Page 5 of Hidden Resolution (Stonebrooke #2)

T he day was vacation perfection. A hot guy, a toe-curling orgasm, and adventure-filled jaunts. When Mason dropped Shonda back at her suite, she couldn’t envision a better time with anyone, past or future.

Bobbing on the high seas in their two-person kayak, he’d turned up the charm, and she’d been powerless to resist.

Not that she’d been the only captivated one.

With a flash of a wicked grin, the teasing sparkle in his eye, and the occasional glimpse of a dimple, people bent over backwards to please him. Men wanted to be him, and women wanted to be taken by him. The guy was a walking fantasy, and no one stood a chance.

Especially not Shonda.

“I’m going to grab a quick shower, and then we can head out for dinner,” he said.

“Or we can shower together and order in.” She was bold to suggest it, and when Mason gave her a knowing smirk, she was glad she did.

They leaped toward each other with intent. Shirts, shorts, and shoes flew in every direction. Mouths melded and tongues tangled. Exactly how they ended up under the hot spray was beyond her ability to recall.

An hour later, they surfaced, weak-kneed but highly satisfied.

“I’ll order us something,” she offered, reaching for her phone. “Pizza sound good? A friend told me about a local place. He claimed it’s the best on the island.”

“He?” Mason’s inquiry possessed more than idle curiosity. If she didn’t know any better, Shonda would believe he was jealous. Yet, he’d already set the rules of their island fling, and she assumed she was wrong.

“A guy I work with,” she clarified as she scrolled through her phone.

“Shonda, how many people knew you were coming here, to this resort?” His voice was measured and caught her attention.

“Why?”

“I’m still bothered by the break-in,” he admitted.

His stance was deceptively relaxed, but his eyes were alert as he watched her. Throughout the day, he’d poked at the seams of her story, as if testing for a tear, and she didn’t appreciate it. Did he suspect her of lying? At times, she believed he did, and it was off-putting.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe four, including my boss.”

“Do you think any of them would have a reason to harm you?”

“No,” she stated emphatically.

He lifted a brow, encouraging further speculation. And after giving it due consideration, she wasn’t so certain.

“Yeah, okay. Possibly,” she said with a shrug.

“Care to explain?”

Revealing the details was embarrassing. She wasn’t the only one who’d taken a romantic dip in the work pool, but confessing to her stupidity wasn’t so comfortable.

“When I was first hired on, I dated one of my colleagues. I didn’t know he’d been gunning for my position, and he was furious I was promoted over him.”

“Dated? As in slept with?” Mason asked.

“Yes.” A rush of warmth infused her face. Discussing an old boyfriend with a new lover was always awkward as fuck, and normally, she’d avoid it.

Ducking her head, she busied herself with finding the restaurant’s number.

“That’s not the whole story,” Mason stated flatly.

He shifted closer, and she could practically feel the tension rolling off him.

“Shonda, look at me.”

The command, issued in his deep, no-nonsense voice, left no room for refusal. Like a marionette, she jerked to attention and pivoted until they were face-to-face.

“What’s his name?” he demanded.

“What does it matter? It was years ago.”

“I intend to have a friend check his whereabouts. Let’s make sure he’s somewhere other than St. Thomas.”

What she’d taken for arrogance was Mason’s way of keeping her safe. Despite how domineering his request came across, she couldn’t fault him for it.

“Do you honestly believe a guy I slept with once, three years ago, tracked me down and broke into my hotel room?” she asked skeptically. “For what purpose? Nothing was taken, remember?”

“His name. Now.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” And what made her so reluctant to tell him Samuel’s name?

A chill settled in his eyes, and he stepped back. “My mistake. I assumed you wanted to get to the bottom of this.”

“No. You want to get to the bottom of something, which may or may not be a simple break-in. You’re chasing shadows, and before this is through, you’ll have me paranoid of all my co-workers over a random incident.”

As he studied her, he seemed to weigh her response. Coming to a decision, he relaxed and cracked a wry smile. “All right. Fair enough. We can shelve the discussion for the time being. Please order our pizza.”

His mood shifts were dizzying. One second, he was an icy detective determined to ferret out all her secrets, and the next, a charming rogue willing to enjoy her company.

But she’d be damned if she could tell him to get lost. Whatever magic he possessed drew her in until she didn’t know up from down.

Perhaps after a couple of nights, once he was out of her system, she’d be able to think clearly again.

As it stood, she spent ninety percent of her time breathless and off-balance.

“Rise and shine,” Shonda called, sailing into the room with two cups of coffee. “Oh, I see you’ve already done that.”

Mason chuckled at her bawdy humor and the way her eyes locked on his morning wood.

“What’s on the agenda today?” he asked innocently.

“Uh…” Her focus refused to shift from his half-naked form, and he struggled not to laugh.

“Shonda.” When her gaze inched above his waist to meet his, he grinned. “Put the coffee down and come here.”

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t waste a beat. She set the cup carrier aside and stripped on the way to bed. As she climbed on board the sex train, he had to admit to appreciating a woman with her level of enthusiasm.

