She nodded, her lips curving just the slightest amount as she nuzzled her nose into his chest. “Because you’re so great. Really, thank you for listening to me.”

“I’m great because I have someone I want to be great for. Thank you for opening up to me.”

“It wasn’t easy,” she said and he grinned.

“I could tell.”

“I bet you’re disappointed in me, huh?”

His brows touched as he shook his head in disbelief. “Why in the hell would I be disappointed in you? You trusted him, loved him, and he fucked you over. How is that your fault? If anyone should be disappointed in anyone, it should be you in me. I’m the drunk whose family got killed because I’m an idiot.”

She eyed him and then nodded. “I’m not disappointed in you. I’m proud, because you aren’t that man anymore.”

His heart stopped in his chest. “And I’m proud of you for getting out and becoming who you are. Which is one hell of a mom and a woman. You know what’s best for Angie—you don’t settle for shit. Don’t forget that.”

She leaned her head to his and closed her eyes. “I just don’t want to hurt her.”

“You won’t. If anything, you’ll make her life better.”

“You think so?”

“I know so,” he said sternly. “Like I said, you know what’s best and what needs to be done. Ask your mom, your brothers, they’ll tell you the same, Lucy. You’re a strong woman. You’ve got this.”

Her eyes were hopeful as she nodded slowly. “Yeah, I do. I’ve got this,” she repeated, her words full of conviction as she held his gaze.

“Good. Now, come here. Give me a kiss and let’s go to sleep.”

She eyed him, her nose against him. “Go to sleep?”

“Well, I mean, I’m down for some loving if you are.”

Threading her fingers into his hair, she smiled against his lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Well, you’re in luck, ’cause I want the sex.”

His lips curved, and his hands came onto her ass. He knew she just wanted the distraction, and that was fine. He could give her that. “Ooh, I like the sex.”

Sputtering with laughter then, she leaned on him, kissing his nose. “Dork.”

Rolling her over, he pressed into her. He figured he didn’t have the right answers for her when it came to Rick, but he had the power to take her to another world. To make her forget, if only for a short amount of time. Looking into her beautiful face, he saw a gorgeous woman, but also very troubled one. He saw strength too, and he knew, like everyone always said, she was going to be okay.

But this time, he was aiming for something higher.

He hoped she’d be great, because he was going to be behind her, supporting her and loving her.

God, he loved her. He loved her so much it hurt, but as he gazed into those clouded green eyes, his heart hurting from the stress she was going through, he knew that his chance to tell her would come.

Kissing her nose, he smiled and whispered, “You wouldn’t have me any other way.”

“I sure wouldn’t,” she whispered back, her lips moving against his. “Thank you, Benji.”

But before he could say anything, her lips came crashing into his, and as their bodies moved together, he knew he was going to prove her wrong.

That he wasn’t going anywhere.

Well.

That was hard.

She’d laid it out there.

Every single thing.

The good…er…well, there was no good, just a whole lot of bad and ugly.

But she told him, and it felt good. Really good, and of course, that surprised her. Not even her family knew what really happened to cause Rick to beat her to a bloody pulp, only that he had beat her. But now Benji knew. She was worried he would judge her, think she was stupid to stay with Rick for as long as she had. Hell, she thought she was stupid. But he didn’t. His eyes held nothing but concern and tenderness in their gray depths. He didn’t talk; he just listened. He was her rock and it was so refreshing, so perfect. As she lay in his arms, looking into his eyes as her body still vibrated from her orgasm, his fingers moved along her jaw. She was pretty sure she was falling in love with him.

Crap. She was.

Her heart stopped as she wondered if she should let herself fall.

Don’t. It could be a trap. He’ll just leave. Watch.

Maybe he won’t. Maybe he really is saying the truth when he says he won’t go anywhere. That he wants you. Lean on him

No, no man has ever done you right. They all fail you. He will too. Don’t lean. You are the only one who can take care of you and Angie.

But Benji is different. He’s a good man. You deserve a good man. Let him in.

Closing her eyes, she squeezed them shut tightly, wanting the voices to leave. She didn’t want this. She didn’t want to go back and forth; she just wanted it to work. To be right. Thankfully, the voices left, or maybe she was done being crazy. When she opened her eyes, Benji was watching her. His eyes were half-lidded and oh so sexy as he eyed her.

“Internal struggle?”

She grinned. “Something like that.”

“Tell me,” he urged, his hands holding her close.

She smiled, nuzzling her nose against his chin, her eyes drifting shut. “Just thinking how great you were about the whole thing with Rick.”

“How else would I be?”

“You could have judged me.”