Page 12 of Rival for Rent
“Oh, come on,” I said. “Your gut didn’t tell you anything. You’re retrofitting your instincts now that something actuallydidhappen.”
“My gut doesn’t lie.” He stopped pacing long enough to give me a hard look.
In spite of myself, I quavered a bit.WasMason really a bodyguard? Surely that’s not what he’d been doing all these years, right? I shoved the thought aside.
“The bleeding’s already stopped,” I said instead. “And we don’t even know this happened on purpose. I might’ve fallen on a shard of glass or a tack or something.”
Mason turned away from the door and walked right in front of me. “Stand up,” he said, all command.
I bristled at his tone. I had zero desire to do anything Mason Clark told me to do. But it’s hard to win an argument when one of you is standing and the other is sitting, so I stood anyway, giving him a wary look.
He held out his hand. “Give me your jacket.”
I frowned, but I couldn’t think of a reason not to. I shrugged out of it and handed it over, feeling weirdly undressed. Which was ridiculous—I was still in my white shirt and cummerbund.He’sthe one practically busting out of his tight black T-shirt. But I crossed my arms anyway.
Mason flipped the jacket around, inspecting the back. Then he shoved his fingers through a three-inch gash in the fabric.
“This,” he said, wiggling his fingers through the hole, “didn’t happen because you fell on glass or a fucking thumbtack. This is what happens when someone tries to knife you.”
“And how would you know that?” I asked, arching a brow. “Are you an expert in fighting ninjas or something?”
He gave me a flat look. “I’ve seen some things since high school. Trust me. I know.”
His voice wasn’t angry—it was cold. Detached. It sent a chill straight through me.
Was that really what happened? Did someone actually try to stab me tonight? I wrapped my arms tighter across my chest, adrenaline and fear lacing through me.
I didn’t want it to be true. Itcouldn’tbe true. Because if it was, then that meant this was all real—the notes, the shoves, the weird feelings of being watched. It meant someone actually wanted to hurt me.
I thought back to that sharp pain in my side. If I was honest, I’d felt itbeforeI fell. But my memories were scrambled—I’d been too busy being furious with Mason to focus on much else.
Mason, hovering like some overprotective watchdog, acting like my guardian when he used to be the guy I dreamed about being protectedfrom. Preferably by the FBI. Or an unexpected sinkhole.
“Well, if itwason purpose,” I said, a little defensively, “whoever it was didn’t do a very good job.”
“That’s pure luck, Kai.” He tossed my jacket down onto the armchair and crossed his arms like we were squaring off. “It’s time for you to tell me what this is really about.”
“Whatwhat’sabout?” I asked, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice. I didn’t like his tone—like I was a kid who needed to confess to breaking something.
“This whole bodyguard thing. I get why you didn’t want to talk about it in front of your friends, but you need to tell me what’s going on.”
“I don’tneedto tell you anything. You’re not part of this. You being here was pure chance, and for the millionth time, you can leave now.”
Mason’s eyes narrowed. “Have you told anyone else about this? If it’s serious enough that you wanted a bodyguard, you shouldn’t be dealing with it alone.”
“It’s none of your goddamned business.”
“Have you told the cops?”
I took a little satisfaction in the surprise on his face when I said, “As a matter of fact, I have. They’re the ones who told me to—”
I broke off, shaking my head. Why was I even saying this? I didn’t want to tell Mason anything. I just wanted himgone.
“Nevermind,” I said sharply. “The point is, it’s my life. I’m dealing with it how I see fit, and you are wholly uninvolved. The only reason we’re still talking is because you refuse to leave my house—but for the millionth andfirsttime, I’d like you to leave. Now.”
I wasn’t sure how much more forceful I could be. What was I supposed to do, hit the guy? Not that I hadn’t fantasized about it back in high school, but then as now, Mason had always had way more muscle than I did.
He frowned, then turned and walked over to the living room window. Bella padded after him and stood on her hind legs, planting her front paws on the glass like she was helping him survey the perimeter. I felt a petty flash of irritation that she liked him so much. Would it have killed her to growl?
