Page 55 of Hidden Resolution

“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.

16

Aparade of days marched by. Shonda kept things between them playful and light, as if suppressing her emotions would miraculously shield her from the eventual fallout. Their non-relationship was “Casual” by Mason’s definition. The terms of their arrangement remained clear, and she never mentioned the wordlove.

While she understood they couldn’t continue indefinitely, she was content to enjoy whatever stolen time he allowed. Being with him felt better than being without. Regardless of the hardass line in the sand, he was honest about intentions and, as far as she knew, they were mutually exclusive.

He hadn’t invited her to his place, and she told herself it didn’t matter.