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“I guess I will see you around,” I said to Mason, since the moment was broken.

“How about Friday night at the get-to-know-you gala?” he responded, eyes locked on me, not the brooding man to his left. “It’s going to be unbearable without someone normal to talk to. Would you consider sitting with me?” Mason moved closer, and I glanced to the side to where Travis had moved back just enough not to intrude. He leaned sideways against a young tree so wobbly, I feared he’d knock it over. But the sapling held, and he remained as still as Poseidon. His dark eyes bored into me. Heat flooded my body again, which made me angry. What was with me? I turned back to Mason, placing my back to Travis.

Mason waited for me, hands tucked inside his pockets. I smiled.

“Sure. That sounds great. It’ll give me some distance from my own dysfunctional duo.” That way, at least my father would think I was making an effort. It was a win-win situation.

“It’s a date.” Mason smiled, flashing perfect teeth that I wanted to run my tongue over, then nodded to Travis with what looked like a wistful expression and strode away.

Date? I just made a date with a Bennet. What was I thinking?

I turned to find Travis staring at me, the muscle in his jaw working as he ground his teeth.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked with a bit more bite to my tone than I intended.

He had the audacity to grin. “Just thought I’d said hi. Sorry if I interrupted your fairytale. Sounds like you’ll get to go to the ball anyhow though.”

“Jealous?” I asked, feeling my nostrils flare like Little Dragon was making a reappearance.

“Of what? I wouldn’t trade places with Mason Bennet for all the money in the world,” he said, standing so suddenly that the small tree snapped back to its full height.

Oh God, I just completely embarrassed myself for no reason. This couldn’t be normal. I started walking back toward the hotel, unsure of what else to do.

“Wait,” Travis called as he ran to catch up. “That came out wrong. Look, Sam, I’m just worried about you, okay? He has a reputation.”

“Worried about me?” I repeated, stopping dead in my tracks. Didn’t Jackson warn me of the same thing about him? “Because you know me so well?”

His hand settled on my shoulder. His voice came soft, his breath tickling my ear. “Maybe I don’t. Maybe I’m wrong about you. But I’m usually a pretty good judge of character.”

“Well you’re wrong about Mason. I can tell you that much. And FYI, he’s just a friend. I’m not the type to fall so quickly. Could you tell that about me?”

Before he could respond, I whipped around and walked straight toward the hotel. That was enough “fresh air” for one day.