“Thanks,” she said in a quiet voice.

“For what?” Sean asked.

“For not judging me too harshly.”

He shrugged. Working with the kids at Sunshine Center had been a wake-up call, showing him another side of life. His family was far from wealthy, but his mom and dad could afford athletic shoes at least.

“We’ve all made mistakes,” he said.

“Even you?” she asked, brows raised.

“Nope,” Sean said. “Everyone who knows me admits I’m absolutely perfect.”

Her laughter floated over him like a warm embrace, touching him in places no one had reached in a long time.

He needed to be careful around Aleta. She’d given him fair warning that she could take care of herself, and she was obviously one dangerous lady...