“Oh, God,” Linda whispered.

“What, hon?” Big Mac asked, his brows knitted with concern.

“Maddie.”

“What about her?” Mac asked, suddenly on full alert.

“She went to the marina to see you. Right around then. You didn’t talk to her?”

“I never saw her.” Mac groaned, remembering Roseanne’s enthusiastic greeting. He pushed back from the table. “Why was she coming?”

“I think she might be ready to talk to you. About what happened.”

“Oh no,” Big Mac said, stricken. “Roseanne was quite happy to see him.”

“I’ve got to go,” Mac said. “I’m sorry, Mom. Thanks for dinner.”

Linda tipped her face to receive his kiss. “Go, honey. Find her.”

Mac cursed his crappy luck. What were the odds of Maddie finally deciding to come talk to him just as Roseanne wrapped herself around him? Banging his fist on the steering wheel, he let out a string of swears.

He pulled into Tiffany’s driveway for the first time in weeks, his heart racing with hope and fear. What would he do if she wouldn’t let him explain?

Maddie was sitting at the top of the stairs. Startled by his sudden appearance, she stood up to go inside.

“Wait!” Mac leapt from the truck and ran up the stairs. “Listen to me! She means nothing to me! She never did.”

“I know what I saw.”

“You saw her jump on me and kiss me. I had no idea she was coming. I didn’t want her there, and I certainly didn’t want to kiss her.” Mac took hold of Maddie’s arm to keep her from walking away. “The only one I want to kiss is you, and you know that. I told her I’m involved with someone else and sent her back to Miami on the first boat.”

Maddie’s beautiful eyes widened with surprise. “You said that even though we broke up?”

“That hasn’t changed how I feel about you. Nothing could.” He skimmed his fingers over her arm, gratified when she shivered. “I miss you. I miss everything about you.”

Her eyes fluttered closed.

He caressed her cheek, reveling in the soft skin he’d yearned for, and rested his forehead against hers. “You’re the only one I want, Maddie,” he whispered. “The only one I’ll ever want. I’m sorry I hurt you. I never meant for that to happen.”

She leaned into him. “I know that now.”

“Marry me, Maddie. I can’t live without you and Thomas.”

“Mac. . .”

“Just say yes.”

She studied him just long enough for Mac to realize his whole life had led to her and this moment.

“Yes.”

Shocked, he stared at her. “Really?”

“I have conditions.”

“Whatever you want.”

“You don’t want to hear them?”

“Later.” Even though he was dying to kiss her, he only held her, drowning in the scent of summer flowers and the feel of silky hair. Overwhelmed with relief, he swallowed the huge lump in his throat. “There’s something I need to show you. Can you and Thomas come with me? Is he asleep?”