"Do you have any brothers or sisters?" A large part of her always felt she'd been given the short end of the stick by the lack of parents and siblings in her life. She desperately wanted to be part of a large family unit. Which explained why she loved visiting Kayla's screwed up family. It didn't matter that each member of that family had skeletons bursting out of their designer filled closets, they were close despite their shadiness and that's all that mattered to her.
"There's five of us. Three boys and two older sisters," he said fondly. "My sisters are married. Those girls were scooped up quickly." He laughed. "Dad's stress level when those two started dating went through the roof. It was inevitable, though, they both are spitting images of Mom, who's quite attractive."
Staring at him, she had no doubt Mr. and Mrs. Donnelly were gorgeous people. The man sitting before her was a specimen of male perfection.
"How about you?" he asked.
One of the worst questions anyone could ask Mackenzie was about her family. A family that didn't exist. Never had. It wasn't as if it was meant to be a hurtful question. No one could understand how a physical pain developed in her chest each time over that simple, honest inquiry. It wasn't as if she wore a button that said "without family."
Unable to meet his gaze, she glanced out the windows.
"I don't have any family," she whispered, ashamed.
A soft, sharp inhale came from Grant's direction, but she couldn't face him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know," he said quietly.
She shook her head. "Why would you?"
Finally, she turned to him. "I was dropped off at a local church by my mother when I was four years old. The nuns took me in until I could be placed into the foster system. There's no father listed on my birth certificate. I bounced around from foster home to foster home, but something always came up where the family couldn't or wouldn't adopt me."
Grant's look of sympathy hit her in the gut. She despised that normal reaction. Time to move on. "So, what else do you do besides sign the checks for your brother's bar?"
His appreciative grin was breathtaking. "You're extraordinary, you know that right?"
"Not really." She shrugged and looked down at the worn table.
Reaching across the table, he squeezed her cupped hands. "Look at me," he demanded, his tone firm. She glanced up into those mesmerizing eyes. "Trust me."
For some inexplicable reason she did.
***
After their meal, Mackenzie and Grant stayed at the diner for another hour, lost in random, meaningless conversations. It had been the most relaxing evening she'd ever had with a guy. And it did absolutely nothing for her. Grant didn't get her skin warm and tingly. He didn't make her heart race or her blood boil. Grant didn't cause her mind to become irrational or lose her train of thought. Spending time with him was like spending time with a good friend. One of those friends that a woman would never cross the line and climb into bed with.
Now she stood on the threshold of her apartment door to say their goodnights.
"Thanks for dinner, well, if that's what you want to call it that late at night," she teased.
He smiled. "You're quite welcome."
Taking a step closer, he said softly, "Will you go out with me again?"
Sighing, she felt bad that there wasn't some sort of spark between them. "I'm sorry, Grant‒"
He didn't allow her to finish. His sexy mouth descended upon hers in a scorching kiss that shocked her. Before she could object, he clamped her hands behind her back in a firm grip and backed her against the brick of the building.
That lack of resonance for Grant quickly dissipated.
Holy hell. The man certainly knew what he was doing. His tongue expertly drew her into his thrall with sensual and forceful demand. The way he pinned her wasn't assaulting or overpowering. It was commanding. He was in charge and she was to follow. And she gladly did.
She wanted to touch him. Tug his hair. But his restraint of her hands prevented her from the touch she desperately desired. His take-charge demeanor made her realize how long she had craved such a feeling. A man to take over so she could be free of the shit constraints life had handed her and enjoy it for once without worry or fear. A partner to look out of her and her well being and allow her to open up fully. So much potential and knowledge packed into one hot kiss made her rethink her feelings toward him.
Breaking free of the kiss, Grant stared into her eyes. Their breathing ragged. Releasing her hands, he reached up and gently stroked her cheek. "We could be good together, Mackenzie," he said softly. "I could take care of you."
There was nothing but pure sincerity in his voice, and she melted.