pompous prick with too high of an opinion of himself.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
“He left you. At the altar, Mack. You went on vacation. You wanted an adventure . . .” I squeezed her tighter. “Never apologize for wanting to live.”
I meant it.
“Thanks.”
“Mack, any girl that saves herself for the man she’s going to marry and then gives it away the way you did is so blindly trusting of other humans. It says so much about you, about your character. And the guy who took it without looking back? Well, let’s just say that guy is just as much of an asshole as the one who let you get away.”
“Oh yeah?” she whispered. “Why’s that?”
“Because for a few brief moments of his life he had it all—and threw it away because he couldn’t see past his own mistakes.”
We were quiet the rest of the movie.
She fell asleep in my arms.
So I picked her up, refusing to let her go even if she did wake up for a second, and placed her in my bed.
Where she should have been since the day I walked away without a second glance.
Next to me.
In my arms.
In my life.
Where she was always supposed to be.
When my eyes flickered to the portrait on the nightstand, I smiled. A real smile. Because with the way the picture was facing her—it almost looked like my dad was laughing in approval.
And the best part?
It kinda felt like he was.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
MACKENZIE
I woke up with the picture of Slade’s dad staring me down. Sunlight crept through the windows of his massive bedroom. And I had a hundred and ninety pounds of muscle wrapped around me.
Shirtless.
Tears pricked my eyes.
This was how I was supposed to have woken up in Mexico.
It wasn’t fair.
I tried to slowly pull away.
But he kept me pinned at his side, his nose nuzzling my hair, his voice deep and raspy, and for the first time since working for him, his accent wrapped around me with warmth. My entire body melted.
“Sunday.” He sighed into my neck. “Remember?”
“I know, I just, I have family dinner and—”
“Perfect.” He pulled away, leaving me confused.
“Perfect?” I repeated, voice filled with sleep. “Why is it perfect?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” I shook my head. “My dad and I are fighting, and I may not be his favorite person right now.”
“Mack, I would do anything to fight with my father again . . . don’t let something come between you, even if it seems too large to ignore. Work it out.”
I sat up and faced him. “You’re right.”
His eyes lit up. “Damn, it sounds even better than I imagined it.”
I threw a pillow at his head.
He blocked it with his hands and then tackled me against the mattress. “I’m inviting myself.”
“I see that.”
“I’m also taking you out on a date today.”
“And I’m saying yes?”
His eyes narrowed. “Of course, you do know who I am, right?” I could tell he was teasing, though.
“Careful before I suffocate you with that same pillow.”
He smiled and then sobered immediately. “Let me spoil you today.”
I tried to swallow past the knot in my throat and finally got out, “No yelling? Or accusing me of trapping you into marriage?”
He scowled. “If anyone’s trying to trap anyone, it’s me . . . trapping you. And fair warning, Mack, I always play to win.” He lowered his eyes to my chest.
I looked down.
And I was in nothing but my bra and underwear.
I let out a little gasp. “You, you!” I jabbed my finger at him. “You took my clothes off!”
“I asked your permission.” He winked and then got out of bed wearing only a pair of Nike joggers and a smile. “I took your grunt and snore as your stamp of approval.”
I buried my face in my hands and groaned.
“Hey, at least Alfie knows he’s not the only one who makes noises in his sleep.”
I grabbed the sheet and followed him into the massive bathroom just as he dropped his pants and turned on the shower.
I turned away. And nearly passed out when I felt his body behind me, his hands on my shoulders. “Join me.”
“I shouldn’t.”
“You really”—he ran his fingers down my arms—“really should.”
“I’d be naked.”
“Most showers take place that way, yes, unless you’d rather wear this sheet?” He pulled it down my body until it pooled at my feet.
Next he was unhooking my bra.
I shivered as it fell to the floor, then swayed as heat pulsed between my thighs the minute those same fingertips tugged