Free Maid for Love by Marie Force Page B

forgotten about that."
    "No such luck."
    "I'd love to take a shower. I feel gross."
    He tucked a shank of honey hair behind her ear. "You don't look gross. In fact, you look quite lovely."
    "You don't need to say that stuff to me. It's not going to get you anywhere."
    "And where is it that you think I want to be?"
    She replied with the scathing look he'd grown quite fond of during their day together.
    "Why don't we deal with this thing you're worried about right now?"
    "What're you talking about?"
    "You think I'm only doing all this so I can sleep with you, right?"
    She had the good grace to appear embarrassed by his frank assessment. "It's crossed my mind."
    "Then let me put your mind at ease—we won't sleep together until you tell me you want to." When she began to protest, he rested his fingers over her lips. "Until you say these words: 'Mac, make love to me,' I swear it won't happen. I can't promise I won't try to kiss you again, because I really liked kissing you. But anything more than that? It's all you."
    "Can I talk now?" she asked.
    Mac smiled and removed his fingers.
    "I'm not used to people without ulterior motives."
    "I'm sorry you've been mistreated in the past, but not all men are lousy pigs."
    She studied him with eyes utterly lacking guile, and his heart stuttered in his chest. "They aren't?"
    Without breaking the intense eye contact, he shook his head. Reaching out to caress her cheek, he leaned in to kiss her lightly. "I can't resist you."
    "Try harder."
    "You don't really want me to."
    "How do you know?"
    "Well, you started the whole kissing phase of our relationship."
    "I was asleep! And it's not a relationship."
    Mac's grin spread across his face. "What would you call it?"
    "An annoyance."
    He laughed—hard, which seemed to infuriate her. "Let's table this debate for now and get those cuts taken care of."
    "Do we have to?"
    "Yep. Ready for a lift to the bathroom?"
    "I guess."
    Mac moved carefully to lift her from the sofa and carry her to the bathroom. "How do you want to do this?"
    "By myself."
    He followed her into the bathroom. "You could fall."
    She turned and seemed surprised to find him right behind her. Placing a hand on his chest, she stopped him from coming any closer. "There's no way you're seeing me naked, so turn around and get out."
    Mac put on a pout face. "You're no fun at all."
    "So I'm told."
    He closed the lid to the toilet. "Why don't you sit and let me take off the bandages."
    Eying him warily, she said, "All right, but then you're out of here."
    "Yes, ma'am." Mac helped to ease her down and then knelt in front of her to unwrap the gauze. Uncovering the angry, seeping wound on her knee, he winced, and his stomach turned. "God, Maddie." He glanced up at her pale face. "Don't look."
    "Okay."
    He removed the bandages on her elbow and hand, struck by her stoic courage when she had to be in terrible pain. "I hate that I caused this."
    With the fingers on her good hand, she brushed the hair off his forehead.
    Staggered by the gentle caress, he looked up at her.
    "You're not what I expected."
    "No?" He kept his tone light, but the small bathroom became airless.
    "From your mother's stories, I pictured you as a real playboy. Different day, different woman."
    Mac cringed at the somewhat accurate description. "That might've described me at one point in my life, but not anymore."
    "And when did this miraculous change occur?"
    He pretended to give that significant thought. "About nine o'clock this morning."

Chapter 5
     
    A s he left the bathroom, Maddie wanted to believe his interest in her was genuine, but she was still convinced that the minute she was fully healed, he'd forget about her and go running back to his regular life. How could she believe anything else? Every man she'd ever loved had let her down. Why should he be any different? You're not being fair , the angel sitting on her right shoulder said. He's been nothing but lovely to you and Thomas all day .
    Yeah, but he's probably