Page 10 of Hidden Resolution (Stonebrooke #2)

“ W e have to go back to the real world, love.”

True, but Shonda didn’t want to. Their last three days had far surpassed their entire trip. The passion burned hotter, the connection deeper, and the sex was soul-transforming. How Mason could walk away from what they’d shared without a backward glance defied logic.

“Same rules apply?” she asked quietly, already well aware of the answer. Pushing would only lead to an ugly blowup.

He was quiet too long for her comfort. Her emotional flight was about to nosedive, and she braced for impact.

“Yes. Nothing’s changed,” he eventually said, firm and detached.

No, not for him in any case.

But for her, everything had.

She loved him. Completely, stupidly.

His casual rejection of what they’d shared was brutal, and the pain she’d experienced at the airport was nothing close to how she was feeling as he climbed from her bed.

Once again, she’d mistaken a man’s true intentions, reading more into his deeds than was wise.

She’d shamelessly fallen into her old pattern of equating sex with love.

Crikey, she needed her head examined.

“Want a cup of coffee before you go?” The casual offer took everything she had.

“Actually, I’m running late. I’ll grab one at work.”

Could it get more stilted and embarrassing? How had they gone from last night’s tangled limbs to a frosty morning-after?

“Thank you.” His softly spoken gratitude halted her mid-sugar scoop.

“For what?” she asked.

“From the beginning, I knew a casual affair wasn’t your thing. I hesitated to take it further than our first dinner date. But you haven’t made it weird or awkward by getting clingy. I appreciate that.”

A startled laugh burst from her.

He meant well, but could a man be more oblivious? The absurdity of it gave her spine the much-needed steel. She’d not beg Mason to see her worth.

“Think nothing of it,” she replied, dry as unbuttered toast.

Judging by his faint frown, he’d caught her sarcasm. And instead of giving him a chance to comment, she keyed in the alarm code, removed her handy new security stick, and whipped open the door for his grand exit.

Suitcase handle fisted tightly, Mason paused.

Their gazes locked.

With his free hand, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, then stared at it for a long beat, as if he might find answers he didn’t have there.

His pale gaze flicked to her lips, eyes flashing with indecipherable emotion.

A curtain came down over his expression, and he ruthlessly shut it all down.

“Goodbye.” Mason pressed a hard kiss to her mouth and strode out.

Body trembling, Shonda leaned back against the closed door as the dam broke. He’d never know the devastation he’d left in his wake. Unrequited love like hers required recovery time, and she headed straight back to bed, hiding under the covers to mourn.

Time lost all meaning. It might’ve been two hours or twenty. She didn’t care. All she wanted was to wallow. But the universe had other plans.

Her phone rang.

And rang three additional times in under five minutes.

On her persistent caller’s fourth attempt, Shonda answered.

“Ms. Grant? This is Nancy from Stonebrooke Memorial Hospital.”

“Yes, I’m Shonda Grant. How may I help you, Nancy?”

“You’re listed as the emergency contact for Erica Sutton. Is that correct?”

Her stomach plunged through all three floors of her apartment building to the ground below.

“What happened to Erica?” Her voice cracked, and her lungs threatened rebellion.

“Ma’am, I hate to inform you this way, but Ms. Sutton was injured in an attack. She’s being prepped for emergency surgery. Do we have your verbal consent to proceed?”

“What? Oh, y-yes. Of course.” She was babbling, but the shock was great. “Do whatever you have to. Can you tell me how bad it is? Is she going to be okay?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t give any more information over the phone.” Nancy was kind but firm. “We’ll need you to sign paperwork in person, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions at that time.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Erica.

Attacked!

Of all the things to happen in sleepy Stonebrooke!

Her mind struggled to make sense of it as she yanked on jeans. Sending up a frantic prayer for Erica’s successful surgery, Shonda grabbed her keys and ran for the parking garage. Traffic was light, and fortunately, she arrived at the hospital in under nine minutes, securing a front-row spot.

Hopefully, it was a sign from the universe that everything would be okay. She bolted for the entrance with nothing on her mind but finding out Erica’s current condition.

“Shonda?”

She skidded to a halt and whirled around.

Mason.

“What…? Why are you…?” Shaking her head, she pressed a finger to her gathered brows.

He must’ve read her confusion, elaborating without her needing to.

“My brother Zack’s girlfriend was admitted,” he said.

Her mouth opened and closed again, unable to process anything but her driving need to find Erica.

