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Lucy was hugging Malia. Son of a bitch, what was she doing here? He hadn't checked on her phone since before dinner when he'd gone to the bathroom, but his gut was going haywire at the sight of her. This wasn't a coincidence, was it?
He forced his face into an easy smile and stepped over to them. "Malia, what a surprise. I was just ordering drinks. Would you like one?"
Malia bobbed her blond head. "What a gentleman. That'd be lovely. Thank you. I'll take a Hawaiian Mai Tai."
He didn't know her well enough to judge the look in her eye. But he knew he didn't like it. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as she smiled.
Lucy nodded, "That sounds great. I'll have the same. Thanks, love." She took the shopping bags from him absently.
Mason's eyes cut to hers, but she was already turning back to Malia and chatting as they walked to a seating area in the corner. He kept his eyes on them as he went back to the bar and ordered their drinks.
His stomach roiled at Lucy's term for him. First big daddy, then love? They'd joked around about the nickname thing, but when she'd said both, he'd felt more than a thrill.
It'd made him want to haul her over his shoulder and run back to the hotel. It'd made him want to see her lips wrapped around him as she stared up at him with those innocent eyes.
It made him want to master her and have her begging.
God, he was an old dog perving on the most beautiful woman he'd ever met, and she was barely twenty-three. He wiped his eyes and groaned.
The bartender slid the drinks to him and tilted his head. "You alright there, hoss?"
Mason nodded and took the drinks. "Yeah, sun's got to me, that's all."
The bartender nodded and turned to the next customer, so Mason carried the drinks over to the girls. He watched them in animated conversation. Every step that took him closer made the hair stand up even more in warning.
He felt like he was walking into a trap, but he didn't know how to get them both out.
Just what the hell was Malia up to? He wanted to pull out his burner phone, but it was in his boot. He sat the drinks on the small table between them and leaned over to kiss Lucy on the top of the head.
She blushed, and he asked, "Fancy seeing you here, Malia."
Lucy shrugged and sipped her drink. "Not so much, Mason. She was telling me earlier about how great this place was. I knew I had to check it out."
Malia nodded and smiled like a cat who ate the canary. "And I was right, wasn't I? It's a great vibe. And the view of the fireworks is amazing. Just wait."
Lucy smiled and sat back in the chair, so Mason sat beside her and sipped his own drink, trying to relax and observe those around him. But the way the girls had sat had his back to the crowd, bar, and stage. He didn't like it. Anyone could sneak up on him, and he'd never know.
The girls chatted some more as darkness began to settle overhead. That sense of doom never left, only grew stronger the longer they sat here. He felt like a sitting duck.
The band got louder, and the girls wanted a refill on their drinks. He hopped up and went to the bar to order.
While he waited, he pulled out his phone and entered the password to the secure site to message his contact about his suspicions. Then he cleared his history and swiped to close the app.
There was definitely something fishy going on here, and he was going to get to the bottom of it. He grabbed their drinks and walked back toward the girls. He had to protect Lucy and get her out of there as soon as the fireworks were over. Hopefully, he'd hear from his contact soon on what to do.
Chapter 27
"I see you two lovebirds haven't made it back to your room yet, if you're still lugging around the shopping bags," Malia said with a grin as she nodded to the bags at their feet.
Lucy felt her cheeks heat as a few stars appeared overhead. "Unfortunately no, and the damn man has been teasing me all day long."
Malia laughed and nodded to the dance floor. "I don't recommend taking him to the dance floor then. Not unless you want to end up getting fucked in the bathroom, which sadly they frown upon here."
Lucy glanced at the dancers and winced. "I wouldn't call most of that dancing. More like grinding."
Malia wiggled her eyebrows. "Exactly, babe. Exactly."
Lucy grinned as Mason returned with their drinks and set them on the little side table between them. Then he took his seat again and kicked his feet out in front of him, crossing the ankles as he looked around.
