Page 49 of Inescapable Love

“I don’t want to hurt him either.” By getting involved with someone before I was ready. By thinking I could scale his walls when they were impenetrable. But thinking about him dancing with my daughter had me melting all over again. Anytime I remembered our encounter in the kitchen, I remembered how my body reacted to his. I wanted him.

“You should go for it,” Kylie said.

“I’m not like you.” I wasn’t reckless. I thought about things before I did them.

Alice set her plate on the coffee table and sat back on the couch. “Do what feels right, then.”

If I did what I wanted, I’d jump him as soon as he came home and Delaney was tucked into bed. I just wasn’t sure if he’d be into it or if it was a good idea. Sometimes, being a responsible adult sucked.

“You deserve this time to figure things out and explore what you want.”

“Yeah, but this isn’t some guy I picked up at a bar.” Not that I ever did that, but it had to be said. “This is Mac. Your future brother-in-law, your family friend, and he’s renovating my house. He’s clearly bonded with Delaney, and I can’t mess that up.”

“What if he’s the one for you? What if those other women didn’t work out because you were meant for him?” Alice asked.

“And I was married to someone else? That’s some twisted fate.” I didn’t want to listen to what she was saying because it was convincing. I wanted a reason to pursue Mac, and she was giving it to me.

Kylie waggled her brows. “You’re here now—and single.”

“Between us, we have enough baggage to fill a plane,” I said, brushing crumbs from the fortune cookie off my lap.

“What does your fortune say?” Kylie asked as she made a grab for the piece of paper I hadn’t unfolded yet.

“Your wildest dreams are about to come true.” Kylie’s voice raised as she read each word.

“See? It’s meant to be,” Alice agreed.

“I don’t know if a fortune cookie proves anything,” I insisted, even as I felt myself giving in to the possibility. What would Mac do if I kissed him tonight? Would he push me away? Would he say he wasn’t interested, or would he kiss me back? The thought sent a tingle down my spine.

“Is this why Mac sent you over, to butter me up for him?” I teased.

Alice rolled her eyes. “He’s just as resistant as you. He insists that you’re friends.”

“He’s just there for us.” And it felt good. Too good.

“Oh, I love this part,” Kylie said, turning up the volume on the TV. We finished eating, and I cleaned up the trash while the girls watched the show. It was nice to have friends who’d come over like this. It had only been a short while, but I was settling in here. Making friends and a home for myself. Did I really want to pursue something with Mac that could risk everything I’d worked so hard for?

I wasn’t like Carter. I wasn’t irresponsible.

When I received a text from Mac saying they were on their way home, I refrained from asking how Delaney was. I wanted to hear it from her. It was funny how it was nice to have a few hours to myself, but it made me miss her more.

Shortly after, I ushered the girls out, thanking them for coming. They didn’t say anything else about what I planned to do with Mac. I preferred to see how things went tonight. I knew how I felt, and if he made a move, I wouldn’t put a stop to it. I was teetering on the edge, and one small nudge would send me over.

I was ready when the knock came because I heard the rumble of Mac’s truck. As soon as I opened the door, Delaney burst in and hugged me. “It was so fun. I wish you could have come too.”

I laughed, looking over her head at Mac. “Then it wouldn’t be called the daddy-daughter dance.” I tensed, hoping I hadn’t just reminded her of her absentee father.

“Tell me everything,” I insisted as she pulled away and flopped onto the couch.

“It was amazing.”

“Did you have fun too?” I asked Mac.

“It was great. I even met some of the other dads. Apparently, I was there to hold her things while she danced with her friends and to stand in line for the photo booth.”

He’d said it with a smile, but I was concerned about how Delaney treated him. “Did you make Mac stand on the sideline when you played with your friends?”

Mac held up a hand. “That’s what the other dads did. Delaney stood in line with me.”

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