Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
MASON
The town square glows with Christmas lights as I park near the massive pine tree waiting to be illuminated. Destiny practically vibrates with excitement beside me, her enthusiasm for small-town holiday traditions both baffling and endearing.
"It's perfect," she breathes, taking in the scene, children running with sparklers, vendors selling hot chocolate, townsfolk gathered in cheerful clusters. Her hazel eyes reflect the twinkling lights, making something in my chest tighten.
I scan the crowd automatically, searching for any sign of a threat. Tom texted earlier that the black Escalade was spotted near the county line but hasn't reappeared in town. Still, I'm not taking chances with Destiny's safety.
"Ready for this?” I ask, offering her my arm.
She slips her mittened hand through my elbow, pressing close to my side. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We step into the crowd, immediately greeted by Mrs. Peterson, who wastes no time announcing our engagement to anyone in earshot. Destiny plays her part flawlessly, beaming with apparent adoration every time she looks at me. Her acting is so convincing that I almost believe it myself.
"How did he propose?" Darlene asks, cornering us by the hot chocolate stand.
Before I can formulate a response, Destiny launches into the elaborate story she's been perfecting.
"It was at the mountain overlook. We'd gone stargazing, Mason knows all the constellations.
The snow started falling, just these perfect fat flakes catching in our eyelashes.
" She sighs dreamily, leaning against me.
"I thought we were just having a romantic evening, but then he got down on one knee. .."
Darlene and several other townspeople hang on her every word. I should be uncomfortable with the fabrication, but something about watching Destiny spin our fake love story makes me want to live up to the man she's describing, the romantic who swept her off her feet under a blanket of stars.
"I couldn't imagine my life without her," I add, surprising myself. "Once I knew, I couldn't wait."
Destiny's eyes widen slightly at my contribution, but she recovers quickly, reaching up to touch my cheek. "He said the most beautiful things. I cried like a baby."
"Pigs must be flying somewhere." Darlene chuckles. "Our resident brooding therapist finally met his match."
As we move through the crowd, Destiny stays glued to my side, our hands intertwined. Her touch feels increasingly natural, her fingers fitting perfectly between mine.
"You're good at this," she whispers between greetings.
"At what?"
"Pretending to be in love with me."
I look down at her upturned face, her cheeks flushed with cold and excitement. "Who says I'm pretending?"
Her breath catches, but before she can respond, the mayor calls for everyone's attention. The countdown to the tree lighting begins, the crowd joining in enthusiasm.
"Ten! Nine! Eight!"
I pull Destiny in front of me, wrapping my arms around her from behind. She relaxes against my chest, fitting there like she was made for it.
"Seven! Six! Five!"
"Make a wish," I murmur against her ear.
She turns her head slightly. "That's for birthday candles."
"Four! Three!"
"Humor me."
"Two! One!"
She closes her eyes just as the massive tree erupts in dazzling light, illuminating her face in a golden glow. The crowd cheers, but I only see her, the curve of her cheek, the slight upturn of her nose, the fullness of her lips parted in wonder.
"What did you wish for?" I ask when she opens her eyes.
She turns in my arms to face me, her expression suddenly vulnerable. "Something I shouldn't."
Her gaze drops to my mouth, and this time there's no Jax to interrupt, no reason to pull back. I cup her face in my hands, giving her plenty of time to retreat.
She doesn't.
I lower my mouth to hers, and the world narrows to this single point of contact. Her lips are soft and warm, hesitant at first, then eager. She tastes like cinnamon and chocolate, her small hands fisting in my jacket to pull me closer.
There’s nothing performative about the way my heart hammers against my ribs or how her soft sigh vibrates against my lips.
When we finally break apart, her eyes remain closed for a heartbeat longer, her face tilted up like a flower seeking sunlight. The vulnerability in her expression makes my chest ache.
"Was that part of the act too?" she whispers.
"No." Honesty feels dangerous but necessary. "That was real."
Her eyes search mine, looking for deception or regret. Finding neither, she rises on tiptoes to press another brief kiss to my lips. "Good."
The single word contains multitudes. I wrap my arm around her shoulders, holding her close as we turn to watch the community choir perform. My mind replays the kiss on endless loop, analyzing every nuance of her response.
"Mason! Destiny!" Jax's voice cuts through the crowd. He approaches with his better half by his side. "Glad we caught you. This is Riley, my fiancée. Riley, meet Mason's fiancée, Destiny."
