I was sitting on the back porch at Helen’s house when the doors slid open behind me. I didn’t look up from my position on one of the couches. I continued surveying the pool, pool house, and the second lower deck and veranda. None of it seemed impressive or surprising anymore to me. It was like the other mansions, and I couldn’t remember the day when I had been impressed.
I was so far from that person now.
“Logan said you were out here.”
Mason sat next to me. He lifted my legs and placed them in his lap, starting to knead my calves. “You okay?”
“I was just thinking about the beginning.”
“That seems to be the theme this summer.”
I looked over and felt my breath catch. The moonlight shone on him, casting him in a romantic, hazy glow. He was gorgeous.
“Sam?”
I gave him a quick half-grin. “What do you mean by that?”
“About the theme?”
“Yeah.”
He shrugged. “Just that you’re friends with Becky Sullivan again. Adam Quinn is in our lives. We’re dealing with my dad and your mom. I know a lot has changed, but in some ways, nothing’s changed.”
“Well, I have.”
He quieted. I knew he was waiting for me to say what I’d come out here to get the nerve to tell him. I laughed, and winced at how bitter it sounded.
“I have to tell you something, and I’m questioning whether I really want to. And then I’m questioning why I’m even questioning it in the first place.”
“Sam.”
I calmed, hearing his voice grow stronger, more authoritative. “Whatever it is, nothing is your fault. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
That wasn’t true, but I said, “You know that illegal thing you’re supposed to get on Steven Quinn?”
Mason’s eyes sharpened, and I continued. After I told him what Becky had said earlier, he didn’t comment for a moment.
“They know someone has a copy?” he finally asked.
“That’s what she said.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it? Just ‘okay’? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“I don’t want to put you in the middle any more. I’ll handle it from here.”
“Meaning you’ll give the copy to your dad and tell him what transactions to look for?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “After I make a second copy for myself. I don’t trust my dad either.”
“So this might not even come out on us?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. It could, but more than likely my dad will use it as leverage to have Steven step out of some decisions. It may never come out.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
A ghost of a smile teased across Mason’s face. He continued rubbing up and down my leg. “Doing something illegal isn’t exactly outside our wheelhouse.”
I flushed, leaning back against the cushions. “I know. I just… I’m feeling bad. That’s all.”
“Sam.”
I lifted my head to meet his gaze. His eyes smoldered, and instantly I felt a fluttering in my chest. My body warmed.
“Are you sure this is about what Steven Quinn is doing? Or is this about something else?”
My lips parted. My throat suddenly dried up. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
“About me being disloyal to Becky?”
“About whatever had you running for almost five hours the other day.”
The fluttering picked up its pace. My heart was flying around like a damned rocket trying to take off inside of me.
I looked away, shrinking in my seat. “I can’t talk about that.” I could hear Heather as clearly as if she were out there with us. Tell him, Samantha! Tell him! I ignored her voice. “It was nothing anyway. It’s stupid.”
He stopped rubbing and cupped the underside of my leg. I looked over at him in reflex, and he leaned forward, making sure I couldn’t look away.
“Anything you’re scared to talk about is the opposite of nothing or stupid. And whatever it is, you don’t have to worry. Unless you cheated. Then you need to worry.”
I grinned, kicking him lightly with my foot. “You’d have to worry about that, too.”
He caught my foot and held it. “So it’s not that you were unfaithful.”
“What?”
“You didn’t flinch when I said that. I know that’s not the issue.” He leaned his head back, resting it against the side of the house behind us, still watching me intently. “What it is, Sam? Please tell me.”
My heart stilled. This man—he’d been a boy, but I didn’t think he’d ever been a child. He was already a man when I met him. Powerful. Alpha. A mastermind. Beautiful. His presence captivated so many, but right now he was under my control.
I leaned forward, though he still had my foot, and touched the side of his face. “I don’t think I could love you any more than I do right now,” I whispered.
His hand rested over mine. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“Yes,” I breathed out. “I will, but not now. When I’m ready.”
“You have to tell me.”
“I will. I promise.”
My fear was real, but when Mason stood and lifted me with him, I knew I’d been granted time. I wound my arms and legs around him, kissing him as he carried me through the house to our bedroom.
It was a few hours later when he left the bed. I rolled over, able to see his silhouette as he dressed in the darkness. I didn’t ask where he was going. I already knew.
He came over, dropping a kiss to my forehead. “I love you.” His hand rested against the side of my face.
My hand covered his. “Just be safe.”
“Always.” He left, and a moment later, I heard Logan and Nate’s voices outside. Headlights came on, and I heard the sounds of a vehicle leaving the driveway.
Whatever was going to happen had been set in motion.