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pretend to care about how I’m doing.”
    “Can I come in?”
    “No.”
    “I miss you.”
    “No you don’t. Go home.”
    “I fucked up, Syd, can’t we at least talk?”
    She cocked her hip and placed a firm hand on it. “Let me guess, your hot little plaything found someone her own age.”
    A sheepish look flitted through his eyes. “She was too immature anyway. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt you. I want you back.”
    “This little remorse routine may have been more effective say, seven years ago before you forced me into divorce, turned my life upside down, and broke my heart. But you know what? I got over you. It took a while, but I did it and I’m doing just fine on my own.”
    At that very moment, Mason’s truck swung into the drive, blocking Ben’s SUV. Uh-oh, awkward moment coming. She looked past Ben. He turned to follow her line of vision.
    “Who the hell is that?” Ben growled.
    “My new neighbor.”
    “What’s he doing over here? And why is he bringing you flowers?”
    “I drove him home last night. He’s probably saying thanks. Besides, it’s none of your business anyway. You left me here to take care of this place all by myself just so you could move in with that little slut. You didn’t even wait until the divorce was final and you didn’t give me a dime to help out until the court order was in place. I lived on practically nothing until I got back on my feet. You lost all rights to inquire about my life.”
    Mason approached and stood beside Ben. “Hey,” he gave her ex a nod, then shifted his gaze toward her. “I wanted to thank you for last night.” He held out a gorgeous bouquet of white roses.
    “Wow…these are stunning.” She dipped her nose into the flowers and inhaled. “They smell wonderful. Thank you.” She offered him a grateful smile.
    “For last night?” Ben’s voice raised a notch. “So what I heard was right. You are fucking the neighbor!”
    Sydnie laid her roses on a shelf just inside the door. “Get out of here.” She glared at Ben and noticed that Mason’s body language had tensed.
    “Why? So you can screw him in our house?” Ben ignored her demand.
    “You’re such a prick!” Using both hands, she shoved him backward. “This is my house now. Get the hell off my property!”
    Ben stumbled from the force of her unexpected push, but he quickly recovered with a forceful backhand to her face.
    She fell against the open door and clutched her throbbing cheek. “Why doesn’t this surprise me? You better leave before I call the police.”
    In her next breath, everything exploded. Mason grabbed Ben and swung him into a headlock, then began pummeling his face with one fist. Ben swung wildly yet failed to strike even once before Mason had him down on the sidewalk. He kicked him until Ben curled onto his side.
    “You ever touch her again, ya motherfuckin’ asshole, I’ll fuckin’ kill you.” Mason pounded his fists into Ben in rapid succession. Then he jammed both knees against his chest and gripped his throat.
    Panic rose in her throat, making it dry. She didn’t want Mason to be arrested for assault even though her ex deserved the beating. Bolting out the door, she daringly grabbed Mason’s shoulders.
    “Don’t kill him. Neighbors will call the cops if you do. Please, Mason…I think he learned his lesson.”
    He looked up at her. Dark storms brewed in those eyes. “He hurt you, baby. I’m not afraid of prison. I’ll kill him if you want.”
    Ben’s eyes widened with sheer terror. “I’ll go,” he squeaked.
    “Shut the fuck up.” Mason slammed his head against the pavement.
    “Promise never to come back?” Sydnie shot him a warning look. “If you do, I won’t stop him the next time. I have him on speed dial.”
    Mason squeezed his throat tighter. “If you call the cops I will hunt you down, ya pussy ass little cocksucker. Got that?”
    Ben gave a slight nod. His face reddened from lack of air. Blood oozed from his nose and