Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men 1)

I clapped my hand over my mouth because my grin kept spreading wider and wider as a smile consumed me. My eyes grew watery.

He loved me.

If this didn’t prove he loved me, nothing did.

Mason Lowe loved me.

Sensing my presence, he lifted his face. When he saw me, his eyes grew big. He dropped his phone screen-down on his bed and surged to his feet. “Reese! What’re you doing here?”

He was dressed to go to work, his brown loafers adorning his size-twelve feet and his pale blue Country Club shirt tucked into his pleated slacks. I had to look away because staring at him made me feel achy and full of depressing angst.

“It’s Friday,” I said blankly and shook my head, confused. “I always babysit on Friday.”

“But...” He glanced down at his watch. “Shit. I’m running late.”

I watched him scurry around to grab his cell phone and wallet. When he turned toward the doorway to find me blocking his path, and not budging, he faltered, looking a little panicked and trapped.

“I thought you might like to know I cancelled my date.”

Eyes flaring with liquid heat, he grasped my elbow. “What? I told you, you didn’t have to do that. Why did you cancel? Did he do something to you? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just…I can’t go out with him.”

“You…” Mason stepped even closer, right into my personal space, his clean, musky scent invading my senses. “Why?”

I turned my face aside and wiggled my elbow out if his grip. “Now who’s playing dumb?”

“Jesus.” He spun away, ripping his hands through his hair. “I knew I shouldn’t have said anything to you. I swear to God, I’m sorry. I was a jealous tool, and you deserve to date and be happy and…and live your life however you want.”

His love for me showed through every pore of his being. I could tell it killed him to say this, but he honestly thought it was for the best to let me go.

At that moment, I knew. I would do whatever I had to do to make him mine. “Well, thank you, Mason,” I said, gifting him with a bright smile. “I’m so glad I have your approval to live my life however I want, because I plan to do just that.”

I tried to walk away, but he caught my arm, looking way too suspicious.

“Why do I have a bad feeling there’s an ulterior motive behind that statement?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “Maybe you’re paranoid.” When he opened his mouth, I cleared my throat and smoothed my hand over my stomach because I think watching Eva doing that fifty times an hour was beginning to rub off on me. “Where’s Sarah?”

“Right…here.”

My little buddy saved me from getting more questions by rolling her chair to the doorway of Mason’s room.

Without glancing at her brother, I hurried to her and spent the rest of my time with her before he left for work. He didn’t get to interrogate me further.

He looked pissed as he walked out the door, though. His gaze burned into me with promise for retribution. I wasn’t too certain what had gotten his panties in a wad. I hadn’t threatened, warned, or intimidated him in any way. I had backed off as he seemed to want me to. I’d even cancelled my date for him. Yet he looked more tormented than ever.

Gah, Mason Lowe was going to be one hard shell to crack.

After he left, my evening with Sarah lagged on. She went to bed half an hour after her usual time, which was fine with me because tonight I liked her staying up with me; I needed her companionship. With her asleep, I trudged from her room, my shoulders dragging with depression.

Lonely, all I could think about was Mason. What if he never thought he was good enough for me? Hell, why didn’t he think he was good enough? I wasn’t anything special. Was he completely blind to all my strange habits, whiny traits, and impulsive comments? A man who could look past all that and still like what he saw in me was worth…well, he was worth everything.

I slumped to the kitchen to get myself a glass of ice water, not expecting to see anyone sitting at the table. So when I did, I yelped and stumbled into the arched entryway. At first, I thought it was Jeremy. I’d been so stupid and careless these past few days; he’d finally found me.

But then I focused on his face, and wow, he looked nothing like my psycho stalker ex-boyfriend.

I set my hand over my heart and slumped against the wall, beyond relieved. “Oh, my God. Mason. What’re you doing home so early?”