Page 42

“It was my fault really,” he said. “I went through a rebellion phase—you know, try anything that will piss off the parents. Unfortunately, that included Travis’s sister.”

It hurt that I was right about Mason being just another guy who would use women out of selfishness. I’d been tempted to try to pick up where we left off the other night. Now I was a tangle of bruised memories, emotional need, and physical longing, and with everything else happening, I didn’t have either the time or the presence of mind to process it.

“He has a sister?” I asked, sucking in my bottom lip.

“She’s in college now, last I heard. Far away from here.”

I wanted, no I needed to ask what happened, but I saw room number five forty-eight, and let it drop. “There it is,” I said. “What do we do?”

“We don’t do anything. It’s too dangerous. You have a dinner date.” Mason widened his stance between me and the door.

“Oh no. I am not leaving you alone to try something stupid.” I planted my own feet in the ground.

He smiled that heart-stopping smile, where his eyes penetrated my body. “I didn’t know you cared.”

A shiver of desire traveled from my navel to between my legs.

“She doesn’t.”

We both turned to find Travis leaning casually against the door of his room. “In fact, I believe the lady told you to beat it.”

Mason put his hands up in surrender. “Just what I was doing.”

“Both of you shut up!” I yelled, unable to handle further frustration. “You can’t try to get in there. Please, Mason. The computer as good as warned us it’s booby trapped.” I grabbed his hand. “It’s not just you in danger. It’s those girls.”

He deflated before my eyes. “You’re right. I’ll go talk to my mother, appeal to her human side. I’m sure she still has one in there somewhere.”

I nodded, my throat suddenly thick. Mason squeezed my hand, glared at Travis, and left.

“I’m sorry, Travis.” I relaxed my shoulders, bone tired. “I just don’t know if I can manage dinner right now.”

“Nuh uh. I’m afraid I can’t let you out of it. You see, if I keep missing my chance to actually talk to you, and if you keep showing up with Prince Charming, well I might just tear my super sexy hair out, and that would be a tragedy for women all over the planet. You can’t have that on your conscience.” He swung an arm around me and leaned in to whisper. “I know a place where no animatronics can get to.” Another tingle spread through my body from his warm breath on my ear, and I hoped he couldn’t feel it. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to know the extreme level of my lack of control.

A huge part of me was desperate to dig deep into this mystery, but my brain was suffering from lack of food. I did my best thinking on a full stomach. Besides, Mason was the problem for the moment, and I really didn’t want to be around him. “I am starving,” I said. “And I could use a break. Work’s been a bitch today.” That was the understatement of the century.

“Then put everything else out of your mind and prepare to be dazzled.” His bouncing eyebrows melted any reservations that remained as I broke into laughter. I did need a break, so I nodded. But the moment he pulled me toward the elevator, I dug in my heels.

“I’ll go, but we’re taking the stairs.”

I followed along as Travis led me outside of the hotel and through the grounds, glancing around before heading down an unlit path. When we arrived at a two-story building, I stopped to read the wooden sign announcing it as the Fisherman’s Hotel. Travis waited for me at a first-floor window along the side, behind the sign. He pushed open the window and climbed inside.

Moments later, he poked his head back over the side and offered me a hand up. I grimaced, unsure what I was getting into, but decided it couldn’t be worse than finding a dead body. So pushing his hand aside, I hoisted myself up and into the room.

The design was similar to my quarters at Mermaid’s Cove, but instead of gaudy mermaid crap, there were rustic ship’s wheels, fishing lines, and nets. The dining set was a carved-out boat with cushions for seats, and on top of the knotted table were two plates of steaming hamburgers and french fries. A large glass of amber beer sat off to the side, condensation beading along the sides, making my mouth water.

“Wow. You’ve been busy,” I said, trying not to run to the table.

“This is real food,” Travis said. “You look hungry. Dig in.”

I decided to forgo any more pleasantries and give in to my stomach. The burger would qualify as the best thing I’d ever tasted if it hadn’t been for the experience of my picnic earlier. My eyes closed in ecstasy as I chewed. I tried to chase away the memory of Mason’s fingers lingering on my lips as he fed me sushi.

When I opened my eyes again to take a drink, Travis was staring at me, coke-colored eyes smoldering. Heat dropped low in my belly again. This time I felt a little sick.

“Thanks for dinner. I really was hungry,” I said. Then I sipped at the cold, slightly bitter liquid, relishing the fizz as it crawled along my tongue.

“No problem. Now it’s your turn to do something for me.” He leaned forward, elbows grounded on my side of the table.

“Excuse me?” I asked, setting the glass down so hard some spilled over the side.