He didn’t really know where Lucas was going with that question. “Would that bother you if he did, Lucas?” he asked, taking a seat beside him.
Lucas stuck out his lower lip in a pout and said, “I wanted her to marry you!”
He laughed. “Lucas, I’m an eighty-year-old man. Your aunt is young and needs a younger man, like Dean or someone like him.”
“Have you ever been married?” Lucas asked with a frown.
“Yes. I was married for thirty years before she passed away.”
“That’s sad.” Lucas went quiet for a few moments. “What was her name?”
Thomas was deep in thought and replied, “Janet, the love of my life.”
“Hmm, well, would you be my granddad then? Scott has three granddads and he says it’s really cool.”
“We’ll have to see, Lucas. Let’s get back to reading. Do you want me to read you this one?” he asked, rather amused.
“Yes, please.”
Be his granddad. If Lucas only knew how much he would really enjoy that. Hopefully, Mack would stay in touch with him when it was time for her to head back to Boston. He would miss them both terribly.
Dean was at the Portland Head Light watching Mack while she walked along the edge of the cliffs. With the light breeze from the ocean blowing her hair back from her face, she was stunning.
He’d really enjoyed spending the day with her. They’d driven into Portland and browsed around the Old Port shops. Then on their way to the lighthouse, they’d stopped for lunch and ate a delicious lobster meal.
Dean, for the first time in a long time, felt as though he could breathe. Mack was like a breath of fresh air, so easy to talk to. To laugh with. She listened to what he had to say without interrupting, and only offered her opinion once he’d finished. And her opinions were rich and full of amazing insight. She even listened while he went on and on about his work as a graphic novelist. He worked with a couple of authors, who had great ideas, but couldn’t put their vision on paper, which is where he came in. He loved his work and the flexibility it gave him.
They had walked around the lighthouse already. He’d taken hold of her hand as they approached the cliffs. She’d kept her hand there, lacing their fingers together.
As Dean walked over to her, she turned and saw him approach, offering him a dazzling smile. Dean missed a step. She was so beautiful with all that flowing brunette hair; she took his breath away, especially when she smiled just for him.
He stood in front of her without saying anything and moved his hands to her face in a light caress. He searched her eyes before he lowered his head and placed a light kiss to her lips. “You are so beautiful.” He lowered his head again and used more pressure against her mouth. She moved in close and wrapped her arms around his waist as the kiss deepened. Mack opened to him and sucked his tongue into her mouth.
He shivered and groaned. “I think we better stop,” he whispered, placing small kisses around her lips.
“Then why aren’t we?”
He couldn’t stop touching her, and smoothed his hands down her arms. He moved his hands to caress her waist under her T-shirt. “Because I don’t have any willpower with you. This top has been driving me crazy all day. Every time you move, I catch a glimpse of your stomach.”
“I was so tempted to put my hands elsewhere when I sat behind you on your bike,” she said, laughing, then she squeezed Dean’s bottom before she took a step back.
“God, I don’t know how I managed to get us anywhere without crashing while your hands were on me. Nothing has ever felt so good.”
She winked at him. “I know!” Then she sauntered toward his Harley. She knew damn well that his eyes were on her bottom the whole the way, which made her feel desirable for the first time in a long time.
As he walked Lucas back to Rose Cottage, Thomas couldn’t help but think about his sister again. In a way, Mack was a bit like Rose with her spirit and soft heart. Maybe one day soon, he might be ready to talk to Mack about the night Rose died and the regret he’d lived with all these years. If only he’d talked back then, things might have worked out differently.
First, though, he had to find the courage to finally read the comic Rose had bought him. Her last gift to him.
“Thomas! Look! Auntie Mack’s been on Dean’s bike. Come on,” Lucas shouted as he ran toward them to watch his aunt climb off the bike.
She removed her helmet, and then held her arms out to him. Lucas ran straight into them.
“Auntie Mack, have you really been on Dean’s bike?”
“Yes, I have.”
“That’s not fair. I want to!” Lucas started to get tearful, although Mack knew for a fact that Lucas was rather capable of putting on the waterworks at will.