All the fight went out of her when he said those words. No one had ever needed her before. Only Thomas, and as wonderful as that was, it wasn’t the same as being needed by Mac McCarthy.

Maddie didn’t exactly relax, but she stopped trying to get away from him.

After a long period of silence during which she reveled in the feel of his fingers spooling through her hair, she said, “How was it today?”

“Enlightening.”

“What do you mean?”

“I see now why you think they’re bastards.”

Maddie winced. “Mac, when I said that, I didn’t know—”

“S’okay, honey. They treat you like crap, but that’s going to change.”

“What’s going to change?” she asked, nervous about what he’d done.

“You won’t get the worst rooms anymore.”

“What did you do?”

“Had a little talk with my mother. It’s all taken care of.”

“You’re going to get me fired.”

“They wouldn’t dare. Don’t worry about that.”

“Libby mentioned a job today.” Maddie hadn’t even allowed herself to think about the possibility. . .

Mac drew back so he could see her face. “What kind of job?”

“Head of housekeeping at the Beachcomber.”

“Really? That’s awesome, honey!”

She wanted to remind him once again that she wasn’t his honey, but as they were lying in a bed together, it didn’t seem like the right time to mention it. “The woman who does the job now is retiring after this season. When Libby found out I’d worked at McCarthy’s for eight years, she offered me the job. It’s full-time, year-round with benefits.”

“Wow. What did you say?”

“I told her I had to think about it.”

“What’s there to think about? It would take care of a lot of your worries.”

“She only offered it to me because of you.”

“No way. Libby’s totally turned that place around. Remember how it was on the brink of bankruptcy ten or so years ago?”

Maddie nodded.

“Libby brought it back to life. In fact, not too many people know this, but the owners made her a partner two years ago.”

“Good for her.”

Mac linked his fingers through hers, careful as always not to touch her sore palm. “And good for you. If she offered you a job, it’s because you’re right for it.”

“You really think so?”

“Of course I do. I got a good idea of how hard you work today. Wouldn’t it be nice to make more money and not have to work that hard?”

“It’d be different, that’s for sure.”

“So you’ll do it?”

“I have friends at McCarthy’s. People I’ve worked with for years.”

“Nothing says you couldn’t hire them away to work at the Beachcomber.”

Maddie smiled. “Then your mother would hate me even more.”