“Believe me, I know.”

“It’s good to see you, Maddie.”

She cleared her throat and stuck her shaking hands between her knees. “Yes, you, too.”

“Good luck to you both.”

“Same to you.”

Tom walked away, and Maddie sagged with relief. She’d imagined this moment a million times, expecting him to take one look at his son and just know. But he hadn’t. Because Mac had been so quick to say just the right thing, Tom had never even entertained the possibility.

Mac held her tight against him. “Breathe, baby,” he whispered in her ear, raising goose bumps on her suddenly sensitive skin. “It’s all over. Take a deep breath.”

Maddie did as he said, and it helped to slow her galloping heart.

“You gave him his father’s name.”

“I wanted him to have something. . .”

“I understand.”

She glanced at him, the contact with his beautiful eyes filling her with an overwhelming awareness of him, of what he seemed to feel for her, of what she was beginning to feel for him. “I’ve been saying this a lot lately, but thank you. What you did—”

He tilted her chin and laid a soft, wet kiss on her lips. “Was also my pleasure.”

After Mac got Thomas settled in his crib to finish his nap, he turned to Maddie, who had followed him into the bedroom. “Go out with me tonight.”

She rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. “Like on a date?”

He took a step toward her. “Uh huh. A real date.”

“We were out all day, and I can’t leave Thomas.”

Another step. “My sister will watch him. She’ll love it.” To hell with giving her space. He wanted her in his arms. Right now. Mac took a final step to close the distance between them and rested his hands on her hips, drawing her in close to him. “I want to take you out. Buy you a nice dinner. Woo you.”

Maddie’s face flushed. “You’ve already done so much. . .”

“I haven’t done nearly enough.” He leaned in, brushed his lips over hers, and reveled in her sharp intake of breath. Encouraged, he went back for more. As he kissed her, his hands traveled down her back to her bottom. When her arms encircled his neck, Mac lifted her and groaned into her mouth as her legs curled around his hips. Worried about disturbing the baby, he walked them to the hallway where he pressed her against the wall and kissed her as if he’d been starving for her, which, of course, he had.

Her fingers fisted in his hair, keeping his mouth anchored to hers. Wiggling tight against him, she made his legs go weak and stars dance in his eyes.