My parents haven’t exactly been on my side, either.
” Mack could sense her surprise. She’d likely thought that his folks were great.
She’d been to the house and other events when she’d been invited by Sammie. Still, he pushed forward.
“I never made the best choices. To this day, they’re still trying to get me to follow a path they think is best for me.”
“At least they believe in you,” she murmured.
He snorted. “Not in the way you might think.” Mack risked looking up at her, and the world around them faded away. Her eyes seemed to be capable of looking deep into his soul. He wouldn’t be surprised if he added nothing to this conversation, and she would still understand him.
Lacey cocked her head, indicating she was curious what he meant.
This woman had the ability to pin him to his spot and make him feel like the most important person in the world, and he got the feeling she didn’t even know she was doing it.
Leaning back in his chair, he let out a wry chuckle. “I think I told you that I was interested in the rodeo.”
She nodded, but that was all.
“Well, my folks don’t think it’s a viable option for a career.
To them, it’s a hobby—and a dangerous one at that.
They don’t think I’d make anything of myself.
If I had to guess, I’d say they’d want me to take the money they saved for me and go to college, even though I’d be one of the oldest freshmen there. ”
Lacey leaned forward. “So, you think that they’re not proud of you, and you’re just a big disappointment.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Sounds about right.”
“Well, what are you going to do? You’re not going to listen to them, are you? You’re going to chase after your dream, right?”
Mack stiffened. She’d practically said the same thing Caleb had. Chase his dreams. Do what makes him happy. And he needed to stop caring about what his folks thought. He swallowed the lump of emotion in his throat. “Actually, I was thinking about doing just that.”
She grinned, situating herself back in her seat once more. “Good. Because I think we should all be doing something that brings us happiness.”
He matched her smile with one of his own. “Yeah. We should.”
Silence fell between them again, and his thoughts drifted to the other elephant in the room—the reason she didn’t want to go on a date with him.
“So…” he drawled, “what about Angela?”
Immediately, she frowned.
“I know it bothers you that she liked me.”
Lacey huffed. “I’m pretty sure she’s obsessed with you. She still talks about you.”
“I can’t control that.”
“I know.” She could have snapped the statement at him, but she surprised him. The acknowledgement was softer, more thoughtful than anything else.
“And you don’t want to date me because…”
Her eyes shot up to meet his.
He pushed a little harder. “I think you don’t want to date me because you feel guilty. You don’t want to hurt your sister because she liked me. But the thing is, we had something going on before she got here.”
She shook her head. “It’s not as simple as that.”
“Then break it down for me.”
Lacey heaved a sigh and stirred her drink with her straw.
She nibbled on her lip and sighed again.
He might have laughed if he wasn’t so invested in finding out what she was about to say.
Mack nearly lost his patience and told her to just spit it out, but then she finally spoke.
“Okay, it might be as simple as that. She’s my sister.
She had a crush on you when we were younger, and it only got worse as she got older.
I think it would really hurt her if she found out you were interested in her little sister. ”
Even in this lighting, dimmer in their corner, he could tell she was blushing. She avoided looking directly at him, and he had to wait for her to get up the courage to meet his gaze before he spoke.
“We don’t have to tell her anything… not right away… if that would help.”
She watched him, her expression unreadable. He wasn’t sure if that was the right thing to say.
Mack reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I want you to know that I really care about you. I want to be part of your life in whatever capacity you’ll allow me.”
Still, she seemed to hesitate saying anything to him. She was holding her cards so tight to her chest that there was no way he’d know what she was thinking until she gave him a clue.
He squeezed her hand. “And this is more than my feelings for you.”
Her brows pulled together, creasing at the bridge of her nose.
His throat threatened to close up as he fought to say what was in his heart. “I care about Bridger, too.”
Lacey’s eyes widened. It made him wonder if she’d ever given anyone a chance to get to know her son. More than that, had anyone admitted to caring for Bridger?
Not likely on both counts.
Her jaw trembled, and she looked away.
Uh oh.
At least she didn’t pull her hand from his grasp. She was still holding onto him. If anything, her hold on him had tightened.
Mack stood and moved his chair closer to her, so they were seated side by side rather than across from one another. She peeked at him and offered him a teary smile. “I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, prepared to tell her once again not to apologize, but he didn’t get a chance.
“You’re something else, you know that?” Lacey whispered. “You were nothing like I expected.”
It was his turn to be surprised. Was she trying to tell him that she was open to something more? He shifted in his seat and leaned even closer, wiping at a stray tear she’d let slip down her cheek. “I can work with that.”
She laughed.
“Really, we can work through any issues—especially in regards to your sister.” He watched her carefully, holding his breath as he waited for her to turn him down once again.
But she didn’t.
Lacey pulled her lip between her teeth. Her nervous energy was palpable. But then she nodded.
Wait, was she saying what he thought he was saying?
He couldn’t bring himself to voice it, as if doing so would make her change her mind. And yet he couldn’t avoid doing just that. “Really?”
She gave him a flat look, and he snapped his mouth shut after letting out a chuckle.
“I’m going to date you so good your head will spin,” he said almost gleefully.
“Well.”
“What?”
Lacey snickered. “You’re going to date me well…”
He stared at her for a moment then threw his head back and laughed. Then without warning her, he pushed his hand behind the nape of her neck and pulled her close. “Whatever makes you happy,” he whispered, before his lips crushed over hers.
The best part was the way she kissed him back.
She actually leaned into him, opened up to him, and gave herself over.
His whole body thrummed with energy and desire. He didn’t hear the music or the crowds of people around him. The only thing that mattered was the connection he was making with this beautiful woman in front of him.
No one had the capacity of making him feel this way—like he was capable of anything. She wanted him to be happy, and she actually believed in him.
A soft sigh escaped her lips when their kiss came to an end.
Her lashes fluttered before her focus returned to him.
He could have died happy just seeing that smile on her face.
Mack jerked his chin toward the dance floor.
“What do you say we have some more fun before you have to get back home to your boy.”
He stood and held out his hand to her. Somehow, he was still surprised when she accepted, and he tugged her to her feet.
With a fluid movement, he slipped his arm around her waist and tugged her against his body. A quiet gasp escaped her lips, and her arms wrapped around his neck. Something had shifted. He could sense it in the way she leaned into him. He’d finally shattered the walls she’d erected around her.
Mack leaned down, stealing one more kiss before he led her into the crowd of people.