Status Updates From Maddie's Marine

“You wearing any panties under that dress?” “Yes,” she said, laughing. He held out his hand and she took it, let him help her up. “I think we better take care of that right away. In fact, I think you’d better take everything off.” “What do you intend, Major?” “As much as I can get away with, Maddie.”

Damn, but he missed Maddie. In the two months since he’d walked out on her, he’d picked up and dropped the phone a dozen times a day. He’d even tried to date other women, but he invariably ended up dropping them off with nothing more than a peck on the cheek and a promise to call again. Which he never did, of course. He only wanted Maddie.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, stroking a finger down her cheek. Maddie knew she could drown in those eyes, especially when he looked at her like he was now. Like she meant everything to him. Like she was one half of his soul. “I want you so much,” she said. Too much. She knew she was projecting her own feelings onto him, hoping he felt the same way about her as she did about him.

Ryan no longer cared whether she was dating another man or not. Maddie turned and strode through the sand toward the Outrigger, swiping at the tears that spilled down her cheeks. Damn Ryan Cavanaugh! Why did he have to show up now and remind her of everything she’d lost?

“If you get any ideas about the real thing with the pretty lady here, remember that sex on the beach is illegal in Waikiki.” Maddie let out her breath as Ryan stalked away. She felt empty inside, just like she’d felt the day the story hit the stands and Ryan ordered her and her photographer out of his camp.

"The realization hit her like a plunge into icy water: she was in love with Ryan Cavanaugh." That's nice but how did that happen... I would have preferred hearing how they met instead of them reuniting. Ugh.