Fallen Crest Home (Fallen Crest High #6)(2)

Malinda sighed, yawning. Her smile was tired, but filled with warmth. “You really don’t have to worry about her. I’ve talked to Analise over the last year and a half. She’s accepted that everything has to be on your terms. You choose when and if you want her back in your life. She won’t pressure you. She won’t even say hello to you in public if you see her. You can approach her if you want to do that. It’s all you.”

Despite what Malinda thought, to say Analise was mentally stable would’ve been an overstatement. To say she wasn’t a danger to me was another overstatement. There was a laundry list of things she’d done, and hitting me and threatening to destroy Mason’s life were among the last she’d gotten to before she went away to the hospital.

The one silver lining was James Kade, Mason and Logan’s father. When Analise left David, she and I moved into the Kade mansion, and two families were born: I joined Mason and Logan, and Analise partnered with James. Both Analise and James were cheating assholes, but at least James proved how much he actually loved her. Theirs was a match made in heaven as far as I was concerned.

Mason and Logan had their own issues with their father, but the relationship was a bit more congenial than mine with Analise.

The exhaustion from my run was starting to set in when a pair of headlights lit up the street. My hands tightened around the mug, but years of training took over. I always froze up when Analise was near, but that transferred to a ready feeling. Okay, Mother Dearest, I thought. My lips parted and a half snarl formed. I could feel my lungs expand with my deep breathing. I was ready. I was willing, and whatever she was going to send my way, would get sent right back at her.

Two black SUVs slowed before the Kades’ gate. It opened slowly, and both SUVs pulled into the driveway. The gate closed behind, and our view was obstructed, but I knew what that meant.

My mother was officially back.





My shower door opened and Mason’s hand touched my hip, sliding across my back as he stepped in behind me. I felt the cool draft for a mere second before his heat warmed me and he closed the door. His arms came around me, and I leaned back against him. I moved my head so the water wouldn’t blind me, and there he was.

Strong jaw. Beautiful green eyes. Black hair cut short, and a physique toned to perfection from all his training. Gorgeous.

His eyes darkened as his hands slid around my waist and up over my ribcage. I gasped, but didn’t look away. I couldn’t. Moments like these, Mason felt like my life force. If I broke contact, there went my strength. It wasn’t a regular feeling now, not like it had been before when Analise tried to break us. But in this moment, I felt it. I inhaled it, arching my back to give him a better hold on me and myself an opportunity to savor this connection.

So many had tried to come between us. So many had failed.

It would be Mason and me forever.

I turned around, pressing against him. Every inch of me fit into him, like a glove. All his hard ridges and muscles were home to me.

I wound my arms around his neck. “Morning.”

His eyes darkened even more. “Morning.” One hand fell to my hip. “You ran this morning again.”

A delicious shiver zipped through me. “I’ll still go with you later, if you want.”

His other hand crept up to the back of my neck. He held me there, anchoring my head as he studied me. I saw a slight trace of concern.

“You’re running too much.”

So he had known. I tried to pull away, but he wouldn’t let me.

“Don’t.” He added a soft plea, “Please.”

I stayed in his arms with the water beating down on us.

“Malinda said something this morning, too.”

He nodded. “Your mom’s back, isn’t she?”

“You knew?”

“I figured. I was supposed to start my internship with one of my dad’s partners, but he texted this morning saying he’d be there.” A corner of Mason’s mouth lifted. “He asked if I wanted a ride to work.”

I matched his half-grin. “Did you reply?”

“Right,” he mocked. “Because I’m the perfect, good son who drives to work with his father.”

“Well, James can always dream.”

Mason chuckled, pressing his lips to my forehead. He swept his hand down, tucking my hair behind my ear. For a moment, he held me, resting his cheek to my forehead. I could feel his tension. He was worried, and I couldn’t fault him. Analise had been out of my life for two years, and things had been good. They were damned good, but now we were back home. Back on her turf. A wedding was happening in two months, and everything good could be unraveled.

It wouldn’t be, though. I was bound and determined not to let anyone hurt us.

“Everything will be all right,” I said softly. “You know that, right?”

He smirked. I felt his lips curve against my skin. “You haven’t even seen her, and you’re already running like you used to.”

That was true. I let out a breath. “Okay. I promise I’ll stop running…” I looked up at him. “As much.”

“I don’t care how long you run. I just want you to be healthy.”

“I will.”

He gazed down, still studying me intently. Then he softened and his lips came down to rest on mine. “Don’t let her in your head.”