Page 36 of Caught in the Crossfire

“To be able to protect you better. Haven’t you figured out that everything he does is with you in mind?”

Tears stung her eyes. She should have known his reasoning. She’d seen for herself the lengths he went to for those he loved. Now, Nicole was the center of his world.

She grinned. “I think I’ll ask him to let me watch the next time he joins a training session with them. I think it would be fun.” Certainly entertaining.

Linc snorted. “Fun? Bravo and Durango don’t spare Mase when they train with him. He’s becoming as tough and skilled as they are.”

Huh. Good to know.

Dawn walked into the reception area. She smiled. “Charlie! How’s my buddy?”

The Lab barked.

She took the leash from Nicole. “I’ll take him on back. Take a break and put your feet up for a few minutes. You’re pale.”

“Pain meds would be welcome along with a soft drink.”

“I’ll send Ryan back out. Relax for a few minutes while I shampoo this handsome boy.”

Nicole answered two calls by the time Ryan arrived and took over the appointment desk. “Need anything, Linc?” she asked.

“I won’t say no to a soft drink.”

The next hour passed at a fast pace as she and Dawn groomed Charlie and three other dogs that arrived for baths and nail buffing. Nicole shook her head at the antics of the Silky Terriers, three sisters who livened the shop’s back room with yapping and their attempts to escape the dryer. None of the three were fans of the noisy contraption.

Once they finished with the terriers, Nicole and Dawn tied a different colored scarf to each small neck and placed the dogs in crates to wait for their owner to pick them up. The din of their protest was deafening. Nicole was glad to escape the cacophony.

She poked her head into the reception area. “Call Tori and tell her the triplets are ready,” she told Ryan.

“Yes, ma’am.”

The bell over the front door rang and in walked Mason. Although he smiled, that sentiment didn’t reach his eyes. Something was wrong. Nicole walked into his open arms and hugged him. “I’m glad to see you. I missed you today.”

“I missed you, too.” He raised her hand to his mouth to kiss the back. When Mason lowered her hand, he glanced down and froze. He shifted her arm so her wrist was in a patch of sunlight. “What happened?”

Rats. Nicole had hoped he wouldn’t notice the bruises forming where Fitzgerald gripped her arm. Should have known that wouldn’t be the case. Mason noticed everything. She hoped she was as observant about Mason. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“Nic.”

When she glanced at him, Linc shook his head slightly. She scowled. This wasn’t a good idea.

Mason cupped her chin and turned her face toward his. “Tell me.”

“Todd Fitzgerald.”

Color drained from his cheeks. “Fitzgerald came to the shop?”

She nodded.

“What did he want?”

“He warned me not to marry you. I told him to leave.”

Mason turned narrowed eyes toward Linc. “You didn’t stop him from touching her?”

“Hey.” Nicole poked Mason in the gut with her finger. “I can take care of myself. I was getting ready to break his hold on my wrist when Linc did it for me.”

“Fitzgerald hurt you.”

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