by L. P. Dover
Mason could be a complete dick, but there was one thing I could definitely say we had in common … we were both loyal. I was loyal to my family and he was loyal to the badge. He was also extremely good at his job, and I saw that first hand when we were all going crazy after my brother kidnapped Melissa. Mason was determined to find her and he did, just like I knew he would have that same determination to find justice in the recent killings.
While Melissa sat quietly beside me, I opened the letter with shaky fingers and took a deep breath before reading the words.
Claire,
By now you already know that I had to leave. I came to California to not only see Melissa, but to see you as well. Telling you all of this in a letter was not what I intended, but I respected your wishes and stayed away, even though deep down I wanted to handcuff your ass to a chair and make you listen to me. You always drove me completely crazy when I would see you on your visits to North Carolina. I wanted you so fucking bad, but I stayed away, not letting my feelings get too strong because I knew it would never work with my job and the distance between us. All of that was just bullshit excuses. I was afraid, afraid to want something so bad and have it be just outside of my reach. But even more I was afraid of not being good enough for you.
Claire, I have never been in love before. Never once have I allowed myself to open up and let someone in like I’ve wanted to do with you. The night we made love, I told myself that it wouldn’t mean anything, knowing very well it would fuck with my mind completely and make me want you even more. When you agreed, I allowed myself to be selfish, to have that one night with you. What I didn’t expect was to hear you say you were in love with me. No one has ever said that to me and meant it, but hearing it come from your lips …
It scared me because I was in love with you, too. I still am. Ever since then I have lived in a bundle of regret and prayed that one day you would forgive me for being the insensitive jackass that I am. Failing has never been an option for me, but I know I failed you. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you’ll let me. If I have to fight my way into your heart again I will. All I’m asking for is a second chance, to show you that you were meant for me. I love you, Claire, and I will be back for you. I can promise you that.
Mason
Tears filled my eyes as I folded the letter back up and slid it into the envelope. “What did it say?” Melissa asked hesitantly.
“It said he loved me,” I cried. “And now it’s too late for me to do anything about it.”
Melissa lifted a brow and smiled. “Why do you think it’s too late?”
Glaring at her, I scoffed and said, “Because he’s already gone, Mel. Deep down I knew I should’ve let him talk to me, but I let my pride and ego get in the way.”
Melissa pulled out her phone and gazed down at the clock. A little smirk tilted up her lips when she looked back at me, showing me the time. “His flight doesn’t leave for another hour. If you’re really wanting to do this you still have time, but in doing this you might lose someone else close to your heart. Is it a risk you want to take?” She glanced toward the house where I knew Cooper was still waiting on me. “You need to decide who you want, Claire. I know you don’t want to hurt either one of them, but only you can decide.”
She placed a gentle hand on my shoulder and squeezed before strolling up the path toward the front of the house. My heart felt like it had been tugged in a thousand different directions and I needed to decide if I wanted to play it safe or take the risk. Playing it safe would be the smart thing to do because I’d spent my whole life taking unnecessary risks and getting burned. However, some of the risks I’d taken were some of the best decisions in my life.
What the hell was I going to do?
Cooper had the door open and was leaning up against it as I approached. He had been my friend and lover off and on for years and had never let me down, always being there when I needed him. Opening his arms, he didn’t say a word as I wrapped mine around his waist and sobbed against his chest.
I had to choose.
When I woke up in the morning, or better yet when I stopped staring holes in the ceiling, I took a quick run through the vineyards to Claire’s house. It was still dark outside with the sign of the sunrise peeking up behind the mountains in the distance. I had hoped there’d be a chance I could catch Claire awake and talk to her, except when I got there all of the lights were off, and of course Cooper’s truck was right there in the driveway. That goddamn bastard was there sharing a bed with her when it should’ve been me. However, being that I was a glutton for punishment, I knew I deserved it. It was just another reminder of how stupid I was to let her go.
Melissa’s husband, Brett, dropped me off at the airport because my hormonal cousin couldn’t stop crying to be able to see clearly or function for that matter. She was more like a sister to me than anything, but both Brett and I couldn’t wait for her to have the twins so she would get back to normal. When I got to the airport, I didn’t have long to wait before they let the passengers onto the plane. My early morning run made me a little bit late, and I was surprised I even made it on time.
Before boarding the plane and leaving my life and everyone behind, my phone rang with an incoming call from Melissa. There was no surprise there. Stepping out of line, I accidentally bumped into a little old lady standing behind me and apologized before hastily answering the phone.
“Mel, what’s up?” I asked, hoping she was calling to give me news on how Claire took the letter.
Sniffling, she answered, “I wanted to call and tell you to be safe, but I think I’ve already told you that a million times now, haven’t I?”
I chuckled. “Yes, you have, but it’s okay. I’m used to your nagging.”
“That’s true, but somebody has to do it. Oh, by the way, what airline are you flying with?” she asked. “If you don’t get the chance to call I want to make sure I can look up your flight to confirm that you made it there safely.”
