‘Yeah, but I’ve never had a woman like you.’

‘Is that a compliment?’

‘It’s a damned complication.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I don’t want to let you go.’

There! He’d said it. Now let her make of it what she willed.

She stared up at him, her eyes stunned.

‘Do you really mean that?’

‘Unfortunately.’

‘Why unfortunately?’

‘Because I’m no good for you. You want a proper marriage. With children. I’m not cut out for anything proper. And I sure as hell don’t ever want to be a father.’

‘But why, Mike? You’re wonderful to those boys you help. You obviously have a lot of love to give.’

‘Love! I don’t give them love. I give them help. And money. And opportunity. Love’s got nothing to do with what I do.’

‘Then what’s it got to do with?’ she threw up at him. ‘That horrible childhood of yours, I suppose. You don’t want other boys to go through what you went through, is that it?’

‘Something like that.’

‘So what was it that happened to you, Mike?’

‘I told you. I don’t like to talk about it.’

‘Why not? It might do you some good.’

For the first time in his life, Mike was tempted. He sucked in a deep breath, but then shook his head. He just couldn’t tell her. He didn’t want to see pity in her eyes.

‘What are you afraid of, Mike?’ she persisted. ‘I promise not to tell anyone else. This will just be between you and me.’

‘Trust me. You don’t want to know.’

He could just imagine how Natalie would react. She’d had such a normal childhood. She had no idea what it was like to live the way he’d lived as a kid. Okay, so her dad had obviously been a bit of a dill, money-wise. At least she’d had a dad. And a mother who’d been a mother. They actually sounded nice.

‘Mike, I think it’s important that you talk about what happened,’ she went on, clearly determined to worm everything out of him. ‘You’ve bottled it up for too long. If you’re worried I might be shocked, then don’t. I’m not some fragile flower. I’ve seen and read about lots of not-so-nice things in my life.’

He grimaced, then rolled over to lie next to her. Maybe he could do this if he didn’t have to look into her eyes.

And maybe he couldn’t.

‘I wouldn’t even know where to start,’ he muttered.

‘Let’s start with your being born. Tell me about your mother and father. Who were they? How did they meet? Where are they now?’

He slanted her a wry glance. ‘You’re not going to shut up till I tell you everything, are you?’

‘Nope.’