I’ve taken him completely off guard, and I end the kiss before he snaps out of his stupor.
“All right,” I say, determination heavy in my voice. “We’ll give it a shot.”
I step past him, ready to hail the cab myself, when he yanks me back. “Not so fast.”
Mason’s lips meet mine in a kiss that’s searing. My stomach clenches, and I fall against him, feeling as if I’m melting. His hands find my waist, and he holds me steady as I wrap my arms around his neck. He smells faintly of cologne—a new scent for him, and I breathe the fragrance in.
He’s mine. Mason Knight is mine. At least for now—and that’s good enough.
Mason’s kiss softens, becomes infinitely sweeter. His fingers spread over my waist, his skin hot through the fabric. I’ve almost forgotten about the cold night air that surrounds us—my brain has far more important things to focus on. I don’t even care that we’re in public.
My hand is just drifting to his chest when there’s a bright flash. Delirious with emotion and sensation, I pull back, startled. There’s another flash, and then another.
Mason utters a curse under his breath and tugs me behind him, almost as if he’s protecting me.
“It really is Mason Knight!” a girl close to Riley’s age squeals. Her friends press forward, asking questions all at once.
More people move in, like piranhas sensing blood—piranhas wielding phone cameras.
This is so very bad.
“Harper, do you have your phone?” Mason asks quietly as the girls press forward. He’s smiling, looking composed though I know better, greeting his fans and signing random things they’re thrusting his way. “Call Yvonne. Tell her to send a car.”
It’s insane how quickly the crowd is growing.
I pull my phone out of my clutch and gasp. I have twenty-nine missed calls, and several of them are from Yvonne.
Mason’s assistant answers on the first ring. “Where are you?” she demands, and after I tell her our location, she says, “Stay where you are. We’re coming for you.”
“Are you dating Mason?” one girl asks, focusing right on me. She has a predatory look about her, and I find myself shifting back.
Another steps forward. “Did you meet at the auditions, or did you already know him?”
More push forward, and suddenly I’m being asked a dozen questions. I don’t know how to answer a single one. Mason tries to block me, but it’s no use. There are too many of them.
Thankfully, Yvonne shows up in record time, and she’s brought Mason’s security with her. They surround us, pushing the crowd back as they pave the way to the waiting limo.
I climb inside, too horrified to find any pleasure in the butter-soft leather upholstery or fancy lights. All those pictures are sure to flood the Internet in no time.
Clark yells at Mason over the phone. Mason answers with severalYes, sirsandI know, sirs. He looks as if he’s aged several years in just a few minutes.
I take in a gulp of air, but it sounds suspiciously like a sob. Without a word, Mason reaches over and squeezes my hand.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Riley runsfrom the truck and wraps me in a tight hug. It’s one in the morning, and she and Linus drove all the way to Denver to pick me up at the little airport we flew into. Fortunately, we gained two hours on the way back to Colorado.
My sister holds me so tightly, it should hurt. But I don’t feel much, at least not yet. “I know you can’t see it now, but the whole thing is crazy romantic.”
I pull back and scowl. “I’ve ruined my chances in the competition—Worse, I’ve ruinedSadie’schances in the competition. Mason spent an hour and a half on the phone with Tammy, and even though I only heard his side, I know she’s livid.”
I hate it when people are angry with me. And even though I know I didn’treallydo anything wrong, with HBN seething and Clark looking at me like I’m far more trouble than I’m worth, it feels like it.
Riley holds my shoulders, making me look at her. “I know it seems bad—and it is,” she adds quickly when I’m about to argue. “But it will work out.”
She’s right, I suppose. But it all seems too big right now, too impossible.
Determined to do damage control, Clark forbid we arrive at the lodge together. Mason’s with his people, and I’m with mine.
