Page 35 of The Hero's Bride
Iron rummaged through the cooler on the deck, pulling out a bottle of water. “When Vee and I got back to Virginia Beach, she was going to stay at Hannah’s house, but someone had broken in, so she came here. The entire time, all I could think of was that I didn’t have what she needed to be happy. I told myself lie after lie. She wouldn’t be content somewhere so simple long term. I wasn’t the right man for her. I was too fucked up. In the end, it didn’t matter because she told me what she wanted and how things were going to go.” He laughed and shook his head.
Joker’s eyes were fixated on his wife down by the beach. “I let Sam slip away from me the first time, and they were the most agonizing weeks of my life. All you can do is show her how much she means, then let her make the final decision.”
He looked away from Joker and followed the man’s gaze to the shoreline, immediately seeking Thalia out, too. She was standing now, wading into the water. The sun illuminated the glossy sheen of her dark hair flowing about her shoulders. His chest tightened and he absently rubbed his sternum. He didn’t want to let Thalia go, but it would be worse for her to have regrets.
Chapter Seventeen
Thalia and Viviennestood in the bustling airport, protected by the push and shove of passengers by Iron and Mason’s size and stance.
“I’m going to miss you, but call me when you settle in. I can’t wait to meet Tiny.” Vivienne squeezed her in a tight hug and kissed her cheek. “Iron said we can plan a trip out to see you in a few weeks.” Her friend’s hair was swept up in a messy knot at the top of her head. Gone was all pretense of the model and socialite. Now there was simply a happy woman who had found peace.
“I would love that.” She gripped Vivienne’s arms and pulled her back. “I’m so happy Iron is in your life. That you’re happy and free.” She kept her tone low, so only Vivienne could hear her words.
“And I feel like I can finally breathe now that I know you’re safe.”
With one last quick embrace, she took a step back into Mason’s arms.
“Safe travels,” Iron said to them both before wrapping an arm around Vivienne and walking away from the airport security checkpoint.
Mason blew out a breath. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
The previous night, they’d sat by the bonfire Iron had built long after the others had gone to sleep. She could tell something was on Mason’s mind and when he finally asked her if she was having second thoughts after meeting the other women, he told her she deserved the chance to bond with the others and stay close to her best friend. Part of her wondered if it wasn’t Mason trying to free himself of her, but she squashed it down when she noticed the insecurity in his eyes. He’d been hurt, too. If she was going to take one risk, it would be to see where her relationship with Mason would go. She’d pressed her hands to his broad chest. “What I want most is to be where you are. The best part is I don’t need to choose between having you or friendships. I can have both. Just because you live farther away doesn’t mean I can’t continue forming a connection with them. But the connection I want most is the one I have with you, for as long as I can have it.”
He’d crushed her against his chest, pulling her into his embrace. After a moment, he released a long breath. Had he been holding it as he awaited her answer? It had struck her then that he’d grown up believing he wasn’t enough. Maybe she was fooling herself. Making up reasons that things might work between them. If that was the case though, it would be easy to choose Mason time and time again until he finally started to believe in his worth.
An announcement was broadcast over the airport for their terminal. “Our gate is boarding the flight.”
Mason smiled broadly. “Let’s go home.”
Her breath stilled at his words and emotion saturated her soul. Did she dare to hope?
*
“This is beautiful.”Thalia gripped Mason’s hand as they walked over the grounds of his condo complex. Swaying palms and lush vegetation framed the winding paths. “It looks like the resorts around Colima.”
He grinned. “I guess it does.” They walked past a large swimming pool and Mason gestured to the main door of one of the pristine white buildings. Inside the lobby, colorful furniture in teal and aqua shades were grouped around long, modern electric fireplaces. Coastal artwork hung on the walls and coral and blown glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Although the condo building must cost a fortune, there was an easy, relaxed feel that appealed to Thalia. A trio of kids in bathing suits and flip-flops ran through the lobby, and no one looked twice.
“Wow,” she breathed as she stepped into the elevator. “I see why you chose this place.”
“I love it here.” The elevator dinged. “And my neighbors are great, too.” He took out a set of keys and walked up to one of the doors. “Wait until you meet Mrs. Foster. She’s going to love you.”
“Hey! Red!” Mason turned around and smiled as a boy with shaggy blond hair came running down the hall. “You got back fast this time.” He skidded to a halt, looking from her to Mason.
“Uh, sorry. I’m Kenny.” The boy held out his hand and she took it.
“I’m Thalia.”
“My fiancée,” Mason said. She glanced in his direction but didn’t say anything, unsure if it was a slip of tongue or if there was still a reason to keep up the façade of being engaged.
“Holy shit!” The kid put both hands on his head. “Sorry, ah, wait until Gran hears this. She’s always saying how Red is too nice to never have women around. I guess now we know why!”
Mason smiled at the boy. “We’re going to put our things down, and then we’ll come over to grab Tiny.”
“Sure, yeah. That’s great. Want me to help you unpack? Wait until you see the sweater Gran knitted for Tiny. I keep telling her that reptiles are cold-blooded, and they don’t give a turkey about wearing clothes. She knitted my boa a long sleeve it can crawl into and guess what? The snake actually freaking likes it! Who knows, maybe Tiny will learn to like his clothes, but between you and me, the sweaters Gran knits are itchy as hell. Don’t tell her I said that, though. Don’t want to hurt her feelings when she’s trying to do something nice.”
Mason chuckled. “My lips are sealed. Tell your gran we’ll be over in a few.”
“Right! I forgot. Just come over when you’re ready.” The boy walked backwards all the way to his door and bumped into the frame. He quickly turned around, yelling, “Hey, Gran, you’re not gonna believe this!” just before slamming the door.