“Uh … let’s see,” I said, looking down at the ticket in my hand. I knew I was flying Delta, but I didn’t know the flight number. “Okay, it’s Flight 1063 and I’m with Delta. Is that the only reason why you called? Have you talked to Claire?”
Sighing, her voice sounded a little hesitant when she responded, “Yes, I talked to her and gave her the letter. She’s confused right now, so I don’t really know what to say other than give her time. I know she cares for you, but it did take you four months to come back. That’s messed up, Mase. I would be pretty pissed if Brett did that to me. You’re just going to have to accept the consequences with what she decides to do.”
Leaning against the wall, I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, hoping that one day the regret would lessen. “I understand,” I said. “Thank you for talking to her and giving her the letter. No matter what happens, I needed her to know how I felt.”
When I opened my eyes and noticed all the passengers had boarded the plane already, I said a quick good-bye to Melissa and rushed through the terminal. It was going to be a long four hour trip with only one thing on my mind … Claire.
The old lady I bumped into in the line before taking Melissa’s call ended up being the one who sat beside me on the plane. One of her grandsons offered to take her seat beside me, but she shooed him away and said she was perfectly fine since I was so handsome. The grandson chuckled and said he was trying to save me during the flight and not the other way around. Apparently, his grandmother liked to talk and talk she did.
Her name was Evelyn, and she was on her way to Vegas for her birthday. She wouldn’t tell me how old she was, saying that a true lady never revealed that, but with her short, snow white hair, the posture of her body, and the age of her grandchildren she had to be in her early eighties. I spent the whole flight listening to stories of her and her late husband, and I even caught myself talking about Claire and how I wanted her back. Talking to her made the four hour flight much more bearable.
When we got off the plane, E
velyn walked with me down to the baggage claim while her family trailed along behind us, snickering and laughing until her grandson—who I had learned was named Jacob—came up and took her hand.
“All right, Grandma, it’s time to leave the gentleman alone,” Jacob said, grinning.
Evelyn smiled up at him and brushed his red hair off his forehead before pinching his cheek. The guy had to be in his late twenties, and obviously the one who paid more attention to his grandmother. What she said next didn’t surprise me. “He’s my favorite grandson, but don’t tell the others,” she admitted slyly.
Rolling his eyes, Jacob shook my hand and grinned. “Thank you for humoring her. She doesn’t get out too much these days.”
“It was my pleasure. I don’t have any more living grandparents, so it was nice to spend time with her.”
Evelyn smiled and patted my hand, beckoning me to bend down closer to her. She was about five feet tall while I stood over her an extra foot taller. “If your Claire doesn’t take you back, sweetie, I will be more than happy to take her place,” she uttered, wagging her eyebrows. “You know, I bet if you asked her to marry you she would come back.”
“I will surely think about that,” I promised her. “Have a wonderful birthday and maybe I will see you in one of the casinos.”
She nodded enthusiastically and kissed me on the cheek before her and her family sauntered off. My luggage finally made its round to me so I snatched it up and made sure it was all in one piece. Once I got to the hotel, I was going to drop off my things and head out to scout the places that I was told could lead me in the right direction.
I had a plan forming and I was …
“Hello, Mason,” a familiar voice called out from behind me. Immediately, my heart stopped and I froze, not sure if I’d really heard her voice or if I imagined it. It was impossible. There was no way she could be standing behind me.
I turned around slowly, expecting to have just imagined it, but there right in front of me was an angel in a white sundress; her bright blonde hair draping over her shoulders. However, I wouldn’t necessarily call her an angel with the way she glared at me with her arms crossed at her chest and a scowl on her face.
It was Claire … and she was pissed. What the fuck was she doing here?
I watched Mason as he chatted with the elderly woman in the plane; he was so engrossed in her stories that he didn’t even know I was there. My name came up a few times in their conversations, but I was too far away to hear exactly what they were talking about. I kept my distance as Mason walked to baggage claim with the lady in tow, and I had to admit it was kind of sweet and not something I ever thought I’d see Mason do, except it still wasn’t enough to get me over being pissed at him. He left without saying good-bye, and even if I told him I didn’t want to see him he still should’ve tried.
The old lady and her family finally walked away once they got their luggage, so I walked up behind Mason, arms crossed, and ready to battle. For once he didn’t have his baseball cap on and I noticed that his shortly cropped, dark blond hair had grown out just a bit on top and was gelled in messy spikes. His dark denim jeans hung low on his hips, but what caught my attention was the bright red T-shirt that hugged the bulging muscles in his arms, showing off the lower half of the sprawling eagle tattoo he had that covered his shoulder to mid-bicep.
My God, he’s gotten bigger in the last few months. Was it bad that all I wanted to do was run my hands over his arms and feel them under my touch? His arms were the most magnificent part of his body and being in them was even more so. Stop thinking about that, Claire, I chided myself.
“Hello, Mason,” I said, catching him off guard.
His whole body froze, and I swear it took him over a minute to finally turn around. “What the …” Mason began, completely taken unaware. “What are you doing here?”
“Umm … I flew on a plane,” I remarked sarcastically.
