I’m fully in his spell, lost in his gray gaze.
“That’s what I would tell you,” he says, his breath on my lips.
“I kissed Brandon on Tuesday,” I admit, desperately wanting him to move away before I do something stupid.
“I don’t care.”
Unable to stop myself, I let out a breathy laugh. “Riley says if I kiss both of you in the same week, I’m a trollop.”
He backs up just enough to meet my eyes. His eyebrow quirks in the most playful way. “You were talking about kissing me?”
“Mason…”
“I like you, Harper.” His lips tease against mine, and I close my eyes, feeling horribly guilty. “A lot.”
“I’m not strong enough to say no, so please…don’t do this,” I murmur.
Immediately, Mason backs up with a sigh, giving me room to breathe.
I wrap my arms around myself. I feel a thousand different things all at once, and it’s exhausting.
I almost kissed Mason.
Why did I stop him?
How could I do that to Brandon?
I can’t believe I care.
“Friends, huh?” Mason says, smiling through his disappointment.
Not trusting myself to speak, I nod.
“All right,” he finally agrees as he heads to the door to let himself out. Before he steps into the hall, he looks back. “For now.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“I don’t have my board,”I say to Riley, trying to get out of her outing. “And I don’t want to rent one. I’m going to head back to the kitchen to do some practice baking.”
My sister sets her hands on her hips, which looks a little awkward considering we’re squished around a table in the dining hall. Her elbow ends up jabbing Brandon in the side. “Don’t you think you’ve baked enough?”
Someoneapparently doesn’t care about the competition now that she’s met Mason.
“I’m here to win, Riley.”
She rolls her eyes and gives me an exaggerated pout. “Come on—you love to snowboard. And we’re inColorado.”
Brandon clears his throat. “I brought your board, Harper.”
Every eye turns to him, including mine.
He won’t look at me. We’ve barely spoken since he left my room the other morning. “I picked it up from your house before I drove up here.”
Sadie watches him, her eyes unsure and her smile wavering.
“Great,” I answer, not liking the amount of attention on us. Cole and Jerome have joined us again, and they’re watching like we’re characters in a soap opera.
Still not looking at me, Brandon says, “Why don’t we drive to my hotel, and we’ll pick it up.” He turns to Linus and Riley. “We’ll meet you on the slope.”
