Page 34 of Every Breath

Brandi paused, taking another bite of her dinner. The more she got to know him, the more of a mystery Mason Collins became. She peeked at him through lowered lashes. He looked good tonight in a dark-green polo shirt that brought out the color of his eyes. Her gaze kept straying to the sensual curve of his mouth; she wanted to lean over the table and kiss him.

In that moment, she knew what she truly wanted: she desperately wanted to fuck Mason. Brandi knew he really had come over with noble intentions and she appreciated that, but seeing those sexy green eyes staring back at her made her so damn horny.

If someone would have told her a few weeks ago that she would find herself so sexually drawn to some slick car salesman, let alone a white one, she would have laughed them out of town. Strangely, she didn’t feel just a sexual connection. There was something else, and that was the part that she didn’t want to analyze too closely.

Damon.

It was the first time in a long while that she wasn’t haunted by his image.

“May I ask what are you thinking about now?”

She blinked. Mason’s eyes were twinkling at her and had a look of curiosity.

“Oh, my gosh. I must have been daydreaming. I’m sorry.”

“What about?”

“I hope you don’t get mad. I was thinking about my husband.”

“Oh?” He didn’t seem upset but looked oddly pleased.

“He was killed in the line of duty a couple of years ago.”

“I’m sorry. I can imagine how painful that must have been for you,” he said sympathetically.

There was some unreadable emotion in his eyes, but maybe she was just imagining it. “It was tough for a long time. They say time heals all wounds, but I don’t think I’ll ever be completely healed.”

“You must have loved him very much, and I’m sure he loved you just as deeply. Any man lucky enough to be with you would be crazy not to.”

She smiled. He was a flatterer, but she liked it. “You’re embarrassing me.”

“It’s only the truth.”

“Thanks.”

A comfortable silence followed while they finished eating. Regardless of why he’d come tonight, she was glad he was here. She was about to tell him so when the doorbell rang. “Who could that be at this time of night? Stay here and I’ll go get the door.”

She went through the living room and was surprised to see a furious Rodney on the other side of the door.

“What the fuck is going on in here?” he demanded.

CHAPTER TEN

Rodney pushed past her with more force than necessary.

“Excuse me? What’s wrong with you and who are you talking to like that, Rodney?”

“I go out of town and come back to find some dude’s car in your driveway. Where the fuck is he?”

Brandi gasped in outrage. Rodney had been acting out of character lately, but this was too much. The sheer rage that glistened in his hazel eyes frightened her far beyond finding her house in shambles.

She got mad. Actually, she was livid. Just who did he think he was to barge into her home as though he paid the damn bills?

“Have you lost your mind? How dare you storm in here demanding things and cursing at me? Get out!”

He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “I will not leave until you tell me where he is.”

No one treated her like this. She smacked him across the face as hard as she could. It only seemed to incense him more and he shook her harder. Before she knew what was happening, a pair of strong hands pried them apart and she was pushed behind Mason’s large frame. His fist rammed into Rodney’s stomach and he doubled over.

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