Page 31 of Hidden Resolution

“Thank you,” she whispered. “Now take me upstairs and do what you do best.”

10

“We have to go back to the real world, love.”

True, but Shonda didn’t want to. Their last three days had far surpassed their entire trip. The passion burned hotter, the connection deeper, and the sex was soul-transforming. How Mason could walk away from what they’d shared without a backward glance defied logic.

“Same rules apply?” she asked quietly, already well aware of the answer. Pushing would only lead to an ugly blowup.

He was quiet too long for her comfort. Her emotional flight was about to nosedive, and she braced for impact.

“Yes. Nothing’s changed,” he eventually said, firm and detached.

No, not for him in any case.

But for her, everything had.

She loved him. Completely, stupidly.

His casual rejection of what they’d shared was brutal, and the pain she’d experienced at the airport was nothing close to how she was feeling as he climbed from her bed. Once again, she’d mistaken a man’s true intentions, reading more into his deeds than was wise. She’d shamelessly fallen into her old pattern of equating sex with love.

Crikey, she needed her head examined.

“Want a cup of coffee before you go?” The casual offer took everything she had.

“Actually, I’m running late. I’ll grab one at work.”

Could it get more stilted and embarrassing? How had they gone from last night’s tangled limbs to a frosty morning-after?

“Thank you.” His softly spoken gratitude halted her mid-sugar scoop.

“For what?” she asked.

“From the beginning, I knew a casual affair wasn’t your thing. I hesitated to take it further than our first dinner date. But you haven’t made it weird or awkward by getting clingy. I appreciate that.”

A startled laugh burst from her.

He meant well, but could a man be more oblivious? The absurdity of it gave her spine the much-needed steel. She’d not beg Mason to see her worth.

“Think nothing of it,” she replied, dry as unbuttered toast.

Judging by his faint frown, he’d caught her sarcasm. And instead of giving him a chance to comment, she keyed in the alarm code, removed her handy new security stick, and whipped open the door for his grand exit.

Suitcase handle fisted tightly, Mason paused.

Their gazes locked.

With his free hand, he tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, then stared at it for a long beat, as if he might find answers he didn’t have there. His pale gaze flicked to her lips, eyes flashing with indecipherable emotion. A curtain came down over his expression, and he ruthlessly shut it all down.

“Goodbye.” Mason pressed a hard kiss to her mouth and strode out.

Body trembling, Shonda leaned back against the closed door as the dam broke. He’d never know the devastation he’d leftin his wake. Unrequited love like hers required recovery time, and she headed straight back to bed, hiding under the covers to mourn.

Time lost all meaning. It might’ve been two hours or twenty. She didn’t care. All she wanted was to wallow. But the universe had other plans.

Her phone rang.

And rang three additional times in under five minutes.