“I’m serious, Maddie! It’s ridiculous that you’re worried about money when he could be supporting his son in high style.”

“We don’t need high style. We’re managing just fine.”

“It’s not right.”

“Maybe not, but I’d never risk losing Thomas. Besides, now he thinks I’m a happily married mother. I won’t hear from him again.”

Mac toyed with the stem on his wineglass. “How did it feel?” His eyes met hers. “To see him again?”

“All I could think about on the ferry was that he’d take one look at Thomas and know he was his son.” This time she reached for his hand and enjoyed the surprised expression that lit up his face. “But because of what you did, I’ll never have to worry about that again.”

“You think he bought it?”

She squeezed his hand. “I know he did. You may not realize this, but you saved me from one of my biggest worries today. I used to be afraid all the time that he’d show up at my door someday, and the jig would be up. But because I met you—because you knocked me off my bike and insisted on inserting yourself into my life—”

“Hey! You like having me around!”

Maddie bit back a laugh. “Because of all that and because you were so quick today, you made it so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. And I appreciate it. More than you could ever know. If I hadn’t been with you, he would’ve shown up at my door, and who knows what might’ve happened?”

“I don’t want you to have to worry about anything or be afraid.” He glanced down at their joined hands and then back up at her. “So you didn’t feel, you know, attracted to him?”

Smiling at his concern, she said, “Not one bit. I seem to be rather attracted to someone else at the moment.” She loved the befuddled look that crossed his face.

“What’s his name?” he asked, attempting a stern tone that failed miserably.

“You don’t know him.”

“Oh, man!” He clutched his chest, pretending she’d stabbed him. “She giveth and she taketh away!”

Watching him—playful, sexy, generous, solid—Maddie realized that despite all her best efforts to resist him, she’d fallen as hard for him as he seemed to have fallen for her. Now she had to decide if she was willing to risk everything to see where he could take her.

Mac and Maddie held hands as they left the restaurant. Sated after the meal, the wine, the conversation, he wanted to rush her home so they could be together. It was too soon. He knew that, yet he also now knew that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.