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When Carter wanted something, he went after it. I just hadn’t been the subject of his desires for a long time.
Mac opened the door, and Delaney ran in with red cheeks. “It’s so dark. Do you think it will rain?”
“It looks like it.”
Delaney did a little dance and said, “I can’t wait. I love playing in the rain.”
Delaney didn’t seem to be fazed by her father showing up on her front porch. I was grateful for that, but she tended to confide in me when I tucked her into bed. I’d need to be prepared for her questions.
My phone buzzed. It was Carter saying he’d checked into another B&B down the street and wanted to schedule a time to talk. I put my phone away, not ready to deal with him and what his presence might mean.
My life was about to be turned inside out, and I wasn’t ready for it. I wished I could close my eyes and transport myself back to the last few weeks when we’d spent our free time with Mac and Rocky, either at my place or at Mac’s. We’d gotten close but not close enough to withstand the windstorm that was my ex.
We decided to stay at Mac’s all weekend. We’d left some clothes here for weekends when we decided to stay over. Delaney thought it was one big sleepover.
I finally agreed to meet Carter on Monday. He could wait.
We made pizzas and cooked them in a new brick oven Sam installed in his outdoor kitchen. He’d put on the fire outside and turned on a few heaters so we could enjoy the mountain view. Even though it was windy, it never rained.
When it was time for Delaney to get ready for bed, she shrieked from the guest room.
“It’s probably a spider,” I said as I took off for the bedroom. I paused in the doorway, not sure what I was seeing.
“What’s this?” I asked Mac when he joined me.
He draped his arm over my shoulder. “I wanted her to feel more at home here.”
There was a wooden loft twin bed over a double, a desk with a lamp, and a round chair for her to read in. Delaney was drawn to a chair that hung from the ceiling. She sat on the small cushion, drawing the curtains around herself. “This is so cool.”
“The best part is that it lights up.” Mac showed her the switch, and twinkly lights spread over the transparent material. “Sam helped me with it after he installed the oven.”
“I can’t believe you did this. It’s too much,” I said when he moved closer, his expression filled with delight.
“She loves it. That’s all that matters.”
“Well, yeah. But now she’s not going to want to live in her bedroom at my place,” I said, feeling a little uncomfortable with his thoughtful gift. It wasn’t something I could provide for her right now.
He rubbed a hand over my cheek. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
There was nothing about the room that screamed Delaney, so maybe I could justify this as a space for Maggie when she visited. But it felt like he’d done this specifically for her. It was more of a tween bedroom than a little girl’s. I rested a palm on his chest. “It’s amazing. Thank you for making her feel at home.”
He squeezed me tighter to his body. “We should talk to her. Tell her we’re more than friends.”
“I think she suspects, but I agree.” Especially with her father around. We weren’t careful around her. We held hands and hugged but never kissed. And if it made Mac more comfortable, I’d do it.
I didn’t want him to doubt us or what we had. I wasn’t sure if we’d make it, but I liked him. He was a good man who deserved happiness. I liked to think I did too.
Just because my marriage didn’t work out didn’t mean there weren’t great guys out there. Mac was one of the best. I’d be lucky to have him in our future.
Delaney hopped out of the swinging chair and opened her drawers. “All of my things are here.”
There was even a basket of stuffed animals in the corner that Delaney could put on the bed. He’d thought of everything.
“There’s one more surprise,” Mac said with a grin.
“What is it?” Delaney asked, her voice filled with anticipation.
Mac flipped a switch that turned off the overhead light and flipped on another one that lit up twinkle lights. They were hung on the bottom of the loft and around the room, crisscrossing to light up the room.
