Page 10 of Rage

“You’re looking so much better already,” I tell her, referring to the way she looked when I first saw her at the hospital.Her labs were awful but now she seems to be on the right path, thankfully.

It’s mind-blowing that someone tried to hurt her, and they succeeded in some ways.Though I can see the strength she has and I know she will pull through it.

“I feel it,” she tells me.

I smile at her happily.“I’m so glad to hear that.”

I go through the motions of checking her vitals, making sure everything is normal, and question if she has any pain or nausea.

“Did you get your prescriptions filled?”I ask her, starting to close up my case.

“Yep, all set!”she confirms, then she gives Christopher a side glance.“Quick question, is sex okay?”

Christopher covers his laugh and I try to push down my humor at how embarrassed she looks.“Sex is absolutely fine.”I wink at her and she blushes harder.I start to roll my case toward the door.“I will be back in a couple of days but if you have any questions, please call me.”

We exit the room and I’m hit with an amazing scent of food cooking.My stomach growls loudly.

Just as I start to pass the kitchen, Mason comes out of it with his eyes on me.“Hi, Meadow.”

I swallow hard at the sound of his voice saying my name.“Oh, hi!”

I glance back at Elle and Christopher, their matching grins telling me everything I need to know.Elle’s thumbs-up is the final confirmation—they set this up.Sneaky bastards.

Mason’s voice pulls me back.“Are you single?”

His intense gaze bores into me, waiting for an answer.My heart races.

Two can play this game.

I arch an eyebrow, fighting to keep my voice steady.“Why do you want to know?”

Mason’s lips twitch, a cocky smirk spreading across his face.“Because I want you.”

Shit.My stomach does a backflip.

He steps closer, his scent, leather and something spicy, enveloping me.“This dinner?It’s just the start.I’m not stopping until you say yes.”

Heat floods my cheeks.I struggle to form words, my brain short-circuiting at his proximity.His eyes never leave mine, challenging, daring me to respond.

I swallow hard, my throat suddenly dry.“Pretty confident, aren’t you?”

Mason’s smirk widens.“I know what I want.”

My pulse pounds in my ears.I’m hyperaware of every inch between us, the air crackling with tension.

“And if I say no?”I manage to ask, surprised by how steady my voice sounds.

He leans in, his breath hot against my ear.“Then I’ll just have to work harder to convince you.”

I fight the urge to lean into him, to close that maddening gap.

“Meadow,” he murmurs, my name a caress on his lips.“Have dinner with me.”

It’s not a question.It’s a statement, laced with promise and heat.

I should say no.I should walk away.But as I meet his gaze, I know there is no way I can.

I would be lying to myself if I didn’t like him or said I haven’t liked him for years.

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