Page 66 of The Ranger Gets His Girl

It was too much change at once. Frustration mounted, but she didn't want to take it out on him. Her dad had done that, and she wouldn't fall into the same pattern.

One glance at Mason, and she suddenly understood how her mom felt all those years. She always stayed by Dad's side, never questioned his excuses no matter how many times Lucy told her he was lying. Her mom never stopped hoping for the best.

And Lucy was doing the same with Mason. She wanted more time with him, more attention from him. She blinked, still staring at him even as her heart began to race in panic. She couldn't let history repeat itself.

But it might be too late. One of the bricks around her heart crumbled as she stared at him. He was asleep, head leaning back against the wall, ankles and arms crossed.

The poor man, he'd been out until after midnight gathering whatever evidence he needed for the FBI. Between working half the day and taking her on all their adventures, he was probably exhausted.

He wore a plain t-shirt and jean pants over his boots. Who wore boots to the beach? Yet somehow he didn't look uncomfortable in them. He looked open and relaxed. She wanted to stroke his face and lay on his chest.

She felt the energy threaten to explode. She reached out a hand to shake him awake but closed her fingers before she could touch him.

Her head hurt, but whether from thinking about Mason all morning, she wasn't sure. It was probably all the sun and crowds. Thankfully, the presentation was inside with dim lights. She tried to breathe deeply and regulate her breathing, but it just got shorter and shorter.

She looked around, looking for a way out, but the presenter ended his presentation and the crowd clapped. She'd completely blanked through most of the presentation. She winced at the sound and automatically reached out to Mason like a lifeline.

Chapter 25

The lights came back on and applause rippled through the audience, driving her heart rate up as she startled. She squeezed his thigh, but he grabbed her hand tight and twisted.

She gasped, and his eyes opened, unfocused. She tugged on her hand, and he blinked, glancing down and realizing what he was doing. He released her and sat up straight, looking around the crowd with a frown.

"Sorry about that. Side effects of the job. Are you ok?"

She rubbed her wrist and stood, grabbing her purse and shopping bags on shaky legs. First the panic at turning into her parents and then his weird wrist thing. He took the shopping bags and cleared his throat.

"Lucy?" his voice was soft and vulnerable.

She stood, his gentle hand on her elbow and his brow furrowed in worry. She nodded, glancing away. She had to get out of here. Swiftly, she passed the crowd out the door, leaving Mason to follow.

He cleared his throat. "What's next on the to-do list, sunshine?"

She breathed deeper at the topic change. She didn't want to talk about why she was feeling so overwhelmed. It was festival day, and she was determined to enjoy it.

Her body had other ideas. Dizziness washed over her. There were too many people, too many thoughts, too many emotions.

She stepped between two buildings and the crowd on the sidewalk. She leaned her head back and breathed deeply, closing her eyes.

"Luce? You ok? What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. Just need a moment, that's all."

She felt heat on either side of her head and opened her eyes. He was leaning his forearms on the wall next to her head, caging her in with his body. He wasn't touching her but was close enough to smell.

She raised a hand and placed it on his chest. She didn't know if it was to push him away or pull him closer. He didn't say anything else, and she just stared at her hand on his chest as it rose and fell with his breathing.

Somehow her breathing started to mimic his and the dizziness passed. She took a deep breath and looked up at him. His blue eyes stared at her, assessing and worried.

Her other hand cupped his cheek, and she raised on tiptoes and kissed him softly. It was a gentle kiss, full of promise and hope. It made her long for a more lasting relationship with him.

But she couldn't do that. She wouldn't be like her mom, hanging her entire identity and all her hopes and dreams on one man.

She broke the kiss and sighed, leaning back with a smile. He stepped back too, his face smoothing as the worry faded.

"Thanks," she said softly, pulling her phone out of her pocket. "Now, how about lei making on the beach, followed by ukulele lessons. You up for it?"

His eyes flared, and he growled, "Around you, I'm always up for it."

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