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At least I’d sleep.
“Are you sure you’re fine?”
I turned at the sound of his voice. Mason was right behind me, and his knuckles brushed my arm as he put his cup in the sink. I drew in a deep breath. My face was right in front of his chest, and he didn’t bother taking a step back when I looked up.
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “Tired. Sorry. It’s been a long day, and there was a lot of wine tonight.”
“I warned you that my family are pushers.”
“The line-dancing video should have been my first real clue about that.”
His lips tugged to one side. “Are you sure you’re fine? I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but…”
“But what?”
“You don’t look fine.”
“Are you saying I look miserable?”
“Usually I’d humor you, but right now: yes. You look miserable, Lauren.”
“What a charmer,” I muttered, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Honestly, I’m just tired. I promise you, that’s all it is.”
He held his eyes on mine for a long moment before his gaze flicked across my face. “All right. Still, come here.”
“For what?”
“This.” He pulled me in the way he had earlier tonight. His arms wrapped around my body and held me tight against him.
I wish I could say that I didn’t melt against his body, but I did. It was so easy to do, to just slump against his big, strong body like I was supposed to be there. He was rock solid but comfortable, and I all but snuggled right into him as he held me even tighter.
Hugging Mason was like wrapping yourself up into a blanket burrito.
It was like eating a pint of ice-cream on day one of your period. Like wearing sweats and no bra while you’re eating last night’s cold pizza. Like rereading your favorite book or watching your favorite movie for the hundredth time.
Yeah.
He was just…comfortable.
I slid my arms around his waist and closed my eyes. My heart was beating double time in my chest, slamming against my ribs, and the muscles in my stomach were tight and clenched. Tingles danced over my skin, but the place I really felt alive was where his breath fluttered across the top of my head.
It was the same sensation as when someone played with your hair. The little tingles that spread over my scalp made me shiver.
Mason froze.
He felt it.
Uh-oh.
My fingers twitched, digging my nails into his back. The fabric of his shirt bunched against my palm, but I was too afraid to move.
“Cold?” Mason whispered.
I swallowed. “No.”
There was no use in lying. It was summer in Florida. A vampire would warm up to human body temps in this weather.
“Then why the shiver?”
“You tickled me. That’s all.”
“Mhmm.”
I bit my lip and dipped my head away from him further, but all I did was bury my face in his chest.
He smelled like beer.
It was not sexy.
He was, though, and that was the problem.
Mason lowered his head so his lips almost brushed my temple. “Feel better?”
I nodded. “Yes. Sorry. I’ve been hard work today.”
“As opposed to the walk in the park you are every other day of the week.”
“Hey!” I leaned back in his arms and glared at him. “You’re supposed to be nice to me.”
He laughed. “I’m always nice to you. I’m the model fake boyfriend.”
I sniffed. He really was. “Yes. You’ll make some poor woman really happy someday.”
His eyes sparkled. That was his only response as he stood there, holding me tight to him, lips twitching into a tantalizing little half-smile.
It did things to me, I won’t lie. Swallowing, I squirmed a little to get away from him. I couldn’t. It was almost as if he knew exactly what he was doing to me and he was delighting in it.
Damn him.
I was beginning to think that this man was sent to test me.
Well, I wasn’t beginning to. He was, because he was testing me.
“You should go,” I said, pulling back again. “It’s getting late. Knowing my luck, your sister followed us back here and is waiting to see when you’ll leave.”
He squeezed me, laughing. “Probably. That’s the kind of thing Kirsty would do, but I just want to know you’re okay.”
“I told you, I’m fine.”
“Women who say, “I’m fine,” are never fine.”
“Statistically, we are fine at least fifty percent of the time, but we do it to keep you men on your toes.”
“Great. More psychology. Is there a part of you that’s simple?”
“No. I wouldn’t be nearly as interesting as I am if I were easy to figure out.”
“True story.” His eyes flashed with laughter. “So, is this “I’m fine” a genuine one or a pretend one?”
“Why would I tell you that?”
“To cut me a fucking break?”
I laughed, pressing my face into his chest. “Why would I want to do that?”
Mason groaned, dropping his head so his chin almost hit his chest. His cheek brushed mine, the rough stubble of his jaw tickling my skin.