Later, barely covered by tangled sheets, with lukewarm lattes in hand, Mason released a sigh of contentment. Did life get better than a moment like this? A flavorful mocha, a beautiful blonde tucked against his side, and insanely hot sex in paradise made it hard to imagine.

“Beach, snorkeling, or hiking,” she said out of the blue.

“What?”

“Earlier, you asked what was on the agenda. I’m offering suggestions. Granted, we’ve done all of those this week, but we can head to the other side of the island.”

“Hm. Well, I’d say beach, but I don’t know if I’ve got the energy to fend off the island’s male population. They’re relentless.”

“You really think you’re that attractive?” she quipped, flicking his nipple.

Chuckling, he set his cup aside. Ever so carefully, he removed hers and placed it next to his.

“I think you are,” he said after they kissed, all traces of humor gone.

She sucked in a breath and gazed up at him, stars forming in her eyes.

Unease unfurled in his stomach. What the hell had gotten into him? He knew good and well not to go there. Attempting to recover, he withdrew his arm and rolled off the bed, tugging her with him.

“I need a shower and a shave. So do you. Those cactus plants you call legs have drawn blood.”

“You did not just go there!”

“Yep, I’m pretty sure I did.” He ducked the pillow she launched at his head. “You should consider how important honesty is in a fake relationship, love.”

“Bite me.”

A long look at her gorgeous, naked body had him seriously considering it.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” she growled, her eyes narrowing in a threatening glare. “Get that look off your face. I came here to see the island, not spend my vacation in bed.”

“Ouch! That hurt.” Pasting on a mock-wounded expression, he pressed a hand to his heart.

“Right.” She failed to hide her smile. “I’ll see you downstairs in twenty minutes.”

“When did you get so bossy?” he asked with a swat on her ass. “Remember who’s in charge here.”

“As if.”

Laughing, Mason dropped a quick kiss on her lips and reminded her to lock the door behind him.

As he headed back to his suite, he couldn’t shake the feeling he might be making a mistake.

Their last five days together had been pure bliss.

Shonda was open, easy to be with, and hotter than Satan’s house cat.

But whenever unguarded, there was a glimmer of deeper emotion in her eyes, and it scared the bejeezus out of him.

Under the steaming stream of water, he rolled his neck, hoping to dispel the building tension. They needed another talk to clarify the rules. A simple reminder he wasn’t happily-ever-after material.

Armed with a plan, he returned to her room, but the sight of her sleek body and shining face derailed his intentions.

“What did you decide?” she asked expectantly.

“Snorkeling at Secret Harbor?”

Shonda smiled approvingly. “Perfect.”

As the day wore on, Mason found it a joy to watch her fascination with every sea creature: urchins, stingrays, and even curious fish.

His GoPro caught her wide-eyed delight and was better viewing than any reef.

Later, on the ride back to the resort, they laughed over her nearly drowning herself in her excitement.

“Don’t tell me you caught it on camera,” she complained with a mock scowl.

“I did, indeed.” Yeah, he was gloating, but she was so much fun to tease. “I’m uploading it to YouTube as soon as we get back.”

Good-natured as always, she laughed. “I’m never going to live it down if anyone sees it. Is there anything I can do to change your mind about posting it?” she asked suggestively, fingers trailing across the front of his shorts.

“Maybe.” He rained light kisses up her neck and nipped her earlobe. “Tell me what you have in mind?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m sure we can come to terms.”

Her sultry voice, paired with her hand in just the right place, had him hard and ready to release the Kraken. He captured her hand in his and kissed her knuckles before setting it in her lap.

“I’m open to negotiations, but we’ll have to continue this discussion in your room.”

Her laughter was light and joyful, causing him to grin in response.

“You two here on your honeymoon?” the driver asked with a glance in the rearview.

The assumption pissed him off.

“No,” Mason replied, sharper than he meant to.

And just like that, the mood shattered.

Why did everyone insist on a label? His chest tightened. The immediate desire to put distance between him and Shonda was like a tsunami, strong and fast, with a deadly undertow threatening to drown him if he didn’t get to safety.

Sweating profusely, with his stomach in knots, he scanned the road ahead and was relieved to spot a bar. Leaning forward, he said, “Can you pull over? I’m getting out right here.”

The stunned disbelief on Shonda’s face was a donkey kick to the sternum. But almost as quickly, her expression altered, carefully masking her disappointment and making him realize she’d seen through him to the cause of his restlessness.

Unable to offer a proper apology, Mason kissed her compressed lips and shoved a wad of cash in the driver’s direction.

“Please see that she gets back to our hotel safely.” To her, he said, “I’ll call you later.”

The vehicle pulled away, and he waited for it to disappear before crossing the street to park his ass on a barstool.

“Scotch,” he barked at the bartender. As he sipped his drink, he sat in silence, shaking his head when the lounge lizards and too-friendly patrons ventured a conversation. He needed alone time to process his feelings.

He’d be lucky if Shonda ever spoke to him again. But if she didn’t, it was honestly for the best. As an emotionally stunted man, he had nothing worthwhile to offer her.