She laughed when he waggled his eyebrows, which was his goal. He hated seeing her wound so tightly. If the stubborn woman wasn’t careful, one of these days that thin band was going to snap. That happens, the woman he loved could very well fall to pieces.
I’ll be there to help put her back together.
Mac’s laughter died down and she glanced out the window again. “I don’t know, Sean. I have an uneasy feeling about this little trip.”
“Relax.” Keeping one hand on the wheel, he reached over and wrapped his other one around hers. “This place is about as uneventful and in-the-middle-of-nowhere as you can get.”
“My point, exactly. We’ll be sitting ducks in the middle of all this wide-open space.”
He brought her hand to his lips. “You said you trust me, right?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t hesitate. He took that as a very good sign.
“So trust me with this.”
She squeezed his hand and smiled. “Okay. I have to warn you, though. Since I’ve never had a serious relationship, I haven’t had to do the whole meet-the-parents thing.” As if she suddenly realized what she’d said, Mac quickly started backpedaling. “Not that I’m implying we’re in a serious relationship. I only meant that…I mean, I’ve never met your parents before. Plus, we’ve been…”
“Having sex?” Coop’s lips quirked, clearly holding back a laugh.
“Yes, that.” Her cheeks became flushed, even as her gorgeous eyes became narrowed slits. She used her free hand to slap him on the shoulder. “This isn’t funny, Sean. What if they hate me?”
He chuckled. “My parents are not going to hate you. I promise.” He gave her hand a little squeeze. “They’re gonna love you.”
Like I do.
Coop wanted to say the words, but he held them in. With everything that had happened, plus them having only recently moved into the more-than-partners category, he didn’t want to scare her off.
Mac was an incredible woman who checked all his boxes…and then some. She was also still a little gun-shy about them as a couple. It was another reason he’d suggested they hide out here, at his folks’.
His family was the best. If Mac could spend a few days getting to know them, there was no way she wouldn’t fall in love with his parents. She falls in love with them…
She might fall in love with me.
Coop was already there. Had been for nearly as long as he’d known her.
As far as he was concerned, Mac was it for him. He knew in his heart they belonged together. He just needed a little more time to prove that to her.
Before long, they were turning onto the gravel road located on the eastern edge of his family’s property. For the first time in his life, being here made him nervous.
It was the first time he cared about the way someone else would see it.
“This is where you grew up?” Mac’s eyes took in the open fields and the white, two-story farmhouse he still called home. Her voice was soft, unreadable.
“Yep. Lived here from the time I was born until the day I left for boot camp. Plus the times between deployments until I got my own apartment.” He studied her, trying to figure out what she was thinking. “I know it’s a far cry from New York, but it’s—”
“Perfect.” She swung her gaze to his.
“You really think so?” Hope filled his chest. “Growing up in Manhattan, I would’ve thought you’d hate it out here. No Fifth Avenue shops or Starbucks right around the corner.”
Mac shook her head. “I hated living in the city. The constant noise and traffic. All the people and bad smells.” She stared out the window again. “The only part I liked about Manhattan was Central Park.”
“Where you and your mom went together.” He remembered her telling him about their walks.
She smiled and nodded. “Its paths are lined with so many trees and there are a few, small ponds scattered about. I remember there was this one mound of huge rocks near the park entrance, closest to where we lived. I used to climb up to the highest one and look out over the dropped path. In spring and summer, it would all turn so green I could almost pretend I was out in the country somewhere. I used to beg my parents to move us out of the city, but my dad would always tell me it was an impossible dream. That his work would never allow it.” She looked down at her lap. “I didn’t truly understand until I found out what his job really was.”
Coop tightened his grip on her hand and tried to lighten the mood. “Well you’re definitely out of the city, now. Closest town has one gas station, a tiny grocery store that closes at six, and a single stop light that always flashes yellow.”
