Coldhearted (9781311888433) (25 page)

As an answer, she shifted her body and
straddled his lap. A breath hitched in his throat, and when he
pulled her to his chest, a gasp escaped hers.

She raked her fingers through his soft, brown
hair. “I won’t stop you,” she said, referencing the past when his
ex, Rochelle, had stopped him. “I want you too.”

Through all her layers of clothing, Mason’s
deft fingers found the band of her jeans, tugged it away, and then
slipped his hand down, down, down, fingers about to find its
target. Suddenly, a blast of intense light shone down upon them,
and he was forced to give up, jerking his hand back. The theater’s
bulbs had been turned back on and someone was coming through the
door.

They scrambled apart. Edie nearly fell on the
floor, but Mason held her against him. They managed to stand and
look presentable when not one, but two people entered. Edie
recognized them.

“
Hey” Jules greeted, waving
at Edie.

“
Hey,” Edie greeted back,
and approached.

Mason stood beside Edie, holding her hand, as
if he were claiming her. He had no reason to fear Jules. It was who
she was with: Quinn McDermott.

Quinn stood well above Jules and his broad
shoulders made him look menacing, yet his face was soft, smiling at
Edie.

“
So…are you two on a date?”
Edie asked Jules, considering she and Quinn had arrived for the
evening show.

“
No,” Jules and Quinn said
in unison, loudly.

“
Just a friend thing,” Jules
defended. “I’ve wanted to see this movie, to see how they handle
ghosts, and then I’m going to post my criticisms on my
blog.”

“
How do you know they’ll get
it wrong?” Mason asked her, curious.

Jules waved a hand. “They always do,” she
said, and then looked at Edie. “Right, Edie?”

Edie just nodded, not wanting to discuss
Tristan around Mason.

Quinn stepped forward, close to Edie. “Yeah,
I heard about your ghost.”

“
He’s not my ghost,” Edie
said through clenched teeth even though it was technically
true.

Quinn held up his hands. “Sorry, didn’t mean
to suggest you’re in a love triangle or anything.” He shot a smirk
at Mason. “So…enjoy the movie?”

“
It was okay,” Mason
grunted, not really wanting to engage Quinn.

“
Did you like it?” Jules
asked Edie.

Edie bit her lip, and then said, “Uh, yeah,
sure.”

Quinn was grinning. He playfully jabbed
Jules. “It seems Romeo and Juliet here weren’t exactly paying
attention. They had other things on their minds.”

Mason narrowed his eyes at
Quinn. “You need to brush up on your Shakespeare.
Romeo and Juliet
was a
tragedy.”

Quinn was taller than Mason, so he took full
advantage of this by looming over him. “I know, Romeo,” he said
with a challenging growl.

Mason clenched his fist, ready to brawl with
Quinn, but Edie intervened between them, placing a hand against
each chest. “Stop it,” she ordered, and then she not-so-gently
pushed Quinn. “Be nice.” She turned toward Mason. He was fuming
mad, staring at Quinn. “Let’s go,” she said, and tugged on his
hand. Surprisingly, he let her and they began to walk away toward
the exit that led out into the internal part of the theater.

“
You’re still coming to the
sanatorium this Saturday, right?” Jules called out.

“
No,” Mason barked over his
shoulder. “She’s not.”

Edie just gave Jules a goodbye wave, and then
left with Mason, who was practically dragging her out into the
hallway. He was silent, tugging her along, as if he were on a
mission. When the corridor ended, he finally stopped, released her,
and cursed.

“
Sorry,” he apologized
immediately, raking his fingers through his hair. “I really, really
want to hit something.”

Edie pointed at the Halloween directions in
the corner. One was a scarecrow dressed in a flannel shirt and
overalls. “What about him?” she suggested.

Mason sighed and collapsed on a nearby bench.
“No,” he groaned, and then leaned forward, resting his forearms on
his thighs. “I’ll get over it. Just let me sit here for a while.”
He lowered his head and cracked his knuckles. He was silent for the
longest time until he sat up, and said, “I hate that guy so much.”
She took the seat next to him and he turned his head, staring into
her eyes. “Stay away from him, please. Stay away from Jules. Stay
away from that sanatorium and whatever else she wants to drag you
to. Okay?”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Okay,”
she lied.

