He turns me around and helps me make it to the couch without putting too much extra stress on my wounded body. I grimace and suck in a breath as I sit down. It hurts too much for a rib or two not to be broken.

I groan. “I wasn’t exactly keen about leaving the door wide open for my attacker to waltz back in and finish what he started.”

“That’s not what I mean. You should’ve just called out. I would have kicked the door down. You’re hurt badly. We should take you to the hospital, have you checked out.”

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” I lie. I don’t want to move another inch, let alone leave the loft to be poked and prodded at by a doctor who won’t give me anything but painkillers.

“Fine, but I’m not letting you stay here alone and you can’t stay here anyway. This place has been trashed. I’ll call it in and then you’re coming to stay at my place.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone.

I glance around the loft. He’s right. I can’t stay here. I’m shaking, hurt and if I’m being honest, the last thing I want is to be alone. But being around Mason for too long means using strength I don’t currently have to resist him if he gets too close.

Mason shakes his head. “Not about to let you stay here hurt and scared so you can forget it. I can see that shit spinning in your head.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m not scared. I’m just not exactly comfortable going home with you either. I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.”

Lie. I’ll get too comfortable. That’s what I’m truly scared of.

“Not saying you can’t, sweetheart. I know you like to play badass, but for once, just let someone else look out for you. Just for the night.” He bends down in front of me, grasping my chin between his finger and thumb, forcing me to look him in the eyes and fall for his natural charm.

I race to think of an excuse, but I can’t because when he’s touching me, all rational thoughts seem to fly out the window.

“What about your daughter?”

“What about Charlotte?”

“Won’t she find it the slightest bit odd you’re bringing a strange woman into her home and letting her stay the night?”

His posture loosens and he smirks. “Linds, she’s nine years old, not two. I tell her what the deal is, she’ll understand. She’s a good kid. She’ll go with it.”

I frown, losing hope that I can come up with anything he won’t have an answer for. I’m then lifted into the air, held by strong arms. “Mason, what the hell are you doing? Put me down.”

He carries me, arm under my knees, the other around my back and while it’s painful I can see he’s trying his hardest not to hurt me. “We’re going to my place.”

“You just don’t take no for an answer, do you?” I ask, astonished by the care he is once again showing me. His bossiness is completely irritating, yet at the same time, admirable, because his orders always come from a good place, his kind heart.

He looks down at me. “Not when it comes to something I want.”

***

“Daddy, you’re home!” A child’s high-pitched voice booms through the open plan apartment when we walk inside. Mason opens his arms just in time to catch the young dark-haired girl as she throws herself into him. This must be Charlotte.

Embraced in the security of her daddy’s arms, even my emotionally imbalanced heart can’t help but swoon at the sight. Mason kisses the top of Charlotte’s head while holding her tightly. He closes his eyes for just a second before reopening them. He still looks tired but without the strain always worrying him.

“Hey, baby girl,” he muffles into her hair. Looking up, Mason greets the woman who’s smiling at them. “Thanks for today, Cora. I owe you one.”

She waves him off and grabs her purse from the counter in the kitchen off to the left before joining us near the door. “No worries, you know she’s always an angel for me.”

A curious little face swings my way and I clutch the dog tags I can feel on the inside of my shirt. My legs become restless, ready to flee with just one look from the mini Mason. Will Charlotte be okay with me being here?

“Who’s that lady, Dad?” Charlotte whispers rather loudly.

I chuckle because she was far from quiet and I’m standing a mere foot away, definitely within hearing distance.

Mason looks in my direction, his lips forming a devilish smirk before spinning back around to an inquisitive Charlotte. “Charlotte and Cora, this is Lindsey. Lindsey, meet my daughter, Charlotte, and life saver, Cora.”

I hold my breath, waiting to see Charlotte’s response. After eying me warily for a minute, a full-blown smile beams from her and I exhale a sigh of relief. Who knew child approval could hold so much value?

“Nice to meet you.” I wave to Cora before turning back to Charlotte. “I hope you don’t mind me coming over.” I attempt a smile but it’s an epic fail. The pain in my side too explosively hot, the burn worsening every second I’m standing.

“That’s okay. Are you all right?” Charlotte clings to her father, face contorted with concern. I flick my gaze from her to Mason. He jumps in, replying to her before I open my mouth and say the wrong thing. I’ve never been around young children except for my sister, since stepping out into the world on my two feet. I’ve not purposely avoided them, I just don’t come into contact with children often.

“Lindsey’s all right. She’s just a little sore. She needs a place to stay tonight so I told her she could stay here. That okay with you?”

And the smile is back shining brighter than before on Charlotte’s little olive-skinned face, the one part of her that differs from Mason.

She shifts out of his grip. “Sure, sounds good to me.” Skipping off, she stops at the granite island counter in Mason’s large kitchen. Banging sounds fill the space as she digs into cupboards and pulls out utensils. “It’s pasta night tonight and Dad always cooks way too much. So if you stay, you’ll be able to help us eat it all.”

“Oh, really, is your dad a good cook?”

Mason comes up behind me, his hands softly land on my hips and I freeze, my eyes locking onto Charlotte. Hers follow her father’s movements and her smile never falters.

“Yep. The best!”

“All right, baby girl, I’m just going to show Lindsey where the bathroom is then I’ll be out to help with dinner.” Mason pipes up beside my ear.

Guiding me into the bathroom, Mason takes most of my weight on him as I hobble in pain. He moves me to the oversized bathtub, sitting me on the side. “You okay?”

I lift the hem of my top, bringing it up to rest just under my bra. The redness of fresh bruising glows on my flesh. “I’ll be fine. Copped worse before.”

“Here, let me help you with that.” Mason reaches for my top.

I stop him, blocking his advance because I know exactly where he’s going with this and if I let him continue, he’ll shred me of more than just my clothing.

“No need. I’ve got it.”

He glares at me, brows bunched in, lips pinched together. “You’re a grown-ass woman, Lindsey. I know you can undress yourself. Just trying to help you out because those ribs look like they’d be hurting like a bitch right now.” He points to my body before reaching behind me to turn on the taps to the bath.

“They are.” I groan. He’s being kind. He’s letting me into his home after dropping whatever it was he was doing to come to me when I needed help, and now I’m throwing it back in his face by being difficult for my own selfish reasons. This is exactly why I didn’t want to come here.

“Well, now we’ve established that, lift your arms up, sweetheart. Promise I won’t peek.”

The glint in his eyes tells me otherwise and it lifts my spirits even though it shouldn’t.

“You’re a bad liar, Mase.”

He rids me of my top, discarding it on the floor. My long hair skims against my bare back and Mason’s gaze never leaves mine as he reaches for my hips, hooking his thumbs inside both my pants and underwear. Every muscle in my body tenses with anticipation, desire. His expression changes and it’s as if he’s waiting for my approval, a yes, go ahead, rip off the last scrap of hope I have from concealing my truths. I slightly nod, giving him the okay. I’m not ashamed of my body. I’m ashamed of how my body became blemished with an ugliness that runs deeper than my flawed skin. Sucking in a shaky breath, I wait for the inevitable questioning to slip off his tongue.