“Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me. Sam called this morning and said she was leaving. I wasn’t sure how long your brother was staying so I figured I could pitch in and help out. It’s the least I can do for you after what you did for Raya.”
His quick temper flared. Her crossed signals were beginning to frustrate him. “Don’t put yourself out,” he snapped. “Especially out of some twisted sense of payback. I’ll check into a hotel or go home.”
When he turned to walk away from her she reached out and touched his bare muscular back. “I’m sorry, Ben, I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Hell you didn’t.” His low vibrating voice shook the room. “I’m not interested in your gratitude.” He turned back. “I’m interested in you and your daughter. If that bothers you then walk away now. I don’t play games with people.”
Her emotions washed across her face. He silently named them, guilt, embarrassment, anger, confusion and finally acceptance.
“Okay I want to help you because I’m interested too,” she whispered.
“Make sure you mean it, Hannah. No gratuitous niceties. I’m a very perceptive person and I’ll see right through it. Don’t play with me.”
“I won’t,” she said with a smile. “I guess I’m just out of practice and not sure how to handle a genuinely nice guy.”
“Just be yourself that’s all I ask.”
“I’ll do my best. You might have to cut me some slack every once in a while.”
Boomer smiled. “I can do that.”
“Good. Now you better get dressed. I’ll go to the nurse’s station and see if they have a bag we can put your stuff in.”
Hannah stepped out into the hallway and pressed her back against the wall.
“What the hell have I done?” He was right about one thing, he was perceptive and it probably wouldn’t take long for him to see through her charade.
To make matters worse she liked the man, truly liked him. Dear God when he stood in front of her with his muscular bare chest just inches away it was all she could do to keep herself from reaching out and running her hands all over that flesh-covered hardness. Oh and the way those flannel pants hung off his hips revealing light brown hair that disappeared under the waistband was intoxicating.
She banged her head back against the wall. It wasn’t just his sexy body that had her intrigued. His personality was just as fascinating. This was a man who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. She respected that, yet there didn’t seem to be a cruel bone in his body—not that she’d seen anyway. Of course time would tell.
God this was a dangerous game she was playing but for Raya’s sake it needed to be done. She almost lost her daughter yesterday she wouldn’t allow it to happen again. Ben would understand that in the end. He’d have to.