I lower my gaze to Maddie. It’s got to be this little woman. Sleeping next to her is apparently the same thing as falling into a coma. The arm still slung across her middle starts to tighten its grip on her, but I force myself to stop. I can’t chance waking her. If she blinks those big green eyes at me and offers to make me breakfast – hell, I’ll be proposing to her by lunch. As gently as my big body is able, I start to remove myself from Maddie’s bed. I get my arm out from under her, then pause. The need to kiss her one last time is overwhelming. But I don’t.
