THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

What’s your name?”
    “Angel.”  That’s all anyone needed to know. Angelina Farentino had been many things – a star athlete, a courier, a convict. But Angel was the woman inside who wanted a new life with new dreams and no prison record.  
    “Zane Black, at your service.”  His firm lips widened in a devilish grin.
    That smile could melt an iceberg.
    She finally remembered her manners. “Thank you for ... what you did.” For that she got a dismissive nod as if he rescued women every day. Maybe he did.
    He seemed to be waiting for her to volunteer information.
    Not going to happen . She searched for something to keep the topic about him. “Impressive take off.”
    Waving a hand in dismissal, he said, “That was nothing. Piece o’ cake.”
    This one almost certainly turned female heads regularly with those beautiful eyes and that devil-may-care smile, but she’d always found one thing more attractive in a man than all that – confidence – and Zane Black had it in spades.
    But what did she know?
    She’d found Mason attractive at first, too.
    Zane’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “Impressive escape on your part. How far did you have to run?”
    “Not far.”
    The silence stretched between them, urging her to say more, but she knew better. She’d volunteered information once that had convicted her of a crime she never committed. She’d volunteered information a second time and was running for her life because of it.
    Time to stop being so blasted helpful.
    Zane’s curious gaze traveled down her damp T-shirt to her waist.
    She wrapped her arms across her middle. Poor attempt to hide the obvious bulge the coins created. She held her breath, expecting the inevitable questions.
    Why were those men chasing you?
    What did they want?
    And, of course, what did you do wrong?
    But, surprisingly, none of those came out of his mouth.
    Instead, he pulled a towel from a duffel bag behind his seat. “Here, why don’t you dry off? If you’re cold, I have a blanket in the back.”
    On the heels of being imprisoned and abused at the hands of Mason, this stranger’s consideration left her speechless until she remembered her brain needed to shake loose a response.
    “Thanks. I’m not cold, just a little tired.”  Her adrenaline rush had bled out, leaving aches, pains, and exhaustion in its wake. Only frayed nerves kept her from keeling over. “I’d love that coffee now.” 
    He poured some in a thick paper cup and handed it to her. His fingers brushed hers when she took the offering, catching her off guard at the sensation that wicked under her skin. She shifted on the metal box, angling her legs to get more comfortable, which might have been easier if every move didn’t send pain shafting through her body.
    The sexy pilot lost his smile when he took in her legs once more and studied them with grim assessment. “We need to clean you up.”
    “I’m fine, really,” she protested mildly, not wanting to be touched. “Just a few scratches.”  Minor injuries from her run compared to Mason’s abuse.
    “You are a badass if that’s just a few scratches.”  He grinned, underscoring that he found her harrowing getaway impressive.
    She couldn’t recall the last time she’d impressed anyone with anything except her running speed, and warmed at his teasing compliment.
    Ignoring her claim that she was okay, he made a quick check on things in his cockpit then unhooked a first-aid kit mounted on the wall near his seat. Removing assorted medical supplies, he reached for her leg then hesitated, his hand in mid-air obviously waiting for her permission.
    Long seconds passed as they locked stares.
    Just give him a nod. How could she not after all he’d done? Her stomach clenched. Lowering her guard and trusting a man had put her in this position.
    Zane continued to hold his hand out with endless patience written in his face. No man was that patient.
    She wouldn’t bleed to death. Mason hadn’t raped her, yet, but he’d left her reluctant to allow any man to touch her. The reasons to say no just kept piling up in her head until Zane withdrew his hand and eased back.
    Understanding filled his eyes.
    How could he understand?
    She didn’t know, but he did. And the fact that he did was the tipping point that caused her to reconsider his offer. This man was not the enemy and she had no one to turn to. He was offering help. All she had to do was give a tiny bit of trust.
    Hadn’t he earned that by risking