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"I'm Caroline, Mason's girlfriend. Can I take that for you? I'm sorry to have crashed your party today."
Lucy's vision swam, and she stumbled in the water. Mason's hand steadied her elbow, but she jerked it out of his grasp and waded as fast as she could through the water to shore.
"No, Lucy, wait—" he said as he strode after her.
He was fucking dating? What the hell?
Helen looked at them and handed the basket to Caroline. "Well welcome, welcome. We didn't know Mason was dating."
Helen's tone was clearly one of disappointment, and Lucy winced. She hadn't known either. Why hadn't he said anything last night? Was this what he'd wanted to talk about?
She reached the shore and walked through the deep sand to Caroline's towel. Mason's hand on her back made her lurch sideways and hiss, "Keep your hands off me, jackass."
He snatched the basket out of her hand and set it down. She turned to stomp toward the fishing gear in Ray's canoe, but he grabbed her wrist. She tugged hard, fighting him.
"Will you just stop and listen for a minute?" he grunted.
She pushed on his chest, trying not to curl her hand into it. Her body was already betraying her, wanting him, wanting to hold him, fuck him, and smack him on the side of the head.
Lucy clenched her jaw and hissed, "What could you possibly say that could help this situation?"
Caroline looked from one to the other, her forehead wrinkled as she sat down the other basket. "Wait, what's going on? Who's she?" she asked Helen.
Mason opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, Lucy rounded on him and pointed her finger under his nose. "You didn't even tell her about me? Ugh," she glared and went back to the canoe.
Tears pricked her eyes. She changed direction and went back to the canoe, untying the rope. Mason grabbed the edge of the boat.
"I'll explain everything if you just give me a minute.
"You have a fucking girlfriend, Mason. There's nothing to explain," she said, throwing the rope into the canoe. She pushed it deeper into the water and called loudly, "I forgot something in the car. I'll be back soon."
She hopped into the boat clumsily as it moved back toward the sharp drop off. She didn't care how ridiculous she looked. She needed to get away, take a breather, maybe just go home and lay down. She didn't need this heartache, not coming off the chaos of last night.
Mason grabbed the canoe near the edge of the drop off and stood strong, not letting her move.
"She's not really my girlfriend, Lucy. It's a cover up, a role for work. In a week or so, Caroline will be joining the witness protection program, and our cover won't be needed anymore."
Lucy frowned, looking at Caroline on the shore and gripping the oar tightly. "What do you mean?"
Mason growled, "I mean, we're not actually dating. I'm working, protecting her."
Lucy felt a stab of pain in her chest and inhaled sharply. "Protecting her like you protected me in Hawaii? Are you sleeping with her? God, Mason, you've been back in Texas less than two weeks and have already moved on. Nicely done. Now let me go."
She dug the oar into the water, trying to find the bottom to push off, but barely touched. The boat bobbed, and he held it tight, his biceps bulging.
He arched a brow. "Don't get smart with me, little bird. You're not hearing me. There's nothing between Caroline and I. I haven't so much as kissed her much less anything else."
"You haven't?" Her hopeful tone made her scowl. She didn't want to be hopeful. She needed to get away and protect her heart.
He shook his head. "Absolutely not. I'm not even attracted to her."
"You're not?" She felt like a parrot just repeating him.
He chuckled. "Nope. I only have eyes for you, Lucy."
She swiped furiously at her eyes once more, and Mason pulled the boat closer to shore, trying to ground it on the sand. She stayed seated, holding the oar across her body protectively.
"I call bullshit on that. You were just putting sunscreen on her when I arrived."
