Page 20 of Sideline Sweetheart
I lift her hand to my lips and place a kiss on her fingers, as I pull into my parking space in the garage. “Oh, yeah?”
“Mhmm, and sexy,” she practically purrs.
I can’t stop my grin from appearing. “Sexy, huh?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Sexy enough to skip dinner and the surprise I have for you?”
Mackenzie laughs as her stomach growls again. “I think you better feed me first.”
“Good idea, you’re going to need your strength for later,” I say with a wink as I get out the car and walk around to open her door and help her out. I entwine our fingers as we walk to the elevator in silence. Once the doors open, we step inside, and I push the button for my floor. As the elevator rises, I pull Mackenzie in front of me and rest my hands on her hips. “So, since you are traveling with us to Colorado, I wanted to ask if you’d have dinner with me and my parents Friday night.”
Mackenzie pulls back, her eyes searching mine. “You want me to meet your parents?”
“I do, but if you think it’s too soon, I understand.”
I’m about to withdraw my offer completely, when Mackenzie’s posture softens and she says, “I’d love to meet them.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says with a shrug. “They sound like sweet people, and I kind of like their son, a lot.”
Her comment makes me smile. “Good, because their son likes you a lot too.”
Chapter Twelve
Mackenzie
The momentwe step into Bryce’s apartment we are greeted with the most delicious aroma. “You cooked?”
Bryce laughs and kisses my cheek. “Don’t sound so surprised, Mom made sure I knew how to cook a few things before I left for college.”
“Well, whatever she taught you to make smell delicious.”
“Thanks,” he says as he walks into the kitchen. “This is chicken cacciatore. Would you like a glass of wine while I make the polenta?”
“Yes, please,” I say as I take a seat at the breakfast bar, while he pours me a glass of red wine. Bryce sets the glass of wine in front of me, and I take a sip. “Can I help you with anything?”
“No, this won’t take long, I had the stock warming while I came to pick you up.”
“I would have been happy to drive over so you didn’t have to interrupt your cooking.”
He glances over his shoulder at me as he stirs the polenta. “But then I’d have to say goodbye to you sooner.”
A boldness I’ve not had before fills me as I run my finger around the rim of my wine glass. “Who says I would have left?”
His eyes fly to mine as he reaches a plate to dish up the polenta. “Don’t tease me, Mackenzie Flynn.”
I school my expression to the most innocent I can muster. “I would never.”
Bryce hums as he eyes me suspiciously and rounds the corner with a plate in each hand. I pick up my wine and his glass of water and I follow him to the table. “This looks delicious,” I say as he sets the plate on the table and pulls out my chair.
I take a seat and Bryce leans into my ear as he scoots it back in. “Wait until you see what I have planned for dessert.”
A shiver rolls through me as his warm breath tickles my ear. I turn and with his mouth is dangerously close to mine I can’t help but wet mine in anticipation. “I can’t wait,” I whisper as my eyes dance back up to his.
“Me either,” he replies before dropping a brief kiss on my lips and then taking his seat across from me.
