The Price of Mason (Forbidden Men 10)

I was about to lean in and beg her to stop thinking about it when she actually swayed my way and whispered, “Who’s he?”

Huh? He? With no idea what she was talking about, I turned toward the doorway only to find some guy entering the house behind Patricia as if he were here with her.

“No clue,” I whispered back, furrowing my brow, because seriously, who was this guy?

“Everyone,” Patricia announced. “I’d like you to meet my fiancé, Ted. Ted, this is Dawn. She’s been my tenant for what feels like forever.”

I have no clue what they said after that, my brain was too busy buzzing over the word fiancé.

But fiancé?

No.

No way.

She hadn’t mentioned anything about a fiancé a few days ago when she’d tried to get me to come over. I was so confused. But also relieved. Mostly relieved. If she had that guy to keep her occupied, she wouldn’t have any time to bother me.

I suddenly didn’t care who he was, I didn’t care if the fiancé claim was a complete lie; I just hoped it helped get her off my back.

I turned blindly to Reese, needing to share my relief with someone. “Thank God,” I mouthed.

She snickered and squeezed my knee, only to whisper, “Guess you won’t be needing my protective services today after all.”

“And Reese,” Patricia broke in, dragging her poor fiancé behind her. “I had no idea you’d be here today. Hello, again.”

Wait. What?

Hello again?

Again?

When had they met before? Why did I not know about this?

Reese merely sent her a chipper smile and greeted, “Hey, Mrs. Garrison.”

Patricia didn’t get a chance to introduce me to her fiancé because Mom and Sarah stole her attention by opening the gift Patricia had brought. So I took that moment to lean and whisper to Reese, “You guys have met?”

Reese merely rolled her eyes. “She was outside smoking one night when I got off work… The night Sarah had her seizure, in fact.”

Figured.

She must’ve seen me and Reese in the kitchen together through the back window. No wonder why she’d come in after Reese had left and touched the wall right where we’d been standing. She’d purposely wanted to ruin my special spot.

Just then, Sarah thanked Patricia for the large stuffed bear she’d given her, and Patricia winced, pulling her face away before glancing around at everyone and asking, “What did she say?”

Sarah’s face drained of color, and I wanted to strangle the bitch for humiliating her like that. Yes, my sister might have difficulty talking because of her CP but she was perfectly understandable.

Reese saved the day by dryly answering, “She said thank you,” as if that should’ve been obvious…because it was.

After that, Reese suggested that Sarah and her three classmates put Sarah’s new makeup on each other, so she popped up from the loveseat next to me and went to my sister, taking charge of that activity.

And about as soon as she left, Patricia blew out a breath. “Wow, my feet are just killing me. Do you mind if I sit here?”

And she sank down next to me without waiting for a response.

I sent her a scowl before I commenced to ignore her completely.

Her fiancé or whatever he was, stood awkwardly beside her, because he couldn’t fit on the cushions with us, until Mom seemed to take pity on him and asked him what he did, which left no one paying attention to either Patricia or me, and in turn let her think we should actually talk to each other.