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7

The walkback to the hotel happened in a daze as I tried to sort through all the confusing and contradicting emotions I went through at the aquarium. By the time I stepped inside the elevator, I was ready to go upstairs and hide under the covers until the whole trip was over.

“Rough morning?”

Mason’s voice startled me. I hadn’t even realized someone else was in the lift with me.

“Let’s just say this ‘vacation’ is off to a roaring start.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. For me, it’s starting out to be much better than I anticipated.” Mason leaned forward, drowning me in those startling cobalt eyes and memories of our date at the museum. Still, I had to be careful not to let myself get carried away, at least until I untangled the crazy sensations that seemed to have taken over my body.

“That sounds like a line if I ever heard one,” I snapped, surprising us both.

Mason straightened up. His mouth opened. “I thought we had a nice time together yesterday.”

I winced. “We did. I did. Today has already been a tough one, that’s all.”

“If I said I’m really looking forward to tonight, will you bite my head off?”

“Not if you mean it.” I recalled the easy time we had together the day before, not just easy, fun even. And he had been so sweet. Travis was the one who seemed hot and cold. Mason hadn’t done anything but be nice and open up to me. Why was I blowing it?

“Let’s hope you can tell that I do. I’d hate to be decapitated before getting the chance to dance with you.”

A laugh bubbled up my chest and escaped as the elevator opened.

“I guess this is my stop,” I said, hesitating at the threshold.

“Mine too.” Mason joined me, letting the doors slide shut behind him.

“What are you doing on the sixth floor?” I was flattered if this was his way of trying to have some more time with me.

“I wish I was hanging out with you.” He leaned close, seeming to read my mind. “Unfortunately, my dear mother has asked me to investigate a lead on the resident vandal.”

“On my floor?” I asked, curious.

“It wasn’t you, was it?” He grinned. “Personally, I think you taking a stand against my mother would be quite sexy.”

“Hate to ruin your daydream, but I was locked safely in my room last night. What have you found out so far?” I had to admit, curiosity was starting to get to me.

“That’s need-to-know.” Mason raised a hand in a Boy Scout gesture.

“What if I need to know?” I asked, stepping in close. “I can be rather convincing.”

“Do demonstrate.” Mason quirked his mouth up in the corner, and I imagined tasting those lips. “I’m not beyond bribery.”

I cleared my throat. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

“Well, you already promised me dinner this evening. What say we trade classified information for another date tomorrow? I’d say it’s a fair arrangement.” Mason’s smile nearly blinded me as sparks flew to all the right parts of my body.

I pretended to think about his offer, tilting my head and tapping my chin. “I suppose it would be acceptable. Why don’t you come in to my room, so we can talk?” Talking isn’t all I wanted to do with him.

I led the way inside my quarters to the white sofa. I sat on one end, giving Mason his choice, and crossed my legs as casually as possible.

Without hesitation, he planted himself right beside me. He wrapped one arm over the back of the cushion and tilted his body so he could face me.

“Sometime last night around two in the morning, as far as we can tell, someone took a can of spray paint and left a message at the base of the Poseidon statue.” Mason watched carefully for my reaction, I suppose knowing it was my mother’s artwork. But I needed more information to truly process this on top of everything else that had happened. Was it possible to be so overrun with emotion that at some point there wasn’t room for any more?

“What sort of message?” I asked.