The Price of Mason (Forbidden Men 10)

And she freaking talked me into going through with my proposal, tonight. Just as I agreed with her and actually meant it, Reese walked into the kitchen, asking what we had to eat. I jumped out of my skin and spun toward her guiltily.

Pausing, she glanced curiously between me and Eva, the suspicion and hurt in her eyes absolutely slaughtering me. I wanted to blurt that nothing bad had happened, but it seemed as if that would make it look as if something really tawdry had just transpired between me and her cousin.

Thank God Eva took over and told Reese that Reese and I were going to go off somewhere by ourselves for a while, because I had a feeling I would’ve butchered anything I’d said in that moment.

Reese remained on guard, but when I finally managed to speak, Eva and I were able to convince her in no time that it would be a good idea.

“Great,” I said, relieved beyond measure when she finally agreed. This might just work after all. I hoped so, because I wanted my Reese back. And I wanted the awkwardness between us gone. “I’m just going to grab my…” ring. “My hat from the bedroom. Be right back.”

Smacking a quick kiss to her forehead, I took off down the hall and nearly ripped my entire shirt drawer from the dresser in my rush to open it. The box was exactly where I’d hidden it. Opening it to make sure the diamond and band were still inside, I snapped it shut again and slid it into my pocket.

It was go-time.

Nerves raced through my system, but at least they were excited and hopeful. And okay, maybe a little sick with worry.

Reese was still in the kitchen, talking to Eva when I returned. “About ready?” I asked, hope blooming across my face and into a smile.

“Yep,” Eva answered for her cousin as she slipped a bottle of wine into a large canvas lunch bag and closed it before thrusting the entire picnic she’d just packed at me. “I think you guys are good

to go. Have fun. Don’t come back until it’s late, and feed the ducks for me while you’re there.”

I nodded and grabbed Reese’s hand. But as soon as I managed to get her out of the apartment, she immediately pulled us to a stop, frowning at me. “Okay, what’s going on?”

I cocked her a curious, petrified glance. “What do you mean?”

She sniffed out a hard, bitter laugh. “Mason, you’re not wearing a hat.”

“Huh?”

“Inside, you said you were going back to the bedroom to get your hat.”

“Oh.” Oh, shit. I’d completely forgotten to grab a hat. Patting my hair, I cringed, caught in my lie.

“Oh, baby.” She sighed and shook her head. “You’ve been a mess lately. Ever since that bitch showed up at the bar—” She broke off when I flinched, and her eyes filled with misery and empathy. “You’ve just been so quiet, preoccupied, withdrawn and…and scatterbrained.”

“I know.” Squeezing my eyes shut, I pressed a fist to my forehead and clenched my teeth. “I’ve been an ass. I’m sorry.”

“You haven’t been an ass,” she argued loyally, stepping forward to wrap her arms around me. “And stop being sorry. It wasn’t your fault she showed up.”

I sank against her gratefully. “But it was,” I said softly. “I let her control me for so long she’s still convinced she can. And I have been an ass. But I want to make things right with you. Tonight.”

“You’re finally going to talk about it?” she guessed, her eyes widening with hope.

I flinched but admitted, “If that’s what it takes, then yeah. I’ll tell you every messed-up thought in my head if that helps me get out of this funk so we can both move forward.”

She nodded as if proud. “Good. Let’s get to the park and start this picnic, then. I’m curious to see what kind of food E put in here because those peanut butter apple slices she was eating looked seriously tempting.”

I smiled and took her hand. We were fairly quiet the rest of the way to the park; I think both of us were too anxious to reach our destination to attempt conversation. We didn’t have a blanket to spread on the ground so we found an empty picnic table and sat on the same bench seat next to each other, hip to hip, as Reese unpacked the lunch bag.

“Yes!” she cheered, holding up a plastic container full of apples before opening the package and popping one into her mouth.

When she held up a second slice for me to take a bite straight from her fingers, my heart thumped hard in my chest.

“Mmm,” I moaned, closing my eyes slightly as I chewed. “I don’t know what it is about you, baby, but food always tastes better when you feed it to me.”

She smiled, only for the grin to fade as she watched me.

Worry knotted my stomach. “What?” I asked.