CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
MASON
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I undo the top two buttons of my shirt, tossing the bow tie on the table along with the empty champagne and water bottles, napkins, table decorations and unused silverware.
The night is almost over, and I’ve spent most of it scowling, drinking, watching Lexi and forcing myself to not go near her.
I’m not looking at them.
You should.
Goddamn her. I’m trying to push through my fear of letting the potential little thief in my life—my heart—and she’s acting like she doesn’t want this.
I call bullshit.
Aside from catching her once gazing at me, she’s purposely averted her eyes all night. Which isn’t natural.
Which means she’s in love with me, too.
Arrogant? Perhaps.
But I’ve seen her face as I’m coming inside her, as she sleeps in my arms, as she walks through my home naked and climbs onto my lap.
What we shared wasn’t just a carnal few days of raw sex. It was those things, but in the mix is a whole lot of complicated feelings. Some of them terrifying.
And one big fat secret that could stop us from being together.
Something I’m not sure I can allow.
Two days ago, I hired a private detective to investigate what happened, and he’s been sending me little pieces of information. I don’t have a lot to go on, so if someone—some fucking one—would give me a little more, I could work out what to do with the lump in my chest that won’t budge.
The ache that only goes away when Lexi is in my arms.
Emily skips off the dance floor and heads my way. Her smile wobbles, and she slows to a walk and stops in front of me.
“Mason,” she sighs, placing her hand on my arm and quickly glances at Lexi behind us.
“Having fun?”
“The best. But you aren’t.”
Shit. I don’t want Emily thinking that.
“Not true, it’s a beautiful wedding. I’m really happy for you guys.” I glance around at all the guests in the marquee-covered garden with all the flowers, fairy lights and the band. “I was going to sabotage the speeches but decided to be a good boy this time around.”
Emily grins. “Sebastian threatened you.”
“Yes, he did.”
I laugh despite myself.
“What about Lexi?” She settles in beside me like we are partners in crime and lifts her face.
“Seb didn’t threaten her, as far as I know.”
She bumps my shoulder. “You know what I mean.”
When I look back, Lexi has disappeared, and my heart starts thumping. As it always does when I don’t have my eyes on her and begin to worry.
“Ask your question, Mrs. Remington.” I give her a mock-annoyed look.
“You like her.”
I more than like her.
“More than like her.” Emily reads my mind, and I let out a sigh, turning to face her a little more.
“Yes, I like her...a lot. Has Seb told you about Jack? About what happened to us when we were younger?”
Emily nods, a touch of sadness crosses her face for a man she never knew.
“That impacted me a lot, Em. I didn’t see anything coming. I trusted Sandy. I encouraged Jack to marry her. Had I not, he could be alive today.”
“That’s not true.” She shakes her head.
“Yeah, well, ten years of therapy hasn’t shaken that belief, so here we are. Me falling in love with a woman who has lost her job for a reason I’m not privy to, but all hints lead toward corporate theft.” I scowl as my head slowly shakes, and I cast my eyes around the room again.
Finally, I spot her.
“You love her?”
That fell out. Stupid champagne.
“I mean—” I rub the back of my neck.
Tell her how you feel.” Emily grabs my arm. “You know she’s leaving, right? Don’t live with the regret of losing her if you truly love her. Work this out, Mase.”
Fuck.
I take Emily’s shoulders and stare her right in the eye. “Tell me the truth. Did she do it?”
She shakes her head vehemently.
“You swear on the life of your child?
“On my own life. Lexi would never steal and...shit...I am going to hell for this, but fuck it, if you knew what happened, Mase, you would be furious. I’ve seen you protecting her.”
My brows shoot up.
“Tell me.”
Sebastian walks over. I expected it.
“What’s going on?”
“Em. tell me.”
“Unhand my bride.” Sebastian insists.
“Em,” I tighten my fingers.
Sebastian can punch me if he likes, this is important.
Emily’s gaze flicks from mine to Sebastian. “She was set up. A guy who worked with her tried to assault her, and he set her up. It was him. Not her. But she hasn’t been able to prove her innocence.”
Motherfucker.
I drop my arms, shoot Sebastian a glance, then spin around searching for Lexi.
She was just...
“Her car might be here.” Emily says.
“What car?”
“She’s going straight to the airport tonight.”
I run.