She’d taught him what unconditional love meant and felt like. For that she would always have his undying love and gratitude, and she’d more than earned the title of mother. “Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
“I love you too. Give Ric a cuddle for me.”
“I will. Bye.”
Mason continued to drive, lost in his thoughts. He’d had a few moderately serious relationships, but they always fizzled. The last time, his girlfriend had still been in love with the guy who’d come before him. Mason had come home one day to find she’d moved out. Gone back to her ex.
So even though he was more interested in Avery than he had been in anyone in forever, he wouldn’t soon forget the lesson that had confirmed the deep-seated fear he’d carried since he was a kid.
Maybe he was unlovable after all.
****
Shannon waited for the guard to escort her into the prison visiting room. She followed him, unable to keep the smile off her face as she neared the small table in the room already crowded by families visiting their prisoner.
Excitement flooded her. She couldn’t wait to tell Mike what she’d been working on. She’d found them the perfect starter house, a little brick bungalow at a good price, miles out in the countryside where no one would bother or judge them. If he liked it, she would go look at it today and maybe put an offer in. She could swing all their expenses on her own for a month or two, and with his impending parole, he’d be able to get a job and help pay the bills.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Mike already waiting for her in his orange jumpsuit. His wrist and ankle restraints had been removed. He’d shaved, looking better than he had in ages. And the way he watched her was so damn sexy she almost shivered.
“Hi,” she said as she sat in front of him, only half-listening to the guard’s instructions. No touching, no gifts. Blah, blah. She was impatient to tell Mike everything.
The guard retreated to stand at the side of the room, watching them. Shannon didn’t care. She was just so glad to be able to talk to Mike alone after two weeks of no contact. She had no family anymore. All the men she’d been with had treated her like shit—until Mike. He’d changed her entire world, and now they were planning for their future together.
“You look good,” Mike told her, his brown eyes sweeping over her face, and lower, to the cleavage her new pushup bra and low-cut top showed off. She’d worn them just for him, to show him what he could have when he got out of here.
“Thanks. You look good too.” Since meeting him online eight months ago she’d fallen totally in love with him. He was brilliant, he wasn’t dangerous to her, and he’d paid more attention to her than any man she’d ever been with, even though he’d been behind bars the entire time. After being alone for so long, she would do anything to be with him.
But now that she was up close to him, she could see something was wrong. His expression was set, distant, angry lines around his mouth and between his eyes. The urge to reach for his hands was so strong she had to curl hers into fists to stop it. “What’s wrong?”
His jaw flexed. “My parole was denied.”
She stared at him, sure she’d heard wrong, all her dreams crumbling to dust in front of her eyes. “No.”
“Yeah. Just found out the other day. I’m not getting outta here.”
Grief washed through her at the desolation in his eyes. “Don’t say that. You can’t give up hope.”
He didn’t answer, and her own anger began to build. “What happened?” she asked. “Do you know?” With the amount of time already served on his sentence and his good behavior, the parole board should have granted his early release.
“That bitch cop turned the parole board against me.”
Avery Dahl.
Shannon would never forget that name. That woman was the main reason Mike was in here.
Shannon pressed her lips together as hot tears flooded her eyes. She’d planned her life around being with Mike. Was working two jobs right now to save money in a special account for them. They were supposed to move in together as soon as he was released, then get married. Leave this state and start over fresh, just the two of them.
He’d promised. She’d pinned all her hopes and dreams on him; he was the only man who’d ever understood her. The only person who’d ever really loved her, and she couldn’t go on without him for much longer. It hurt too much.
“Don’t fucking cry. I’m the one locked up in here, not you,” he growled.
She shook her head and wiped her tears away, not bothered by his anger. He was bitterly disappointed, she could forgive him for snapping. “How much longer will you have to wait?”
Resentment burned in his gaze. “I dunno. Another five years, maybe, who knows.”
Five years? She’d be almost thirty by then. She didn’t want to be alone that long, didn’t want to have to wait that long to start their life together.
The shocking news ruined the visit. She left twenty minutes later disheartened and sick to her stomach.
But by the time she’d reached her vehicle, she had already begun to formulate a plan. Because this wasn’t right. Something had to be done.
Mike was trapped in prison. He needed her more than ever. He couldn’t do anything to right this wrong.
But she could.
She had taken revenge on some enemies before. Last time she’d even torched a bitch’s car, burning down the garage and half the house before the fire department put it out. No one had ever found out it was her. And that act of retribution had been in retaliation for a personal affront. Keeping Shannon’s man in prison when he deserved to be set free called for decisive action.
Her mind was already racing ahead. Avery Dahl wasn’t a common name. How hard could it be to find her? And once Shannon did…
Resolve hardened inside her like steel. She couldn’t free Mike, but she could get revenge for him.
Avery had fucked up Shannon’s life. Now Shannon would fuck up hers.
Chapter Five
The past week had felt more like a month, but the wait was finally over.
Mason waited by his Jeep as Avery locked the front door of her red-brick Victorian house and wheeled her suitcase down the brick walkway toward him. She was dressed in a snug pair of dark jeans that hugged her long legs, and a purple sweater under her leather jacket.
She looked sexy as hell, and he couldn’t wait to start their weekend together. He’d only seen her in passing since Saturday, but that all ended now.
“Good to go?” he asked, opening the trunk.
“Yes. You shaved.”
He ran a hand over his smooth jaw. “Is that bad?” He’d figured he better clean up before meeting her friends and family.
“No, not at all.” She started to lift her suitcase but he took it from her. “I can do it,” she said in an annoyed tone.
“I know you can. But it’s called manners. And since you’re supposedly mine this weekend, my part starts now.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “You don’t need to pretend yet,” she muttered, and started for the passenger side. Mason shut the back and rushed around to open her door for her. She paused and looked up at him. “And this is just manners too?”