Mason rolled his eyes and groaned. “No shit, Claire. What I want to know is how is this possible? There’s no way you could’ve been on my flight.”
I straightened the bag on my shoulder and nodded, but I was more than happy to tell him how I got past him without him even noticing. “Yes, I was on your flight. I snuck by you when you were on the phone with Melissa. I made her call you because I knew it would distract you. I can be smart sometimes you know.”
“Son of a bitch,” Mason growled, running a hand through his dark blond hair. “I can’t believe she told you where I was going.”
“Well, it’s a lot better knowing instead of reading a good-bye letter wondering when you’d be back,” I hissed. “It would’ve been nice to hear the truth from you, especially if there was a chance I’d never see you again.”
Eyes going wide, he stiffened and balled his hands into tight fists when he asked, “What are you talking about?”
He was angry and I knew he’d be angry with Melissa, but he had to understand why I came. “Mason,” I started, my voice low, “Melissa told me what you were doing here. She told me everything. I came because I thought you could use my help.”
“Hell no,” he thundered, pulling me off to a secluded corner. “I’m not going to put you in harm’s way, Claire. Do you even know the kind of people I’m going to be around? You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you anywhere near that shit. My friend’s wife is still missing and I know what happens to pretty women like you on the street; I’ve seen it. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”
It was true; he’d seen some horrific and disturbing things being a cop, and I couldn’t imagine seeing it up close and personal. He, on the other hand, didn’t know I had connections in Vegas. “Nothing is going to happen to me,” I promised. “I know my way around Vegas, and I know I can help you. You need to hear me out.”
His emerald green gaze grew weary as he stared at me, and I knew deep within my heart what he was wondering. He lifted a hand to my cheek, and it took all I had not to lean into his touch, but then he pulled away before he could make contact. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.
With a heavy sigh, he asked softly, “Is that the only reason why you came … to show me around Vegas? How do you even know your way around here?”
I didn’t want to tell him all the details of why I spent my time in Vegas, but if it came down to disclosing my past to help him I’d do it in a heartbeat. However, of course, showing him around wasn’t the only reason why I came, but I didn’t want him to know that just yet. He couldn’t expect me to come crawling back to him after just a simple letter. He said he would fight for my heart, and I was sure as hell going to make him.
Straightening the bag on my shoulder, I reached down to grab the handle of my suitcase and smiled. “Oh, you know me, Mason. I’m always up for an adventure. Besides, what kind of person would I be if I knew a way to help you and I didn’t? Melissa would never forgive me if something happened to you. Once I help you I’ll leave Vegas and go home to my life, simple as that.”
Narrowing his gaze, he responded dryly, “What about Cooper? Is he okay with all of this or does he even know you’re here alone with me?”
Cooper was furious when I told him what I was doing, and the last thing I wanted to do was lie to him. He deserved more than that and he didn’t deserve to be betrayed. It broke my heart when he insisted on reading the letter Mason wrote to me, except deep down I think he knew I still loved Mason anyway. Cooper was the one who always picked me up when I was down and he was always there for me, except for the time I left for Vegas. I shut everyone out at that time. I loved him dearly, but I knew I was never in love with him. In time I think it might have happened, but there was something about Mason that stirred every fiber in my soul. However, I wasn’t going to let him know any of that yet.
Turning on my heel, I ambled my way toward the exit signs and called out over my shoulder, “Excuse me, but I don’t think mine and Cooper’s relationship is any of your business. Now come on and let’s go. We
can’t get anything done here.”
Mason scowled, but I saw the hint of a smile behind that scowl. He kept his pace beside me and once we got outside, the heat of the Nevada sun engulfed me. Holy shit, I forgot about the heat. It was only May, but it felt like an inferno already; it had to be in the nineties.
Mason swiped the dampened hair off my shoulders and I jumped in response. I wasn’t expecting him to touch me like that … so intimate. The heat in my body jacked up another ten degrees and it wasn’t on my skin where I grew damp. Leaning close, his breath tickled my neck as he whispered in my ear, “I’m not going to lie to you, Claire. When I turned around and saw you my heart did a fucking flip. I didn’t know if I would ever see you again. It killed me to not be able to touch you, and worse it pissed me off seeing you with another man. As much as I don’t want to do this, there’s something you need to understand—”
A cab pulled up to the curb, interrupting him, so he moved away and spoke to the driver before loading our bags in the trunk. He opened the back door for me, but before I could slip inside, he stepped in the way so he could finish what he was saying. “I don’t know how you think you’re going to be able to help me other than showing me around, and you have no idea how happy it makes me to be able to talk to you, to touch you. However, my mind isn’t going to be swayed. I need you safe, and being with me here is too risky. I need you gone as soon as possible.”
I glared at him and was about to tell him he didn’t get to make my decisions for me, but he put a finger to my lips and leaned closer, his nose almost touching mine. My breath hitched, and with his lips so close I wanted to close the distance. “I’m sorry for all that I’ve done and tonight I want nothing more than to make it all up to you in any way you want, but once tomorrow comes I’m sending you on a flight back to California. You mean too much to me.”