Chapters (27)
“No buts. I trust Cal, and he sees no reason for me to go to the mainland.”
“What about me?”
Once again Maddie found herself biting back a laugh that she knew her darling husband wouldn’t appreciate. “Are you pregnant, too?”
He turned his face so she could see his scowl. “What if I die of a heart attack from the stress of being so far from a hospital if my wife needs more than this Podunk place can provide?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“And are you in possession of a crystal ball I don’t know about?”
“I’ve got something better—mother’s intuition.”
“I can’t bear the thought of you needing something that I can’t get you.”
Maddie cupped his face. “You’ve already given me everything. You’re the best husband and father anyone could ever hope to have, but if you don’t chill out, I’ll have no choice but to kill you. Do you understand me?”
He chuckled. “You couldn’t live without me.”
“No, I couldn’t, but you still have to relax. Your stress is becoming my stress.”
“I get it.”
“Today was a bad day, but your dad is okay. I’m okay. You’re okay. Take a deep breath, will you please?”
Mac did as directed, and a big shudder shook through his muscular frame. “Remember when I said I wanted four kids?”
“Vaguely.”
“I don’t think I can do it.”
This time Maddie couldn’t hold back the laughter. “Because it really is all about you.”
“No, baby, it’s all about you. That’s the problem. I love you so damned much that the thought of you being in any kind of jeopardy makes me crazy.”
“Then you know how I felt today when I didn’t know what had happened to you.”
“A very bad day.”
“Tomorrow will be better.” She continued to stroke his hair, which was wild and disheveled from being wet earlier, and pressed her lips to his forehead. “Except for the part about three months in bed.”
“With no fun,” he said glumly.
“He didn’t say no fun. He said no to one kind of fun. There’re plenty of other kinds, as we’ve discovered.”
“And suddenly this bad day is looking up.”
“Mac?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you so damned much, too.”
He raised his head and shifted on the bed so he could kiss her. “I’ll let you call the shots this time.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“But you’d better not let anything happen to you, Madeline, or you’ll deal with me. Got me?”
She clutched his shirt and brought him in for another kiss. “Got you.”