He probably should see it coming, but he's not expecting the punch at all, even though she telegraphs it; not much, it's obvious she's had training, but the shift should have warned him, if he'd been watching for it.

Of course, he isn't, because Marie had a temper, but she'd never have dreamed of punching him. His head snaps back, but mostly out of sheer surprise. He can take a hell of a lot harder hits than she can possibly dish out. Flexing his jaw, he says in an even tone, "Yer gonna break yer hand, doin' that. I got a lot harder head than yer bones."

Watching her more warily now, he says softly, "Don't run away from me. Please." There's more desperation in the last word than he wants her to hear, and flinches slightly at it.