Page 68 of Master of My Heart

“How did you and Jayson meet?”

“He and his sister took me in. I... I had a rough time getting here.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” He looked sincere. “Are things better now?”

She glanced back at the staircase. She saw Aiden and the man walking down and her heartbeat sped up. “Yes. Mostly.”

Richard looked at where she stared, then back at her. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes,” she whispered, not very convincingly.

He reached out to her, but when she stepped away, he stopped and turned his hands so his palms faced her. “Sabrina, if you need help, with anything, please let me know.”

Sabrina stared at him. Why would a stranger offer another stranger help? And who could help her anyway? “I’m fine.” She forced a smile.

Her attention was drawn to the man walking with Aiden. Now that he was in the light, she could see him more clearly. His blond hair was fashionably tousled, his eyes were the color of a glacier and seemed just as cold. He was tall and thin with pronounced cheekbones and a long face. His gaze met hers. For a split second, she could have sworn she knew him. But he waved his hand in a deliberate motion and the thought instantly vanished from her head.

“Sabrina?”

She blinked, confused for a moment, then struggled to focus on the face of the man in front of her. “Huh?”

He tilted his head. “Are you all right?”

Sabrina rubbed her head. “Yeah. I think so. I’m sorry. Did you ask me a question?”

His forehead creased with worry and he glanced back at the two men still near the staircase, talking, then looked back at Sabrina. “I said that you seemed to be interested in the photos behind you and asked if you knew the people in them.”

How had she missed his question? She glanced back at the pictures hanging on the wall and blinked back tears. “I think I might have. Once.” She looked at the picture of the Chase she remembered and sighed.

“Did you know him?” Richard asked.

Sabrina reached out to touch the picture, then snapped her hand away. “Yes,” she whispered.

“What happened?”

She stared into the handsome face for a long time before shaking her head and turning away. “It’s a long story. I should go.” She started to walk away.

“Stay, Sabrina,” he said in a quiet tone, and she felt compelled to obey him.

She turned back around and trembled. Khyan had spoken to her like that and made her do horrible things. “Are you going to hurt me?”

He frowned. “Why would you think that?”

“Because it usually happens.”

Richard’s eyes narrowed. “You get hurt by men?”

Sabrina looked away and gave a tiny shrug, not wanting to answer.

“Tell me,” he commanded gently.

“I have.” She looked back, expecting to see satisfaction in his eyes, but she saw only sadness.

He studied her closely for a long minute, and Sabrina shifted on her feet. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but before he could, an elegant woman with a blonde pixie cut and wearing a pink cocktail dress walked up to them and kissed Richard’s cheek.

“Hello, love,” she said with a smile. “Who’s this?”

He slid his arm around the woman’s waist. “This is Sabrina. Sabrina, this is my wife, Kathy. Sabrina is a friend of Jayson.”

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