He stopped next to his car door and stared up at me. “You don’t trust me, Rose. And if you don’t trust me, we have nothing. There’s not one damn thing left to say.”

As he started to get into his car, my anger boiled over, flowing out of my mouth. “Goddammit, Mason Deveraux!” I shouted. “You do not get to make your accusations and leave! Stop being such a baby and listen to me!”

Both of us were frozen in shock for a moment, surprised by my outburst.

He stood behind the open car door, not getting inside but not backing away either. “I can’t stay, Rose.”

“God, Mason. I love you, but you can be so freaking stubborn!”

“Is that why you wanted me to stay?” he shouted.

“No! But it needed to be said.” I walked to the top of the porch steps and ran a hand through my tangled hair. “Yesterday you told me that I couldn’t walk away from the mess I made with Joe. Well, you can’t leave after what we just said.”

“Rose.”

“No!” I stomped down the steps and pushed him against the car, slamming his door shut. “Don’t you dare walk away from me like that.”

“What more is there to say? You don’t trust me.”

“Who the bejesus said I don’t trust you? I didn’t say I didn’t trust you. You fabricated that in your head.”

“Don’t you put this on me, Rose,” he forced out. “You’re the one who told me you believe what Joe said.”

“Now you are deliberately skewin’ my words! I do not believe what he said.” He started to push past me, but I shoved his chest with my hands. “You’re not going anywhere until we settle this!”

“You want to do this out here?”

“It’s as good as any place, so yes, let’s do it out here.”

“Fine.” He sank back into the side of his car. “If you don’t believe Joe, then why would you throw his accusations at me?”

“Because I told you I think there’s some truth to them.”

The front porch light reflected off the hard glint in his eyes. “You want me to stand here while you accuse me of using you?”

“No! God, no Mason! Anyone with any sense can see that you love me. There’s no way on God’s green earth you would intentionally hurt me. You’ve proved that over and over and over again. I’d trust you with my life, Mason. I did trust you with my life. So stop! You’re insulting me.”

“Then what the hell are you saying?” he bellowed.

“I’m saying that there’s no love lost between you and Joe. You think he’s responsible for Savannah’s death. Add on to that the fact that he’s an officer of the law who’s committed multiple crimes worthy of jail time.”

He didn’t answer, but his chest rose and fell underneath my fingertips.

“Mason, your job is to prosecute people for the things you say Joe has done. Of course you want to use this opportunity to make him pay for his crimes. You can’t deny it!”

He still didn’t answer.

“But as aggravating as Joe is, he’s trying to change, Mason. I can see it. You of all people are a proponent of people straightening out their lives for the better.”

“This is different, Rose. Joe’s past isn’t just Savannah.” His voice broke. “He’s flouted the law countless times.”

I took a deep breath, worried how Mason would answer my next questions. “I know that driving drunk is irresponsible and dangerous, but did he ever do anything else really bad besides that? Like murder or…?”

“Rape?” The word was ugly, sneered from his mouth.

I held my breath and nodded.

“No. Apparently, Joe Simmons does have his limits.”

I grabbed the front of Mason’s shirt with both fists. “He’s acting out, Mason. I’ve met his family. They are horrible, terrible people. I can’t even imagine growing up with vile people like that. It’s no wonder he’s behaved the way he has in the past.”

His eyes narrowed. “Do not make excuses for his behavior. You grew up with a hateful mother and you’re not anything like him.”

“All I’m saying is that he’s made plenty of bad choices, but he’s trying to be a better person. So please don’t stoop to J.R. Simmons’ level, Mason. You’re a better person than that.”

“Am I?” His voice was hard.

I reached my hand up to his face and rubbed his stubbled chin with my thumb. “Yes, you are. You have more integrity in your pinky toe than most people have in their whole bodies. It’s one of the things I love most about you.”

His shoulders slumped.

“By resorting to J.R. Simmons’s playing field, you’re letting him win. You’re letting him take advantage of the man I love.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know what to do, Rose,” he said, his voice little louder than a whisper. “It’s like I told you, something bad is about to happen. I can feel it. I don’t know how else to protect you. I’m scared to death.”

I stood on my tiptoes, my mouth hovering under his. “We’ll find another way.”

He leaned his forehead against mine. “I don’t think there is one.”

“There is. There’s always another way.”

His arm snaked around my back, pulling me hard against his body, and he kissed me as though I was about to be taken away from him forever.