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He hated pity too. Although it didn’t have the same punch to the gut that it usually did.
“No reason for you to be sorry.”
“Maybe sorry is the wrong word,” she said. “It can be a useless word, I guess. Used too often and without real meaning. But I didn’t mean it like that . . . I just, I get it when you don’t feel like smiling even though you’re made to, in order to make someone else feel better. Not that I think you do that.”
How often had she had to pretend she was all right to make someone else feel better?
He didn’t like that. His girl should never be made to feel like she had to hide her emotions.
He wanted them all.
“You’ll never do that with me,” he told her gruffly.
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“You’ll never pretend with me. Understand? I want your real emotions. To know if you’re sad, angry, scared, happy. Don’t lie or hide, Isa. I will not like it.”
“You are so demanding,” she huffed, looking so irritated that he wanted to smile again.
What was wrong with him? He’d smiled more in the last twenty-four hours than he had in the last two years.
Maybe longer.
Shit. His life really had grown rather bitter, hadn’t it?
“If I think it’s in your best interests to do something, then I’m gonna work on making that happen.”
“So what you’re saying is . . . I can say no, but you’ll just find a way to get around if you think it’s in my best interests.” She studied him as he sat on the coffee table. He was too old to sit on the floor anymore.
“Pretty much.”
“And you don’t see something wrong with that?” she asked.
“I just want what’s best for you. Is that wrong?”
11
“Iguess not. Just how can you be sure you know what’s best for me?”
“Good question, baby.” He both loved and hated the way she flushed. She looked so pleased but uncertain.
Hadn’t she been praised much? He had a feeling that her damn father had done a real number on her.
Also something to work on.
“I want to tell you I know exactly what you need, but I don’t.”
Surprise filled her face at his words. She wasn’t expecting him to say that.
“Don’t know you well enough. But I want you to be healthy, and happy, and safe. So I’ll always keep those things in mind.”
“Oh.” She frowned slightly as though thinking that over. Then she looked at him again, studying him. “You’re an intense guy.”
“Yep,” he replied, even though it hadn’t been a question. “I am. Determined too. If there’s something I want, I get it. I keep it. I take care of it. And I don’t ever let it go.”
“That might . . . that might be a bit too intense for me right now.”
“Understood.” She wasn’t quite at the same point as him. And that was all right.
