Page 89 of The Ranger Gets His Girl

"It's better than cramming so much into one day that you don't have time to enjoy it. Honolulu was way too busy. We could have spent all day at any of the places you dragged me to. We didn't even scratch the surface of the Cultural Center."

She backed up, still facing him. "Well, no one said you had to join me. That's on you. Same as today. You want to finish the waterfall tour? Be my guest."

He growled and prowled after her, forcing her to back up another step down the path. "Not without you. Knowing your luck, something will happen while I'm gone, and I won't be there to protect you."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I've been fine on my own for twenty-three years. I could argue that I only got drugged, kidnapped, and robbed once I met you..."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

The wounded look in his eyes took her breath away, and she tried to smooth it over. "Nothing. Just that you're great at your job."

He glared at her, his back going rigid. "Bullshit. If I was good at my job, you never would've gotten hurt. Amanda never would've died. And the FBI would've offered me the job."

He spun on his heel and strode down the path back to the parking lot. She gasped and raced to catch up with him. She put her hand on his back, and he jerked away.

"What about the FBI?"

He ground his teeth as he said, "They called and said they didn't want to offer me the job, that I was caught in just a few days and compromised the entire mission. They're not even sure they can close the international drug ring now because I blew the whole thing to smithereens."

Lucy giggled, and he stopped and glared, slamming his hands on his hips.

"You're laughing?" he nearly shouted.

She wrinkled her nose and put her hands on his chest to soothe him. "Not at you. The word. Smithereens. It's funny."

He pursed his lips, and his shoulders sank as the wind went out of his sails. He raked a hand through his hair. "I guess it is. But the FBI was my dream—"

She ran her hand across his chest, then up to his biceps. "I know it was. But you know what they say. When one door closes, another one opens."

He scowled, but leaned in and rested their foreheads together. He sighed, "It's a dumb saying."

She sighed, cupping his cheek. Guilt ate at her. "It's all my fault, Mason. I'm so sorry I got caught up with Malia. I didn't know she was your suspect."

He wrapped his arms around her, dipping his head to the crook of her neck. "It's my fault too. If I had told you at the art auction that she was the one I was gathering evidence on, then you would've stayed away from her. But I didn't tell you she was dangerous. I put you in harm's way."

"I'm sorry the FBI isn't working out. I'm sorry I jeopardized your entire career."

He squeezed her tighter and sighed. "It's not your fault. I shouldn't have kept it all from you, especially after you met her."

She hugged him, breathing in the comforting scent. "We can't keep playing the blame game. It serves no purpose except to keep spinning our wheels. Come on, let's go have a fun day going on once in a lifetime adventures and ignore the FBI thing for now, ok? It'll all work out."

He grabbed her hand and linked their fingers, turning to walk back down the trail. "I'm not sure how much fun I'll be today. I really don't want to worry about you getting hurt for all this crazy shit."

She squeezed his hand. "If you're with me, I won't get hurt. You're my hero."

He didn't reply other than a side eye glance. She wondered if she'd said too much.

Chapter 34

Lucy leaned back in the bathtub. The bath salts were working their magic on her sore muscles. The day had been much more active than she normally was, with over twenty thousand steps logged on her smart watch.

She didn't want to admit it but maybe Mason was right. She had over planned the day. Constantly worrying about missing the next event had her not really taking in all the sights and sounds that she'd wanted to.

Mason had dropped her off at the resort after she'd fallen asleep in the car on the way back from the airport. He'd given her strict instructions to jump in the hot tub or take a bath for her sore muscles, but to be careful with her shoulder.

He'd said he was going to meet his FBI contact again to discuss the phone call. She hadn't questioned him on it, even though it was already dark. She'd been too tired.

The phone rang again, and she turned off the jets to answer it.

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