He stared at her for a second before turning off the engine again. “Okay. We’ll go in.”
Lydia saw his lips twitch as he pulled the key out of the ignition and reached for the door handle. “You just totally played me, didn’t you?”
Glancing back, he smiled. “Yup.”
She was still pouting when he came around and opened her door. Leaning down, he said, “Come on.”
“Fine.” She’d go, but she wasn’t happy about it.
She spun to walk around the car when he reached out and caught her arm. Reeling her in, Mack whispered in her ear, “I’ll make it up to you later when we’re alone. I promise.”
Having been on the receiving end of Mack’s attentions before, Lydia knew even going through the torture waiting inside for them might be worth it.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
“Not exactly a threat, but okay.” He let her lead the way around the car as she resisted the urge to reach for his hand. She couldn’t do that here.
They made it up the path but not quite to the door before it opened and her mother came down the front steps.
“Liddy. Oh my God. Thank goodness you’re here and all right.”
Lydia found herself engulfed in her mother’s embrace. “I told you I was all right on the phone.”
“Just indulge me, okay? It’s been a stressful couple of days.” Her mother pulled back and Lydia saw the tears in her eyes.
She nodded, fighting back the tears herself. “Okay.”
“Come on in. Both of you. James, thanks for driving her.”
“No problem at all.”
Her mother led the way into the house. “Joseph is in the living room.”
“Good.” Mack nodded. “I was hoping we can all sit down and talk.”
Lydia drew in a breath, dreading this discussion but happy he was taking the lead and she wouldn’t have to. Maybe she’d could just sit there and let him do all the talking.
“Sure. We can talk.” Sounding kind of strange, her mother turned toward the sofa. She sat next to Joseph and folded her hands in her lap. “Okay.”
Looking less cool and collected than usual, Mack remained standing while Lydia sat, deciding she might enjoy watching him in the hot seat.
“A couple of things.” Mack turned to glance at Lydia and she felt a little less calm than she had before. “Um, Lydia and I are dating.”
Joseph’s jaw dropped open. Yup. Not what he’d been expecting to hear. The reaction would have been amusing if Lydia wasn’t so nervous herself.
“Really? Since when?” her mother asked.
“Since the brunch.” Mack shocked Lydia by telling something close to the truth.
She didn’t have time to obsess about it because her mother had already jumped up from her seat and had rushed forward to wrap Mack in a hug.
“Oh my God. That is so wonderful.” She spun to Joseph. “Sweetheart, did you hear? They’re dating.”
“I heard.” Joseph eyed his son. “That’s a surprise.”
“I bet it is.” Mack looked a little too satisfied at his father’s shock but it didn’t last long. He turned to focus directly on her mother. “I want to promise you that I will love her and protect her and I will be there for your daughter whenever I possibly can.”
Lydia listened to Mack’s words with a pounding heart and tears in her eyes. He wasn’t a man of many words but those were some pretty good ones he’d picked.
Her mother nodded. “I know you will be.”
He held up a hand. “There’s more. There will be times I can’t be here for her, and that’s because I’m—”
“A SEAL. I know.”
Mack’s eyes flew wide at her mother’s words. He shot a glance at his father.
Joseph shrugged. “I’m sorry, son. She’s my wife.”
Her mother laid a hand on Mack’s forearm. “And James, I don’t want you to worry. I would never say anything to put you in jeopardy.”
“I know. Thank you.” Mack still didn’t look thrilled with his father but Lydia didn’t care about that because he’d just said he loved her.
She stood to move toward him, but got waylaid by her mother’s embrace. “Liddy, why didn’t you tell me you two were together?”
Lydia shrugged. “I guess I didn’t think you’d understand.”
“Of course, I understand.” Her mother leaned in closer and dropped her voice as she said, “Goodness, look at him. Who wouldn’t be tempted?”
“Mom!” Lydia laughed and her cheeks heated.
“Liddy, I’m married, not dead.” Her mother glanced at Mack and then back to Lydia. “But can you do me a favor and go talk James out of being angry with his father for telling me?”
Lydia smiled. “Yeah. I can do that.”
“Thank you.” Her mother squeezed her hand.
Finally, Lydia was free to walk to where Mack stood pouting by the piano. “Hey.”
“Hey.” He scowled.
She widened her eyes at him. “Stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Looking so mad.” She reached out and grabbed his hands in hers. “So, those were some pretty nice things you said.”
His expression softened as he laced his fingers with hers. “Yeah? Which ones you talking about?”
“Something about being here for me, protecting me . . . loving me. Did you mean all that?”
“I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t.” He pulled her a step closer as her heart clenched with all the emotions she felt for him.
“So, I hope Mom made lasagna. I love her lasagna.” When he cocked one brow at her, she added, “And I love you.”
“More than lasagna?” he asked.
“Definitely.”
He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Across the room, she heard her mother say, “Joseph, come help me in the kitchen. Let’s give James and Liddy some time together.”
When the room was clear, Mack leaned his forehead against hers and sighed. “Any chance you can get her to stop calling me James?”
“Only if you get her to stop calling me Liddy.”
He laughed. “All right. It’s a deal.”