I self-consciously grabbed the ring, and then I looked into his face. “I didn’t really say yes.”

“But you’re wearing his ring,” he said, grabbing my hand.

I leaned my head back on the bed, so exhausted I was sure I could sleep for twenty years like Rip Van Winkle. “It just all happened so fast. We were at his parents’ house, and they—”

“You were at Joe’s parents’ house tonight?”

“They insisted I come to dinner. Once I got there, I immediately understood why.” I opened my eyes and sighed. “They announced that Joe is running for the state senate seat. You were right.”

“I’m sorry.” His hand tightened around mine. “Joe didn’t warn you?”

“He says he didn’t know. He found out when I did. When his father made the announcement to all their dinner guests.”

“You didn’t mention going to see them when I talked to you this afternoon.” He sat back in his chair, looking defeated. “Although it’s pretty presumptuous to assume you would.”

“Mason, I would have told you, especially after our talk on Sunday. But Joe called at around five and said his mother wanted me to come. When I showed up, they had about twenty of their oldest and closest friends there. Including his ex-girlfriend.”

“Ouch.” He paused. “After the day you had, why didn’t you say no?”

“Because Joe really wanted me there. And I wanted to get it over with. When his father announced he was running, Joe really was completely caught off guard.”

Mason remained silent, still staring at the ring on the finger of the hand he was holding.

“Joe’s family hates me. You were right about that too.”

He glanced back at me, sadness in his eyes. “I take no pleasure in being right about that, you know.”

“I know.” I sighed. “They tried to make me look like a fool at dinner, but when I thought about what you told me—that no one can make me feel bad unless I let them—I realized I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Good. Because you don’t.”

“Where do they come off being so hateful and judgmental? Your mother has money, and she doesn’t hate me.”

“No, I can assure you she doesn’t.”

“I’ll never be good enough for Joe’s family.”

Mason didn’t answer.

“I don’t think I want to be a senator’s wife,” I whispered.

“Did you tell Joe?”

“It’s partially my fault his father forced him into this.”

Mason shifted in his seat. “How do you figure that?”

“Part of this is the favor Joe’s father expects him to repay. I was one of the scrapes he got Joe out of. If he hadn’t used his father’s political clout to get me out of jail, he wouldn’t be stuck now.”

“He’s not stuck, Rose. And he had plenty more scrapes than you and Savannah. If Joe doesn’t want to run for the senate, then he needs to grow a pair of balls and tell his father no.”

“Mason!” I sat up, pain shooting through my head.

His expression softened, and he started to pull his hand away from mine. “Maybe I should go.”

“No, don’t leave me.” I squeezed his hand. I hadn’t noticed we were still holding hands. But I did now, and I was surprised at how comforting the gesture was. But then again, he’d just saved my life. That had to count for something.

“I’ll stay with you as long as you let me.”

I was pretty sure he meant something else. It wasn’t fair to ask him to stay when I knew how he felt, but I couldn’t bring myself to send him home either.

We were silent for a few moments, and I stared at our joined hands. I could always count on Mason to be there when I needed him. Especially if I was in trouble. “How’d you know where to find me?”

He leaned forward, resting his arm on the bed. “You told me your vision was coming true. You said it happened in Jonah’s kitchen. So once I got to your house and you were gone, I knew where to find you.”

“What made you bring a shotgun?”

“I’m a Fenton County boy now,” he teased. “All us good ol’ boys carry shotguns.”

I shook my head, then winced from the pain. “No, really.”

A fierceness filled his voice. “Because if someone hurt you, they were gonna have hell to pay.”

I turned to my side and looked into his eyes, asking softly, “Would you really have shot Jonah?”

Mason’s eyes hardened, and his jaw tightened. “I guess we’ll never know.”

An orderly came in and took me to x-ray for a CAT scan. I wondered if Mason would still be there when I got back, and he was. He was sitting in the same chair, his chin on his chest as he dozed.

He roused when the aide helped me onto the bed. “Everything go okay?”

“It was fine. They said they’d tell me the results soon.” He settled back into the chair, obviously tired. “Mason, you don’t have to stay with me. Go home and go to bed.”

“Someone has to make sure you get home okay,” he teased.

The door opened and Joe walked in, looking irritated. “Yeah, that someone is me.”

My heart leapt with either fear or joy, I wasn’t certain. Maybe both.

Mason gripped the arms of his seat, clearly holding back what he wanted to say.