Matt Calvin has watched Gina’s beautiful shape sway up and down the doctor's office hallway for four long years. It’s time to do something about this fascination he has for her. Matt's not relationship material, but he doesn’t expect it to get that far. He just wants to talk to her, man to woman, and put himself out of his misery once and for all. Things never go as planned, though, and when fantasy crashes and burns into reality, Gina pays the price.
Gina doesn’t blame Matt for her injury, but she is appreciative when he steps into her crazy life to help out. Proximity fires the sudden attraction between them and Gina can’t believe she’s overlooked the sexy carpenter for this long. Tattooed and intimidating, he’s not the type she's normally drawn to, but something about him tugs at her heartstrings.
When an explosive situation develops and they have to save a little boy, Matt loses control of his tightly held emotions. Though his heart aches, Matt walks away, both for Gina’s safety and his own sanity. It’s up to Gina to convince him love can heal any heartache.
“Listen, Gina,” he said finally, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry I went off on you earlier. My family is just not something I like to talk about.”
Gina blinked in surprise. She certainly hadn’t expected an apology. She was the one who had been digging. “Don’t worry about it, Matt. I shouldn’t have been nibby. I just--” she sighed deeply and met his eyes “--I was just curious about you, is all.”
Surprise flared in his gray-green eyes, and his brows furrowed in disbelief. “Why on earth would you be curious about me?”
The look on his face would have been cute if it hadn’t been so earnest. He honestly didn’t understand her attraction.
“I like you. I think you’re a nice guy. I wish I’d have talked to you sooner in that hallway, rather than just dodge around you. I’m sorry about that. I made assumptions about you like everybody else does. And they were wrong.”
Matt’s face had gone slack, as if he didn’t dare believe her words, and she couldn’t help but reach out and run a finger along his shaved jaw line. His gaze zeroed in on her gently smiling mouth, and it was absolutely natural to lean forward and press her lips to his.
Broad and surprisingly soft, Matt’s lips remained still as Gina moved her mouth against his. She pressed harder, daring to touch the seam of his lips with her tongue. From deep inside him, a growl rumbled forth, and his lips began to move with hers. Gina slipped her arms around his neck and held on as he pressed back in earnest.
Gina leaned harder and opened her mouth wide to invite him in. She allowed her body to rest against his, and she tunneled her good hand into the short hair at the nape of his neck, scraping her fingernails lightly.
Matt shuddered and came alive in her arms. Cupping her head in his massive hands, he drank from her mouth. His tongue teased at her lips, then slid inside to taste her. Gina couldn’t contain her helpless moan as she was suddenly wet and aching with arousal. Her nipples rubbed against his solid chest, and it was so very delicious.
