Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Mason never took his eyes from Rodney. “Sure.” He put his arm around Brandi’s shoulders, and they would have walked away if Rodney had not stepped in their path.
“Move!” Mason growled.
Brandi tried a more reasonable approach. “Please leave us alone, Rodney.”
Rodney’s nostrils flared. “You stand there and tell me to leave you alone as if I don’t matter? As if we didn’t have something special?”
She opened her mouth, but Mason jumped in before she had a chance to speak.
“Brandi has asked you to leave her alone and I suggest you do so.”
Rodney advanced on them, and Mason moved in front of Brandi.
“And what are you going to do about it, white boy? You have no idea what I can do to you. Stay out of this; it’s between me and Brandi.”
“Are you threatening me?” Mason asked, showing absolutely no fear.
“I don’t make threats, pal. Threats are for people who don’t plan on following through. I make promises.”
“Rodney, what the hell is wrong with you? You’re acting crazy!” Brandi couldn’t believe this exchange.
“Brandi, I’m only crazy in love with you. Can’t you see this guy is no good for you? He’s not good enough to wipe your feet on.”
“I’m warning you, Rodney.” Mason’s teeth were clenched.
“Warning me? I should be warning Brandi.” Rodney smiled. “You seem to think Mason Collins is such a paragon, but did you know that he was a deadbeat dad? I have it from a very reliable source that as rich as he is, he has been late with his child support payments on several occasions.”
“You’re making that up!”
“Am I? It’s in the public records if you want to check for yourself. If that doesn’t bother you, then how about what he did to his poor sweet mother? Right after his father died, he put her in one of the worse nursing homes in the state. And let’s not forget that he’s a serial cheater.” Rodney smirked triumphantly. “Mason, why don’t you tell her how your first wife committed suicide? I guess she got fed up with the way you treated her.”
Brandi gasped. Why was Rodney making up lies about Mason? She knew in her heart he was a good person. He just wasn’t capable of these things.
“Rodney, I don’t know what you think you’ll gain by making up these lies, but you need to get the hell out of my face before I put my foot up your ass.” She placed her hands on her hips and tipped her head back to so he could see the anger in her eyes.
Rodney gave her a satisfied smile. “You’re even more beautiful when you’re angry. If you don’t believe me, then ask lover boy if everything is true or not.”
Something in the way Rodney said it made her look at Mason. Her heart sank when she noticed his stillness and how pale he had gone.
“Mason, tell me he’s lying.”
“I can’t.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The look of disappointment in Brandi’s eyes tore him apart. Mason wanted to smash the smug smile off Rodney’s face. He desperately wanted to tell Brandi exactly what Rodney had done to him and the kind of man he was, but he couldn’t.
He didn’t know what he could possibly say that would reassure her that he was a new man. One thing was certain, however: he wasn’t going to let the sins of Mason Collins’s past destroy what he and Brandi had found together again. He’d have to work doubly hard to win her trust.
“Is that all you can say?” Her eyes seemed to plead for him to deny Rodney’s accusations.
“He can’t deny anything because it’s all true,” Rodney taunted evilly.
Mason’s fists clenched and unclenched by his sides. He ached to hit him. Worse, he felt like a fool for having let his guard down where this maniac was concerned.
“And how do you know all these things?”
“Oh, I have my sources. Brandi, you really should be careful about the company you keep.”
Mason’s control snapped. His fist slammed into Rodney’s jaw and the other man stumbled backward. To his amazement, instead of retaliating, Rodney laughed as he rubbed his jaw.
“Now do you see the type of man he is? The truth hurts, doesn’t it, Collins? I could have you arrested, you know.” His grin widened.
Brandi watched them with horror etched on her face. She turned to Mason with tears in her eyes. “I thought you were special,” she said. The hurt was evident in her voice.
“What we have is special, Brandi, but I refuse to defend myself in front of him.” Mason glared at Rodney, who gave him a menacing smile. His face was beginning to swell. Good. It was no more than he deserved, although Mason wanted to do much more.
“Defend yourself? You haven’t even tried. If it’s true then how could you possibly explain what you’ve done? When I asked you if you ever cheated, you were very quick with your little talk about trust. Now I know why you never answered me.” She took a deep breath. “I have to go pick up my kids. I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that it’s best that we not see each other again. I can’t afford to have someone like you in my life. Goodbye, Mason.” She turned her back on him and walked away, but not before he saw a tear slide down her cheek.