He hesitated for only a second before pulling out his wallet and handing her the tattered-edged picture, watching her reaction to the scars on the right side of his mother’s face. When he was a kid, everyone asked about them, even adults. He’d asked his mother once if it bothered her when people asked about her scars, and she’d said, I don’t really think about them. It’s the people who don’t ask that hold my thoughts. He’d asked why. Because they’re the special ones who really see me.

“She is beautiful, and she has kind eyes.” Her gaze flicked to him, then back to the picture. “You do have her nose and her lips. I’m sorry you lost her when you were so young.”

“Me too, but that’s life.” Thinking about her cousin, he said, “I guess you know all about that.”

He reached for the picture, but she didn’t let go. Their gazes held, that powerful and undefinable connection vibrating between them. He couldn’t look away, though he knew he should. She hadn’t mentioned the scars, and that tugged at him like so many other things she’d done. He didn’t know how long they sat gazing into each other’s eyes, but every second drew him deeper into her. When Cheddar bounded up to the table, stealing her attention, he physically ached to have it back.

He put the picture in his wallet and shoved it in his pocket, fighting that feeling with everything he had.

Cheddar stretched out in the grass as they finished eating, and their conversation turned lighter. They chatted about funny food combinations, nicknames Madigan had been called over the years—short stuff, brat, Mini Mav because she followed her brother Maverick around when she was little, and Diva for singing around the house—and more ideas for her booty call card line, which Tobias was impressed to learn she’d decided to actually launch.

The time passed too quickly, and before Tobias knew it, his break was over. He threw away the trash and tried to repay her for lunch.

“I don’t want your money. But I’m playing at the Sundance Café tonight. You and me, my place afterward?” She bit her lower lip, trapping her hopeful smile.

“You’re killing me, Blue Eyes. I told you I’m not the guy for you.”

She poked his chest. “You also think I’m looking for forever, and I’m not, which shows you how far off your judgment is.”

He was this close to giving in. “Mads…”

“Come on,” she urged. “Don’t leave your booty hanging.”

He uttered a curse. “Are you always this cute?”