Page 59 of Mason

Jo shivered when his warm breath teased her earlobe. Cool air hit her breasts, and the nipples pebbled. Mason leaned down and swiped his tongue over one, and then the other. “Beautiful.”

When he unbuttoned her pants, she tensed up a little, thoughts of her leg intruding.

“Nope, not tonight. What did I tell you?”

“My scars are beautiful.”

“That’s right, baby. Now, lift up.”

Jo put her weight on her good hand and lifted enough for Mason to tug her jeans down her legs. He tossed those on top of her coat. Her phone fell out of her jeans as they fell, hitting the floor.

“Shit,” Mason muttered and reached down to retrieve it. “Make sure it’s okay.”

Jo punched in the security code on the phone, and notifications lit up the screen. “Holy crap.” She had sixty missed texts.

“Is that Keith? I forgot to call him, and he’s probably worried.”

She opened her texts, and no, it wasn’t Keith.

“Josephine?”

She could only stare at text after text from Unknown, first wishing her a happy birthday and then growing increasingly agitated when she didn’t reply. The last ten or so were not fit to be read aloud.

Mason took the phone from her and read through them. “Who the fuck is this?”

“I don’t know.”

One text caught his attention. “How the fuck did he know we were at the police station?”

“What do you mean?” He tilted the screen to show her.

Unknown: Why are you at the police station, baby?

Unknown: Who are all those people you’re with, baby?

Unknown: What are you telling them about me, baby? Don’t make me have to punish you more than I already have to.

“Mason, how did he know I was sitting with all of you?”

His expression went grim. “We’re going to find out.”

He helped her off the counter and shut off the shower. “Get dressed, JoJo, and wait in the bedroom. Get in bed. I need to make some calls.”

Jo watched him go, worried, but she got dressed and made her way to the bed. The comforter was thick and warm, compared to her chilled body. She could hear Mason just outside the door on his phone. She knew he wouldn’t go far. He was too worried.

He wasn’t the only one either. Their night had gone to hell in a handbasket. She’d even managed to forget their fake engagement, not that she blamed him for that. Had she been in his position and it was her daddy who was sick and threatening to stop his treatments…

She’d do anything and everything in her power, including lying through her teeth to keep him on those lifesaving drugs.

What she was pissed about was his family telling him to lie to her. Mason was right. If she found out after she’d said yes to his proposal, she’d never have known if it was because he wanted to marry her or if was to save his father’s life.

And now she had this mess to deal with. Another text dinged her phone, and she glanced at it.

Unknown: Hello, baby. You look beautiful all cuddled up under that blanket.

She stared.

No…

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