“Jason?” As if on cue, Faith walked into the living area wearing nothing but his shirt from last night, buttoned and hanging down on her bare thighs. Her gaze landed on his mother and her eyes opened wide. “Oh my God. You have company!” She pulled at the shirt as if she could magically lengthen the fabric.

“Jason Dare, why didn’t you tell me you had a woman here?” his mother asked in a chiding voice.

“I was just about to,” he muttered. And though he was a grown man and had every right to have a woman in his bed, he wasn’t thrilled that Faith’s face had turned beet red and she looked mortified.

He had no choice but to introduce them. “Mom, this is Faith Lancaster. Faith, this is my mother, Savannah Dare.”

He gave Faith credit. Despite her embarrassment, she walked right up to his mom, extended her hand, and said, “It’s nice to meet you.”

“The same here. I apologize for interrupting. I flew in from Florida unannounced. I’ll just go–”

“No. I, umm … I’ll go get dressed and let you two talk.” Faith turned and fled back the way she’d come.

With a groan, he glanced at his mother. “That went well.”

She tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “I’m really sorry. I should have called but I just took the six-a.m. flight.”

“It’s fine. It’s just that the situation with Faith is complicated. She’s staying here because she has some personal issues right now and despite her … being in my shirt, she’s using the spare bedroom,” he said instead of saying despite the obvious fact that we’re sleeping together. It was awkward enough for everyone.

His mother nodded in understanding. “I didn’t stay in a hotel because your father has contacts and private investigators. He’ll track me down. At least this way, once he finds me, he has to deal with us both. But given the circumstances, I can take a room. Or go stay with Sienna. I can help with the baby. I just didn’t want to intrude because they’re still newlyweds, but it’s really no problem.” She was rambling.

“No.” Faith returned, dressed in a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, her hair brushed and pulled into a sleek ponytail. “I can go home. You stay here with your son.”

“Not happening, Faith, and you know why.” Jason’s words came out like a command and had her snapping her shoulders back and narrowing her gaze.

“I’m not putting your mother out. It’s not right.”

Savannah looked from Jason to Faith, following the conversation although obviously not understanding the reasons behind their argument.

“Then you can stay in my room and my mother can take the guest room,” Jason said. “Unless you want to go home and be a sitting duck for Colton to find you?” He folded his arms across his chest, daring her to challenge him.

Faith’s shoulders, the evidence of her strength and defiance seconds before, wilted as he made his point. “Okay. Thank you. I realize I’m putting everyone out, but you’re right. I have nowhere else to go.” Her hands came up to her neck as she obviously remembered being hurt by her brother.