by Force, Marie
“Then hold on to that rather than the guilt. Happiness is a much more productive emotion than guilt.” He leaned in to kiss her. “Give yourself permission to be happy, Syd,” he said softly. “It’s okay. I promise.”
“Thank you.” She put her arms around him and held on for a long, quiet moment. “You need to get off your foot.”
“Come lie down with me.”
She followed him into the bedroom and helped to get his injured ankle settled on a pillow. Stretching out next to him, she rested her head on his chest and her hand on his firm belly. “I need to go see Buddy and check on Maddie. And I’m sure you want to know how Mr. McCarthy is doing.”
“I’m concerned about all of them, but for right now, this is what I need.” He tightened his arm around her. “You’re what I need.” Tangling his fingers in her hair, he tipped her head back to receive his kiss. “I hate to see you beating yourself up over stuff that doesn’t matter. Don’t do that anymore.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, smiling at him. “How’s the ankle?”
“Much better since the pain meds kicked in.”
“Will you be okay not working for a couple of weeks?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I can chip in, since I’m all but living here.”
His face lifted into a sweet smile. “I don’t need your money, Syd, but thanks for offering.”
She raised herself up on an elbow so she could better see his face. “What if—hypothetically speaking—I move here at some point?”
“Don’t get my hopes up.”
“I’m serious. I’d want to chip in.”
He ran a hand over her head and tugged on her hair. “I’ve got us covered, babe.”
“I know you make decent money on the boats you restore, but you can’t make all that much at McCarthy’s, can you?”
“You’d be surprised,” he said with a mysterious smile.
“What does that mean?”
“Does it matter how much money I make? If I can feed and clothe us and provide shelter, what else do we need?”
“Well, there’re cars and insurance and vacations and entertainment and household expenses and—”
He rested a finger over her lips. “If you live with me, life will be a lot simpler than what you’re used to.”
“I know that.”
“Do you really, Syd? Because we’re talking very simple and very quiet.”
“I get it.”
“I promise we’d have everything we need.” He leaned in to nuzzle her neck. “What other convincing do you require?”
“We’ll discuss that when your ankle feels better.”
“My ankle is numb at the moment, but another part of me is starting to ache.”
Sydney laughed at the face he made and cupped his straining erection.
His head fell back, and his hips surged in encouragement.
“Luke?”
“Hmm?”
“What if I move here and I hate it? What would we do then?”
He reached for her hand. “You have to stop that if you expect me to talk right now.”
She shifted her hand to his thigh. “Better?”
“Not really.” He sat up and put his arm around her. “I suppose if island life isn’t for you, then we’ll move.”
“You wouldn’t mind that?”
“I’d miss it here, but I’d miss you more if you left without me.”
Touched by his sweet words, Sydney shifted carefully to straddle him. “I have some things to take care of at home after Labor Day. Then I can make some decisions about what’s next.”
“Will we make these decisions together?”
“I hope so.”
With his hands on her bottom, he brought her in tight against his arousal. “I hope so, too.”
She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“Now what’re you thinking?”
“What do you mean?”
His finger traced the furrow between her brows. “Dead giveaway.”
He read her so well that sometimes it was almost unsettling. “What if we rearrange our lives for each other and it doesn’t work out between us?”
“I don’t think that’ll happen, but if it does, we’ll figure it out then.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
“Why don’t you look convinced?”
“I want so badly to believe it’ll all be fine, but after everything that’s happened to me—hell, after what happened today—I’m having trouble with the concept of happily ever after.”
“All I could think about on the way to the hospital was how freaked out you’d be when you heard about what’d happened at the marina. I wanted so badly to spare you from that.”
She combed her fingers through his hair. “It was a good thing I was with Maddie when I heard about it. I had to keep it together for her sake.” Remembering that moment of sheer panic, she shuddered. “I was so afraid you’d been badly hurt or worse.”
“I’m sorry you were so afraid. I hate that I caused that.”
“I hate that you and Mr. McCarthy got hurt.”
“It’s all over now, baby.” Curving his hand around her neck, he brought her in for a soft, sweet kiss that quickly spun out of control.
Sydney drew back from him. “Hold that thought for an hour or two, will you?” As she got up, he let out a tortured moan. Leaning over the bed, she kissed his forehead. “You’ll survive.”
“Where’re you going?”
Sydney ran a brush through her hair. “I need to see Buddy.”
“You’re seriously choosing a dog over me? You know how to wound a guy.”
Sydney pulled off her shirt and reached for a clean one. “I’m not choosing a dog over you. I’m choosing Buddy over you—and only temporarily. I don’t want him wondering where I am.”
“All right,” he said with a long-suffering sigh. “When you put it like that, I guess I can live with it. Of course, I’m recovering, too.”
Groaning, Sydney said, “Don’t turn into a typical man on me. Please.”
Luke laughed. “I wasn’t aware I’d been atypical. What would make me typical?”
“Acting like a big baby just because you’re a little bit injured.”
“A minute ago you were getting weepy because I nearly died. How fast you forget.”
