“Tiff,” Maddie said softly, “you know that’s not a good idea. The way things are with you and Jim right now, the last thing you need is me and Thomas underfoot.”

Tiffany seemed annoyed that her sister had mentioned her marital problems in front of “the enemy.”

Mac watched Tiffany’s expressive face as she ran through the various options and came to the same conclusion he had—Maddie needed him, and he was going to be there for her. Why he was so determined to help her was something he could ponder after he cleaned up the mess he’d made of her life.

“What does he know about taking care of babies?” Tiffany asked her sister.

“Not much, but I’ll be there to guide him.”

Tiffany turned to him. “I’ll expect you downstairs at three, and if you screw up or hurt her any more than you already have, you’ll answer to me. Are we clear?”

Mac refused to be intimidated by a tiny slip of a woman, but damn, she was kind of scary. “Crystal.”

“Do you need anything?” she asked Maddie.

“No, thanks. You’d better get back so Jim can leave.”

“I’ll see you later.” Tiffany brushed past Mac and slammed the door.

“Pleasant,” he said to Maddie.

“Protective.”

“What did I ever do to the two of you?”

“It’s not you . . .”

“Then who?”

Her open expression slammed shut faster than the door had. “No one.”

Even though she refused to say so, Mac knew that someone in his family had done this woman wrong, and if it was the last thing he ever did, he’d find out who. He had a bad feeling he wasn’t going to like what he uncovered.

“Will you be all right for a little while?” Mac asked a short time later.

“Of course.” Maddie felt like she could sleep for a year.

“I need to do a couple of things, but I’ll be back well before three.”

“Okay.”

“Do you need me to pick up anything while I’m out?”

“No, thank you.”

“You look like you could use a nap. Would you like me to help you into bed before I leave?”

Maddie’s face heated with embarrassment. “I, um, I sleep here. The bed pulls out. Thomas sleeps in the bedroom.”

“Do you want me to pull it out for you?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“All right, then . . .”

He seemed both reluctant and anxious to go. Maddie wondered if he’d really be back. Once he reconnected with his family in their big white house, he’d forget all about his charity case in town. The thought of never seeing him again made her sad and then mad—what did she care if he didn’t come back?

“You’re sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes! Just go!”