“A king-size.”
She frowned and lowered her voice, maybe hoping her relatives wouldn’t overhear. “Is there a pullout couch? He snores.”
Mason grinned and nuzzled the hair next to her temple, breathing in the clean vanilla scent of her. “You’re gonna find out whether I do or not soon enough,” he murmured, and choked back a laugh at the tiny jab of her sharp elbow in his ribs.
“I’m afraid not, but there’s a loveseat and an armchair,” the clerk said. “You could pull them together if necessary to make another bed, though I’m not sure he would be comfortable that way, given his height.”
Mason straightened and pressed his lips together to keep from smiling. Avery was clearly not happy, but he was.
She let out an irritated sigh. “Will we be able to check into a different room tomorrow?”
“No, unfortunately all rooms and cabins are fully booked for the entire weekend.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s…fine,” she muttered, and handed over her credit card.
Mason caught her hand and pushed it back toward her. “It’s already paid for. I’ll take that,” he said to the clerk, snagging the key.
Avery glared up at him. He raised an eyebrow and subtly indicated her relatives with a sideways glance. The glare disappeared, a sweet smile forming in its place, even as her eyes shot sparks at him. “Shall we?”
“Yes. Can’t wait to get you alone.” He dropped another kiss on her lips and slung his arm around her shoulders as they headed for the rear exit that would lead to the path to the cabins.
“Don’t look so happy,” she muttered under her breath as they stepped outside.
Mason smiled to himself and started whistling softly, smart enough not to push her more right now. This was the most fun he’d had in forever.
WHAT THE HELL just happened?
Avery felt like she’d been run over with a steamroller as she walked beside him down the pea gravel path toward the cabins, slightly dazed. She couldn’t say anything to him yet, there were people around. Thankfully none of her relatives or her ex, but still.
She was acutely aware of his heavy arm curled around her shoulders, the warmth and strength of it. His body heat and crisp, clean scent teasing her.
It did things to her. Things she didn’t want happening to her, and worse, he seemed to be enjoying this.
He’d also kissed her in front of everyone. Twice. The first time he’d caught her so off guard she hadn’t been ready for it. But the second…
Shit, she was still feeling it, her lips tingling. He’d shaved off his short beard, and was possibly even more gorgeous without it. A rush of heat sped through her, pooling low in her belly and tightening her nipples. Dammit, no.
“This is us,” he said, turning off the main pathway.
The two-story log cabin sat perched on a little knoll overlooking the lake. Trailing pink and yellow flowers spilled from window boxes along the front porch, with two blue rocking chairs flanking the front door.
It was charming. And the absolute last place she wanted to be alone with Mason.
He unlocked the door for her and she marched inside, towing her suitcase. The instant he shut it behind him, she rounded on him. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
“What?” All innocence, Mason set the key on the table by the door.
“You know what. This cabin. Why did you do this?”
He faced her, and in this cozy space being alone with him suddenly felt way too intimate. “Because I know you’re stressed and wanted you to be able to relax and actually enjoy yourself a little this weekend. I thought this would give you more privacy to unwind away from everyone.”
She eyed him, one hand still holding her suitcase handle. “And it had nothing to do with you wanting privacy for an ulterior motive.” Because that so wasn’t happening.
He grinned. “Why, would you be interested if I had one?”
The balls on him. What game was he playing? “I believe I made the rules clear. Speaking of…” She let go of her suitcase and went up the stairs to the loft.
Dammit, the king-size bed took up the entire loft, with no room for a cot, and the downstairs was too crowded for one. She’d gone through a rough time during and after the divorce. She’d been married, had devoted herself to a man who, as it turned out, hadn’t ever really loved her. Now she was stuck in this private and romantic cabin with a man way too good-looking and sexy and damaged for her own good, who had heartbreak written all over him.
What the hell had she been thinking, doing this to herself?
She marched back down the stairs. “I hope you can fold up on that loveseat.”
Mason set his duffel on the floor and cocked a dark brown eyebrow at her, the setting sun’s rays streaming through the windows at the back of the cabin overlooking the lake bathed him in a warm glow. Outlining the mouthwatering lines of his powerful frame.
She raised her chin. “Just because you paid for this doesn’t mean you’re getting anything more than we agreed on.”
His expression cooled, a spark of anger flashing in his eyes. “I don’t want anything you don’t want to give, so no worries there.”
Avery checked her attitude, chastened. She’d offended him. He’d given up his weekend to help her out. And if he’d truly booked this for her to have more privacy from everyone, then she felt bad for what she’d said. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just…”
“Flustered.”
She shot him a glare, annoyed that he read her so easily and that her damn cheeks were getting hot. “I’m not flustered,” she snapped. “Just, whatever, let’s get through this weekend and then things can go back to normal again.”
She grabbed her suitcase when he reached for it and carried it up the stairs, berating herself with every step. This had been a colossally stupid idea on her part, and she had no one to blame for her predicament but herself.
Between being cooped up alone here with Mason after pretending he was her boyfriend in front of her family and dreading the moment she came face to face with her ex, she was going to need to get drunk to get through it all.
Dammit. She already couldn’t wait for this weekend to be over.
Chapter Six
There she was.
Shannon turned away from the lobby and walked toward the hallway leading to the east guest wing, her heart drumming hard against her ribs. She smiled at several guests who passed her, then paused, standing with her back to the wall in order to survey her target.
Avery’s height and bright-colored hair made it easy to spot her amongst the people milling around the lobby. Shannon watched as she spoke with the front desk clerk.
Hatred swelled inside her. She’d found out everything she could about Avery Dahl over the past week. It had been harder than she’d thought. Searching social media and other sources online hadn’t netted much. Avery kept a low profile. But her family roots ran deep in Billings.
After some digging, it hadn’t taken long for Shannon to locate a cousin of Avery’s, and a little bit more investigation after that had informed her about this big, fancy wedding. From other family members’ social media posts, Shannon had been able to get the date and location. She’d banked on Avery being here as well, and so far, all the effort Shannon had put in and the risks she’d taken had paid off.