He turned her to face him. “What is it?”
“Well…I might have one reservation.”
His gut twisted. “What’s that?”
“I want to be sure you’re not still freaked out about losing someone you care about. You know I’m a risk-taker at heart. I’ll try to change. I don’t know if I can do it, but I’ll try.”
Was that all? Piece of cake. “Do I want to wrap you in bubble wrap and not let you face anything dangerous? Of course, I do. But your adventurous spirit is what makes you who you are. I would never ask you to change that. I like who you are. Very much.” He slid his arms around her waist and drew her closer.
“I know I keep saying this, but ditto for me.” She chuckled, then her expression sobered. “I think you should kiss me to fortify me for the coming meal.”
“Your family’s great. A meal with them can’t be all that bad, can it?”
“There will be a lot of matchmaking going on. I meana lot.” Her eyes widened. “By the time we finish eating, you’ll want to escape for sure. Another walk can be arranged.”
“Then I guess I need that kiss as much as you do.” He lowered his head and touched his lips to hers. They were soft, but cold like her hands. They quickly warmed as she snaked her arms around his neck and eased closer to him. Thankfully, her arm had healed well, and she seldom cried out in pain now.
Wow. Oh wow. He could spend hours kissing her. Had spent a lot of time thinking about it over the weeks, but the reality was so much better.
He drew her closer. Deepened the kiss. Ignored the soft mist that started spitting from the sky.
“I thought I saw you two sneak back here,” Ryleigh’s voice sounded from behind them. “I don’t want to come between you when it’s about time Mac found someone to kiss behind the shed, but Gran is calling us to the table. You can resume this mushiness after the meal.”
Mackenzie pulled back, but didn’t release her hold. “See. It’s starting already. So buckle your seatbelt and hang on for the ride. It’s going to be a bumpy one.”
Thick slices of Gran’s coconut cake resting on her best china made their way around the table, and Mackenzie almost let out her breath of relief. Almost. She’d made it through the ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans, and rolls without a single comment or question about her and Owen. Not one family member said a word. No one even hinted at their relationship.
How could that possibly be?
Her family. Her grandparents. Mom and dad. Aunt and uncle. Siblings. Cousins. All were usually opinionated and vocal about the latest family gossip. Were they seeing something in Owen that she’d missed and thought their relationship wouldn’t last?
They sure weren’t seeing any doubt or questions on her part. She was all in with this guy. And he reciprocated. Or at least she thought he did.
She glanced at him sitting next to his mother on one side, Mackenzie’s gran on the other. Her gran said something, and Owen threw back his head to laugh with gusto.
He’d been laughing and animated the whole meal. Not giving off let-me-out-of-this-place vibes. So what?
“Okay, fine,” Mackenzie said loud enough to draw the attention of everyone at the main table and the temporary table set up in the adjoining living room. “I give up. Why is no one saying anything?”
“About what?” Her gran batted her eyelashes behind the purple glasses she wore on special occasions.
“Oh, come on, now.” Mackenzie ran her gaze over her relatives and other family guests. “Me and Owen. You comment all the time about me not finding someone. I finally do, and you go radio silent.”
Her grandad looked at his watch. “One hour and seventeen minutes. Whose time was closest?”
Londyn shot to her feet at the other table. “Me! I win. No dishes for the rest of the year for me. Woohoo!”
Everyone laughed and chatter broke out.
Mackenzie stood. “What’s going on?”
“We all decided when you two took a trip behind the shed,” her dad said, sounding a bit uneasy, “to keep quiet and guess how long it would take for you to ask about it. Whoever had the closest time doesn’t have to help with dishes for the rest of the year.”
“Of all the dirty…” She sat but quickly got into the spirit of family pranks and laughed. “Good one.”
“We thought so.” Her grandad raised his sparkling cider glass. “To Mackenzie and Owen. May they find the happiness that my sweetheart and I’ve had for untold years.”
“Untold?” Mackenzie’s mom asked. “Does that mean you don’t remember?”
