Page 38 of Every Breath

“I might as well be back in heaven. I’m nearly as helpless down here as I am up there!”

Paul cocked an eyebrow. “Is that what you really want? It could be arranged.”

“No!”

Paul laughed. “That’s what I thought. It seems you’re making progress with Brandi.”

“I suppose I am. She’s agreed to sleep with me, but that’s it. I want more than that.” Mason pounded his fist into his hand. The frustration was tearing him apart.

“These things take time. You can’t just expect her to fall in love with you all over again in an instant and the two of you get married and live happily ever after. It’s great for the fairy tales, but in real life, things don’t work out that way. At any rate, I think Brandi is starting to look at you in a more favorable light, so hang in there.”

“I feel like I don’t have much time. I need to be with her.”

“Look, at least you’re doing well with fixing up Mason’s life.”

“I’m trying. It’s not really easy. Everyone expects me to be such a bastard all the time that when I do something nice, it’s always viewed as suspect. Mrs. Collins—I mean my mother still won’t look me in the eye. I found her this really nice retirement community. It’s almost like the Ritz Carlton with a twenty-four hour nursing staff. I visit her every day after I leave the dealership, but she still seems mad at me. Also, I finally spoke to Luisa, but she cursed me out. At least I think she did; it was all in Spanish.”

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. These things take time. Now, I think you should probably get out of here. As we speak, our pal Rodney is only two blocks away, fuming,”

“Okay. I need to ask: did he trash the house?”

“What do you think?” Paul asked before disappearing.

Mason hated when his friend did that. He trudged back up the stairs to find Brandi huddled on the couch with a lit candle by her side.

“Mason, you were taking forever down there. Did you find anything wrong?”

“No. It may just be one of those things. I have no doubt that it will come back on. Did you get some things to bring back to my place?”

“Yes. Mason, if I go to your place... I….”

“You can have your own bedroom,” he said. The last thing he wanted her to think was that he was trying to take advantage of her.

“I…I don’t want my own bedroom. I want to be with you.”

She looked at him, the candlelight illuminating her chocolate-brown eyes. Brandi looked so beautiful, so vulnerable. His cock twitched. He wanted to take her up on her offer, but if he made love to her tonight, he would be no better than Rodney.

“Brandi, you need a good night’s rest, then you’ll be able to think about it more clearly in the morning.”

“I know what I want. I was thinking about it while you were in the basement. And I want you, Mason. I want you very badly.”

He was so hard it hurt. “I want you, too, Brandi, but tonight isn’t a good time. We both know it.”

“I know no such thing.” She stood in front of him and cupped her hand over the bulge in his jeans.

Mason shuddered with pleasure. “Brandi….”

“Let’s get out of here.” She stood on tip toes to kiss the pulsing column of his neck. God, he wanted her.

“When we get back to my place, you’re going to have to behave yourself or I won’t be held responsible for what I do to you,” he said through gritted teeth.

She smiled. “That’s what I’m counting on.”

Rodney was parked down the street from Brandi’s house, but he was close enough to see Brandi walk out with that man. What the hell did she see in that white boy? He wanted to slash that motherfucker’s throat for being with Brandi when it should have been him offering her comfort.

It seemed lately that all his plans weren’t turning out the way he anticipated. After visiting the Thornton’s to check on Tina’s progress, it had been unpleasant to see that the brat was showing marked signs of improvement. The way she reacted to him had sealed her fate. He’d thought the little shit would be too traumatized to remember the night of the shootings. He should have killed her when he had the chance.

He could have spent the week working himself back Into Brandi’s good graces. Instead, he needed to take care of business. Torching the Thornton place was something that had to be done. He wished he could have stuck around to make sure none of them got out alive, but when he saw a man jogging down the sidewalk with his dog, he realized he had to get out of there fast. The way he set the fire, he was sure there couldn’t be an escape for any of them. Good riddance to them all, especially little Tina. Poor little Tina. Maybe she was up in heaven reunited with her dear old mom and dad. He laughed.

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