“Typical men are also pouty when they don’t get their own way.”
He reached behind him and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it across the room and just missing the laundry basket.
Sydney bent to pick it up and put it in the basket. “Also typical.” She turned, intending to scowl at him, but the sight of his sculpted chest and ripped abs made her mouth dry and her mind blank.
“Syd?”
“Oh, um, sorry.” She couldn’t believe she’d been caught gawking at him.
With his hands behind his head and a satisfied smirk on his face, he reclined against the pillows. “It’ll still be here when you get back.”
“You’re being typical again.”
“Maybe I can be typical later, too. After all, my kind is known for being after one thing only, right?”
“You’re injured.”
“All the most important parts still work.”
She stopped to kiss him one more time. “Stay off that foot.”
“You’re turning into a typical woman.”
Hands on hips, she worked up a glare. “How so?”
“B-o-s-s-y,” he said, accentuating every letter.
“I can live with that. Be back soon.”
“Hurry!”
Chapter 22
Sydney found Maddie still at the clinic, where she was spending the night for observation, and leaned over the bed rail to hug her. She was surprised when Maddie held on tight.
“I’m going to kill him,” she whispered.
“Who?” Sydney asked.
“My husband.”
“Oh.”
Maddie finally released her
just as Mac came into the room, his eyes crazy and his stride determined.
“I contacted the head of obstetrics at Women and Infants in Providence. She said we can come over in the morning, and she’ll see you at noon.”
“No,” Maddie said.
His eyes nearly popped out of his skull. “What do you mean, no?”
“Sydney, will you please tell my husband what the word no means?”
“Um, I’d rather not get involved. I’ll just wait outside.”
Maddie’s hand clamped down on her arm. “If you leave, I’ll kill you after I kill him,” she said through gritted teeth.
Sydney suppressed a chuckle.
“Maddie, listen to me,” Mac said, clearly working at keeping his tone calm.
“I’m not leaving the island. I’m in perfectly good hands with Cal, and if you don’t quit telling me what to do and relax, I’m going to lose it. Do you hear me?”
“How can I relax when you almost went into labor three months early and won’t let me take you to a specialist to make sure everything is okay with you and the baby?”
“The stress of what happened today triggered the early labor, and avoiding stress will keep it from happening again. So if you don’t want more early labor, stop stressing me out!”
“Maddie—”
“Mac.”
They were so caught up in glowering at each other that Sydney thought she might have a chance at escaping, but when she tried to break free from Maddie’s grip, she just tightened her hold. Foiled.
“Fine,” Mac said through gritted teeth. “But don’t try to tell me—”
“Will you please go pick up Thomas from Tiffany’s? I need to see him.”
Hands on hips and a stubborn set to his jaw, he said, “I don’t want to leave you.”
“Syd will be here, won’t you?” Maddie asked, looking up at Sydney.
“Of course. I’ll stay until you get back.”
“If you’re sure,” Mac said.
“Go!” Maddie said. “See your father and then go get your son.”
“You’re reminding me of the day I met you,” Mac said.
Something about the way he said that told Sydney he wasn’t complimenting his wife.
Maddie’s eyes narrowed. “Ditto.”
He moved to the other side of the bed and bent to give her a lingering kiss.
Feeling like she was intruding, Sydney looked away.
“We’ll talk more about this when I get back.”
“No, we won’t. Subject closed. Now go get our son.”
Mac shook his head in frustration and stalked from the room.
“Well,” Sydney said cheerfully, “glad everything is going so well for you guys.”
Maddie busted up laughing. “I swear to God, I am going to kill him.”
“No, you’re not. You were beside yourself earlier when you thought he might be injured or worse.”
Maddie’s eyes filled, and she looked away.
Sydney reached for her hand. “What is it?”
Maddie shifted her gaze to meet Sydney’s. “I thought I knew how it might feel to lose what you lost. But until that phone call from Janey, I had no idea.”
“And I hope you never do. Thank goodness they’re all okay.”
“How’s Luke?”
“Sore but feisty.”
“We’re all very grateful for what he did. If he weren’t already an honorary member of the McCarthy family, he would be now. Ever since Mr. McCarthy made him a partner in the business—”
“What did you say?”
“That they made him a partner? When Mac joined the business, they divided it among the three of them, but Mac and Luke own the majority.”
Astounded, Syd dropped into the chair next to the bed. “He owns the business?”
“A big part of it. Didn’t he tell you?”
Sydney shook her head as she tried to figure out what it meant that he hadn’t told her.
“I’m sorry. I thought you knew.”
“Why wouldn’t he tell me? We just talked about money earlier today, and he never mentioned he’s a partner in the marina.” She remembered his mysterious smile when she mentioned his income from McCarthy’s.
“Why were you talking about money?”
“We were making some tentative plans.”
“Oh, does this mean you’re staying?” Maddie clutched her hand. “Please say yes.”
“We haven’t decided anything for sure, but now...” She shrugged.
“Oh, Syd, don’t go there. He might have a perfectly good reason for not telling you. Give him a chance to explain.”