She felt really, really awful about that, but
she had no choice. She had to go. It was her life and she had to
rip Tristan from it. He’d been a good ghost today but that didn’t
alleviate her worries. He wasn’t one to give up. He had some sort
of plan, some diabolical scheme, and that was why she had to defy
Mason, and go to the sanatorium on Saturday. She had questions only
ghosts would be able to answer. And Tristan was terrified of that.
And that gave her hope.

“
Do you want to call it a
night?” she asked Mason.

He shook his head and clasped her hand. “I’m
starving. You?”

She nodded. “Jack’s? Milkshakes?”

He smiled and gave her a chaste kiss on her
lips. “Ah, a woman after mine own heart.”

She smiled back. “Now I know what to get you
for your birthday: a bucket of ice cream and a gallon of milk.”

He laughed, squeezing her hand
affectionately. “I knew there was a reason I lov-liked you,” he
quickly corrected. His smile vanished, nervous. “Uh, let’s get
going, okay?”

She nodded. Still holding her hand, he
interlaced their fingers, and they left the theater. She wouldn’t
interrogate him. She wouldn’t force him to repeat what he’d almost
said. That was a heavy word to throw out, and they’d only known
each other for a few days.

But were his feelings for her true?

Is Mason really in love with me?

Chapter 18

Jack’s was crowded but Rebecca got Edie and
Mason a nice booth in the corner.

They placed their orders, and then sat in
silence, as if they’d been together for years, and had nothing else
to talk about. Edie knew that Mason was still thinking about his
almost confession back at the movie theater.

She could say “I love you
too,” and then everything would go back to normal, but she’d be
lying. She didn’t love Mason Fenwick, although she cared for him
very much. They’d only known each other a few days. Love was
supposed to take time, right? It didn’t just happen. There was no
such thing as love at first sight.
Or
perhaps when two people are brought together in a short while
during extraordinary times, love happens
.
It was inevitable and foolish to deny it. Yet…she didn’t love him,
and she didn’t know why.

“
So…what are your plans for
this weekend?” she threw out, trying to engage.

Mason had been looking down—melancholy,
worried, perhaps—but now his head shot up, and he gave her a smile,
glad to be talking again; he’d obviously been hoping that she would
be the one to initiate a conversation.

“
Well, I was hoping we could
hang out.” He furrowed his brow, unsure of her reaction. “If you
want...”

“
Oh, yeah, sure,” she said,
knowing full well that she was going to the sanatorium—against
Mason’s wishes—on Saturday. “I’ll call you, if that’s all
right?”

Mason smiled, exposing his dimples. “Yeah,
call anytime. I’ll drop whatever I’m doing and come over. Or we
could meet somewhere? It’s up to you.”

She tried to keep her face betrayal-free and
smiled to alleviate any suspicions. “We’ll do something in the
evening. What is there to do in Grimsby? I don’t really know that
much about this place.”

Just as Mason opened his mouth to speak, they
had a visitor.

“
Small world, huh?” Russell
said, appearing next to their table. He looked more casual and
relaxed than usual, wearing dark blue jeans, and a “Keep Calm and
Carry On” red T-shirt, under a black leather coat.

“
Hey, Mr. B,” Mason greeted,
and shook Russell’s outstretched hand. He immediately warmed his
hand, as if he’d just touched something cold.

Russell nodded at Edie. “Edie, how are
you?”

“
Good,” she said, and tried
to smile, but she couldn’t.

Russell’s face was masked in a dark shadow,
but he wasn’t Russell Ballantine. He was Tristan Lockhart.

Mason scanned the restaurant’s patrons. “You
here alone?” he asked.

Russell/Tristan stuffed his hands into his
coat pockets. “Yeah, all alone,” he confirmed, and then he withdrew
one hand to gesture at the kitchen in the back. “I’m getting
something to go.” He flashed Mason a charming smile. “I’m just
waiting. Mind if I sit?”

He didn’t wait for either of them to answer,
as he started moving toward Edie. She didn’t want to cause a scene,
so she scooted over along her bench seat and gave Russell/Tristan
plenty of room. Typical Tristan, he positioned himself right next
to her.

Russell/Tristan laid his right hand on the
table. The left hand (that he’d already withdrawn from his coat
pocket), he kept below near her thigh. He was within reach but
stayed his hand, for now.

