“This is my girl.” He turned the phone so Faith could see a picture of a grinning little pixie with a bright smile and a pom-pom hat on her bald head, no hair hanging down beneath the folded brim.

“She’s beautiful,” Faith said, sliding her finger over her face.

“And if it wasn’t for this guy introducing us to his sister, I don’t think my wife and I would have made it through the roughest parts of her illness.” He shoved his phone back into his pocket.

Looking up at Jason from beneath her lashes, she caught a flush on his cheeks.

“It just so happens I could help you, man. But I’m glad Sienna could do her part. She loves fundraising and doing anything she can for kids who’ve been through what she has.”

Faith would like to help her one day, when there was no danger following her around, she thought sadly. For now, though, she had to fight through her own problems and not bring them into other people’s lives.

“Thanks, Sam.” Jason all but dismissed his friend, who waved and walked back to the other guy helping him.

“So? Still think I’m a serial killer?” Jason asked her.

“I never said–”

“Oh, by the way, my cousin ate one of your marshmallow pops and went crazy for them. She’d like you to contact her about doing the party favors for her son’s birthday party. So now I’m hooking you up with business. I really think you can trust me to keep you safe.” He grinned at his smug proclamation.

She wanted to smack him … and kiss him at the same time. He had her head spinning, and she knew that was his intention. To keep her off-balance and win her over at the same time. So she was too overwhelmed to say no to his proposition about her moving in with him.

But she had to be smart about things. “I’m not questioning your ability to keep me safe, I’m wondering why you’re taking me on as your responsibility?” Her tone along with her emotions sobered.

He grasped her hand and pulled her into the back kitchen area, where they could be alone. Backing her against the prep counter, his big body hovered over hers.

“From the second we met, there was a connection between us. I felt it and so did you. Then I ignored your tire and my gut screaming it was more than vandalism, and this happened. Now I know I should have paid attention.” He drew a deep breath.

So did she and his delicious cologne swept over her. She steeled herself against his appeal because what they were discussing now was deadly serious.

“There’s a lot about me I don’t talk about,” he went on. “I’m not saying never, I’m just saying for now. All you need to understand is that I’ve been in this situation before, being able to possibly prevent something bad from happening and ignoring my gut. I won’t do that again. So when I say you’re coming home with me? I mean it.”