Page 13 of The Hero’s Bride (Unbreakable SEALs #2)

“Thalia, as far as I’m concerned, you and I are old friends.

” The sunlight picked up the natural highlights in his hair, reflecting streaks of gold and brighter reds.

“You’ve stuck your neck out for me, and I have no doubt that if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have made it past eleven.

I don’t want you to worry about where you’re going to live or how you’re going to earn money.

I want you to take the time to just…live for yourself.

Without feeling as though you always need to be doing something for someone else.

I have no doubt you’ll figure out what you want to do with your life.

If it’s going back to school, we can make it happen.

If you decide that California isn’t the place for you, although I hope you’ll love it, we’ll figure that out too.

Right now, just know I’m going to take care of you.

You’ll stay with me in my condo. I have a spare bedroom, although it’s taken up by Tiny, so for now, you can take the main bedroom.

Tiny and I will bunk together. We’ll figure it all out as it comes. ”

The breath wooshed out of her lungs. In her short time on earth, she’d learned if something seems too good to be true it probably was, but she’d chosen to put her faith in Mason.

“We’ll talk more when we get settled in a hotel, yeah?”

“Yes.” She smiled softly. “If I’m going to be your fiancée, I probably should know a little more about you.”

“Ask me whatever you’d like.” He leaned back onto the headrest and smiled. The sudden urge to reach over the console and touch the coarse length of his beard had her tightening her hands in her lap to stop their wayward movement.

She’d never considered a man beautiful before, but in that moment, she knew without a doubt that Mason certainly was. Thalia cleared her throat. “What have you been doing for the past twenty years?”

He barked out a laugh. “I like how you cut right to it.”

She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading over her face and immediately felt guilty. Just yesterday, she’d discovered her father was murdered, now she was smiling and laughing with a man who intrigued her more by the second. What kind of daughter did that make her?

“Sweetheart,” his voice was a low growl, and a thrill spiraled through her at the rough sound. “Tell me what just sucked the joy off your face.”

She sighed. “That it’s not fair I’m here, enjoying our conversation, when my father gave his life for mine.” Her throat constricted.

“He did that so you would have a chance at happiness.” His soft words struck her chest, and she knew he was right.

She swallowed hard and swiped at her eyes. After taking a few cleansing breaths, she tried again. “I know you mentioned something about your parents being in a band. What was that like?”

The light in his eyes went flat, and he blew out a quick breath.

“Well, I got to see a lot of places I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Mostly, they left me home. The housekeeper was there, and she’d make me dinner to heat up and left snacks for when I’d get home from school.

I didn’t mind being alone even as a kid, but looking back it was lonely.

That’s until I snuck Tiny back to the States.

” He grinned, giving his face a boyish appearance.

“My dad just about passed out when he saw the lizard. He doesn’t like anything with scales.

Any animals really. I sulked, slammed a few doors, and they let me set up a space for him.

They couldn’t control their own poor behavior, let alone mine.

Before they knew it, Tiny was huge and took up half of my bedroom. ”

Thalia laughed. “What did your father do then?”

“I don’t think he ever came up to the second floor again. Not with a four-foot lizard who enjoyed chasing people down the hall, trying to catch their feet. Tiny loves socks. Honestly, though, he became my best friend. I had a reason for looking forward to going home at the end of the day.”

She smiled at the image his words created. “I can’t wait to meet him. Where are your parents now?”

“They still live in California, carrying on the same lifestyle as far as I know. They never were very responsible, and I guess I grew up fast, taking care of them and their band mates when they got blackout drunk. I joined the Navy out of school. My parents thought that was ridiculous seeing they had enough money to set me up, but I wanted something for myself. Something I could be proud of. We had a Navy SEAL visit our high school, and I thought it was the coolest job in the world, so I went for it. I completed BUD/S and have been on the teams ever since.”

“Do you have any other family?” She could recall how alone she’d felt when she left Colima, but she’d been nearly sixteen. Mason had grown up with two parents and yet, he’d been alone in the world. She was glad the iguana brought him some comfort.

“Closest thing I have to family is Sully and Jude. There’s also a real nice lady and her grandson who live across the hall from me. They take care of Tiny when I’m gone. God, she’s going to be surprised when I bring you home. They’re gonna love you.”

His words warmed her, even though flutters filled her stomach at the thought of meeting them. “How do you know?” she asked softly and immediately wished she hadn’t asked.

“They’re good, honest people. They’ll like you because, Thalia, you’re pretty damn likable.” His eyes moved off the road, momentarily landing on her face.

What she would’ve given to be able to interpret his expression. She glanced down at her hands, unsure of how to accept his flattery. “That’s kind of you,” she murmured. “Are there many women who will be upset that you’re pretending to be my fiancé?”

A scoff chuffed from his lips. “No, Thalia. There’s no one. If there had been, I’d never have suggested to sponsor you. I’ve dated here and there, but nothing serious or memorable. And you?”

She’d opened herself up to that question by asking him. It was only fair to answer honestly, but heat flooded her cheeks all the same. She shook her head. “No, never.”

“Never?” Mason asked.

“No. In Colima, I was wary of everyone. It seemed as if people were only ever trying to take from each other to survive. It’s dangerous on the streets, especially for a girl. Then in Texas, well, I couldn’t leave the estate and even if I wanted to it certainly wouldn’t have been to seek out a man.”

“Shit. That was inconsiderate of me. Your life hasn’t been your own for a very long time because of the external pressures you’ve had to face.” A look of regret passed over his features.

She glanced at her hands clasped in her lap and was struck with the realization that they’d grown up worlds apart.

While the girls he went to school with most likely had time to fix their hair and worry about their reflection, boys, and makeup, she’d grown up with one goal—survival.

She’d never thought further than the next meal she would forage for her and her father.

Never dared to dream they’d get out of the extreme poverty they faced, because it was too overwhelming.

“I haven’t spent much time thinking about relationships.

” She hated the bite to her tone. “Other things were always more important.”

“Yeah, like staying alive.” He sighed. “Shit. I feel like I’m fucking this up.

I’ve seen extreme poverty, desperation, and violence, but I’m lucky that I didn’t experience it growing up.

I just want you to know I have your back, but I don’t expect you to take my word, so I’ll show you until you start to believe you have someone in your corner. ”

“When I told you I trusted you last night, I meant it. I’m just feeling so many confusing things.

Torn between wanting to take your offer of help and scared to death that the opportunity for a better life will be pulled away, because I haven’t done anything to deserve it.

” He took the wheel with his other hand, freeing up the one closest to her, then reached out.

She placed her hand in his open palm and closed her eyes at the connection coursing through her. A safe, wholesome connection.

“You’re not alone in those confusing feelings, although maybe they’re about different things. I’m torn between honesty and fear of making you nervous. I want to take more time to get to know you, Thalia.”

Thalia’s heart beat faster. She wanted to ask if he wanted to know her as a friend or something more but the past month had been full of adrenaline and fear, so she was cautious to voice her thoughts.

If she was misreading what Mason was saying, she’d be embarrassed and hurt.

Her pulse might kick up a notch when he was near, but that didn’t mean his did, too.

He’d probably been surrounded by his pick of beautiful women who had families, homes, and careers while she was simply muddling her way through life the best she could.

Still, she couldn’t deny the urge to be close to him and not just for the safety and protection he offered.

There was a physical draw between them. She was afraid of falling for the illusion of love and unity, when Mason was only pretending to be her fiancé.

Forgetting that small detail would be a very big disaster for her heart.