He removed the bandages on her elbow and hand, struck by her stoic courage when she had to be in terrible pain. “I hate that I caused this.”

With the fingers on her good hand, she brushed the hair off his forehead.

Staggered by the gentle caress, he looked up at her.

“You’re not what I expected.”

“No?” He kept his tone light, but the small bathroom became airless.

“From your mother’s stories, I pictured you as a real playboy. Different day, different woman.”

Mac cringed at the somewhat accurate description. “That might’ve described me at one point in my life, but not anymore.”

“And when did this miraculous change occur?”

He pretended to give that significant thought. “About nine o’clock this morning.”

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

As he left the bathroom, Maddie wanted to believe his interest in her was genuine, but she was still convinced that the minute she was fully healed, he’d forget about her and go running back to his regular life. How could she believe anything else? Every man she’d ever loved had let her down. Why should he be any different? You’re not being fair, the angel sitting on her right shoulder said. He’s been nothing but lovely to you and Thomas all day.

Yeah, but he’s probably just worried about you suing him for hurting you so badly, the devil on her left shoulder countered.

“Enough,” Maddie muttered. Leaning on the sink, she stood slowly and breathed her way through the pain. She managed to remove her shorts, underwear and T-shirt but was stymied by her bra. Her injured hand wouldn’t cooperate to release the four tight hooks. Teary eyed from the pain in her hand, she reached for a towel and wrapped it around herself. “Mac?”

“What’d you need, honey?”

The endearment made her swoon with desire. How she wished she could be his honey, but it wasn’t going to happen. Having feelings for a man who lived thousands of miles away was foolish and risky. “I, um, I need some help.” Just the thought of him seeing the old-lady bra made her feel sick.

“Do you want me to come in?”

Swallowing hard, she said, “Please.”

The door opened, and his face went slack at the sight of her in a towel.

“Try not to ogle, will you please?”

“Who’s ogling?”

“You are.”

He seemed to make an effort to focus on her face.

“Can you, um, unhook my bra? Please?” She watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down in the strong column of his throat.

“Sure,” he said in a strangled tone.

Maddie turned and let the towel drop just enough to give him access. His fingers brushed against her back, and she gasped.

“Sorry.”

“S’okay.” She held her breath while he worked on the hooks.

“All set.”

“Thank you.”

Maddie waited for him to leave, but instead, he pushed the straps aside.