Page 16 of Hidden Resolution (Stonebrooke #2)

“ I feel awful shopping for a vehicle when Erica is going through hell,” Shonda said as they cruised the car lot.

“Why would she care?” Mason asked.

“She helped me pick my last two cars. It’s our BFF thing. She chooses what she loves, and I pay for it.”

He halted mid-step, unable to process.

She walked ahead a few paces before registering his absence. Glancing back, she raised her brows. “What?”

“You let Erica choose your cars?” he echoed, incredulous. Who the hell handed over such an important decision? Automobiles were personal. Sacred. Selection was based on comfort, texture, engine…

“Well, yeah. I hate negotiating, but with only one unreliable car service in this godforsaken town, I need a vehicle.”

Moving past his shock, he peered in the window of the closest sedan. “What about a rental until she’s back on her feet?” he suggested.

“No, I have to seal the deal before Eva gets back. She’ll push me into something flashy like a Porsche, Corvette, or maybe that all-electric Audi everyone’s talking about. Really, I don’t need the headache. When she doesn’t get her way, she makes my life a living hell.”

He blinked. “The Audi etron?GT?”

She lifted her arms in a meh-who-knows-or-cares shrug.

Again, he stared. Their conversation was the weirdest to date, and he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Shonda.”

She didn’t bother to look up from the price sticker she’d been studying.

“Not to sound indelicate or anything, but do you have the finances for any of those?”

The amused sparkle in her eye and lip bite assured him she did. And why did he find her careless humor crazy attractive?

He shook his head. “If you’re serious, why the hell aren’t you going for one of those?”

“They aren’t practical for everyday life,” she said simply, pausing by a deep blue pearl model Nissan.

“How is a top-tier, hybrid hypercar not practical for everyday life? It’s not like you have kids or carpools.”

A quicksilver scowl came and went, and she firmed her lips.

Ten seconds ago, they were enjoying themselves. Which was odd, because he really hated vehicle shopping, too. But the speed with which her attitude cooled made his head spin.

“What did I say?”

“Nothing. This one is fine. I’ll take it.”

No, he’d definitely put his foot in his mouth. Her dullness didn’t lie.

Christ, why couldn’t they go twenty-four hours without an argument? He dropped his chin to his chest and exhaled a sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

He had no clue what he was sorry for, but if they could go back to her happily kicking tires, he’d repeat it fifty times.

“Mason, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

No hint of guile could be found when he stepped closer and tipped her chin up. Those beautiful moss-green eyes were clear and honest, but somehow not okay.

“Then what upset you? And before you tell me you weren’t, I’ll remind you I don’t like liars.”

A wry smile curled her lips. “I haven’t lied to you… yet.”

He crowded her against the car she’d chosen and traced the line of her jaw with his fingertips. “Yeah, I’m going to have to call bullshit.”

Her sharp gasp labeled her offended.

“When did I lie?” she demanded, indignant and adorable.

His hands slipped beneath her coat, burrowing under her sweater. Her stomach contracted from his freezing touch. “This morning, when you said we weren’t sleeping together anymore,” he murmured next to her ear, capturing the lobe lightly between his teeth.

Her choked laughter made him feel ten feet tall. The sound brought lightness to his soul and could anchor a man if he let it. Another sobering thought, but one he shoved away as fast as humanly possible, not wanting to mar a future memory for himself.

“Do you actually like blue?” he asked, trailing lovebites along her graceful neck.

“Hmm?”

“Blue. Do you even like the color?” She never wore it, and there were only spotted traces in her home decor.

“Depends on the shade,” she replied, ending on a moan as his hands flirted with second base.

“What’s your favorite color, love?” God, her skin. He spared a fleeting worry for any nearby cameras, but concluded he didn’t give a damn. They were fully clothed, single adults.

“I find I’m partial to ice blue.”

“What a coincidence,” Mason murmured against her lips. “I’ve been told my peepers match that description.”

Pretending to check, she pulled back and widened her eyes in mock surprise. “Why, so they are!”

He dipped his head to steal a kiss. The spark hadn’t fully ignited when the loud, awkward clearing of a throat nearby doused the flame. With a heavy sigh, he eased away, stuffing his hands into his jeans to shield the erection forming with zero regard for timing or location.

“Mason? I thought that was you!”

The woman was too cheerful and overfamiliar.

He shifted to find a perky blonde beaming at him.

“Frank was next on rotation, but when I saw it was you, I traded leads,” she said.

He nodded politely and reached for Shonda’s hand, preventing her from edging away.

His radar sensed the incoming storm, but they’d weather it together.

“Good to see you again, uh…” His mind blanked. Not ideal with two expectant females staring at him.

Christ. He was fairly certain they’d hooked up at least once.

Carly? Mandy? Brandy?

“Uh, Brandy,” he said, not confident at all.

“Candy,” the saleswoman bit out through clenched teeth.

“Right. My bad.”

She gasped. He winced.

Fucking A. Why did these things keep happening? He needed to be faster on his feet. Shonda’s muffled snort tried to drag a laugh out of him. He didn’t dare meet her eyes, or he’d lose what little control he possessed.

Shonda took pity on his awkwardness.

“Candy, I’m interested in the blue Maxima.” She stepped forward, effectively inserting herself between them and motioning toward the car behind her. “And while seeing Mason is always an experience?—”

“Hey,” he cut in.

“—I’d like to make my purchase as fast and painless as possible. Can you help me, or should we see if Frank is available?”

