Truly, she hadn’t stopped talking to draw air. And Mason had been perfectly content listening to her chatter. But now she’d been quiet for a full five seconds, which meant her last question hadn’t been rhetorical. She was waiting for him to answer.
“Maybe ’cause they were home to pirates who preyed on the galleons sailing from Central America to the New World.”
She stopped in her tracks.
“What?” He frowned back at her.
“How do you know that?” Her eyes were wide behind the lenses of her glasses. “Did you read that book I left on the kitchen table?”
“You were pretty adamant we should, and I quote, ‘Educate ourselves on the amazing history that surrounds the place where we live and work.’” He chucked her on the chin and then immediately regretted it because…soft. Alex’s skin was so frickin’ soft.
He curled his hand into a fist and dropped it to his side.
“But I’malwaysleaving books around and telling you guys to read them. I didn’t think any of you ever took me seriously.”
“I do,” he said simply. He took her very,veryseriously.
“Well, holy hell.” She shook her head in wonder.
“I know.” He made a face. “The blockhead from Boston can read. Who knew?”
“No.” She was quick to correct him. “What I mean is that half of the stuff I’ve been telling you I got from that book. So you alreadyknoweverything. And yet you let me prattle on. Why didn’t you tell me to shut up?”
He continued up the trail. When she fell into step behind him, he admitted over his shoulder, “’Cause I like hearing you talk.”
“Aww. You say the sweetest things.” When he glanced back, he found her full lips wrapped around a teasing smile. “I think I’m going to like having you for a friend.”
He opened his mouth to say… He wasn’t sure what. So he quickly closed it again.
The sad truth was he’d yet to come up with the right words to explain how, after weeks of turning her down, he was now ready to take her up on her offer.
Thanks to Doc, and with conditions attached, of course.
Some very strict, very set-in-stone, cannot-be-broken, hard-and-fast rules.
He hoped he would find the words he was missing during their picnic. With a full belly, and with Alex’s penchant for opening her mouth and putting things out into the world unfiltered, he thought for sure an opportunity would arise where he could casually mentionHey, Alex. I changed my mind. Let’s bang.
Okay, so obviously it wouldn’t bethat. It would be smoother. Sexier.
Or, you know, he could always pounce on her.Thatwould get his point across. And it was far more his style. Less talk. More action.
Unfortunately, it would also preclude the laying down of the rules. And that couldn’t happen. He had to make it clear to her, before anything physical happened, that this would be a one-time deal.
He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if there were any misunderstandings and—
“Mason?” He realized he’d been quiet for too long. “Were you about to say something?”
“Ya-huh.” He turned back toward the trail. “I’m starving. Let’s hurry.”
It wasn’t a lie. Hewashungry. He just happened to be hungry for far more than the BLT sandwiches and brownies he’d packed in the basket.
With images of the two of them naked and sweaty on the picnic blanket, his pace quickened. Fine, it was more like his anticipation had him nearly running.
When he realized she was having difficulty keeping up, he forced himself to slow down. And when he glanced back again, he saw a bead of sweat trickle down her forehead next to the bandage covering her cut. He hated the sight of it. The proof that she’d been in danger. That she’d been hurt.
“I, uh, never thanked you for saving our asses yesterday.” He adjusted the picnic basket in his hand.
“Just doing what you taught me.” She waved off his gratitude.
