My face heated, and I grabbed a bowl from his other hand. “I’ll take it back if you keep this up.”

“Okay, I’ll shut up. I just wish I’d had a recorder running. It might be the only one I get from you.”

God, I could be a bitch. But it was only when something hammered against my defenses. And this man, he was a threat to them all. “At this rate, it will be.”

He chuckled and pulled another dish from the stack, washing off the excess food before handing it to me. “Just you wait. I’m going to win you over with my wit and charm.”

I blinked up at him. “Charm? Wit? Are you talking about Tuck?”

“You wound me.”

I couldn’t help the curve of my lips as I put the dish in the washer. “I’m sure I’m the only one.” I knew plenty of women in town had their eyes on the bachelor. From what I’d heard, Mason had been on a handful of dates, but nothing had ever gotten serious. I wanted to know why. Did he have some crazy standards that no one could possibly live up to? Was he intent on being a bachelor forever? As I studied him out of the corner of my eye, I didn’t feel that either scenario really fit.

“The only one who what?”

“Wounds you.”

His brows pulled together. “You certainly seem to be my toughest critic.”

Shit. I’d been harder on him than I’d intended. Time to rein it in. My phone buzzed in my back pocket, and I slid it out. I didn’t recognize the number or area code, but I answered anyway. It wouldn’t have been the first time I’d gotten a call asking if we could place a resident from somewhere out of state.

“Hello, this is Anna.”

A female voice cut across the line. “Anna Foley?”

“Yes, this is she.”

“I’m Detective Johnson with the Las Vegas Police Department.”

I leaned a hip against the counter, waiting for her to say more. She didn’t. “Do you have someone who needs to be placed at Hope House?”

“I’m sorry, Hope House?”

“The shelter in Sutter Lake. I assumed that’s why you were calling.”

“No, it’s not regarding that.”

I stiffened, my fingers curling tighter around the phone. Flashes of memories danced in my mind. Images that were dark enough to take me under. I focused on my breathing, keeping my voice even. “What can I help you with?”

“You were in Chelsea Foley’s phone as her emergency contact.”

Everything in me seized. “Yes, that’s my sister. Is she okay? Was she hurt?”

Mason shut off the water and moved in closer. I didn’t have the energy or focus to move away.

“I’m so sorry, but your sister was found dead early this morning.”