"I'm sorry." My voice cracked. More tears flooded me. "I'm sorry for what she did to you."

He shook his head. "I can handle it. I have a good job. I'm still somewhat young and in shape. I'll be fine."

I took a deep breath.

"Are you going to be fine?"

I shook my head. I couldn't answer him, not then.

"I hear the gossip, you know. I heard the Kade brothers have taken you under their wing." He frowned. "I'm not sure if that's a good thing. Those boys can be cruel, but they do seem to back each other up. Are you okay with them?"

"They help…with her…"

Enough said. He nodded in understanding. "Well, I suppose I'll see you tonight then. Six o'clock. Back here."

"Okay."

He gave a small wave before he went back inside. I turned to my car, but Adam called my name and I paused and looked back. He grimaced as he approached. "Sorry about my dad and that woman."

I chuckled. "I thought I would've been the one apologizing to you."

"Nah. I liked it. You're tough."

"I didn't want her involved with David."

He nodded. "I can see that, but thanks. It's out now. My dad has to deal with it. He knows I know."

"I'm not apologizing to your dad."

He held his hands up. "Not asking you to."

I glanced back over my shoulder. "What about Becky and Tanya?"

"I'll take them both home." He gave me another tight smile and shoved his hands in his front pockets. It gave him a lean look, which emphasized his slender waist and broad shoulders.

"About Tanya…"

He shook his head. "Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"I like her. I actually do."

"And it doesn't hurt Becky to see that…?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I just know that I was playing a game with her before because of you. You liked Becky. I liked you. So I didn't do the right thing before, but I'm trying. I really am right now."

I nodded.

"What about you? Are you and Kade, you know?"

I shook my head. "It's about my parent's stuff and I don't want to talk about that."

"Really? No?"

"Nope."

"Oh." He ran a hand over his face. "I wouldn't have guessed that."

"Why not?" My voice cooled. "I told you that I know them, I'm not screwing them."

"No, no I know, but there was something there."

"What do you mean?"

He lifted both his shoulders up. "Does it matter?"

"Maybe. Maybe not."

He laughed again. "You're tough, Sam, tougher than I would've thought."

"Yeah…" I frowned. I was getting tired of hearing that from him. What did he think of me before? Then I rolled my eyes, like I really cared about that now. "Don't break Becky's heart, okay?"

He saluted me.

"Are you really going to start dating Tanya?"

"I think so."

I sighed. "Have fun with that, then."

He smirked. "I plan to."

And I laughed. This one was genuine, but then I waved goodbye and headed home. I had two hours before I needed to be back at the club for the football's annual dinner. I hurried through the house, but stopped short when I saw Mason in his room. Normally I would've taken the south stairs and I wouldn't have to go past his room, but I took the north stairs this time. When I breezed past, his door was open and he sat at his desk shirtless.

I braked and reversed.

He glanced up. "Hey."

"Hey." I went inside and sat on the edge of his bed.

He didn't turn around and kept his back to me as he looked at his computer's screen. "You seem in a rush?"

"I'm going to my dad's dinner tonight."

"Your dad?"

I cursed. I'd forgotten he knew, they all knew.

"My old dad's thing."

He grinned as he turned in his chair. "I understand. He's still your dad. Raised you, didn't he?"

I nodded and hugged myself. For some reason, a chill swept over me. I frowned. The windows weren't open in the room.

"Our folks are in the cities for the weekend. Again."

He didn't sound as if he cared. I frowned. "Are you pissed about that?"

Mason swung his hypnotic eyes back to me and narrowed them. I felt him searching inside of me, measuring whatever I had inside for what he might've needed. I always felt him probing me deep.

Then he said, "Does it matter? He's there. With her."

I frowned. "You say that like my mom's the other woman. Was she?" Wasn't he the other man for her?

He shrugged and stood to go in his bathroom. I waited a second, but took a deep breath and followed. As I stepped in the doorway, Mason let loose his shorts and turned on the shower.

I was struck by his nudity. He didn't care. Most guys might've done it for shock value, but he didn't care. This was Mason. Then he looked up and grinned. "Wanna join?"

I took a step inside.

His grin turned to something else.

I stepped closer and tilted my head up. He looked down and we stood close, close enough to touch. His hand brushed against my hipbone and I closed my eyes. His hand started to caress me there. A flooding filled me and a need started to throb between my legs. I held my breath and my head started to hang down. It rested against his chest.

Then I felt his lips against my forehead. He skimmed them lightly.

My hand reached up and curled onto his arm. It hung there.

When he bent forward and I felt his arm start to wrap around, I pulled back, breathless. My heart was pounding in my ears and I could only look at him, stricken. He gazed down at me and his lips moved. I knew he was saying something, but I couldn't hear over my heartbeat. I shook my head and tried to explain that to him, but I couldn't. My throat didn't work. My tongue didn't work. Nothing worked anymore except my feet. They pulled me away and I was soon hurrying to my room.

The door shut behind me, but it wasn't enough. I turned the lock and backed up three steps. I stared down and watched the handle. I waited for it to turn, but it never did. Nothing happened. He never came.