Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Lacey glanced up at Mack out of the corner of her eye. His hand was laced with her own, and they were wandering along a creek. Ducks quacked and swam along with them, likely hoping they’d get fed.
Bridger held her other hand and pointed with excitement at the animals.
It had been a week since she’d finally given in and chosen happiness over her fears. It wasn’t hard to get close to Mack when he was just as sweet as he’d always been. The only thing she worried about was Bridger letting it slip that they’d been spending more time with him.
Angela still didn’t know, though she’d stopped talking about him.
After she got back from her trip to Billings, Angela had sworn off men. Bridger had been confused over the notion, and Angela had just brushed him off.
Today, Angela had a couple of meetings in Billings but promised to be home later tonight, which left Lacey with a whole day of basking in the glow of her budding relationship with Mack.
He leaned closer to her before brushing a kiss to her knuckles. She snuck a look at him again before offering him a shy smile. It was still strange to be in this position. Not only dating someone, but Mack specifically.
Mack caught her eye and grinned. “I was thinking about something. And of course you can say no.”
“What is it?” she laughed. There was nothing he could do to surprise her. Lately, she expected the unexpected.
He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned at her again. “Well, you know how I’m training to enter the bronc riding event at the next rodeo?”
She nodded.
“What would you say to the possibility of Bridger coming out to the ranch and learning the ropes?”
Lacey was wrong. He could surprise her. “Absolutely not.”
He stared at her for a moment, then his face split with a grin. “No, I mean, would he like to learn how to ride? Or take care of the animals? I thought with his interest in animals that he might enjoy hanging out with me after my training and get some education at the same time.”
She gaped at him. Granted, she’d assumed that he meant teaching Bridger how to ride a bucking horse. But this was much better. “You… want to teach him how to ride?”
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?”
Lacey flinched.
Angela threw another shirt into her suitcase and gave it a shove. “You’ve never been interested in dating anyone. I’ve tried to set you up with several men over the years. And suddenly, when I have an interest in a guy, you just… steal him away.”
“That’s not how it was,” Lacey insisted, taking a step toward her sister. “Just let me explain.”
“You don’t have to explain. I get it. He’s handsome and charming and he seems perfect. But you know what? He isn’t.”
Lacey folded her arms, her head rearing back a moment. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” Angela snapped. “Absolutely nothing. You know what? The two of you deserve each other.”
Head reeling, Lacey gaped at her sister as she continued packing up her belongings. “Where are you going?”
“I’m gonna stay at the motel down the street from my shop.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
Angela stopped and glowered at her sister.
If looks could kill, Lacey would be a pile of ash on the floor.
She shook her head with fury. “I can’t stay here.
Not… now.” Her face was red, and a tear slipped from her cheek.
She took a deep breath, and the anger was replaced by an agony that Lacey hadn’t seen coming.
Angela opened her mouth for a moment, then she snapped it shut with another shake of her head. “Goodbye, Lacey.”
She snatched up her luggage and draped her jacket over her arm before she marched toward the door. Then she stopped suddenly before she opened it. Keeping her back to Lacey, she whispered, “After everything I’ve done for you… I can’t believe this… is how you’d repay me.”
Her words stung deeper than Lacey had thought possible. Angela was mad. She had every right to be. And eventually, she’d realize that Lacey hadn’t done anything wrong. When she’d cooled off, she would give Lacey a chance to explain, and they would make up.
Lacey had to believe that. If she didn’t allow herself to have hope, then she’d crumble right here, right now on the floor.
She settled on the edge of the couch, a tingling numbness flooding her entire body. The door opened, but Angela didn’t slam it shut. She muttered something to Mack—hopefully nothing that would be bad for Bridger to hear. Then she stormed down the balcony toward the stairs.
Bent in half, Lacey put her head in her hands. Her fingers dug into her hair at her scalp as she went over the conversation she’d had with Angela. There was one thing that stood out—one thing that made her second guess her decision to let Mack in her life.
He’s not what he seems.
You two deserve each other.
What could she mean by that? Was Mack hiding something? Of course he was hiding something. No one was as perfect as he appeared to be. On paper, maybe. But in real life, everyone had baggage they didn’t want to see the light of day.
A soft touch on her arm dragged her from her reverie, and she jumped with a yelp. Mack peered down at her with Bridger at his side. The two of them were holding hands, staring at her like they were worried she would shatter into a million pieces.
They weren’t far off.
Angela was the only one in her life—besides Sammie—who cared about her unconditionally. She’d been one of the only people Lacey could trust. The bond between sisters was strong.
But apparently not strong enough to survive the betrayal of falling for the other’s crush.
“Mom? Are you okay?”
She nodded, forcing a smile.
Still, Bridger frowned. “But you’re crying.”
Lacey swiped at her face and jumped to her feet, heaving a sigh. “I’m fine, kiddo. How about you go get into your pajamas, ‘kay?”
Her son had to be one of the most intuitive children there was. The way he continued staring at her, ignoring her request, made it clear that he wasn’t convinced of her answer. He could tell she wanted him to leave the room, and he wasn’t ready to do that yet.
Mack squeezed his hand, and Bridger looked up at him. “It’s okay, kid. Let me talk to your mom for a minute.”
Bridger nodded after sending one more concerned glance in Lacey’s direction. Then he released Mack and hurried to the bedroom. Only when the door was shut did Mack reach for Lacey.
She was too out of it to push him away when he pulled her into his arms. He held her tight, not saying a single word. Her mind buzzed in all sorts of directions until she realized what was happening.
Stiffening, she brought up her hands and gave Mack a gentle shove. “I think you should go.”
“What? Why?”
She couldn’t bear to meet his eyes. She knew if she did, she’d lose her resolve. She had to figure out what to do next. She needed to decide if her relationship with Mack was worth the turmoil she’d brought into her family and her relationship with her sister.
A lump formed in her throat, preventing her from saying anything that might make sense in this situation. She couldn’t tell him the truth. He’d only argue with her and tell her they’d figure things out.
Hating how much she actually wanted that outcome, she squeezed her eyes shut. “I just need some time to think. I need to figure out what to say to her when I see her again.”
“Lacey—”
She could hear the argument in his voice—the sheer determination that he wasn’t going to leave her alone like this. Lacey should have felt loved by how much he cared about her, but all she could think about was how she’d hurt her sister—how she’d ruined everything.
“No,” she said firmly. “You’re not going to stay.” Her eyes lifted to meet his, pleading with him to just accept what she was asking of him. “This isn’t the end. I’m not breaking up with you,” she whispered. “I just… need some time.”
The pain etched in his expression only made her feel worse. Thankfully, he didn’t fight her further. He gave her a curt nod then dropped down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m here if you need me.”
“Mack? Can you read me a bedtime story?”
They both jumped and glanced toward the bedroom door. Mack didn’t even look down at Lacey to check with her before he murmured. “Not tonight, kid. I’ve got a lot of stuff to do in the morning, and I need to get going.”
Bridger frowned, his focus shifting to Lacey as if he knew she was behind this decision, but he didn’t say anything.
Mack tossed her one more concerned look, then he strode for the door.