"I promise."
Mack tangled his fingers in the hair at the nape of her neck and tugged her head back. "Good, because I'm never letting you go again." He crushed his mouth over hers with all the hungry desperation that he'd been building up since the compound. Marley moaned and twined her arms around his neck, meeting him with just as much fierce hunger.
"Mommy, what are you doing?"
Mack released her so fast she stumbled and he had to grab her arm to keep her up right. Embarrassment heated his cheeks. What the hell?
Marley smiled at her daughter. "Maddie, come here. I want you to meet my friend."
Maddie approached, gradually this time, eyeing him with unease. She stopped right beside her mother, planted her hands on her hips and glared. "Grandpa says you're a real ass."
"Maddie!" Marley gasped.
A huge grin spread across Mack's face. The girl had as much spunk as her mother. "Well now, I'm hoping to change that." Mack squatted down in front of Maddie and then glanced up at Marley. "Do you think your mommy would like if I took you and her out for ice cream?"
Maddie's anger disappeared. "Mommy, can we? Can we?"
"I would love to, but you have to put your shoes on first, sweet pea.
Maddie took off without a backwards glance.
Mack slowly stood, waiting for Marley this time.
She didn't disappoint either. "You sure do know the way into a girl's heart."
He grabbed her hand, needing to touch her. "Are you saying I have a place in your heart?"
"You do. You have all of it."
THE END