Sydney tried to shake it off to be dealt with later. “Let’s talk about you. What can I do? I can help with Thomas and the nursery and anything else you need. Just say the word.”
“What I could really use is some help with Janey’s shower. It’s supposed to be Sunday, and I’ve been sitting here all day thinking about postponing it—”
“No need. I’ll take care of everything. You can direct.”
“Are you sure you want to take that on?”
“I’d be thrilled to help you out.”
“I feel so bad for Janey—her dad is hurt and her matron of honor is on bed rest less than two weeks before her wedding.”
“We’ll get a chaise for you for the wedding so you can be right there with her and not exert yourself.”
Maddie cringed at the idea of it. “So I’ll be like the queen of Sheba laid out at Janey’s wedding?”
“She’ll be so excited to marry Joe and to have you there with her, she won’t care in the least.”
“What’ve you got in your bag of tricks for dealing with overwrought husbands?”
Sydney laughed. “You’re on your own there, my friend.”
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
* * *
Maddie and Sydney discussed bridal shower plans until Mac returned with Thomas.
“Mama,” he cried, breaking free from Mac’s grasp and running for Maddie’s bed.
Mac scooped him up. “Easy, pal. Don’t forget what we talked about in the car.”
Maddie reached for Thomas and hugged him when Mac handed him over. “What did you boys talk about?”
“Mama has to rest,” Thomas said. “’Cuz of my baby brother in your belly.”
Maddie glanced at Mac, hoping to see amusement but finding none. “Remember when Daddy and I told you it could be a baby sister?”
Thomas shook his head. “No sisters.”
Maddie shared a laugh with Sydney, but Mac barely cracked a grin. She could tell by the set of his shoulders that he was still full of tension.
“Did you see your dad?” she asked Mac.
He nodded. “He’s awake and cranky and his head hurts, but he’s doing better. My mom, Janey, Joe, Grant and Ned are with him. Your mom said she’ll be in after a while.”
Maddie had a few questions for her mother, who’d yet to come by to see her—probably because she knew Maddie would grill her about Ned. “I’m so glad your dad is cranky. That’s a good sign.” To Thomas, she said, “Can you say hi to Mama’s friend Sydney?”
“Hi,” Thomas said, smiling. “Buddy?”
“That’s right. You remembered. Guess what? Buddy has been sick, too.”
Thomas’s white-blond eyebrows knitted with concern.
“You know,” Sydney said, venturing a glance at Maddie, “if it’s okay with your mama and daddy, you can come with me to see him. If you want to, that is.”
“Can I see Buddy, Mama?” Thomas asked.
“Sure. That sounds like fun. But you have to be very gentle with Buddy, okay?”
His face solemn, Thomas nodded.
To Mac, Sydney said, “Could we trade cars for a little while so I’ll have the car seat? I’ll take him to see Buddy and then to Luke’s for dinner so you guys can have some time.”
Maddie wasn’t sure if she wanted time alone with her husband when he was in this mood, but she could
n’t disappoint Thomas. “What do you say to Syd?”
“Thank you,” Thomas said.
“And you’ll be a very good boy?”
He nodded.
“Okay, then. Give me another big hug first.”
Thomas wrapped his pudgy arms around her neck and squeezed.
Maddie breathed in the scent of little boy and the sunscreen Tiffany had applied so they could play outside in the sprinkler.
Thomas squirmed free.
“Have a good time, buddy.” Mac hugged Thomas and traded keys with Sydney. “Be a good boy.”
“Does he have any allergies, or anything he can’t or won’t eat?” Sydney asked.
“Not that we’re aware of,” Mac said. “He’s not a big fan of vegetables.”
“Shocker.” Syd extended her hand to Thomas. “I bet Luke has some spaghetti we can make.”
“Sketti,” Thomas said with a bright smile.
“He likes it with butter and cheese,” Mac said. “No sauce.”
“Got it. Stay as late as you want, Mac. If he conks out, I’ll put him down at Luke’s.”
“Thanks, Syd,” Maddie said.
“Yes, thank you,” Mac added.
Hand in hand, Sydney and Thomas walked out of the room. Maddie could hear Thomas’s happy chatter all the way down the hallway.
“That was nice of her,” Mac said.
“Very.” Maddie fiddled with the blanket.
“How do you feel?” he asked, vibrating with tension he was clearly trying—and failing—to keep hidden from her. Unfortunately for him, she knew him better than anyone and could see right through his act.
“Fine.”
“What’s with the one-word answers?”
“Nothing.”
“Great,” he said with a sharp laugh. “That’s perfect. You’re mad at me?”
Maddie shrugged. “You were a little over the top earlier.”
Hands on his hips, he said, “At least that’s more than one word. We’re making progress.”
“Mac.”
“What?” he snapped.
“Come here.”
“I’m here.”
Maddie patted the bed. “Here.”
Reluctantly—or so it seemed to her—he perched on the bed, arms folded, shoulders set.
“Closer.”
“I don’t want to. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m mad with you.”