I walked out onto the patio with a smile plastered on my face.
Mason was sitting with Grey, who I had met earlier, and the girl he had mentioned.
"There she is." He stood. "Sydney Paige, meet Eden and you've already introduced yourself to Grey." I heard his admonishing tone.
The tall blonde stood to shake my hand. "Nice to meet you."
"You too. Mason said you write for the News & Record?"
"Yes, the online magazine. I started there in May."
"Cool. I was a business major at Carolina. I try to keep up with business trends when I can. How did you get that beat? Did you double major in business?"
God, that would have at least made some kind of sense. I had nothing under my belt other than a terrible economics class sophomore year.
I sat in between Mason and Eden. "When I graduated I started applying everywhere. The online business journal at the Record was hiring so it just kind of worked out. I drove down a week after graduation with nothing but what could fit in my car."
She laughed. "I get that. You could say my current job just kind of worked out too."
She looked at Grey, and I caught the emotional current passing between them. It was tangible. The hues from the sunset caught the corner of her ring and the sparkle landed on the table.
"That's a beautiful ring," I admired.
"Thank you. Grey proposed at Christmas." She held it out so I could examine it more closely. "It was a complete surprise."
I looked at her fiancé. I could see the family resemblance between him and Mason. They both had broad shoulders, defined jawlines and I wasn't sure I had ever seen piercing eyes like that before. The Lachlan men were a dangerous combination. I blushed, knowing my mind was traveling to some dirty places.
"When's the wedding?" I asked.
"October. It's going to be in North Carolina. That's where I'm from."
"Sydney just graduated from Longmire," Mason added.
Eden looked impressed. "Wow. Virginia. You're a long from home too. We Southern sisters are going to need to stick together, don't you think?" She passed a beer to me.
I nodded. It was the closest gesture of open friendship I had had since I moved here. "Definitely."
I could feel Mason's eyes on me. Those sparkly, bright blue eyes. The guys didn't seem to mind that we talked about bridesmaid dresses and hairstyles. They drank their beers, and we all watched the sun go down.
I missed this-nights filled with conversation instead of my DVR. I had started to worry I wouldn't meet people on the island, although technically meeting the family of a source didn't qualify as me getting out in the social scene. I had to remind myself of that. No matter how edible he looked, Mason was a source.
The sky around us grew dark. "Darlin', what do you say we head home?" Grey's hand landed on Eden's knee.
"That sounds good to me." I saw her throw a glance at Mason. I needed an interpreter. "Nice meeting you, Sydney. We'll have to get together later."
"I'd like that. With my schedule I haven't had a chance to meet anyone here."
"Well, we can definitely fix that." She jotted her number on one of the cocktail napkins. I did the same and handed it to her.
She reached for Grey's hand. He looked ready to get out of Pete's Bar.
"See you around, Uncle." He patted Mason on the back.
"That's right. I'll catch you two later."
"You're not leaving Padre right away are you?" Eden asked.
"No, I've got enough to keep me busy here for a while."
"Good." She grinned. "Bye, Sydney."
He waited until they had left before he spoke. "So, what do you think about a round of shots?" He waved the waitress toward us.
I tried to protest while he ordered a top shelf tequila.
"I-I-we still have the interview. I can't do shots."
"Sure you can. I insist." He placed the glass in front of me, brimming with tequila. "One round."
"Only one." I held up my finger.
He laughed at the face I made when I swallowed the shot. "That's good stuff. What a face. It's not like I made you drink vegetable oil."
The tequila warmed me from the inside out. I was hot enough already after trying to stay out of the sun, chasing Mason Lachlan around, and now in dangerous territory with a professional flirt.
I tossed the lime on a napkin. I wasn't sure if it made the tequila better or worse.
"Ahh, this is nice, isn't it?" His eyes were focused on the horizon. Sailboats glided past us. Their lights brighter now that the sun had dipped below Port Isabel.
"It is. Do you spend a lot of time here?"
"I split my time between all of my assets. I'm based out of Dallas though."
"And what do you do when you're in South Padre?" I was certain the tequila had reached all the way down to my toes. Everything felt tingly.
"A little bit of this. A little business."
"And which do you prefer?" The stubble along his chin darkened under the sunset shadow. It gave him a rough and athletic look. A twist after seeing him polished and professional all day.
"It sounds like you're trying to interview me." His gaze moved from the sailboat to me, and my breath caught in the back of my throat.
"I'm only trying to have a conversation. How do I do that without asking questions?"
"How about I ask the questions?" When he smiled like that I could see the straight lines of his teeth.
I laughed. "You want to interview me?"
He shrugged. "Until it's your turn."
The way my cheeks flushed was involuntary. I didn't know how he did that. Everything he said was dripping with sex, without even mentioning it. I pressed my knees together.
"Ok. Let's test your reporter skills. What would you like to know?"
He ordered another round, and I waited for his first question.
"Why would a pretty girl from Longmire drive all the way to this island for a job at an online business journal?"
It was the way he said pretty that made me smile. It was the second time he had mentioned it today. "That's an easy one. I already told you. I needed a job."
"Hmm. I think there must be more to it than that, Miss Paige. How about this one? Was there a guy involved?"
I tipped back the second shot of tequila. This one went down smoothly and I knew why Mason liked it. "You think I moved here for a guy?"
"It would make sense. What's down here for someone like you?"
I didn't know whether to be insulted or complimented. "I told you I moved for the job. It's not really the time to be picky in the job market, especially for someone who just graduated. And no, there was no guy."
"Was there a guy in Virginia?"
I shook my head. "Not for awhile. We broke up before the holidays."
"Was it serious?" His eyes gazed heavily on my lips, and I couldn't resist drawing my lower lip against my teeth.
"Depends on how you define serious, I guess. We didn't date very long if that's what you're asking." I didn't know why I was even answering these questions. It was as if the tequila was some kind of weird truth serum.
He grinned. "So you didn't move here for a guy, and you didn't leave one back home?"
I shook my head. My chest rose with deep breaths. "No," I whispered.
"Sounds like you are unattached."
I didn't know if it mattered to him what my answer was, but I nodded. "Completely single."
"I guess that makes two of us." He grinned, and somehow I felt as if I had just told a wolf my secret hiding spot.
I didn't know much about his personal life. He didn't grant interviews so what I found online were gossip articles and the occasional picture from a groundbreaking. He had no social media accounts, which I guess made sense. He obviously worked hard to keep a low profile. He was busy taking over the world, not adding friend requests.
But there were rumors-plenty of rumors. He was a womanizer. A fun-loving, perpetual player who never got close to settling down.
I wanted to ask him about the women in his life, but it wasn't my turn. I'd have to wait.
"I was wondering if you'd like to see where I live when I'm visiting Padre." His eyes had turned playful. "Maybe you could add it to the interview."
"Your place?" I wasn't entirely sure my voice hadn't cracked.
"Mmm-hmm. Come on." He stood from the table, waiting for me to join him.
I felt the sweet hum of the drinks circle my veins when I met him. "I don't know that I should drive." I looked up at him, suddenly aware at just how broad his shoulders were.
"That's ok, Miss Paige. I live right across the street. We can walk." I didn't expect him to take my hand. It fit over mine, warm, smooth, and strong. I exhaled as he tugged me through the bar.
We emerged in the parking lot of Pete's. He pointed. "I live right over there."
Of course. I had forgotten the Palm Palace was practically next door. I followed him across the street, his grip against my palm firm and reassuring. The tequila was working through me with electric magic.