Free Irresistible by MacKenzie McKade Page B

Would his mother realize what he had?
    Sydney belonged here with them—with him—forever.
    From the family room connected to the dining room where he sat, he heard her gentle laughter before she appeared from out of the kitchen with his mother and sister. Scents of pot roast and cinnamon from the apple pie they’d eaten earlier lingered.
    Before all three of them disappeared back into the kitchen with the last remnants of dinner in hand, he patted the space next to him on the couch. “Mom, come sit with me.”
    “This doesn’t sound good.” She glanced at Cameron and Sydney and they both moved at once. Their attempts to get through the open archway at the same time would have been funny as they bumped into each other, but both knew what was coming. “Why do I get the feeling those two know what this is all about?”
    A swirl of ash-blonde hair was swept up and fastened away from her face and her slender neck was highlighted by the low cowl-neck sweater, a shade off from her brown slacks. Tall and willowy, she held an elegant, almost royal, tilt to her chin as she took a seat beside him.
    “What have you done now, Son?” The seriousness in her voice was no competition for the way she pinned her sight on him.
    Why was it a mother could turn a man into a child with only one look?
    Of course, perhaps he had reason to feel the guilt that rose hot and fiery up his neck to singe his ears. He swallowed hard, and then cleared his throat.
    “Mom, I don’t know how else to say this, but I’m in love with Sydney.”
    After dropping the news like an atom bomb and waiting for the fallout, the only sounds were the measured ticks of the grandfather clock against the wall, beating out of sync with his racing heart. They stared at each other and silence stretched as tight as a rubber band just waiting to be released with a snap.
    “Mom?”
    She shot a frustrated glance toward the kitchen entrance, and a second more passed before she spoke. “Girls, if you plan to eavesdrop you might as well join us.”
    Cameron popped her brunette head around the corner. When she inched into the middle of the archway, she reached beyond the wall, grabbing Sydney and dragging her out into the room with her. Both wore sheepish expressions as they moved farther into the room.
    Their mother shook her head. “I guess I win,” she whispered in an almost revelatory fashion.
    Cameron’s concerned gaze darted to his.
    Sean placed a palm on her shoulder. “Mom?”
    When she gazed up at him, her eyes were glassy with tears. “Your dad and I wondered how long it would take.”
    “Dad?” he asked, confused.
    “You and Sydney.”
    “What?” Cameron screeched, plopping down in a winged chair. “You mean I was the only one oblivious to all of this?”
    Sean ignored his sister. “But how—”
    “Sweetheart.” His mother placed her warm palm against his cheek. “When will you learn you can’t hide anything from your mother?” She glanced toward Sydney who stood like a statuette, unmoving in the middle of the room. “Come here, darling.”
    Sydney hesitated, before drifting down beside her. “I’m so sorry.”
    “Sorry? For loving my son?” She smiled softly. “Don’t ever apologize for loving someone, especially this rascal. He’s pretty hard to resist.”
    Sean’s and Sydney’s eyes met, and he felt her love reach out for him. “I’ve asked her to marry me.”
    “I would expect no less.” Their mother batted moist eyelashes and he could see she struggled not to cry. “Now when is this happy occasion taking place?”
    “We haven’t gotten that far, but she will be moving in with me tonight.”
    His mother frowned, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she rose. “I need to store the leftovers.” As she began to leave, Sean said, “Mom, what did you mean by winning?”
    A heavy sigh pushed from her diaphragm. “Your father bet me that after you finished your doctorate and returned home, within a month you would make a move on