Page 97 of The Ranger Gets His Girl

She looked at the time and her brows lifted. She'd been hanging out by the pool and writing for hours. They'd decided that their last few days in Hawaii would have no excursions. They were both exhausted with jello for legs from all their hikes anyway.

Mason had kissed her cheek and said he was going to run some errands. She grinned at his text like a lovesick fool. He had been doing things for her, not for the FBI! Her heart felt like it would burst in bittersweet happiness. That massage would feel so good.

She bit her lip and thought of what to reply. In the end, she just sent a thumb up emoji. She tried to finish writing her chapter, but her mind was on Mason.

She went to the massage deliberately turning her mind back to her book. But the massage felt so good, she found all thoughts floating away on the soft sea breeze.

When Lucy went back to the room, her mind was lazily trying to work out a plot problem in her book. She opened the door and gasped.

Rose petals were strewn all over the bed. On the table in the corner were two plates covered with domes, and a bottle of champagne sat in ice in the center.

Mason opened the balcony door and stepped inside. He was still dripping wet in his swim trunks, but his eyes were hesitant and wary.

She waved her hand at the room. "What's all this?"

He hunched his shoulders and looked down. Surely he wasn't embarrassed by this show of—was it affection? Or something else?

"I'm sorry for harping on you earlier about passing out. It's not something you can control, and it's not something that should keep you from living life however you want to live it."

Her heart stuttered, and she set her bag down by the door and stepped over to him. She cupped his cheeks and stared into his deep blue eyes.

"You don't know how much hearing that means to me," she said, tears pricking her eyes.

His brow furrowed, and he kissed her lightly on the lips, then leaned back. "Would you like to tell me about it over dinner? I hope room service is ok."

She let him pull a chair out for her. She sat, still in her bikini and see through white cover up that she'd worn to the spa. He lifted the lid on the fish dinners, and she breathed in the spicy aroma.

"This smells delicious. I didn't realize how hungry I was. Thanks for this," she said, picking up her fork as he opened the champagne and poured them both glasses.

"I hope it lives up to its reputation. It came highly recommended from the concierge."

"Is that who helped arrange all this? And the massage?"

He nodded and twirled his fork around the pasta. "Yes, nice man."

They settled into silence as they both ate. She moaned as the sauce teased her taste buds. "Oh my God, make sure you tip that guy. This is so good."

His eyes darkened, and she felt her cheeks flush. She knew that look. It was his sexy time look.

"I'll do that. I'm glad you like the surprise. You'd said before that you didn't like surprises, but I took a shot."

She grinned and raised her glass to him. "I don't call you hot shot for nothing, you know. I'd say you hit a bullseye."

His shoulders relaxed as he smiled and took another bite. Her eyes roved over his bare chest. She couldn't get over how muscled he was, how perfect for her. Yet he wasn't hers, was he? He was still Amanda's.

He took another bite before saying, "Tomorrow's Valentine's Day. The concierge mentioned a masquerade ball tomorrow night at the Paradise restaurant."

Her lips twitched. "Mason, are you asking me to be your Valentine?"

He grinned. "Absolutely. Will you?"

Lucy's cheeks heated as a smile crept across her cheeks. "Well, since you asked so nicely, I guess the answer is yes." She chuckled. This was her first Valentine to share with someone special, and there's no one else she'd rather share it with than the man she loved. She chewed and then asked, "We haven't tried that restaurant yet, have we?"

He shook his head. "No, because they have a dress requirement, and I didn't bring any collared shirts. So I didn't even ask, but if you'd like to go to the ball, we could go shopping tomorrow?"

Her lips quirked. "You want to go shopping? Willingly? Do you have a fever?"

He grinned and sipped his drink. "I had a massage today too, so maybe I'm feeling too nice and relaxed."

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