Joe sat back in his seat, stunned, his eyes still hooded with lust. “Rose.”

I shook my head in horror, scooting away from him until my back hit the car door. “How could you? I’m with Mason!”

He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes pleading. “If you really wanted him, would you kiss me like that?”

“It’s called chemistry! I never once claimed we didn’t have chemistry!” I took a deep breath and choked back a sob. “Take me home.”

“No!” Anger burned in his eyes and he reached for me, but I shrunk away. “I was trying to prove a point!”

“And you did, just not the one you intended. Did you even listen to a word I said?”

He shook his head. “That you want to be with him? I heard the words, Rose, but the evidence proves otherwise.”

“This—” I waved my hand between us “—proves nothing.” My words were hateful, but at that moment I truly hated him. I hated that he was trying to steal the happiness I had with Mason. “All you did was prove the point I was making before you kissed me.” My voice turned cold. “I was telling you that Mason respects me. He values my opinions. He doesn’t shove his agenda at me and expect me to obey.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Mason’s loved me for months. Don’t you think he wanted to kiss me ages ago? To prove there was something between us? Because there is, Joe, there’s something wonderful between us. But he didn’t because I was with you. He knew me well enough to know that forcing himself on me when I was with someone else would devastate me.”

His mouth opened and closed as he started to say something and stopped.

“He knew that kissing me might prove we had chemistry, but I couldn’t handle the fallout. That right there is just one of the many differences between you. He loves me enough that he’d rather live without me than rip my heart to shreds. He loves me unconditionally, Joe. That means putting the other person’s feelings before your own, a concept you clearly don’t understand.”

“Rose…”

“Take me home,” I said, trying to keep myself from falling apart.

“You and I still have something, Rose. You can’t deny that.”

“We did once. But you killed it. You stomped on it and destroyed it and destroyed me too. Now I have to walk into that house and face the man I love knowing I just cheated on him.” A sob broke loose. What had I done?

“You didn’t cheat.” A mixture of regret and frustration filled his words. “We only kissed.”

I released a bitter laugh. “After hearing your definition of not cheating, I’m even more glad we’re not together.”

He shoved the car into gear and whipped it around in a U-turn. Thankfully he was silent the rest of the way home. When he parked in front of my house, I reached for the door, but he said, “Rose, I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“If you hurt me?”

He released a breath. “Okay, I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

I started to get out, but then turned back to face him. “And don’t hold out hope that Mason will see the guilt on my face and break up with me. If that man walks out of my life because of what just happened, I will never forgive you.”

“Rose.” He grabbed my wrist. “He’s only interested in you because of me. Think about it. He blames me for Savannah’s death. It’s the perfect way to get back at me. He thinks I stole his sister from him, so he’s decided to steal the most precious thing in the world to me: you. He has you now, but when it serves his purposes, he’ll crush you. You can’t trust him, Rose. Even if you don’t take me back, don’t let him hurt you.”

My mouth sagged open. “How can you sink so low? He’s been interested in me for months. And that’s not just him saying so. Everyone noticed but me.”

His eyes narrowed. “I noticed, Rose. I noticed the day on the courthouse steps after Jimmy DeWade was arrested.”

“If that’s true, you’re suggesting that he’s been planning this for months.” I tried to jerk away, but he held my arm tight.

“When Mason was in Little Rock, he was known for his patience in the courtroom. He lulled the opponent into a false sense of security before going in for the kill.”

“I can’t believe you! Is this your slimy way of making me feel better about that kiss?” I scrambled out. “Come on, Muffy.”

“Rose, you have to listen to me,” Joe pleaded.

Muffy looked torn but finally hopped out of the car, and I slammed the door shut. I stood in front of my house and looked up at the porch as Joe drove off, realizing the main reason this place felt like home to me was because of Mason.

And there was a very good chance I was about to lose him.

The front door opened and he stood on the threshold, leaning on his cane. “Rose?” His gaze lifted to the parting car and his face hardened. “Was that Joe?”

I started to cry and Muffy whined at my feet.

Mason hobbled toward me, but I ran up the steps and flung myself at his chest, throwing him off balance.

He caught himself and his free arm wrapped around my back, squeezing me tight. “What happened? Are you hurt?” He sounded panicked, not that I could blame him. I was a sobbing mess.

I shook my head, trying to catch my breath. “No.” At least not physically.

“Rose, you’re scaring me. What happened?”