She backed away from him until her butt hit the back of the couch, trapping her as he boxed her in.

“I do not,” she whispered.

Those damn fingers lifted and he brushed her loose hair back behind her ear as he held her captive with his gaze.

“Listen, sugar, I’ve gotten wounds before. I’ve seen things most people can’t even imagine actually exist. I’ve watched helplessly as fallen soldiers haven’t been able to pick up the pieces of their sanity. I’m not willing to do that with you. What you went through was tragic. But I’m going to give you a reason to keep on living, to keep on loving life, and to forget about the bastard that tried to take all of that away from you.”

No passion, no cockiness, no alpha male rested in those piercing eyes as he spoke to her this time. Only compassion. She wasn’t sure what scared her more.

“I . . . I’m not afraid,” she said, knowing the crack in her voice belied the words.

“You’re strong, sug. Trust me, I know this, but it’s okay to show a few cracks when we’ve been hit,” he said, his hand now resting on her shoulder. “We all have a few open wounds.”

“Quit calling me sugar,” she said, trying to clear her head.

“But you are so damn sweet,” he told her. There was the cockiness she’d been looking for.

That was so much easier to face than the kind, gentle person he turned into sometimes. The jokester, alpha macho man she could resist—mostly; the gentle giant she wanted to fall against.

No. She refused to rely on anyone.

“You ready to go?”

“I told you, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Look, I’ll back off on the fund-raiser for the day. I want to take you somewhere special to me. Only if you agree afterward will we talk about the project.”

She tried to find a flaw with his reasoning but couldn’t. She sort of wanted to go out with him. Why else would she have gotten up and dressed, taking extra care with her hair and makeup?

He saw her hesitation and pounced.

“Lins, I don’t take no for an answer. Just give me a chance, and you’ll see I’m a great guy.”

There was the gentle giant again. Still, she hesitated. He sighed as he gave her a look.

“Okay, sug, I’m not looking for a marriage. There are reasons for that, but it’s the last thing I want. However, I can’t keep thoughts of you away, and I want to see where this is going,” he admitted.

“I don’t even know who I am right now, so I don’t want some fairy-tale ending, either,” she whispered.

“Then let’s just be friends, and I’ll give you a great day.”

He was so smooth, and he was telling her upfront that this wouldn’t last. That’s what she wanted, she assured herself. She hadn’t decided to go with him, yet she found herself nodding her head. What the heck? That hadn’t been what she’d intended to do.

“You need to tie your hair up and put on some tennis shoes,” he said with a wicked smile that had her worried all over again. The gentle giant was gone again.

“Fine. If I agree to this . . . outing, will you leave me alone?”

“Nope. I didn’t say I would back off, I just said I’d give you a break,” he said.

“What if I can’t stand being around you?” she challenged.

He leaned forward, his body heat scorching her. Her breathing shortened and she had to fight not to reach around and tug him closer.

“Sugar, we both know that’s not the case. We’re going to be lucky if we both don’t spontaneously combust while spending time together. But don’t worry, I won’t take you until you’re ready . . . and begging me to.”

Gulping, Lindsey stood there without moving a muscle. She had the strong urge to pull him the last inch needed for his body to brush against hers. Dang it! Why him?

When Stormy touched her she flinched. And Lindsey skirted Cooper like he was a demon trying to suck out her soul. So why was it that, of all people, Maverick was the one she didn’t fear? It wasn’t as if they had an actual connection. So why, in her darkest hour, did it seem he was the only person she could stand to be so close to?

“It’s chemistry and trust,” he whispered as he leaned forward and brushed his lips against her cheek.

“What is?” she gasped as her stomach trembled.

“What you’re feeling.”

Could the man also read minds? Did she have to veil her thoughts? She squinted at him as he pulled back.

“Your brown eyes are like an open book, sugar. I can read the conflict in them, the confusion. I can see you don’t understand what draws you to me. I’m just a very likeable guy,” he told her.

The shining smile he gave her stabilized the turbulence she was feeling.

“You are so full of yourself, Mav.”

“That I am, sug. That I am,” he said, but blessedly he moved backward. “Finish getting ready. We’re going to be late.”

Pulling herself away from the couch, Lindsey decided it would be easier not to fight the man. Hopefully the outing would be such a disaster he’d give up on this mission of his and let her go.

Why that thought brought instant sadness to her, she would never know. But somehow she found herself going to the closet and grabbing a light jacket and changing into tennis shoes.

Let the adventure begin.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Though her nerves were stretched a little bit thin, at least the panic was at bay as Lindsey climbed into Maverick’s large Ford F350. It was a good thing he had running boards on the dang truck, otherwise she would have had to take a running jump—and still most likely would have come up short.