“That’s not necessary,” Maddie said. “We’ll be fine by ourselves.”

“But, honey, your hand—”

“Don’t call me that! I’m not your honey! And it’s not up to you to arrange a babysitter for me.”

“I told you I’m going to help you.”

Maddie wanted to scream but kept her voice even when she said, “You have helped me, but this is too much. I can’t put Libby out—”

“Oh, it’s no problem. I love babies! My kids are teenagers now, and they’re off with their friends today at the beach. I’d love to help out with Thomas.”

“Don’t you have a hotel to run?” Maddie asked, aware that she now sounded ungrateful as well as rude.

“Today’s my day off.”

“Fabulous.” Maddie shot what she hoped was a hateful look at Mac.

He just smiled at her. “Great, then it’s all worked out. I can’t be late on my first day, so I’m going to head out.” Leaning down, he tried to kiss her, but Maddie turned away. “I’ll be back to get you for dinner, so be ready by six.”

“I’m not going to dinner.”

“See you then.” He tweaked Thomas’s foot and kissed Libby’s cheek on the way out the door. “You girls have fun.”

“Oh, we will,” Libby assured him. “Don’t worry about a thing.”

They listened as he started his motorcycle and headed down the driveway to the main road.

“Ugh!” Maddie said. “He’s the most aggravating person I’ve ever met!”

Libby raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“He’s bossy and pushy and—”

“Totally smitten,” Libby said with a smug smile.

“What?”

“You heard me. He’s got it bad for you.”

“He does not.”

“I’ve known him a long time, Maddie. I’ve never seen him look at any woman the way he looks at you.”

Unable to process that tidbit on top of all the other emotions storming around inside her, Maddie shifted Thomas onto her shoulder and used her good hand to burp him.

Libby perched on the end of the bed. “He’s one of the best guys I know. You’d be a very lucky girl to end up with him.”

“It’ll never happen.” Why was she even bothering to have this conversation? Like her “relationship” with Mac, it was pointless. “Linda McCarthy will never allow her golden boy to end up with the likes of me.”

Libby laughed. “The McCarthy brothers have made a blood sport of defying their mother all their lives. If she doesn’t like you, that’ll make you even more attractive to him.”

“Great, that’s just what I need—a guy who wants me only because his mother hates me.”

“That’s not the only reason he wants you.”

“Right. He wants the same thing every other guy wants.”

“You’ll underestimate him if you think that poorly of him, Maddie. Look at what he’s gone to do for you today. Do you think just any guy would do that?”