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shifted and saw Mason staring
at her intensely. A frisson of desire raced up her spine as she saw
him so focused. Was Ashley right? Was there something in his look
she’d talked herself out of seeing? For a moment, she thought she
saw lust in his glance, but suddenly, he grinned at her and winked,
and any imagined heat was gone.
    After a calming breath, Cassie winked
back and chuckled, although her chest tightened. Of course he
didn’t have those feelings for her. Mason had been an incredible,
supportive friend, and that was all. She needed to get a
grip.
    “ See. You’re seeing more
into things than there is,” Cassie said, lifting her bottle of beer
to her lips and taking a hearty gulp to mask her emotions for a
moment. She put the bottle down and rubbed her finger across
condensation building on the label. “If Mason wanted a woman, he’d
have her—not cast longing looks her way. He’s not that kind of
guy.”
    She was that kind of woman, though,
sitting there yearning for a man she’d probably never have. Unlucky
in love, Cassie’s relationships always turned out badly. Whatever
she’d done wrong in her past life appeared to be catching up to
her, and how. Mason couldn’t be the next Mr. Wrong, not when he was
so, so right.
    “ True. He’s not shy when
it comes to women,” Ashley said with a chuckle.
    A little touch of envy
settled in Cassie’s mind. The thought of other women being free to
touch him whenever they wanted was downright unfair, but then he’d
been single for a while now, which was unusual for him. He hasn’t had a woman that I know of since … the
night Dave left? No, that can’t be right.
    Questions circled in her mind as she
tried to put the pieces together. She glanced his way again and
imagined what it would be like for him to want her as much as she
wanted him. Heat flooded her body seconds before Mason caught her
gaze again.
    She quickly looked away, grabbing a
menu to fan her face. “Is it hot in here, or is it just
me?”
    “ It’s August. What do you
expect? Wait until the band starts and then we’ll really be
sweating.” Ashley stole the menu from Cassie’s grip and started
fanning herself.
    Cassie was overwhelmed with the need
to escape. The air was thick and people were starting to crowd in
as the band tuned up in the background. A club regular, Krunch, was
the reason she’d planned the party there that night. Who better to
send off her Mason than their favorite cover band, in their
favorite hangout, surrounded by friends? So why did she feel the
urge to flee?
    “ Are you ready for the new
school year?” Ashley asked suddenly, changing the
subject.
    Cassie was glad for the break. Work
would help her get her mind off Mason. A new year, with new smiling
faces, would be just the diversion she needed—and when the year was
over, it would mean Mason would soon be home. “I think it’s going
to be a great year. The seventh grade teachers really enjoyed their
students last year, so that’s good news for us.”
    Ashley groaned. “I wish I was staying
there this year instead of taking that new job.”
    Cassie smiled, knowing Ashley would be
better off in her new role, even if she’d miss having a comrade at
the middle school. “You’ll do fine.”
    Ashley smiled wanly. “I feel bad
abandoning you with your losing Mason, too.”
    Cassie lifted her chin. “I’ll be fine.
I’m a college-educated, independent woman. I think I can handle the
two of you off doing your own things.” She needed to keep repeating
that mantra over and over. She’d come to depend on Mason’s
friendship and companionship in recent months. The thought of a
year without him was a daunting prospect. At least Ashley was still
around the corner whenever she needed her.
    She cast a glance to the side, sensing
someone’s stare. Mason had her in his sights, his stare intense.
Cassie held it for a moment, but turned away, unsure of what that
stare was all about.
    Head spinning, she took another