I smiled softly, still feeling the effects of the alcohol. “It was nice. I’d almost forgotten what it was like.”
Miranda patted my shoulder. “I’m happy to babysit whenever. Delaney’s delightful.”
“Let me pay you,” I said, pulling cash out of my purse.
Miranda held up her hands. “I don’t need payment. I love watching kids. There are cookies on the counter for you. I let Delaney have two before bed.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” I said as she opened the door to leave.
“Why don’t you come to family dinner on Sunday evening? That will be thanks enough.”
“Of course, we’ll come. Let me know if I can bring anything.”
“Just that lovely girl of yours. I’ll text you the address.”
“See you then,” I said, shutting the door behind her. I couldn’t believe she thought that a thank-you for babysitting was me coming to family dinner.
She wasn’t matchmaking, was she? No, that would be ridiculous. Anyone who was around Mac and me could see we didn’t get along. He was perpetually irritated with me, and I was in no position to date.
If his mother thought we were a good match, she was way off base. Her son wasn’t interested in commitment, and neither was I.
More nights like tonight would be fine, though. It had been good to get out and talk with friends. In South Carolina, everyone seemed to already have their group of friends or family nearby.
I sighed as I lay back on my bed, letting out the pent-up tension in my body. I was home. Even if my parents weren’t living here anymore, this was where I grew up and where I’d raise Delaney. It felt right. I liked Alice and Sam, and now Miranda. They’d welcomed me into their family, and I loved it. Being interested in Mac as anything other than my contractor would mess everything up. My business, the renovation, and my new friendships.
Soon, I’d have a B&B to run. My days would be busy, and Mac wouldn’t be underfoot every day. I’d forget about him. This invitation to his family dinner was a onetime thing. A way to thank Miranda for babysitting. I wouldn’t let it become a weekly thing. I needed to keep my distance from Mac.
My phone buzzed, and I pulled it out of my pocket.
Mac: You make it home okay?
Natalie: I called a service.
Mac: Good.
Natalie: You know, you don’t have to worry about me. Kylie has four older brothers who already look out for us.
Mac: Good to know.
I don’t know why I told him that. It wasn’t to make him jealous. It was to put his mind at ease. I wasn’t his responsibility. Just because I was single and alone didn’t mean I needed him to make sure I was okay. But it felt really nice.
Had Carter ever checked in on me when I went out with friends when we initially started dating in college? I didn’t think so, but then, we were young. It didn’t mean Mac was a better man than him.
But I liked it a lot. Without even changing my clothes, I drifted off with the knowledge that people cared about me. That I had a home here, and things were going to be fine.
CHAPTER 6
MAC
I didn’t know what possessed me to text Natalie last night. I had her number for professional reasons. I couldn’t fall asleep because I was worried she’d drive home or that some asshole would come on to her in the parking lot.
I couldn’t call one of the Wilde brothers and ask; they’d give me shit for it. But I was glad to see that they’d looked after her and Kylie. They were protective of their little sister, and I was glad it extended to her friends, at least when they were in the bar or the club on their property. If Natalie was going to go out, that was the safest place for her to go.
I spent the weekend getting caught up on paperwork for the business, making sure the supplies and things we needed would arrive in time so we could stay on the proposed time line. I didn’t want Natalie to worry.
I wanted all my customers to be satisfied and for the projects to be completed on time, but I felt extra pressure with the B&B. I knew Natalie needed the money that would come from reservations.
I avoided going to the site and doing any work, even though I could have used the distraction. I wasn’t ready to run into Natalie and explain why I needed to know she arrived safely home the other night.
On Sunday, I headed over to my parents’. When I got there, Mom greeted me with, “Maggie’s still recovering from a stomach bug, so they won’t be here.”
“What?” I came to family dinners to get my Maggie fix. Now that Sam wasn’t working on the B&B, I didn’t see Maggie as often. Alice only occasionally brought Maggie into her new shop.
Then I came up short when I saw Natalie and Delaney in the kitchen.
When Delaney caught me staring, she said, “Mac. I brought my game for you.”
“I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“Your mother invited us,” Natalie said.
Mom bustled into the room. “She wanted to pay me for babysitting, which is absurd. I loved hanging out with Delaney, and we made amazing cookies. You going to help with the cake later?”
“Sure,” Delaney said, a little shyly.
“Perfect. I love having helpers.”
“What am I?” I asked, pretending to be hurt.
“You help with a lot of things, but you’re not great in the kitchen.”
“That hurts.”
“I can’t wound your overgrown ego. I don’t even worry about it.”
Natalie laughed, and I couldn’t take my gaze from her. She wore a soft-looking blue sweater over light-colored jeans and boots. She looked soft and comfortable. I wanted to curl up with her on the couch. I ran a hand through my hair. Where had that come from?
Delaney tugged on my hand. “Can you play with me?”
“Absolutely.” I missed Maggie, but I was happy to play with Delaney and get to know her better. I told myself it had nothing to do with her mom.
She pulled me to the living room, where we sat on the floor and sorted the cards.
“A rematch?” I asked.
“Are you up for it?” Delaney asked, handing me the green card that saved me from the exploding cards and the other five cards.
“Absolutely.”
We played for a few minutes before I asked her, “What grade are you in?”
“Third.”
“That was a fun grade.”
“It was?”
I thought back to that time. “I have memories of playing football at recess.”
“That’s what you remember?” Delaney asked.
I smiled. “I think gym class was fun, as well.”
Delaney laughed at that. “It’s my favorite too.”
“I think it’s everyone’s favorite.” I wasn’t sure if we had anything in common, but she was more mature than Maggie. She had thoughts and opinions, and I wanted to get to know her better.
“What’s your favorite subject? Real subject,” I added when I suspected she was going to run through classes like art and P.E.
“Math,” she said, then she used her see in the future card to check the top three cards on the pile. Lifting them so I couldn’t see them, she grinned at me, then turned them back over.