The bathroom door opened. “I need to get over to my sister’s.”

“I know.”

Her eyes landed on the sleeping bag he’d left by the front door. “What’s that?”

“A sleeping bag.”

She glared at him. “No kidding.”

“You might need help with the baby during the night.”

“You can’t stay here. No way.”

“I’m not leaving you to fend for yourself and Thomas with one working hand.”

“It’s not up to you to fix this! I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re not bombing into my life and barking out orders—”

“I won’t be responsible for you dropping your son or something else happening to him because I was clumsy.”

“It’s not your responsibility! It’s mine. I’ll take care of Thomas the way I always have—by myself. The last thing I need is everyone in town knowing you’re staying here.”

The mulish set to her chin amused him, and apparently he did a poor job of hiding it.

“What’s so funny?”

“You are when you get all. . .” He waved his hand. “Worked up.”

Her eyes spit fire at him. “I am not worked up. I’m pissed!”

“So I gathered. Here’s the deal—either I can find a place to toss my sleeping bag inside or I’ll sleep on the deck so you can tell all these ‘people’ you’re so worried about that I didn’t actually stay here. Believe me, I’ve slept in worse places than under the Gansett stars.”

“I want you to go back to wherever you came from and leave me alone.”

The emphatic statement hurt more than it should have. “As soon as you’re able to care for yourself and Thomas, I’ll be gone.”

“Are you always this arrogant and pushy?”

Mac thought about that. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“It might work with other people, but it does nothing for me.”

“Duly noted.”

“Now you’re making fun of me.”

“I am not.” He glanced at his watch. “We have to go. I don’t need another Chester woman screaming at me. One is plenty.”

“Ugh, you’re insufferable.”

“So I’ve been told. You might want to change your shirt. There’s blood on it.”

Shooting him a dirty look, she hobbled to the bedroom.

“Need some help?”

“No!” The door slammed shut.

She might’ve liked kissing him, but she still didn’t want him around.

Maddie leaned against the closed bedroom door. Oh my God. Her mind raced at a frantic speed. I had a sexy dream about Mac McCarthy, and then I all but attacked him. If he’s heard what people say about me, now he’ll believe it.

Of course he’d believe it. Why wouldn’t he? Better yet, why should I care what he believes? It’s not like he plans to stick around after I recover. He’ll be back to his life in Miami, and I’ll still be here working for his parents and living my life. He’s nothing to me.