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Ignoring her question, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Mind racing for a way to get out of this with her dignity intact, she wet her lips before answering. “Who said anything’s wrong?”
“You ran out of the party like the room was on fire.”
Her cheeks burned with shame, but she refused to look away from him. “I didn’t run. I needed to check on something, so I walked over here to do it.”
Mason tilted his head to one side. “What are you checking?”
“Why do you care?” she fired back.
With a little shrug, he said, “Because I don’t believe you.”
Her mouth fell open. The fucking audacity of this man. “I was afraid I left one of the ovens on earlier, so I came to check.” She fought the urge to cringe at the terrible lie.
“Unless I’m mistaken,” he said in the most infuriatingly superior voice she’d ever heard, “five other people have worked in here since your shift ended. Are you seriously going to look me in the eye and tell me you thought five people missed an oven being on for over twelve hours?”
She glared at him for all she was worth. “Obviously I lied because I want you to leave me the fuck alone,” she ground out. “Why don’t you take the hint?”
Mason’s brows drew together into a harsh V. “I guess we’re fighting again.”
“I wasn’t aware we ever stopped,” Addison snapped back. God, what was it about this man that got her hackles up? She willed her temper to chill the fuck out. “Can you please just back off?”
Crossing his arms, he planted his feet at shoulder width, making it clear as day he had no intention of going anywhere. “Tell me what’s bothering you, and I’ll leave.”
“For fuck’s sake,” she muttered. He blocked the door to the dining room, so she spun around and stormed out the back door instead.
Very. Bad. Fucking. Idea.
Within seconds, her breath came in faltering bursts, each one forming a tiny white cloud in the freezing cold. Darkness stretched out before her like an empty void.
Fuck. She couldn’t go out there. Who knew what lurked in the garden or the wilderness beyond? She only made it a couple steps from the kitchen door and already she was on the edge of a panic attack.
Whirling back around, she reached for the door, but her fingers froze around the brass knob. Mason had followed her, and he stood only steps away now.
Fuck it. She could walk around the outside of the house and go through the front. Most of the lights were still on because of the party, so as long as she didn’t stray too far, she’d be fine. Probably.
God, this was so fucking stupid.
Hugging herself as tightly as she could, she ran as fast as her heels allowed. She was an icicle before the door even banged open behind her, her sleeveless dress and strappy heels not exactly appropriate cold-weather gear.
Hypothermia seemed a superior idea to slinking back inside with her tail between her legs, though. Trying to ignore the rush of footsteps on the flagstone patio behind her, she kept right on going.
“Addison, don’t be fucking stupid,” Mason practically growled as he caught up to her. “It’s two degrees out.”
“Don’t call me stupid.” She could think it about herself, but fuck him for daring to say it out loud.
He made a low sound of frustration. “Okay, fine, this isn’t stupid at all. But please be advised the groundskeepers didn’t shovel around this side of the house the last time it snowed, and you’re wearing heels. Kindly consider your health and safety and come back inside.” Sarcasm dripped from every word.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. How could she get out of this without completely losing face? Lifting her chin, she demanded, “Go away and I will.”
“Damnit, I’m just trying to help you.”
Gesturing around at the dark, frigid night, she said, “You’re doing a real bang-up job so far.”
That was a mistake. Before she could entwine her arms back over her stomach, a violent shiver ran through her body, making her stumble in the stupid gold heels.
And of course, Mason caught her. As if her mortification wasn’t already bad enough.