The women exchange greetings while I clap Jax on the shoulder. "Nice tree this year."
"Better company," he replies with a significant glance at Destiny. "She's good for you."
"It's not what you think."
"Isn't it?" Jax raises an eyebrow. "That kiss looked pretty convincing from where I was standing."
I don't have a response for that. The kiss was convincing because it wasn't an act. But explaining the complicated reality of our arrangement feels impossible.
"We still on for dinner?" I change the subject.
"Absolutely. Riley's been cooking all day."
We agree to meet at their place in an hour. As Jax and Riley walk away, Destiny slips her hand back into mine.
"They seem nice," she says.
"They are. Jax saved my life after Sarah left."
"Literally?"
"Figuratively. Got me out of the house, forced me to rejoin the living." I lead her back toward the truck. "Riley's good for him. Keeps him grounded."
"Like I keep you grounded?" There's a teasing lilt to her voice.
"You do exactly the opposite," I admit. "You make me feel like I'm free-falling."
Her smile falters. "Is that a bad thing?"
I consider the question as I help her into the truck. Is it bad? Three days ago, I would have said yes without hesitation. Now I'm not so sure.
"It's terrifying," I finally answer, starting the engine. "But maybe that's the point."
Dinner at Jax and Riley's cabin is surprisingly relaxed. Riley welcomes Destiny like an old friend, pulling her into the kitchen to help with final preparations while Jax and I open wine.
"Your engagement still fake?" Jax asks quietly, nodding toward the kitchen where the women laugh over some shared joke.
I've never been able to lie to Jax. "Started as cover." I take a sip of wine. "Now I'm not sure what it is."
Jax studies me for a moment. "You've got feelings for her."
"It's been three days, Jax."
"So? Riley and I knew after one weekend."
I shake my head. "This is different. She's vulnerable, traumatized. The last thing she needs is me complicating things."
"Or maybe you're exactly what she needs." Jax claps me on the shoulder. "For a therapist, you're remarkably bad at applying your own advice. Not every connection is doomed to fail just because Sarah couldn't handle your job."
His words hit a nerve I thought had long since gone numb. Before I can respond, the women return with appetizers, and the conversation shifts to safer topics.
Throughout dinner, I watch Destiny, the animated way she tells stories, how she listens intently when others speak, the genuine warmth of her laughter. She's a natural people-person, drawing out Jax's dry humor and connecting with Riley over shared teaching experiences.
"Mason mentioned you teach second grade," Riley says as we finish dessert, Destiny's incredible cookies served with ice cream.
"Taught," Destiny corrects. "I'm between positions at the moment."
"Well, you should talk to Principal Garcia at Whisper Vale Elementary," Riley suggests. "They're desperate for a long-term substitute starting in January. Their second-grade teacher is going on maternity leave."
Destiny's eyes light up before dimming again. "I don't know if I'll still be here in January."
The reminder that our arrangement may very well be temporary lands like a stone in my stomach. Of course she won't stay. Once the danger passes, she'll move on, rebuild her life somewhere else. Somewhere safe. That was the plan from the beginning.
So why does the thought make my chest constrict painfully?
The drive home is quiet, both of us lost in our own thoughts. Fresh snow falls softly, coating the road in a pristine white blanket. I drive carefully, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the center console.
Without warning, Destiny places her hand over mine. "Thank you for tonight," she says. "For all of it. Dinner, the tree lighting... the kiss."
My fingers interlace with hers automatically. "You don't have to thank me."
"I know. But I want to." She squeezes my hand. "You've given me something I haven't felt in a long time."
"What's that?"
"Hope." The word hangs in the air, fragile and powerful.
We're halfway home when I notice headlights behind us, keeping pace despite the worsening weather. My skin prickles with awareness.
"Mason?" Destiny's voice holds a question.
"I see it." I accelerate slightly, watching the vehicle match our speed. "Could be nothing."
She twists in her seat to look back. "It's an SUV. Black."
I make a sudden turn onto a side road. The SUV follows. Destiny's hand tightens on mine, her breathing becoming shallow.
"It's him," she whispers. "I know it's him."
Protective rage surges through me. I pull my hand from hers to reach for my phone, dialing Tom with one touch.
"Black Escalade following us on Pinecrest Road," I report when he answers. "Heading toward my place."
"On my way," Tom responds. "Keep driving. Don't stop."