“Why did you tell me?”
“Because that’s the ugliest part of me, Boxer.” I stared him in the eyes. “And I wanted—no, Ineededyou to know me. Every part of me.”
He let go of my foot and then lunged for me, pinning me beneath his body. “There’s nothing ugly about you.”
I looked down, trying to shield my emotions from him, but he was a battering ram to a castle wall.
“I’m a criminal, remember? You want to keep score on who’s worse? I’ll win. Easily.”
“A criminal who rescues women and children,” I said.
“I’m a sinner, not a saint,” he quipped. “The good deeds don’t outweigh the bad ones.”
“Life isn’t black or white, is it?”
He grinned. “You just proved my point.”
I sighed.
“You deserve to be happy, Linden. You gotta let the guilt go.”
“Easier said than done. Easier said than done.”
* * *
“Get your ass out here, Boxer!” a female voice yelled. “I’ve got a bone to pick with you!”
I shot up in bed and looked around. Daylight streamed through the blinds, and Boxer was still in bed next to me.
His eyes were closed, but he scratched his chest. “Damn, that woman has a set of pipes.”
I fell back onto the bed. “Who the hell is here at this hour?”
“Mia,” Boxer groused.
“What is she mad about?”
“No fucking idea.” He cracked one eyelid and peered at me. “You’re not pissed she just walked in here like she owned the place? We could’ve been naked in the kitchen. Or naked in the living room. Or naked—”
“I got it,” I said dryly. “You want us naked in all your rooms.”
“Yup. It’s gonna happen. I’ll make sure of it.” He flung the covers off him and then swung his legs over the side of the bed. Boxer ran a hand across his scruffy cheek and then got up. He went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt.
“Don’t leave me out there with her. She’s in a fit, and she’s full of hormones.”
I snorted, rolled to the side of the bed, and grabbed the flannel he’d worn the night before. “Pregnant women scare you?”
I buttoned the shirt and then stared at him when he didn’t reply.
He was still, looking thoughtful. “No. Pregnant women don’t scare me.”
Boxer stalked from the room. I quickly used the bathroom and then went to discover why Mia was here.
When I entered the kitchen, I smiled. Mia was looking up at Boxer, glaring at him.
He peered down at her, a goofy grin on his face.
“Hey, Mia,” I greeted. “A little early for a visit, isn’t it?”