AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He said he wanted to make her feel better by attending the dance, but he’d been genuinely excited about going. It was clear he wanted to plan something special. Who knew the way to my heart was through my daughter’s?
Mac had softened my resolve with that one act. His resistance must have been stronger than mine because nothing had changed between us. Maybe he’d written off all women because of a past experience.
I hoped he wouldn’t hurt Delaney. It was only natural he’d drift away when the renovation was complete. As much as I needed this renovation to be done so I could start taking reservations, I enjoyed having Mac in my space.
I was hyperaware when he was on-site. I loved listening to the rumble of his voice while he talked to his crew, giving instructions or joking around. If I was being honest with myself, he was the reason I worked at the front counter. I wanted to be near him, even when something more between us wasn’t logical.
When a soft knock sounded on the door, Delaney dropped her book and jumped up to answer it.
I saw Mac’s silhouette through the door, so I didn’t stop her.
“You’re here,” my daughter said to Mac, and my heart contracted. His hair was damp from his shower, and he smelled faintly of aftershave. It was a heady combination.
Mac’s gaze met mine over her head, and my face heated at where my mind had gone—Mac naked in his shower, water flowing over the hard angles of his muscles. Had he thought of me?
Mac winked at me before stepping inside. “I said I’d be here, didn’t I?”
Since the updates, he’d been to our personal quarters one other time when his mother was babysitting, and I’d forgotten how his presence seemed to take up all the available space.
Delaney merely nodded, but I sensed the insecurity swirling inside her.
Mac dropped down to her level, meeting her gaze, and said, “I always keep my promises.”
Delaney tilted her head to the side as if she were considering him.
He smiled softly, and my heart ached. “You don’t have to believe me yet. I’ll prove it to you.”
I looked forward to that. A man who didn’t let us down would be a nice change. Carter frequently said he’d be somewhere and then didn’t show up. We stopped expecting him to after a while.
Mac stood without waiting for her response and revealed a bouquet of flowers he’d hidden behind his back.
“For me?” Delaney asked hopefully.
Mac smiled wide. “Yes, for you, beautiful girl.”
“They’re gorgeous,” I said, moving a chair to get the vase I’d placed in the seldom-used cupboard above the fridge.
“I’ll get it,” Mac said, easily opening it, finding the vase, and pulling it down. “Is this what you wanted?”
“Yes, thank you.” I filled the vase with water and took the arrangement from Delaney so I could trim the stems and place them carefully into the water.
Delaney sniffed the petals once I’d set the vase on the counter. “These smell nice.”
“Beautiful flowers for beautiful girls.”
I let out a sigh at his words. I could close my eyes and almost imagine he was here to take us out for real. I let his words settle over me like the stars blanketing the sky on a clear night.
“Want to see my room?” Delaney asked, holding her hand out to him.
“I renovated your room, remember? I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with it.” Mac turned back to me with a wink as he let her lead him down the hall.
My heart pitter-pattered in my chest. I wouldn’t survive this. How could there be this seemingly perfect man in our lives who had valid reasons not to get involved with a woman and her daughter? Yet, here he was, taking us out to dinner and escorting my daughter to a school dance.
He was interested but wouldn’t let himself make a move? I wish I knew more about him. I had a feeling that, even if I knew all his reasons for him staying away from us, I wouldn’t be able to change his mind.
My reasons for waiting to pursue something went out the window when he was sweet-talking my daughter or bringing us flowers. He’d done so many thoughtful things already: renovating the owner’s suite so we could move in, arranging for a couch to be delivered to the family room of the B&B, and introducing us to his family so I’d have their support too.
He was a good man, and he’d be perfect for any woman. Why couldn’t he see that? Or was it me he didn’t want? I didn’t like that thought.
