There was one thing Shannon hadn’t anticipated, however.
Avery was with a man. A huge guy, maybe in his thirties, wearing a black cowboy hat. He radiated a palpable confidence that said he could handle himself. A cop, like Avery? And were they actually together? The online posts about the wedding she’d read where Avery’s name was mentioned had made it sound like she was single.
He was big, and the way he carried himself, the way his gaze scanned the lobby, told her he was more aware of his surroundings than the average person.
Their gazes collided for a second.
Shannon quickly looked away and nonchalantly began wiping down the exterior window next to her, keeping her body angled so she could still watch them out of the corner of her eye. The man glanced away and she breathed easier.
Her question about Avery’s relationship status was answered a moment later when the guy turned Avery toward him and kissed her. Avery looked a bit stiff as she stared up at him, but whatever. Maybe they’d had a fight or something earlier.
The man took the key from the clerk, wrapped an arm around Avery’s shoulders and started for the door at the rear of the lobby, leading out to the grounds. Shannon was surprised. They weren’t staying in the main lodge with everyone else?
She grabbed a pile of linens from a chambermaid’s cart and followed them, keeping her distance so they wouldn’t notice. Her stolen resort uniform helped her blend in easily, but that big guy had already caught her watching him once. She couldn’t let him notice again. People dismissed her with a polite smile as she passed them, not giving her a second glance.
Outside, a gravel path split into two as it reached the main lawn in the center of the grounds, each leading away from the main lodge. To the right it led to the chapel and gazebo. To the left, a row of private cabins overlooking the lake.
Fury burned in her gut as she followed Avery and the big guy toward the cabins. They were three times the price of a room in the lodge. Avery and her man were apparently living the high life this weekend.
She maintained her distance, battling the anger with every step, her hands crushing the linens. Avery and the guy turned up the path to the second cabin from the end.
Shannon kept her face averted and continued past it, scouting out the location as she did. The Ponderosa. It was set back from the others toward the lake, making it the most private of the cabins. She could just imagine the spectacular view from the luxurious bedroom up in the loft.
She clenched her jaw as her feet crunched over the gravel. It wasn’t fair that Avery got to be with her man and spend the weekend fucking him in that gorgeous, romantic cabin when Shannon’s was still behind bars because of her.
At least now she could get revenge. She’d wanted a chance to ruin Avery’s life, and had the skills to make it happen. Fire was one, and she’d used it in various ways over the years. Its destructive power could be used in subtle ways that still caused great fear. And she had her firearms training to protect herself if necessary.
A direct, physical attack would have to wait, however. Avery was trained, so Shannon would have to catch her with her guard down, and that would be even harder with that guy around.
When Shannon did strike, she wouldn’t make it quick. First, she wanted to torment Avery, then wreck her career. Starting here.
A cold, hard smile stretched her lips. Shannon prided herself on her creative talents. And now she had a whole weekend to put her plan into action.
****
Here we go.
Avery put on her mental armor as she and Mason reached the main lodge for the family-only dinner reception an hour later. She even managed not to stiffen when he reached down to grasp her hand, but the contact sent a jolt all the way up her arm. His hand was so warm compared to hers, his strong fingers twining with hers.
“Nervous?” he murmured as they reached the massive French doors at the back of the lodge.
“No.” She was totally nervous. On pins and needles at the thought of faking this in front of her family, and of running into her ex again, and Mason looking so dark and sexy and smelling so amazing wasn’t helping matters—though it was a major confidence boost to walk in there on his arm. “You?”
“Nope. I’ve got the most beautiful woman in the whole place on my arm.”
She aimed a bland look at him, but the hint of a grin on his face and the admiration in his eyes stopped her from making a sarcastic comeback. Hell. She didn’t know what to do with him when he dropped the cocky front and became human with her like this.
“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” he whispered close to her ear as he pulled the door open for her, sending a tiny shiver of arousal down her spine.
His tone was a little teasing, but he was serious, she realized. She softened a little more. “Thank you. I’ll protect you too, from my family. They’re nosy.”
Relatives were all over the place as soon as they walked in. Avery stopped to say hi to some of them, introducing Mason, then continued on to the main reception room on the opposite side of the lobby where the buzz of voices was coming from.
Her parents and sister were already at their table, and their gazes shot to Avery and Mason the moment they stepped into the room. Her mom shot to her feet, beaming at them as they approached.
“Hi, Mom,” Avery said, hugging her.
“I’m so glad you’re here!” She squeezed Avery, then kind of shoved her aside to look at Mason.
“You must be Mason.” Her mom scoffed at the hand he extended and grabbed him in a hug instead. “I’m so glad you’re here too.”
He returned the embrace, grinning at Avery. “Nice to meet you.”
“Not as nice as it is to meet you.” Her mom beamed up at him. “My, she didn’t tell us how handsome you were.”
“Mom,” Avery said on a groan, reaching out to hug her sister and dad.
“What? He is.”
“Avery said I’d like you,” Mason said to her mom. “And she was right.”
Avery refrained from rolling her eyes and introduced him to her dad and sister. Mason pulled out her chair for her and pushed her in, trailing his fingers down the side of her neck as he moved to his own. She stiffened, sparks of heat snapping over her skin.
Her dad was watching them curiously, but her mom and sister both leaned forward to prop their chins on their hands and stare at them. “So, tell us about you guys,” her mom said. “How you met, your first date.”
Avery opened her mouth to respond but Mason smoothly cut her off. “We met through a mutual friend.” He gave her a heated, approving look that made her insides flutter. “And I still owe him for it.”
Avery flushed a little, trying not to fidget with her hands in her lap. “He only moved into town a few weeks ago. That’s why we’d never met before.”
“The first time I laid eyes on her, I knew I had to make her mine,” Mason said. “It wasn’t easy, but eventually I managed to convince her to give me a chance.”
Avery shot him a warning look but her mom and sister both sighed, utterly charmed. “You must have made a real impression on her,” her sister said. “I didn’t think Ave would ever risk a relationship again.”
Avery shot her a quelling look but Mason nodded, his expression turning serious. “I’m grateful every day that she was willing to give me a chance.” He draped an arm around her, pulling her close to kiss her temple.