Page 25 of Unraveled

Audrey watched as Hannah and Luke chattered away across the table, their heads dipped close together, and she eyed them with envy. They were so different, but so good together. It almost felt as if they were imposing on some private moment, despite the fact that they had invited her along tonight.

She adjusted the napkin over her lap, and Mason leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke. “You good?”

Audrey lifted her gaze to his and forced a smile. “Yep!”

She almost cringed at the high-pitched voice that left her mouth, and by the way one of Mason's brown brows ratcheted upward, it hadn’t gone unnoticed by him, either. She scrambled for something to say before he could read any more into the situation than necessary. “So, what are you doing again?”

Mason’s eyes roved the room once more. “Working.”

“No kidding.” She rolled her eyes. “But what does that mean?”

He let out a low chuckle. “I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”

“I’m supposed to be your cover tonight, but I don’t get to know what you’re doing?” Hannah had called Audrey the night before and asked her to tag along to dinner with her and Luke, as well as his friend and coworker, Mason. Not one to turn down a dinner she didn’t have to cook, she readily accepted.

Hannah had mentioned that the guys were doing some recon, but she either chose not to elaborate or didn’t know the details. Having met both men now, Audrey was betting on the latter.

Mason's mouth curved into a smirk. “Tailing a cheating husband.”

“Ooh,” Audrey whispered as she glanced around the room. “Which one?”

Knowing exactly how it felt to be on the receiving end of that particular situation, she hoped Mason would catch the bastard in action. An almost unnatural glee filled her at the prospect of the man—whoever he was—getting his comeuppance.

Mason gave a rueful shake of his head. “Be a little more obvious, why don’t you?”

Audrey bit back a smile. “Sorry. Not really cut out for the cloak-and-dagger type stuff.”

He smiled. “Cloak-and-dagger?”

“Whatever.” She lifted a shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

“Mmm…” He pulled out his phone as if to check something, and she watched from the corner of her eye as he took a few discreet photos, then set it down again.

The curiosity was killing her, and she fought to keep from looking at the man across the room. “Was that him?”

“Maybe.”

She turned in her chair to face him fully. “So, what now?”

He shrugged. “We eat.”

Audrey stared at him. “But… you only took a few pictures. Couldn’t you have done that from outside?”

“I could have, but this was easier. People tend to notice a man hanging around outside a restaurant all alone like a creeper.”

She grinned. That was probably true, especially for a man like Mason. Trying to miss him was like trying to overlook a boulder. “Fair enough. So what’s with Luke and Hannah?”

The couple across from them didn’t even look up. “Just an extra layer of invisibility. Right now, we’re just a couple on a double date with friends.”

That made sense, she supposed. She nodded and picked up a roll from the basket, then tore it into tiny pieces. Mason turned quiet again, probably surreptitiously watching his mark, and she popped a piece of the bread into her mouth as she looked around the restaurant.

It was beautiful, elegant, and intimate, the perfect place for a date—a real date. Though the restaurant was popular, she’d never been there before, and she doubted she would be again. She couldn’t help but wish the circumstances were different, that she was there with someone who cared about her.

“In case I didn’t tell you, I appreciate you coming out with us. Having a good time?”

She lifted her head and forced a smile. “Fine, thank you.”

Mason’s tawny eyes studied her for a long moment, then the corners crinkled up in a smile. “You’re a terrible liar, red.”