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Delaney stood in the room, her mouth dropping open, as she slowly spun in a circle. “I love it.”
“What do you say?” I asked Delaney.
Delaney stopped mid-spin and ran for Mac, and unlike her father, he dipped to meet her, lifting her in his arms. Her arms tightened around his neck, and she said, “Thank you. Thank you.” Then she placed kisses over his face as his eyes closed.
“You’re welcome, sweet girl,” he said as he dropped her back to the floor, his throat tight with emotion.
He was falling for my daughter. Maybe he already had.
It took a while to get Delaney calm enough to fall asleep in her made-over room. When she was finally out, we got ready for bed and lay on our backs in Mac’s king bed. I loved it here. It was quiet and spacious, and I felt content in a way I hadn’t when I was married to Carter.
“We should have twinkly lights on the ceiling,” I teased.
Mac rolled to his side so his head was propped on his hand. “It would be a nice addition.”
“I can’t believe you did that.” He’d bought furniture and lights. He thought about what she might like. Emotion clogged my throat.
“I wanted her to feel at home here.”
“I don’t think she’s ever going to want to leave.”
He kissed me softly. “That’s the idea.”
He couldn’t be saying he wanted us to move in here. I couldn’t with the B&B opening soon anyway. I couldn’t believe he’d be ready for something like that anytime soon.
“I like having you here.” He kissed me a second time.
The soft kisses turned longer and deeper as he slowly removed our clothes. I savored every touch and soft press of his lips. By the time he entered me, I was soft, pliant, and ready for him. With long, sure strokes, he built me up only to send me over the edge. There was no other way to describe it other than making love.
My chest expanded with emotion, and my mind went to places it shouldn’t. I imagined a future with Mac, living here, hiring a manager for the B&B, and maybe even having another child. It was crazy to let myself go there, but I couldn’t help it. I’d fallen for Mac despite any logic or reason. I just hoped he was in this with me.
CHAPTER18
MAC
Over the weekend, we stayed in our bubble, not leaving my house except to go to my family’s Sunday dinner. We arrived together, but no one mentioned it.
As it was, I was close to freaking out with Natalie’s ex in town. What did he want? To get her back? It was a trigger for me. One I was desperately trying to fight off. It was easy over the weekend when it was just us, but now, Delaney was back in school, and I was at work.
Ever since Natalie left this morning to meet Carter at the coffee shop downtown, I was tense and short with everyone around me. A few times, a member of my crew asked if I got up on the wrong side of the bed.
I couldn’t explain it away by saying my girlfriend’s ex-husband was in town and attempting to get her back. There was zero chance he was here for Delaney. I’d heard what he’d said on the porch and how he’d greeted her. He’d proven what kind of dad he was already, and I wasn’t impressed.
He’d had everything I’d ever wanted, and he’d fucked it up royally. He didn’t deserve Natalie or Delaney. But I couldn’t help but wonder if Natalie would see things differently. If there was enough history and love that she’d overlook what he’d done so that Delaney could be with her father.
Natalie was a good mother like that. She wanted the best for Delaney, sometimes at the expense of herself. That’s why she stayed in South Carolina after Carter left and why she might do something drastic now.
I couldn’t control this situation, and it was driving me crazy. I gripped the back of my neck after I dropped the wrench on the floor.
“Boss, why don’t you take a break. We’ve got this,” Luis said.
I nodded and followed his suggestion because I wasn’t any good to the project right now. I was grumpy and accident-prone. If I didn’t break something, I was going to hurt myself or someone else. Then I’d have to explain that to my dad and brothers.
I stood outside for a few seconds before checking the time again. What could they possibly have to talk about for an hour?
“I’m going for a walk,” I said to no one as I made my way through the inn and to the sidewalk. I was a man on a mission as I stalked toward the shop they were supposed to meet at.
Why should I stand back and let this asshole steamroll my relationship? He didn’t deserve Natalie or Delaney. The thoughts were rolling around in my head so quickly I couldn’t find one to stop on.
