As she stopped him from shifting off her, she realized he thought she meant physically. If only it was that simple. “You make me want things I decided a long time ago weren’t in the cards for me.”

Awareness dawned on him, and he relaxed a bit. “Maybe life has dealt you a new hand. A better hand. Isn’t that possible?”

“I’ve learned not to gamble. It doesn’t work out well for me.”

“I wish there was something I could say or do to convince you that you can trust me.”

“I wish there was, too.”

“You’re making me pay for things other people did to you.”

“I know that.”

“It’s not fair.”

Unable to resist the urge to touch him, she brushed the hair off his forehead, delighting in the silky feel of it. “I know that, too.”

“I’m going to show you.” He shifted off her to lie on his back next to her but kept a firm grip on her hand.

Glancing down, she noticed his still-impressive erection and quickly brought her eyes back to his face. She had to acknowledge that unlike most men she’d known in the past, he didn’t seem to be driven solely by the whims of his little brain. “Show me what?”

“That I’m different. That you can trust me.”

“I don’t want you to think I don’t appreciate—”

“I have no interest in your appreciation.” He turned his head so he could see her. “I want so much more than that from you.”

She studied the face she’d grown so fond of so quickly. Already he was more familiar to her than people she’d known all her life. “Why me?”

His mouth quirked at the corners. “Because.”

“That’s all you’ve got?”

Shrugging, he said, “If I told you all the reasons, you’d run screaming for your life.”

“Try me. Give me one good reason.”

Mac rubbed at the stubble on his chin as he gave that some thought. Then he turned those formidable blue eyes on her, and the blood heated in her veins. “Promise you won’t run screaming?”

Maddie gestured to the bandage on her leg. “I promise.”

He brought their joined hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Being around you makes me breathless and needy and horny as hell, but that’s only the start of it. You make me want to be a better man so I’ll deserve you and Thomas.”

Maddie stared at him. No one had ever said such things to her.

“How was that?” he asked after a long period of silence.

She wished she had words to match what he’d given her, but her brain had turned to mush along with the rest of her. Clearing her throat, she said, “Pretty good.”