Page 71 of Hidden Resolution

In Mason’s need to separate them, Dane was shoved aside and Shonda was jerked backward in a rough grip.

“If you don’t want her, there are plenty of hot-blooded males who do,” Dane taunted.

It was the absolute wrong thing to say to a feral person.

Mason’s fist landed, breaking Dane’s nose with an echoing crack.

“Oh my God!” Shonda gaped at the blood gushing down his face. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Me?”Mason was incredulous. “I’m not the one kissing my brother.”

A round of snickers rippled through the onlookers, and his brows clashed as he registered what he’d said. Even Dane, slumped against the wall with his head angled to stem the flow, snorted.

“You know what I mean,” Mason snapped.

“The last I checked, you were accepting phone numbers from coffee girls,” she retorted. “You don’t get to weigh in on who I do or don’t kiss.” She shoved him to get to Dane. “Feel free to go to hell, asshole.”

“Gladly.”

His angry strides helped him disappear around the corner, leaving Shonda staring after him, mind blank and heart thudding from the adrenaline rush.

“Uh, sweetheart? Any chance you could get me paper towels or napkins to stop the bleeding?”

She crashed back to earth.

“Oh God! I’m so sorry!” Scooping up the forgotten bag, she pulled out the stack of napkins and handed them over.

“I’m going to smell lemons for the rest of the day,” he joked.

“I doubt you’ll be smelling anything any time soon.” She examined the angle of his nose. “What were you thinking with your moronic move?”

“Did you enjoy it?”

Dane’s sparkling humor was misplaced, and she stared in disbelief.

His brows shot up in question.

“That’s beside the point,” she mumbled, warmth creeping into her cheeks.

“No, I’d say it’s exactly the point. We both enjoyed it and pissed off my brother in the process. Win-win, wouldn’t you say?”

“There’s something seriously wrong with the men in your family.” She grabbed his hand and tugged. “Let’s go. We need to find a doctor. I don’t like the angle of that nose.”

“Yeah, it hurts like a bitch.”

“Well, if it’s any consolation, you took that shot like a fucking champ. Anyone else would be out cold.”

“Is it any wonder why I adore you?” he teased.

“Come on, Romeo.”

He slung an arm over her shoulders. “For support.”

“Uh-huh.” She jerked to a halt as she recalled why she’d sought Mason in the first place. “Oh shit.”

“What?”

“Your mother is going to murder me.”