He was the King of mixed signals in this book. She had a few TSTL moments.
“Hey,” he muttered wearily.
“Well, if it isn’t Mason Black, back in New Orleans just in time to save my ass.” She glared at him.
“Nice to see you too.”
“Nothing personal. It never is with you, is it? I would—”
“Ken, don’t go there.”
“I would say it was good seeing you after all these years, but I would be lying. I’m thankful you came to my rescue tonight. Like you said though, it was your job.” She held his gaze. “I hope you have a speedy recovery.”
He stirred uncomfortably, still restrained by the IV hose. “Dammit, Ken. You don’t have to leave. Stay.”
She felt his eyes on her back as she walked to the door. “Goodbye Mason,” she said without turning around.
“I don’t think that was a good idea.” What had she been thinking? She wasn’t thinking, that was the problem.
“Why not?” His voice was rough. He expelled a ragged breath. His eyes scanned the room before landing on hers. “I thought it was going pretty damn good.”
“Because,” she faltered. Fury gripped her. “Because I’m not one of your women you can use only to toss aside when it’s convenient for you.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His sandpaper voice was barely above a whisper. “Ken, I would never use you or hurt you.”
She pulled away from his touch. Pain flashed in his eyes. “Too late,” she choked out the words. “You did a damn fine job of that once already.”
“Aw, hell.”
You rejected me. You betrayed me.” She looked him straight in the eye. “It hurt. And I can’t forget about it.” He had ripped her heart out four years ago. The entire family, including Mason, had gotten together to celebrate her father’s early retirement from the FBI. Kendall had a little too much to drink that night and she practically threw herself at Mason. He encouraged her advances and led her on almost to the point of them leaving the party to go to her room. Then he did one of the worst things a man can do to a woman. He blatantly rejected her. She was devastated by his rejection, but more so when he left the party, flaunting another woman in Kendall’s face. She vowed that night never to let him have even a scrap of her heart again. Nothing he could say now would make her pain go away.
“Ken.” He took her face in his hands and gently turned her toward him. “Look at me. That night…. it was nothing….”
“Nothing personal.” She retorted. “I know. That’s what you whispered in my ear when you left the party with your playmate.” She jerked her head out of his grasp. “Get the hell out of my house.”
“Ken.” That one word was like honey on his lips.
“Mason, is something wrong?” She suddenly sounded wide-awake.
“Kendall,” he slurred. “It’s a quarter after one. I told myself I wouldn’t call. But...”
When he didn’t continue, Kendall gently broke the silence. “But what, Mason?” Somehow, he sensed that she knew what was coming next. It could’ve been the way her voice turned sultry and seductive. Or, the sigh that escaped her lips and drifted through the phone.
“I said I wouldn’t call, but, I... I need you. Now.” There, he said it. He admitted his weakness. He needed someone. No. He needed Kendall.
Note: Straight from the Lady Antebellum song?
I walked in and saw him on top of you. I swear, when he touched you, I lost it.” He shook his head. She could reach out and touch the pain and anguish on his face. “You know the rest.” He rubbed her arms, but his efforts to soothe her were rubbing her the wrong way.
“So, all those things you said this morning... about us…”
“All bullsh$#. This crap had me in such turmoil, I couldn’t think straight. But when I saw you in here with that creep, I realized I have to have you in my life. ” He tweaked her nose and grinned.
Did he think that made everything okay?
Liked her brother Bobby -
Bobby drained his cup, set it down on the wooden table, and glared at Mason. “All I’m going to say is, don’t hurt my sister. Again.”
“I don’t know all the details of what happened between the two of you years ago, but I do know Kendall cares for you. Always has. You were such a huge part of our family growing up, but at some point, she began looking at you as more than a surrogate brother. But you know how she is. She’s not going to push herself where she doesn’t feel wanted, or needed. So don’t play with her emotions any more. If you walk away from her again, you better stay away.”
Bobby glared at him. Best friend or not, Mason knew whatever was coming next, Bobby meant. “Stop screwing with my sister’s head, man. If you care about her half as much as you said this morning, you need to drop those damn insecurities. Don’t hurt her. Understand?”
Mason sighed and rubbed his hand across his face. “Yeah, got it.”