“I hate to say this in light of very recent events, but I think you might be growing up, Mac.”

“Shut up,” he said, laughing. “That’ll never happen.”

She pushed herself up on an elbow and leaned in to kiss him. “Are we still in the biggest fight ever?”

“Ever. It’s so big, it’s epic.” He shook his head. “Male strippers… And from what I hear, it was your idea to wind us up like puppets all week.”

Maddie caressed his face, loving the scrape of his whiskers under her palm. “You’re so easily wounded.”

“The thought of you so much as looking at another guy makes me insane. I’m almost ashamed to admit how jealous I was.”

“From the day you pushed me off my bike, I haven’t so much as looked at anyone else. How could I when all I see is you?”

“Awww, that’s very sweet.” He cupped her tingling ass and pulled her over until she was on top of him. “But you’re still in big trouble.”

“Good,” she said, smiling down at him. “I love your kind of trouble.”

“And I love you, even when you’re mean to me.”

She was still laughing when he kissed her.

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

As one of Jenny’s bridesmaids, Erin insisted on helping Sydney clean up after the party.

“Luke will give you a ride home,” Sydney said when they were finished.

“No need. I already called a cab.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Luke said. “I would’ve taken you.”

“None of us should be driving tonight, so stay here with your lovely pregnant wife and enjoy the rest of your evening. It was a great party, Syd. Jenny loved it.”

Sydney hugged her. “Thanks again for all your help.”

A toot sounded outside as Erin gathered up her sweater, purse and the platter she’d brought. “My pleasure. I’ll see you at the wedding, if not before.”

“See you then.”

Erin gave Sydney’s dog, Buddy, a pat on the head as she went out the door to the waiting cab in the driveway. She smiled when she realized it was Ned Saunders, whom she’d met several times at gatherings with the McCarthy family.

“Hi, Ned,” she said as she got into the backseat of the old woody station wagon. “You’re working late tonight.”

“Wanted to make sure everyone got home from the parties okay,” he said. “Heard you gals pulled one over on the fellas.”

“It was pretty funny. They were a hot mess.”

Ned chuckled. “I can only imagine. Heard Mac was the worst.”

“He was the first one through the door, so Maddie had to pay two hundred bucks to the pot.”

“What pot?”

“Um, we might’ve bet on what time they’d crash.”

Ned’s laughter echoed through the small space. “That’s downright mean a y’all.”