Pulling the tiger's tail, he asked, "Well?"

Eyes glittering, Arizona slowly pushed to her feet. "Fuck you," she whispered.

He could see a pulse tripping in her slim throat.

He could see the fear she tried so hard to hide.

"I suggested a kiss, Arizona. Nothing more. And despite what you said, 'no'

does mean 'no' to me. You don't have to be afraid."

"I'm not!"

"You don't have to expect the worst, either." He didn't move from his position on the couch, but with their gazes locked, it felt as if he touched her all the same.

It disturbed him-so what would it do to her?

"I would never hurt you," he promised. "I'd do my best to protect you from anyone who would."

"I don't need you to protect me." Her eyes turned glassy, a little wet. "I can protect myself."

Not too long ago, she hadn't protected herself at all. And no one else had, either.

"You find kissing so repulsive?"

She shook her head but said, "I don't know." Then she added, "I haven't done much...kissing."

"No?"

Her teeth clenched; she spoke through stiff lips. "A guy who's paying for his time doesn't want to waste it on that." In defiance, she added, "Thank God."

Her words felt like a kick in the guts.

"Arizona-"

"They saw me as unclean." Her chin jutted forward. "And I'm glad!"

Had she ever been given a sincere, caring, affectionate kiss? He just didn't know. But they had to start somewhere, or she'd never be free of her past.

He sat forward. "Given your expression, the idea of kissing me would be insufferable, so I'm guessing it should be incentive enough to clean up your language. Right?"

She took a step back, then another.

Arms loose, bare feet braced apart, she prepared to fight.

After everything that had happened to him in the past three years, his heart should have been encased in ice. Until Arizona, it had been.

Now, around her, everything felt as raw as a fresh, hot wound.

"You trust me," he pointed out.

She shook her head. "I don't trust anyone."

Slowly he stood and took a step toward her. "Yes, you do. You don't want to, and I understand that. I really do. But that's no way to live and you know it."

Shaking her head again, she whispered, "No." Then louder, "No!"

He stopped. "Why did you break into my house to tell me it's your birthday? If you don't trust me, why did you leave my gun and knife on the nightstand? If you're afraid of me, why are you here, asking me to partner up with you?"

She breathed harder.

As a warning, her small hand bunched into a fist. He didn't care. If she slugged him, maybe that'd finally make him see reason.

Maybe he'd finally be able to stop thinking about her.

"Damn you," she growled.

And his doorbell rang.

ISBN: 9781459241190.

Also available from Lori Foster.

and Harlequin HQN Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor.

A Perfect Storm Savor the Danger Trace of Fever.

When You Dare The Guy Next Door "Ready, Set, Jett"

Other must-reads Love Bites.

(digital anthology with Brenda Jackson, Virna DePaul, Catherine Mann and Jules.

Bennett) Forever Buckhorn Buckhorn Beginnings.

Bewitched Unbelievable Tempted.

Bodyguard Caught!

Heartbreakers Fallen Angels.

Enticing Coming soon, more classic tales The Buckhorn Legacy.

All Riled Up And don't miss an all-new tale of Love.

Undercover, also coming soon.

Bare it All.