“
So,” he asked Mason,
“classes going well?”

Edie could tell that Mason felt
uncomfortable, but like her, he didn’t want to cause a scene,
either. “They are,” Mason replied, and left it at that.

Russell/Tristan turned toward Edie. His face
softened but he was just a wolf in sheep’s clothing. “And how are
you doing, Edie, with everything?” He lifted his left hand and
placed it gently on her shoulder. He was ice cold. “Has Grimsby
grown on you?”

Trying not to jerk away and make him mad, she
gently removed her shoulder from his grasp. He returned his hand
below the table without a fuss.

“
Uh, yeah, it’s good.” Edie
turned her frown into a smile, thinking of Mason. “It’s great,
actually.” She gestured at her boyfriend. “Now that we’re together,
I finally feel happy.”

Mason smiled and his cheeks flushed, a bit
embarrassed and proud at the same time.

Russell/Tristan was smiling too, but it was
disingenuous. “I’m glad to hear it,” he lied. “You know, I loved a
girl once, a long time ago.” His fake smile faded. “And I’d thought
she loved me, but she was a deceitful, little bitch.”

Edie and Mason exchanged a look of
horror.

Mason said, “Maybe you should go check on
your carry-out, Mr. B.” Mason was trying to get rid of him, but it
wasn’t working.

The possessed man beside Edie gave Mason a
lopsided smile. “I’ve ordered a lot. It’s not nearly ready.”

“
A lot?” Mason repeated with
a raised eyebrow. “I thought you said you were alone.”

“
Well, here I am,” he said,
gesturing at the crowded restaurant. “But not back at my place.” He
winked at Edie. “She’s keeping the bed warm for me. The food’s for
afterwards.” He turned toward Mason. “I always get so hungry after
sex. Most guys sleep but not me. I’m always famished. What about
you, Mason?”

Mason looked horrified, again. “I don’t think
this conversation is appropriate, Mr. B. Can’t you see why people
suspect you of…of messing around with high school girls? Listen to
how you sound.” He gestured at the limited space between Edie and
Russell/Tristan. “Look at what you’re doing, your actions. Please,
Mr. B, Edie’s been through enough. Just go, okay?”

Russell/Tristan leaned forward,
confrontational, but Mason didn’t flinch. “And what exactly has
Edie been going through?”

Mason knew about Tristan but Russell
didn’t.

“
You know,” Mason said.
“She’s dealing with the death of her parents, dealing with being in
a new town, a place as alien to her as Mars.”

“
Are you saying she doesn’t
belong in Grimsby?”

Mason shook his head. “No, I’m not saying
that. I mean, she can’t take the cold, but that’s just because
she’s from the south. It’s different here.”

“
So what you’re saying is
that she’s different?”

Mason widened his eyes, frustrated. “No. I’m
not saying that.” He gave Edie a soft, loving look. “Edie’s
perfect. I-I never knew how great my life could be with her in
it…and how awful it would be without her.”

Edie wanted to be happy that she had someone
as great as Mason in her life, but she couldn’t smile, not with
Russell/Tristan beside her, giving her chills, and goading
Mason.

Russell/Tristan leaned back and smiled at
Mason. “Aw, how sweet. Young love.” He turned toward Edie. “Take it
from me, Edie: true love doesn’t exist. It’s all fantasy.”

“
Do I have to throw you
out?” Mason threatened, standing up.

Russell/Tristan turned his face slowly toward
Mason’s and stared at him with cold, dark gray eyes. Edie had been
worried before, but now she was positively petrified.

“
Mason, it’s not Russell,”
Edie warned. “It’s Tristan, the ghost. He’s…possessing Russell
somehow.”

Mason slowly returned to his seat. “Russell?”
he repeated to her. “When did you start calling Mr. B by his first
name?” He sounded suspicious.

“
When we kissed,”
Russell/Tristan said, smiling mischievously.

Edie shook her head wildly. “No, he’s lying,
Mason! He’s lying! It’s Tristan, remember?”

Mason was speechless and gave Edie a look of
disbelief.

“
You see?” Russell/Tristan
said to Edie. “He doesn’t believe you. He’s learned. All girls are
conniving bitches. The pretty ones, especially,” he added, and then
trailed the tip of his cold finger down her cheek. “And you, Edie,
are the prettiest one of all.”