She shook her head, still laughing, as she looked at him, hanging upside down. “You’re crazy.”

He winked at her. “And you’ve only known me for two days, too.” He gestured to us. “I’m taking this one to her class. I’m going to make a big scene so she can slip in, unnoticed, and I will make my apologies to her professor, leave, and find out where my class is. See you two lovers later.”

He headed off, circling around where our standoff just happened. As soon as they were gone, Mason’s hand slid down, and his fingers entwined with mine. He pulled me inside my building and into a private classroom. Once the door was shut, he sighed. “I’m sorry that happened just now.”

I shook my head. His other hand rested on my hip, and I lifted our hands to his chest, feeling his heart still racing.

“I don’t really know what happened, but I guess it was inevitable that we’d run into him. Might as well have been the first day, right?”

I expected his pulse to slow down, but it didn’t. It sped up, and I snuck a look under my eyelids. Mason wasn’t looking at me. He was peering over my head with a scowl on his face, and the shiver returned to me again.

He’d been quiet during the exchange. I’d known he was angry, but I’d thought he relaxed a little bit. I was wrong.

I said, “Logan was stalling for you.”

He still didn’t look down at me. “What do you mean?”

“You were going to do something, weren’t you?” As I said it, I knew I was right. It clicked into place.

Logan had known, too, and he took over the talking, giving his brother time to calm down.

“You were going to hit him.” Or something worse.

Mason’s jaw clenched. His hand tightened on my hip. His fingers dug into my skin. “Seeing him so close to you…I almost lost it. I would’ve if Logan hadn’t been there.”

Alarm rose up in me, mixing with that cold shiver. That couldn’t happen,ever.

“Mason…” I spread our fingers over his heart.

I wanted to will him to calm down. He needed to be the old Mason—the cool and controlled mastermind. The fact that Sebastian got to him so easily by just being around me had me on edge.

Mason pulled our hands down, and he cupped the back of my head. Bringing me closer, he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I love you, and don’t worry. I’ll get it together. Go to class. I think half of your classmates were outside anyway. You can slip in with them.” He dropped a kiss to my lips. “I’ll see you tonight.”

He slipped out the door before I’d registered his words.

I was left standing there, actually scared for the first time in a long time.

MASON

Logan was at home, waiting for me. I asked as soon as I shut the door, “Nate?”

“Class. We’re good to go. Sam, too?”

I nodded as I took the chair across from him. “She’s worried, but she’s not as worried as she should be.”

Logan flashed a grin. “I like her roommate.”

That was code for, I’m going to bone her roommate. I shrugged. I’d cared about Heather, only thinking it might hurt Sam. The roommate was probably worse because of her living proximity with Sam, but there were even worse things to be concerned about.

“He was waiting for her.”

The grin dropped as Logan nodded. “I know.”

The motherfucking asshole had been waiting for her. I shook my head. “That’s going to be a problem.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know what else to do. You got that guy following her, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you okay that with campus?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Logan lifted a shoulder. “Just that it’s kinda creepy, seeing a security guy lurking around campus. He could get reported, and then what?”

“No. He blends in with the students. He won’t get reported.”

“Oh, yeah?” He clapped me on the shoulder. “When do I meet him?”

I shook my head. “You don’t.”

“What?”

“No. I’ll deal with this. I want you and Sam to enjoy your first year. When I know something or when something happens, I’ll tell you.” I held his gaze, making sure he understood I was serious. “Okay?”

Logan narrowed his eyes, but he didn’t fight it. His lips pressed into an even line.

I said, “I’m using the same company that Dad did. You know they’re good. They do their job.”

“I think that’s bullshit.”

“Logan.” No. “I’m pulling rank.”

“What?” His eyes widened.

“Yeah. I’m the big brother. I’m the reason behind this.” He was going to argue. His shoulders lifted. His eyes took on a defiant gleam, and he held a hand up. I interrupted him, “One semester.”

“What?” His hand lowered.

“One semester. I will handle the security company for one semester. I’ll bring you on board after that.”

His eyebrows were pinched together. He was mulling it over, and then his face abruptly cleared. “Well. All I can say is that you picked a good company. They’re top-notch.” Logan winked at me, getting up from the table. He tapped his head before disappearing into the kitchen. “One semester, Mason. And good job on hiring them. Way to think ahead. That’s your job. You think. I talk.”

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