“I know that, Kitten,” he said. “That’s why I’m asking you to let me in.”

His body was rock hard. Oak tree hard. He was all roped muscle. She could feel his muscles through his thin shirt as she carefully turned the screwdriver.

“Ridley, it’s too dangerous to let anyone in right now.” That was the most she could say, the only warning he would get. “Don’t ask me questions, because I can’t answer them, but not letting anyone into my life is so I know they’re safe.”

That was way too much information. She knew she’d made a mistake by the way his body froze. He wasn’t the kind of man to walk away from a woman in danger. She knew that. Why had she said something so stupid? Was she trying to get him killed?

He mesmerized her. She just blurted things out around him. Let him see who she was. Made her break every rule she had. But really? Asking her to let him into her life? How amazing was that? How many men were that sweet? He made her want to cry and she didn’t cry. She never cried. Never. That was a rule too, an unbreakable one.

“I know that too, baby,” he said. “I’m not asking for anything but you to let me in. That’s all. I’ve done dangerous before and I’ll be careful.”

She felt his breath on her neck and she closed her eyes briefly against the tidal wave of need rising. She was so alone. She didn’t have friends. She’d never had a friend. She tightened the screw and handed him the screwdriver. She had no choice but to put her hand on his shoulder as she began the climb down.

“I don’t want you dead.” Catarina didn’t look at him when she said it.

He began screwing in the other side. “I won’t get dead. We’ll work out and I can show you some moves. Have coffee now and then. Sneak in a dinner, even if it’s takeout. I like your company. Truth is, Kitten, I haven’t had much to laugh about in a long time, and you do that for me.”

Her bare feet hit the floor and she rested her forehead on the rung, fists clenched around the ladder, breathing deep. Panic was close. He wasn’t going away. She heard that in his voice. She knew he was persistent in his casual Zen way. He wasn’t walking away from her and leaving her in her mess of a life.

“I don’t know what to do with you, Ridley.”

His laugh was unexpected. Low with a hint of gentleness in it. She felt his laughter move right through her body.

She looked up at him, frowning. “Why is that funny?”

He glanced down at her. “I knew you were going to give me attitude.”