He had to give her credit. She was poised and direct, one hundred percent in charge when she chose to be. Another check mark on a list of skills he probably shouldn’t find sexy but did.

“Can you give us a second, Candy?” When she didn’t budge, he sighed and tugged Shonda a few feet away. “Are you sold on the blue?”

“What do you have against blue?” Her brow furrowed.

“It’s bland. I think the red or black would suit you better.”

“Oh, how cute . Next, you’ll be picking out china patterns together.” Candy’s syrupy tone didn’t quite mask her bite.

Shonda stiffened. “You know what? I think I’ll take my business elsewhere. And you can be sure I’ll let Stuart know how catty his employee was today.”

Her threat landed, and Candy’s arms uncrossed instantly. “You know Stuart?”

“Yes, the owner of the dealership. You know him, right? We go way back,” Shonda replied breezily. “I had dinner with him and April a couple of weeks ago. Lovely couple.”

Candy blanched, but Mason didn’t feel bad for her. Instead of with cruelty, Shonda had handled the situation with finesse, making her point without going nuclear. With a few well-phrased sentences, she’d guaranteed the other woman would put professionalism above personal feelings.

Candy forced a smile. “There’s no excuse for my behavior. If you’d prefer, I can find another associate.”

The embarrassment staining her cheeks bothered him. The longer he stood on the lot, the more he recalled from their lone date. She was a single mom with two kids to support. How many cars could she possibly sell in their tiny town with a competing lot across the road?

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Mason cut in. “You’re a highly trained staff member, or Stuart wouldn’t have hired you, Candy.”

Shonda’s gaze pinned him, and a blend of awareness and admiration shone from her eyes.

She knew. Of course she did. Small-town gossip reached everyone eventually. Her smile was full and warm, making him uncomfortable. He hated that she believed him to be a better person than he was.

“I’ve changed my mind,” she said, glancing back at the line of cars. “I’ll take the red one.”

It didn’t come as a total surprise to Shonda when Mason disappeared a few hours later, and Dane showed up in his place.

“I brought Chinese,” he stated with bags raised high, as if tempting her.

“Shopping for a family-sized sedan freaked your brother out, huh?” she asked as she swung the door wide for him to enter.

“Pretty much.”

“Pfft. If it wasn’t pathetic, it would be funny.”

“True,” he agreed. “I ordered crab rangoon. Erica said it was your favorite.”

Shit! If Dane had told Erica he was coming here, she’d know something was up. “How much does she know?”

Dane froze in place, confusion written all over him.

“Was she not to know I was bringing you dinner because you’re lonely?”

“Wait, what? Who said I was lonely?”

“My brother.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, you have two,” she replied dryly.

“In case you’ve forgotten, only one has been hanging out with you,” Dane countered with a laugh. “But if he’s so forgettable, maybe he’s doing it all wrong.”

She laughed, charmed by his easygoing manner. “I’m pretty sure I adore you.”

“Don’t tell me you told Mason that. He’ll be on the next plane to anywhere.”

“Pfft. Do you take me for an idiot?”

“Nah.” He grinned as he unpacked the food cartons. “I can already tell you have a higher IQ than his last three conquests combined.”

Shonda laughed again, surprised she could, and removed two plates from the cabinet. “Does he know you talk about him like you do?”

He shrugged. “If he doesn’t, he should get his IQ tested.”

They bonded over orange chicken and verbal digs at Mason’s expense.

“Do you mind if I use your phone to text your brother?” she asked some time later.

“Please don’t tell me he never gave you his number.”

In addition to her high color, she imagined her compressed mouth, wide eyes, and raised brows gave away her embarrassment.

“He did, but he rarely responds to texts.”

“Do you suppose my brother knows he’s an asshole?” Dane asked, handing over his phone.

“Yes, I tell him constantly, and you don’t strike me as shy.”

His hearty laughter warmed her cold, tired soul.

“I tell you what, if you really want to get back at him, let’s run away and get married,” he suggested with a flare of his eyes and an engaging grin.

“I ask you to keep her company for dinner, and before the plates are cleared, you’re planning an elopement?” Mason’s deep, not-so-amused voice interrupted their teasing.

Hand on her pounding heart, Shonda waited until it resumed some semblance of normalcy before responding.

“How did you get in here?” she asked.

“You were too wrapped up in each other and forgot to lock the door. Think that’s the wisest course of action?” Mason dropped a duffel bag beside the sofa, and damned if it didn’t produce an angry thud.

“If we’re picking courses of action, I vote she marries me,” Dane volunteered, hand raised as if he actually had a choice.

Mason and Shonda ignored him.

“No,” she said. “I should have double-checked and locked it behind him.”

Astonishment unhinged his jaw. “Are you agreeing with me, for a change? Should I mark the date down?”

“Hardy-har-har.” She crossed her arms.

Mason’s laughter boomed.

Grinning, he closed the distance between them, hauled her from the chair, and kissed her.

“Say goodbye, Dane,” he commanded.

“Goodbye, Dane.”

Hands on her waist, he lifted as she jumped and wrapped her legs around him like a monkey.

His second kiss was deeper and mind-altering. If she had any sense of self, she’d recognize she was a damned pushover when it came to him. But Mason was a bad habit she couldn’t shake.

“Seriously? You’re tossing me over for tall, dark, and brooding?” Dane asked as Mason carried her away. “Sure, I’ll clean up here and put the food away. Don’t mind me.”

“Oh, we won’t,” Mason said.

“Way to play hard to get, Shonda,” Dane called after them.