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and dependent on others. Not how she pictured this man in her mind.
    The head of the bed was elevated, and he was lying on his back, eyes closed. His knees were slightly bent to allow his big body to fit on the small hospital bed. An IV hose stretched from his right arm up to a machine holding a bag of fluids. His left arm was in a sling, held snug against his chest. He clenched and unclenched the hand sticking out of the sling. Every time his hand fisted, the muscles in his upper arm bunched.
    Kendall took a moment to reign in her nerves and steel herself for the confrontation. When she pushed the door shut, a little louder than necessary, Mason’s eyes popped open. His gaze swept from her head to her feet before a strained smile crossed his face.
    “Hey,” he muttered wearily.
    “Well, if it isn’t Mason Black, back in New Orleans just in time to save my ass.” She glared at him.
    “Nice to see you too.” He stared at her blankly. She probably shouldn’t have been so abrupt with him, but she couldn’t help herself, the words poured out of her mouth before she could stop them.
    “I hear you’ve been busy lately. Have you enjoyed following me?” Frost laced her words. The idea that Mason had been watching her every move was unsettling, to say the least, even though his snooping had allowed him the opportunity to pull her out of danger. He followed her to and from work and the grocery store. He trailed her on her shopping sprees. Did he know her every move? Who she ate dinner with, went to the movies with? Had he invaded her privacy and watched her inside her house?
    “How did you find out?” he asked sharply.
    “I spoke to Bobby a few minutes ago. He told me everything.” Her heart stirred and some of her irritation eased as she watched him struggle with the simple act of trying to sit up. After their ordeal tonight, she was fine, yet he was laid up in the hospital, confined by tubes. Gratitude wiped out most of her anger. She paused at the foot of the bed, ready if he indicated he needed help.
    “Did he also tell you that your boss was scum? That Tom wanted you to be more than a co-worker?”
    A shiver ran down her spine. “Why were you assigned to watch me? You could have turned the duty over to someone else.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice, no matter how much she tried.
    “Why do you think? Because I’m the best,” he quipped, a crooked, sexy smile lighting his face. She knew he was telling the truth. Bobby ranted and raved more than once about how Mason had turned out to be one of the best FBI agents in the states of Louisiana and Texas. Everyone wanted him on their cases. Kendall looked over to see him smiling at her. She allowed herself to relax a little.
    “Come here.” His whispered words taunted her.
    Slowly, she went to him and clenched his outstretched hand. The instant his skin warmed hers, the whole night’s events flashed before her eyes. She was back in that dark alley, running for her life. She fought to hold back the tears that welled up in her eyes. She didn’t want to cry. His grip tightened, and he tugged until she moved closer.
    “It’s okay, Ken. It’s all over.” Ken . She smiled at the nickname. He was the only person who ever shortened her name from Kendall. He said it was because she was ‘one of the guys’, always hanging out with him and Bobby. He let go of her hand to wipe away the dampness on her face. “You know, you look like crap right now.”
    She blinked the tears away and could clearly see his teasing smile. Always teasing her. This was the Mason she remembered from their teenage years. In the worst situations, he could always bring a smile to her face.
    “Yeah, well, I’m not the one lying in a hospital bed.” She ruffled her fingers through his jet-black hair. Hair still matted together from sweat and dirt. Her fingers itched to smooth it out. Catching a glance of herself in the mirror above the sink, she realized just how right he