When she met Mac at the designated spot, she discovered that he, too, had put the hour to good use. The basket under Thomas’s stroller was full to overflowing with bags. She saw a baseball bat sticking out the top of one of them. When she raised a questioning eyebrow, he replied with a shrug and adorably sheepish grin. Mixed in with the others, a pink-striped bag caught her attention. “You bought something for Janey at Victoria’s Secret?”

“It’s not for Janey,” he said with a secretive smile.

Maddie’s knees weakened. What had he done? She had no idea, but she was not about to ask him. She’d learned not to encourage his outrageous behavior.

“Ready to go?” he asked, sliding an arm around her shoulders.

“Yes.” As they walked to the parking garage, Maddie glanced up at him. “Thank you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “My pleasure, honey.”

Mac took the long way back to the ferry, driving them through Newport to stop at the carousel at First Beach. Thomas loved the merry-go-round, and Mac sprang for five rides before Maddie reminded him of the time. They had a ferry to catch.

“You’re totally spoiling him,” Maddie said as they set out across the Newport Bridge to the lumber supply place. And me, she wanted to add but didn’t.

“So?”

“I’d hate to get him used to it. This time next week, he’ll be back to his boring life, wondering where his sugar daddy has gone.” The instant the words were out of her mouth, Maddie regretted them. To refer to Mac as Thomas’s daddy, even as a joke, was so wrong and unfair. She could see that Mac was becoming attached to her son and vice versa.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, but his hand tightened on the wheel.

“You’re going back to Miami.”

“Not anytime soon.”

Maddie didn’t want to be relieved, but the more time she spent with him, the more she wished she could keep him forever. She’d never known a man so thoughtful and caring and sincere. Add that he was sexy as hell and he become one heck of an irresistible package. During their lovely day together, she’d begun to feel like a fool for resisting him. Maybe she should give in and have a rip-roaring affair with him. The whole town thought she already was, so why not go for it? At least then, after he went home to Miami, she’d have the memories to sustain her. But what would sustain her heart if she gave even a portion of it to him?

Too late, the devil on her left shoulder said. You already have.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Tucked into his stroller, Thomas slept on the ferry ride back to Gansett. Sleepy herself after the nicest day she’d had in years, Maddie let her head drop to Mac’s shoulder. He put his arm around her and settled her against his chest. Maddie was letting her eyes drift shut when they connected with a familiar face on the other side of the ferry.