Page 63 of Caught in the Crossfire

“What did she say?”

“It’s not what she said so much as what the town grapevine is saying. The general consensus around town is that Mason and Riva were having an affair, and that’s why he spent so much time at her house.”

Linc stared. “Do you believe her?”

“No. If Mason was unhappy with our relationship, he’d tell me straight out. No lying or slinking around for him. That’s not who he is. For that matter, I wouldn’t stay in a relationship where I didn’t feel valued and loved.” Been there, done that, and burned the t-shirt.

“Tell him before he hears it somewhere else.”

“Not tonight.”

A snort from the PSI instructor. “Good luck with that. You can’t lie worth anything. He’ll see right through you.”

“Smart aleck,” she muttered.

“Just calling it like I see it.” He unpacked their dinner and opened one container to check out the contents. “Oh, man. One of my favorite meals from Delaney’s. Good choice, Nic.” He dug into the bag again for the pie she had requested. His eyebrows rose. “A cherry pie, too? I’ll have to run a couple extra miles tomorrow.”

“I figured your friends from Bravo or Durango would help you burn any excess calories you consumed. They seem to have a pretty aggressive PT program going at PSI.”

“Those boys aren’t joking around. Their PT is more intense than what I went through in the military.” Linc’s phone signaled a text. “Perfect timing. Mason is here. Get your game face on.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Mason stared into the yard draped in shadows of night as he sat on the outdoor couch, his arm around Nicole’s shoulders. One look at her face when he walked into the house after work and he’d known something was wrong. Although he pressed her to tell him what was troubling her before the meal, she insisted the conversation wait until after dinner.

When she remained stubbornly silent, Mason tucked her closer to his side. “Tell me what upset you, Nicole.” Had she decided he wasn’t worth the risk after all? No, he decided. She would have said so rather than draw out the drama. A strong, capable woman, Nicole Copeland said what was on her mind. If she’d concluded she was better off without him in her life, she would have made a quick, clean cut.

“I spoke to Greta today.”

He kissed the top of her head, scrambling to remember who she was. “Three chihuahuas, right?”

“Cutest dogs ever.” She relayed the conversation.

The more she talked, the more incensed he became. “Do you believe her?”

“Never.”

The quick, certain response lessened the tension wracking his body. “Good, because it’s not true. I love you. There is no other woman for me. If you broke our engagement, I’d do my best to win back your heart or go through the rest of my life alone. No other woman could take your place.”

She pressed her fingers against his mouth to still his words. “I feel the same way about you. There is no one else for me, Mason. I adore you. I also trust you to be honest with me. If your attention had wandered to another woman, you would break our engagement, not two-time me.”

“If you didn’t believe I was guilty of cheating, why were you upset?”

“Because the accusation and gossip aren’t fair to you. You’ve done nothing wrong, yet people are quick to find fault and point fingers. When will it stop?”

“With my prison record, some people may never give me a fair shake.”

“Not learning who the real Mason Kincaid is will be their loss.” She rested her head against his shoulder. “What can we do to quell the wagging tongues in town?”

“Ignore the gossips. Even if I took out an ad in Megan Kelter’s newspaper to declare my innocence, people wouldn’t believe me.”

“This is a small town, Mason. Someone must have heard or seen something to help the police discover who killed Riva.”

Mason glanced down at her. “What are you suggesting?”

“What could it hurt to ask questions?”

He scowled. “A lot if the killer finds out you’re poking into Riva’s murder. The police also prefer we not interfere in their investigation.”

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