Page 14 of Forever Your Touch (Manwhore #4)

This was where she became cautious. She didn’t want Mason to dislike him any more than he already did, and if she were completely open about her family’s feelings, he might end up on their side of the situation.

“I think it’s more that no one is good enough for their little girl.”

“Bullshit.” He set his cup down and leaned forward. “It’s more than that, or Keith wouldn’t have called me in the middle of the night to beg me to be your FIBB.”

“I don’t want their feelings to taint yours toward him, Mason. I want us all to be friends.”

“I make my own judgements based on my own experiences with people. I don’t fall in line with the crowd. Keith’ll tell you that.”

God, she hoped that was true. She couldn’t stand fighting about Ray with even one more person, especially Mason. He was fast becoming her best friend.

“They didn’t like him from day one. Dad said he was too schmoozy.

Mom got a ‘vibe’ off him she didn’t like.

My sister Claire, the only one home at that point, told me he was cute enough, but she didn’t trust him.

When I asked her why, she couldn’t explain it.

It was just a feeling. And Keith? He hated him on sight. Said he didn’t treat me right.”

“Why would he say that?” Mason fiddled with the lid of the pizza box and sat back. Jo could only guess what was going through his head. And none of it good.

“He didn’t think Ray put me first. He especially got irritated whenever Ray would come over and then rush us out.

He wasn’t one to stay for family dinners and things.

Keith said it was disrespectful to leave when all they were trying to do was get to know him.

I can understand that, I guess, but that doesn’t qualify as him not treating me right. More him not respecting my family…”

Mason quirked a brow when she said that, and she slammed her mouth shut. Well, hell. No wonder her family didn’t like him. Why should they bother if he didn’t even put in an effort with them?

She’d never thought of it like that before. Not until the words tumbled out had she even realized they were true. It was a little disheartening.

“Okay, he was shitty to them. I get it.” Jo shook her head. How had she not seen this before? Because you had no one to compare him to , her inner voice whispered.

“Ray the first guy you ever loved?” Mason’s voice was quiet, but not judgmental. She appreciated that more than she’d ever be able to tell him.

“Yes, but I did have one other boyfriend I broke up with because he wanted sex and I didn’t. Ray was the first guy I loved, the first guy I had sex with, the first guy I moved in with. He was my first everything.”

“First loves can blind you to a lot of things.”

“Who was your first love?”

“Nadia in second grade. She was always taking my candy, and I didn’t think anything of it until I caught her giving it to Peter. My first love and my first heartbreak.” He adopted the saddest expression known to man and let out a heavy sigh.

“Poor guy.” Jo reached over and patted his hand, doing her best not to laugh and to ignore the electricity running along the length of her arm from that simple touch.

“Tragic, I know.” He pushed out his bottom lip much like she’d seen his niece do over the weekend. It was adorable on her, and on him, it was sexy as hell.

The doorbell rang again, and Mason jumped up and ran before she could even think about who it might be. He looked way too eager…her surprise! She followed him and found his brother Viktor with a box in his arms.

“Hello, Jo.” He shot her a quick smile. He still looked tired and worried, but there was a bit of relief in his expression. “There’s more in the car. Get your ass out there, Mase. I’m not carrying all this shit by myself.”

“What is this?”

“Your surprise.” Mason gently pushed her toward the box Viktor set down. “Go take a look while we unload the car.”

Jo stared after them as they went back outside, beyond curious. When she turned her attention to the box, she couldn’t stop the shriek from escaping when she opened it. He didn’t…how…no.

Hands shaking, she lifted out a 4090 graphics card. Then she noticed the best capture card currently on the market, along with a new webcam sitting in the box. She sank to the floor, the video card gripped so hard in her hands, she crushed the box.

“Hey, now, what’s the tears for?” Mason squatted beside her, alarmed. He thought she’d be happy. He hadn’t meant to upset her.

“Why did you do this?” Big blue eyes full of confusion and something akin to pain looked at him, and his heart clenched. A heavy pressure settled in his chest, threatening to cut off his air supply.

“Because you needed it, moye dragotsennyy .” He cupped her cheek, his fingers splayed out over her neck. “I did this because I wanted to see you smile about something today.”

“I can’t take this, Mason.” She tried to move away, and he tightened his hold on her. “It’s too much.”

“No, it’s not.” The feel of her skin made him want to run his hands all along her body, but he kept tight control over himself.

“I’m your FIBB, remember? It’s my job to look out for you and make sure you have everything you need.

And that equipment in your studio is junk.

I have this shit just laying around, so let me do what a big brother does, okay? ”

She blinked, and a single tear escaped. He caught it with his thumb. “No more arguments, Josephine. Take this box upstairs while I talk to my brother for a minute. I’ll be up as soon as he leaves. And do your best not to break your neck going upstairs.”

Mason stood and helped Jo up, pushing her gently toward the stairs that led up to the spare bedroom she was using as a studio. He went into the kitchen, doing his best to ignore his brother’s troubled expression.

He shoved the unopened box of pizza at Viktor. “You hungry?”

“When am I not hungry?” Viktor asked and took the box from him. “What is it?”

“Supreme minus the mushrooms.”

Viktor took a slice and leaned against the sink. “Mason…”

“Don’t.” He held up a hand. “Don’t start in, Vik.”

“I’m your brother. It’s my job to take care of you.” He threw the words Mason just told Jo right back at him. “She has a boyfriend.”

“I know that.”

“What you just did for her was your equivalent of a dozen roses and a box of chocolates.”

“It was nothing, just shit I had lying around.”

“Bullshit. Some of that is KSI’s equipment. There’s a state of the art security system in one of those boxes. I know you asked for it because you’re worried she’s here by herself, but you don’t borrow that for just anyone. You’re falling for that girl.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” He turned away from his brother so Viktor wouldn’t see the pain he was feeling. Jo wasn’t just anybody. He wasn’t falling. He’d already fallen so hard there was no going back.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt, brat .” Viktor set his paper plate down and walked over to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “This might not turn out the way you want.”

“You think I don’t fucking know that?” He turned away from Viktor and his sympathy, clenching his fists at his sides. The need to punch someone or something simmered under the surface of his skin.

“Whatever happens, you know I’m here for you, da ?”

“ Da ,” he whispered. “ Spasibo .”

“You’re welcome.”

Mason walked his brother out then went upstairs to find Josephine, his heart aching. They spent the next couple hours setting up her studio, and for once, he was grateful to escape. Being around her right now hurt more than anything else, but he knew he’d not be able to stay away from her long.

But for tonight, he needed the breather.