Mac turned on his side and caressed her face. “Believe it. You and Thomas have given me so much—things I didn’t even know were missing.”

“And you’ve given us things I knew were missing but never dreamed of having.”

“I love you,” he whispered. “I want everything with you.”

“If I’m dreaming, don’t tell me, okay? I don’t want to wake up.”

Smiling, he snuggled her in close to him. “Go to sleep and dream about how good it’s going to be.” He whispered to her about plans and dreams and houses and kids until he was certain she had fallen asleep. Only then did he close his eyes and drift off.

He woke the next morning alone. “Maddie?”

She emerged from the bathroom dressed in a floral skirt and matching top.

He pushed himself up on an elbow. “What’re you doing?”

“Going to church. Thomas and I go every Sunday at nine. We only missed last week because I was a bloody mess.”

“Oh.”

“Do you want to come?”

“I’m not very religious.”

“That’s fine. We’ll be home in an hour. Why don’t you go back to sleep for a while?”

“I can’t sleep without you.”

She bent over to kiss him. “Don’t pout. It’s not pretty on you.”

He pulled her down with him and kissed her more intently.

“Mac!”

“You’re sexy in your church clothes.”

“Let me go! I’ll be late.”

“You’re really going to leave me for a whole hour?” he asked, releasing her.

“You’ll survive.”

“I might not.”

“Then come with us.”

“I haven’t been in twenty years. You’d be risking your life taking me into a church—the lightning bolt and all that.”

Rolling her eyes at him, she went into the bedroom and returned with Thomas, who wore a tiny red polo shirt with khaki shorts and sandals. “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no lightning in our church.”

“You’re going to leave me, too, buddy?” Mac said to Thomas. “This is our time together.”

Thomas kicked his feet and reached for Mac.

“Traitor,” Maddie muttered, giving the baby to Mac so she could finish getting ready.

By the time she came out of the bathroom again, Mac was dressed. “Give me five minutes.”

Maddie stared at him.

“What?”

“You’re really going to come?”

“Since it’s either that or live without you for an hour, yeah, I’m coming.”

She shook her head. “You’re too much.”

On his way past her, he hooked an arm around her and brought her in close to him. “If you ever wonder how much I love you, remember this day.”

“It’s only eight thirty, and I already know I’ll never forget this day.”

Chapter 13

Chapter 13