Page 83 of The Ranger Gets His Girl

She sighed but didn't blink enough as she stared at nothing. "He started doing drugs, but we didn't know it until he was fired from his job. It's why we left Crimson Creek. He bounced around from job to job after that. We lived in some apartments in bad neighborhoods. Mom worked two jobs to make ends meet. But somehow dad always found money for drugs."

She went quiet for a while, and he just brushed the hair away from her face over and over again, slowly. She shifted and took another deep breath.

"The drug bust back in December after graduation? I've been in a few of those before. Dad went to jail my freshman year of high school. After that, he was in and out of jail a lot, always for drugs but sometimes for other things."

Her voice became a whisper and slowed so he slowed his hands on her hair to match.

"My mom drank a lot to cope with all the stress. She'd get tipsy, and he'd be on something and acting out of his mind. They'd fight. He pushed her into the coffee table once. Broke her ribs."

Mason tensed as her voice trailed off. His body went cold, and he whispered, "Did he ever push you?"

She shifted as her body relaxed. "Sometimes, but not as much as he did Mom. Last night when that man pulled my hair and threw me into the couch? That's nothing. I'm tough. I'm strong. I can handle it."

Her voice trailed off as her breathing evened out. He watched as sleep claimed her. He had to protect her. His chest hurt at the rage within him. He wanted to hurt her dad, the CEO.

He shook his head, trying to clear it, then eased off the bed. He pulled back the covers on the bed and eased them over her, towel and all. But when he turned to leave, her hand clamped down on his wrist.

"No. Don't leave, please. Just—just stay, ok?"

She was still groggy, and the vulnerability in her voice tugged at his soul. He couldn't leave her even if he wanted to.

Her pleas rang in his head. He glanced at her and something twisted in his chest. He shushed her. "I'm just going to the bathroom, sunshine. I'll still be right here."

She nodded and hummed, her grip going slack once more. He turned and cleaned up, draining the water in the tub and brushing his teeth. It was still light outside, but he crawled under the covers next to her. He couldn't resist the call to be near her, touch her.

She sighed, tucking her body as close to him as possible. He ran a hand down his face again, moving the wet ends of her hair off him. It was going to be a long fucking night. He squeezed her tight and held on, afraid to let go, afraid she'd get hurt again.

Chapter 32

Mason awoke with a start, his heart racing. Something was wrong. What was it? It took a second to realize the problem.

Lucy's side of the bed was empty, her pillow cold. He scrambled out of the bed, holding his back and stretching the stiffness out of it. His phone was on the nightstand with a piece of paper under it.

You're adorable when you sleep. I banged around getting ready, but you didn't wake. The FBI agent called. They need me to fill out some paperwork. I'm going to meet her on Wakiki Beach. Text me when you wake up, sleepy head.

–Lucy

She'd left him. He was trying to protect her, and she'd left. He jerked on shorts, sneakers, and a plain t-shirt, brushed his teeth, and was out the door in minutes.

His heart raced as he jogged down to the main resort building and scanned his wristband. He jumped in their rental car and headed to Wakiki, his leg bouncing.

Sure, she was an adult, but it was his job to protect her. He couldn't do that if she kept leaving him. This happened too often, leaving with just a note. And at the pineapple plantation, she'd ditched him in the maze for a laugh.

He'd need to talk to her about it today. It made his skin crawl with worry. He stopped at a stop light and pulled out his phone. He pulled up the app to find her phone gps and found a parking spot nearby.

A flash of pink caught his eye across the street as he got out of the car.

Lucy. Her name was a prayer on his lips. She had an oversized bag and a floppy sun hat as she stepped out of the little cafe where he'd first met the agent. Seeing her eased some of the tension in his shoulders, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He crossed his arms while waiting for the crosswalk sign to change. His eyes followed her as she walked. It was too loud to be heard, so he didn't even try to call for her.

She was a vision, a beacon of hope. Just being near her made him relax. The light changed, and he jogged across the street. She walked to the same corner, but was strolling idly, looking into windows.

A gangly teenager bumped into her from behind, and Mason reached the other side of the street.

Lucy frowned and tugged on her bag, but the teenager wrenched it out of her hand and bounded away.

She yelled, "He has my bag!"

---