Page 92 of Hidden Resolution

Yet she loved him.

And he couldn’t let her.

For her own sake, he had to find a way to kill whatever she felt for him.

Reaching a decision, he tossed his plate on the counter, grabbed his keys, and drove to her apartment. The lights were out, and he had a moment of panic. What if she’d never made it home? Or what if Billy had come back to finish what he started?

He charged up the stairs and banged on the door, alternating fists and yelling her name when she didn’t answer right away.

“Can I help you?” her neighbor asked.

“I’m looking for Shonda.”

“Yeah, the whole complex got that,” she said, not sparing the sarcasm.

Ignoring her snark, he asked. “Have you seen her?”

“Afraid not.” With a careless shrug, she slammed her door.

“Thanks for nothing!” he hollered.

“You should make a point to readHow to Win Friends and Influence People,” Shonda commented from behind him.

He yelped his surprise.

Christ, he was on edge!

“We need to talk, and then you can tell me when the fuck you trained as a ninja.”

“Why rehash the conversation? Have you not met your insult quota for today?” she asked, chockful of anger.

The new jaded attitude pissed him off.

“Knock it off, Shonda. I’ve never insulted you. Not intentionally, at any rate.”

“Shall I count the ways?”

Banking his temper, he shifted closer. “No. I don’t really care to be reminded how you think I’m a jerk. I’d like to explain.”

“Even if I didn’t already know, I don’t care what your excuse is.” She ran a hand through her hair, a sure sign of her frustration. “You’re an adult, Mason, with the ability to reason. You know relationships, if you choose to have them, take work.”

“I don’t want the work,” he exploded. “I want it easy.”

“Says every guy on the fucking planet.”

“Don’t lump me with other losers.”

“Then don’t be one,” she snapped. “I’ve made it too easy for you for far too long. You come here, screw my brains out, remind me it’s nothing more than acasual fuck, and then go on your merry way.” She leaned forward, gaze furious as she drove a finger into his chest. “That no longer works for me. I’m not your cum-dumpster. Find another idiot tocasually fuck.”

Her tantrum drew a crowd. While she apparently didn’t care, he did. “Stop saying that. Can we take this inside? Your neighbors shouldn’t be privy to our business.”

“No. If you don’t like it, leave.”

“Woman, you are getting on my last nerve. I?—”

What he would have said was cut off by a text on his phone.

“Must be someone from your hordes of women calling,” Shonda sneered, stepping into the darkened apartment.