Changing Everything (Forgiving Lies #2.5)(61)
She punched his chest with a fisted hand. “Hey! That was the only time I lied, and I had a darn good reason. Some big galoot knocks me down, pounces on me, and then expects me to be truthful. Nuh uh. I don’t think so.” Her eyes sparkled with challenge.
“Galoot, huh? No more John Wayne movies for you, sugar.”
She sucked in a big breath, and he could tell by the mischief in her eyes that she was getting ready to let him have it. He touched his fingers to her lips to silence her. “Let me say this, okay? There’s a good chance we’ll go in and meet with Maria, and sometime before, after, or during, you’ll think about us—about me—and decide we’re not a good idea. I want you to know two things. First . . . it’s the best idea I’ve had in a long time. Second . . . if you decide it’s a mistake or that you’re not ready to get any closer, that’s okay. No pressure.”
He stepped back and gave her some room. It struck him that he’d just lied to her. What he said would have been true for any other woman he’d ever known, but he damn sure wasn’t going to give up on Mac that easily.
A grin made the sparkle in her eyes dance as she slipped her hand into his. “Obviously you’re confusing me with some other woman, because I don’t usually change my mind once it’s made up, and I’m a big girl, so you can stop worrying that your charm, good looks, and sex appeal will bowl me over. As for thinking about you—yeah.” She stepped closer and lowered her voice to a silky whisper. “You might cross my mind once or twice . . . so let’s get this meeting over with.”
“You got it, sugar.” Brady couldn’t remember when he’d been so contented—or when he’d ever used that word to describe himself before. Whether or not tonight ended with him in bed with this amazingly beautiful and brave woman didn’t really matter. The last few minutes had made it clear that his interest in her went way beyond just the prospect of sex. He wanted everything she had to give. Shit! She’d turned him upside down and inside out until he doubted his own ability to walk away . . . or even if he wanted to.