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Maybe I’ve been looking at everything wrong, that it’s not Mack and how he is, but me and how I let my mother make me. Gran’s right about that one. I knew it the moment Vic told me what I do because of how I am.
But that whole blistering speech Mack gave my mother tells me he’ll never ever try to lock me up, never take away my choices and . . .
I get my toiletries and pack those. I zip up my case and slide my computer into my handbag, and pushing my glasses up my nose, I jot a note for Gran and head out the door.
* * *
Sarah smiles at me when I reach reception. For a minute, her smile falters until I pull out my card.
“Vic’s staying on for however long she wants, so you can keep hold of this, I’ll pick it up later.”
“That’s not how . . .” Then her smile comes back, full force. “If this means what I think it means, that’s perfect.”
“I’m going to talk to Mack.”
She sags a little and squeezes my hand. “Thank fuck. Dakota says she’s about to shoot both Lawson and Mack. Lawson for snapping at her, Mack for being the bear with the thorn making his twin snap at her.”
Heat floods my cheeks. “I didn’t mean for him to upset her.”
Sarah laughs. “No, hon, you didn’t. She just gets a little ornery. Lawson doesn’t call her Wildcat for nothing. We’re on your side, and Mack’s one of the best. Would walk through fire for those he loves. But you already know that. In your case, he drove, of course.”
“I’m just going to talk to him.”
She rolls her eyes. “He’s a Burns brother. They see what they like, they make a claim, and they’re not about to let go. Ask Dakota. She’s one of the fiercest, strongest women I know, and that Lawson, he saw, he fell, he claimed, y’know?” Then she twists her rings. “These men are all some version of that. Welcome to the club.”
I thank her and head out, a little dazed. Three days ago, I’d have been running. Or thinking about it. I guess I still am thinking of running. But I want to run to rather than away.
I get in my Audi and head to Mack’s. This is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done in my life. Ever.
It’s not until I pull up in his driveway, hands shaking, that it hits me what I’m doing. I’m not just here to tell him how I feel, to see if we can work.
I’m taking control.
That’s what the motto is.
To live the life I want, to have what I want, the love, the tears, the laughter, the forever, I have to take control and risk everything to do it. Lay my soul bare. Go through flames. I might not get to live that life. He might say no, and I’ll fall flat on my face, but if I don’t take control and do this, then I won’t ever get that chance to live. I might as well marry whoever Mom wants me to marry.
Which isn’t an option.
My heart thumps hard and wild, and my pulse picks up to a frantic pace.
I knock on his door with a shaking hand.
Mack answers the door, dressed in clean dark jeans, nice boots, and a black T-shirt. His keys are in his hand, and he looks like he’s headed out. He also has what looks like an overnight bag. My stomach lurches.
“Mack.”
“Princess.”
I suck in a breath. “I guess you’re heading out somewhere, so I’ll try not to keep you.”
Those warm brown eyes drown me as he waits.
“But I needed to talk to you. I-I want to buy the cabin.”
Both his brows climb. “My cabin?”
“Yes. But it’ll depend on the perks.”
