Turn Over

He looked exactly like the smug, arrogant man I had met on the beach at the trailer park. I balled my fists, angry at myself for ignoring my first instincts.

He handed the card to me a second time. “Use it. Don’t use it. But you have about thirty minutes before I’m going to kick you out.”

I looked at him. “You’re serious? You’re making me leave?”

“Dead serious.”

I don’t know what I was thinking. I hauled my suitcase in the bathroom with me and slammed the door. I felt stripped and bare. I shared feelings and secrets. I don’t know if that was as upsetting as what we had shared at dinner.

The Riverwalk was romantic. He was romantic. For a night, I had started to think he wasn’t only interested in the fun. He listened. We talked. He flirted. He kissed me like I was the girl he had been searching for. The courtyard. I closed my eyes. God, what I let him do to me in the courtyard.

I washed my face roughly and applied a quick coat of makeup. I threw on one of the other sundresses and slipped into a pair of comfortable sandals. Nothing like the heels I wore last night. I scowled at the lingerie in the back of my bag. I realized it wasn’t likely that piece of fabric would see the light of day for a while.

Because when we got back to South Padre I knew what would happen next. I would never speak to Mason Lachlan again. I would delete his number from my phone. I would try to delete his eyes from my memory.

I stormed out of the bathroom, grabbing the credit card off the bed on my way out of the suite.

“Hey, I’ll text you when my last meeting is over.” He tried to follow me to the door, but I closed it behind me, eager to make it to the elevator.

I didn’t need to be reminded where I ranked in Mason’s priorities.

I looked at the credit card in my hand as the elevator descended and smiled. If I was going to spend a day on my own, I was going to make it one hell of a day.

I knew it was late when I got back to the suite. Mason had sent three texts. I had given him enough time to set up five more contractor meetings if he wanted. My arms were loaded with shopping bags. I admired the new red polish on my toes. Red might be my new color.

I stepped off the elevator. Before I could use the room key, the door swung open.

“Where in the hell have you been?” He dragged me over the threshold.

“Shopping.” I dropped the bags in a nearby chair. “Meetings go well?” I walked into the bedroom, leaving him with my purchases.

“I called you. I texted. I didn’t know where you were.”

“You told me to shop. I shopped.”

He scratched the back of his head. His tie was on the bed with his jacket. He had pushed his sleeves up to his elbows.

“I also told you we were driving back as soon as my last meeting wrapped up. We should be halfway to South Padre by now.”

“I guess I lost track of time.” I shrugged.

“Get your stuff together. The valet is at the door.” His voice was low.

I didn’t know he could look angry. He always had a smile. A look that made women forget their own names. But right now he looked mad enough to enter a cage fight.

I packed my things, zipped the bag, and walked to the door. The valet had already loaded my shopping bags onto the brass cart.

Mason tipped him after the car was packed. He revved the engine and peeled out of the drive before my seatbelt was even fastened. He turned the radio up, blasting music through the streets of San Antonio.

I didn’t bother to look at him. I knew he was mad at me, but I wasn’t sorry. If I kept him off his precious schedule for a couple of hours, he deserved it. He had made me feel like an idiot. Like a weak, emotional, trusting fool. I wouldn’t make that mistake again.

I stared out of the window while he drove us south to the island. Other than when he dropped his phone charger, neither of us spoke a word to the other. The music was loud enough to make speaking impossible.

The tires kicked up bits of gravel when he spun into the parking lot. He jumped out of the car and raced to the trunk. I grabbed my purse. He was already making his second trip to the top of the stairs with my bags when I stepped out of the car.

“I think that’s everything.” He slammed the trunk closed.

“Yeah, that’s everything.” I turned for the staircase, when I felt his hand on my arm.