The Another Try Collection

CHAPTER NINE-2

Holy crap, he’s got great arms, was all she could think at first as she ran her hands over them before wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

Mason broke the kiss to work his way down her jawline, then dipped to her throat, nuzzling tenderly.

She gasped as he bent his head down to nibble at her collarbone, and she interrupted him only long enough to pull up her t-shirt to give him better access.

“I wondered what you would sound like, how you would feel in my arms, what you would taste like,” he whispered on his way down to do just that.

As his lips reached her left breast, Maddie moaned, arching her back when she felt his arousal pressing against her.

She worked her hands between their bodies and was just about to unbutton his jeans when he raised his head to whisper in her left ear.

“You need to understand,” he growled softly. “I’m not interested in a one-night stand. Not with anyone, but especially not with you. If we do this, I want way more than that from you, Maddie. Are you ready for that?”

Her heart leapt into her throat as she processed what he was saying.

“You what?” she gasped.

“If we do this,” he rasped, his voice full of need, “there’s no turning back. This won’t be a one-time thing and then you disappear on me.”

“A relationship,” she managed.

“Yes,” he growled against her throat.

“I...I don’t know if I’m ready for that,” she admitted. “It’s so soon. I don’t even know exactly what I want to do with my life...”

He lifted his face far enough to gaze into her eyes. “Well, I am ready for that. So, it sounds to me like you need more time to figure out what you want.”

With effort, he set her down gently and stepped back. “And that’s what I was trying to tell you before. But you thought I didn’t want you, so you ran away from me. I followed you back over here to make it crystal clear to you - wanting you isn’t the issue, Maddie. Not at all.”

He turned and started to walk toward the door.

“Wait. Where are you going?” she asked.

He turned back to face her, a scorching inferno of want blazing in his eyes.

“Back to my cabin,” he said. “Where it’s safer for both of us.”

And he was gone.

***

* * * *

What do I want, really? And why do I care so much what people think?

When Mason mentioned a relationship, Maddie’s first thought was, Oh, my. What will everyone think?

But the more she thought about it, the more she realized she flat didn’t give a damn what anybody else thought.

I should march right over there to Mason’s cabin, and...

Okay, hold on a minute, her conscience retorted. Why? Because you truly want to have a relationship with him, or just to prove a point to yourself? Which is it, Maddie?

Does it matter? she fired back.

It absolutely does matter, came the response. Because the wrong reason will only hurt Mason, and he’s been through enough. If you can’t figure out what you want right now, that’s fine. Just don’t wreck him in the process.

She sighed as she moved to her suitcase, dug out one of the bath bombs she’d packed, and headed into the bathroom to soak in the clawfoot tub – and try her best not to think.

***

* * * *

I did the right thing. I did the right thing, Mason told himself again and again as he paced back and forth in front of the fireplace.

She’s not ready to get into another relationship, and I meant what I said when I told her I don’t do flings. Therefore, walking out of there was the right thing to do.

Right?

But the way her lush, ripe curves had felt pinned between him and the wall was seared into his memory. He could still smell the faint scent of vanilla in the perfume she’d been wearing and hear her sweet moans of pleasure.

He sighed, raked his hands through his hair, and continued pacing, because he knew there were only two courses of action he could take at that moment.

Pursuing what I want – what I’ve always wanted - versus giving her the time and space that she needs right now.

It’s as simple and as difficult as that.

I have to choose.

***

* * * *

After a restless night, Maddie stepped out of her cabin at six a.m. sharp for another run. Mason watched her jog past his cabin, waiting until she was out of sight before he slipped out his door and made his way over to her car.

***

* * * *

Forty-five minutes later Maddie was in the homestretch, passing Mason’s cabin again, and she noticed his SUV was gone.

Hm, she thought. Probably went into town for something.

It wasn’t until she reached her cabin door that she remembered the fishing pole they’d left overnight. She veered around the cabin, heading for the dock.

Maddie reached down and picked up the pole, frowning when she didn’t feel the weight on the line that had been there the night before. She slowly reeled it in and was dismayed to find that whatever she’d hooked had managed to cut the line.

Lost a good one.

She sighed, picked up the tackle box, and walked back up to the cabin. As she opened the door, she glanced over at her car and saw something had been left on the hood.

Maddie set down the pole and tackle box and walked slowly toward her car. She reached out and grabbed the paper bag, then entered the cabin.

He brought back my clothes, she realized when she opened the bag and looked inside. But that’s weird. Why leave them on my car? Why not just knock on the door and hand them to me?

It wasn’t until Maddie took her dried clothing out of the bag that she saw the folded-up piece of notebook paper he’d placed at the bottom.

With a trembling hand she reached in and removed it, setting the empty bag down beside her.

She stared at the paper for a moment, then unfolded it to reveal a business card with a phone number and a short message.

Call me when you’ve figured it out. – Mason.

She sat silently for a while, lost in thought, digesting the fact that he’d left without saying goodbye.

And it struck her like a punch in the gut.

Maybe I just lost a good man, too.