Page 8 of Snowbound Hearts
In order to keep from a brawl breaking out over the damn pie, I raise my voice. “There’s one more game. A scavenger hunt.”
“Scavenger hunt? What the hell for?” Florence asks.
“I’ve hidden some wedding rings around the lodge. The person that collects the most rings and brings them to me after the first dance at the reception wins.”
“Wins what?” Florence asks, intrigued.
“Bragging rights, of course.” I laugh.
“I don’t want no stinkin’ bragging rights. I want a prize.” Florence sits up quickly. “Oh, I know. Whoever wins the scavenger hunt gets the first dance with Mason.”
“What am I being volunteered for?” Mason says as he walks into the room with his hands full of bags.
“Oh. Let me help you with that.” I turn to Sarah. “You start the bingo game.”
“You got it.” she says excitedly.
I run over to where Mason is juggling a bunch of bags in his hands. “Here. I’ve got these.” I grab a few bags and when our hands touch, that old familiar zing zips right through me like a lightning bolt. It’s been years since I’ve felt that. Since the last time we touched each other.
“Thanks.” He hands me the bags. “Now, what am I being nominated to do?” he asks under his breath.
“You’re the prize for whomever wins the scavenger hunt. Don’t worry. It’s nothing bad. Just a dance with the winner.”
“Oh. Nothing bad, you say.” he says with his eyebrows raised. “Have you ever danced with one of them?”
“Ah. No. Why?” I ask as I put the bags down on the counter just inside the kitchen.
“They pinch!” He whines and I burst out laughing.
“Awww. You poor thing. I’m sure you can handle a dance with an eighty-year-old.”
He shakes his head and laughs, “Don’t be too sure about that.”
I laugh with him, and it feels so good. Better than how I’ve felt since arriving here. Putting the bags down, I look up at his smiling face and something happens between us. I can feel us pulling closer to each other.
“A little help here.” Emily says as she’s dropping things all over the floor.
Just as fast as it happened… it’s gone.
And I want it back.
Chapter 6
Mason
When Emily and I get in my truck to go to town for supplies, she punches me in the arm. “You’re the biggest asshole fucktard that’s ever existed. Do you know that?”
“Hey. That hurt.” I rub my right shoulder. “And I’m not sure that’s a real thing.”
“You, Mason Donovan, are an asshole fucktard.” She buckles her seatbelt and then crosses her arms to stay warm while the truck warms up.
“What are you talking about, Em?”
She turns to me with fire in her eyes, “Don’t you ‘Em’ me, Mason. I’m Team Sydney all the way. You, Mr. Big, Bad Marine, are a chickenshit.”
I put the truck in gear, “Am I an asshole fucktard or a chickenshit? Not sure I can be both at the same time.” I carefully navigate the icy road away from the lodge as the snow from the storm has started to fall.
“Oh, you’re both. How could you not tell Sydney your plans to join the Marines before you enlisted?”
