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The words bad boy flashed through her mind, but she dismissed them instantly because there wasn’t one boyish thing about the stranger. He was all man.
“Miss,” he said, and she realized it wasn’t the first time he’d said it.
Mila shook herself for staring so hard at the sexy man. “I…”
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice deep and slightly breathless.
No wonder. She’d knocked them both to the ground with her fall.
“I am.” She tried to push upright, but the man held her still.
“No,” he practically barked. “Take it slow. Make sure you didn’t break anything.”
Mila wanted to point out that he’d taken the brunt of the impact, but there was something in his tone, something strong and commanding that had her doing exactly as he said.
Oh yeah. This guy was dangerous…to her libido.
She wiggled her fingers and toes, then her hands and feet.
“I’m fine,” she said, and when she tried to sit up this time, he let her. “What about you? Did I hurt you?”
The man chuckled. “A little thing like you? Not likely. All I have is a bruised ass and wounded pride.”
“Pride? Why?”
“Because I’m pissed I didn’t manage to catch you midair without falling. I’m suddenly looking a lot less like a stud.”
Mila giggled…until another voice entered the conversation.
“Gross, Dad.”
Mila peered over the man’s shoulder, spotting a pretty young girl who looked like she was still in middle school.
Great, Mila. Nothing like ogling a man while his daughter’s watching.
She scrambled to her feet, the man rising as well.
When she wobbled slightly, he reached out, gripping her upper arms to steady her.
And that was when she felt it.
It.
The thing Uncle Rex and Levi and Theo all talked about.
Lightning strike.
Earthquake.
Tsunami.
This man was the one.
Mila looked into his eyes, and she felt as if her world had suddenly clicked into place. And as amazing as that should have felt, there was something she couldn’t ignore.
The man had a daughter.
So did he also have a wife?
* * *