“Before you go. You want to tell me what that stunt was you pulled today?” His eyes were fierce, brimming with storm clouds.
I shook off his hold. My racing heart was about to betray me again. “You told me to shop. I shopped.”
He chuckled. “That’s how you want this to go?”
“I don’t want it to go anyw
here.” I dug into my bag for my wallet and retrieved the credit card. He’d know soon enough how much I had added to his balance. I handed it to him.
“Really?” He walked to the driver side. “I guess I was wrong about you.”
I glared at him across the car. “That would make two of us.”
I thought he was going to hop in the car and drive off. Drive away and let me wallow in the shitty decision I had made sleeping with him, skipping work to spend a day with him, trusting him with my family secret.
But he crossed in front of the engine. “I don’t know what I did to you to deserve what you put me through this afternoon.” He hung his head. “But I’m glad you’re all right. Good luck to you, Miss Paige.” He tapped on the hood of the car. “I’m sure you’re going to take the reporting world by storm.”
“What do you mean put you through?”
He stopped, his eyes landing on me. “It was fun, Miss Paige. We agreed when it wasn’t fun anymore we wouldn’t drag it out. This afternoon was not fun.”
I felt tiny prickles of panic sweeping through my chest. What had I done? It wasn’t anger that was swirling in those piercing eyes. It was worry. Fear.
“Wait, Mason.”
He closed the car door. “I’m sure I’ll see you on the island some time.”
“No, wait.” I threw my hands against the door, making it impossible for him to roll up the window. “Were you worried about me?”
It was dark outside. The sun had set over an hour ago. I could still see his eyes. The flecks of blue staring at me, boring into me.
“You were worried, and I completely ignored you.” My voice was soft. I realized what I had done.
“Look, you’re fine. We’re home. I think we should leave this alone. Thanks for riding with me. I enjoyed the company yesterday.”
My heart raced. “I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I didn’t think about it like that.”
He shifted the car into drive. It didn’t seem to matter what I had to say, he was driving out of this parking lot.
“Good night, Miss Paige.” He rolled up the window, leaving me on the sidewalk.
I listened as the sound from his car faded. It was replaced by the loud music of my downstairs neighbors. I turned for the steps. I climbed the stairs, knowing I couldn’t undo what I had done, and it completely sucked.
13
Mason
I pushed myself harder. The sand crunched under my feet. I dodged to avoid the waves rolling up on the beach. I knew my pace was faster this morning. It needed to be. I didn’t sleep well last night or the night before. Not like I had in San Antonio.
The phone rang, and I groaned when I saw the number.
“Carlos, good morning,” I answered.
“Mason, hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Not at all Commissioner.” I stopped running for a moment.
“Good. Hey, I wanted to give you a heads up.”