Another man appeared, jogging up beside him. By his resemblance, he was obviously Dane, the youngest of the Sharp brothers.

Suddenly, it was too much. If she didn’t discover what was happening with Erica, she’d have a meltdown on the spot.

“I’ve got to go,” she blurted.

“Hey.” Dane held up a hand. “You’re looking for Erica, right? Come on. I know where she was taken.”

How he knew didn’t matter. If he could lead her to Erica, she’d follow him anywhere.

“Thank you,” she replied, grateful for the assistance.

Together, the three of them raced down the corridor toward the O.R. waiting area.

“What happened to Erica? Is she all right?” Shonda blurted the second they entered the room.

Mason pressed a hand to her lower back, hoping to provide support.

“I’m sorry. Who are you?” Zack asked, distracted and on the rough side of ragged.

“Shonda. I’m Erica’s best—” she began.

He cut her off with an impatient wave. “How the hell did you learn about her attack? Did the hospital call you?”

“Yes. She asked me to be her emergency contact since her parents are in Florida.”

In the face of Zack’s scowl, Shonda burst into tears. But when he moved to touch her shoulder, Mason cut him off with a nudge and pulled her into his arms.

“Don’t cry, love. She’s going to be fine. Promise.”

“How is it that you’re here?” she had the presence of mind to ask. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

There was no good answer. The truth was, he hadn’t planned on it either. He’d thought their goodbye this morning was final.

His brothers’ twin looks of astonishment grated.

Honestly, one would believe he was celibate the way they gawked, as if showing up with a woman or offering comfort was outside his wheelhouse.

It wasn’t as if compassion was a dreaded disease, right?

If caring were communicable, Mason would’ve made damn sure to get inoculated long ago.

But holding Shonda soothed Mason in a way he hadn’t expected.

A few hours earlier, he’d returned home feeling ancient and morose.

He’d meant to check in at the office, but his shitty mood sapped his energy.

Instead of unpacking, he’d collapsed into bed for a nap, blaming his funk on jet lag.

Hell, anything but the obvious. Yet seeing her so distraught twisted his insides.

Once Erica was out of danger, Mason would put real distance between them.

Maybe he’d flip through his little black book, call up a worldly friend from his past, and grab a drink with her to remind himself there were plenty of women who didn’t rattle him.

Yet Shonda’s warm body against his made the prospect feel hollow.

Unsettled, he eased back and guided her to the nearest chair.

“Anyone need coffee? I was about to hit the kiosk in the lobby,” Zack offered.

“I’ll go with you,” Dane chimed in.

“We’ll take coffee. One black, one with two creams, no sugar,” Mason said.

“You know how she takes hers?” Dane blurted, lacking tact.

Mason glared, relaying the clear warning that his little brother was about to get a beatdown. Zack, smart enough to catch the cue, grabbed Dane’s arm and hustled him from the room before Mason tore a strip from his ass.

Shaking off his irritation, he faced Shonda. “Are there other family members of Erica’s we should call?”

Her mouth formed a silent “oh, shit,” and she scrunched her eyes shut.

“Do you want me to do it?” he asked, gentler.

“No, I can. Thank you for reminding me. I…” She swallowed audibly. “I need to.”

Her resolve was a testament to her quiet strength. Stubborn pride refused to allow her to fall apart completely. No damsel-in-distress routine here, which was both admirable and gut-wrenching. It knocked the wind out of him every time.

When she left to make the call, Mason reflected on what it all meant.

Funny, really. The minute he wanted to step up, she pulled away to stand on her own.

Proof women were the contrary creatures he believed them to be and why it was best to keep things hassle-free.

If those like Shonda couldn’t accept his terms, well… it was on them, not him.

He shoved down the warmth he’d experienced by spending time with her. So what if he enjoyed waking up with her curled against him? Such feelings eventually led to heartbreak. And odds were, she’d be the brokenhearted one, because he wasn’t built to give his whole self to anyone.

Ten minutes later, his brothers and Shonda returned, but they all sat in tense silence, lost in their own versions of hell.

For Zack and Shonda, it was worry.

For Mason, it was the creeping realization he might be in over his head.

An hour later, a man in surgical scrubs stepped into the waiting room. The doctor’s eyes immediately sought out Zack, who shot to his feet.

“How is she? When can I see her?” he asked.

The barely leashed panic in his brother’s voice indicated Zack had it bad.