Ripple of Secrets: Rose Gardner Mystery Novella #6.5 (Rose Gardner series Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

thought you had a light week since it’s between Christmas and New Year’s.”
    “I was off for several days, so I need to catch up.”
    I spun around in his arms and looked up into his face. “What were you doing in Little Rock?”
    “Official Fenton County business, Ms. Gardner.”
    That was my cue to butt out. Too bad for Mason I didn’t back down so easily. “Why did you want me out of town while you were gone?”
    He grinned. “I was under the mistaken impression you’d be safer out of town.”
    I gave him an indignant glare. “What happened in New Orleans wasn’t my fault, Mason. I couldn’t help that the psychic Neely Kate went to see was murdered after Neely Kate threatened her.”
    “I never said it was your fault. But I’ve pretty much decided that I should plan on trouble finding you wherever you go, and with that knowledge in mind, it was probably a mistake to send you to New Orleans of all places.”
    I wrapped my hands around his neck. “Then where would you rather send me?”
    His lips lowered to mine. “Our bed. You’re more than welcome to cause all the trouble you want there.”
    He was clearly distracting me, but I knew when to pick my battles. I’d find out tomorrow. He had his sinfully evil ways and so did I.

    The next morning, Mason’s alarm woke me and I was surprised to see it was still dark outside. He turned it off and pulled me to his side, nuzzling the top of my head.
    “Why are you getting up so early?” I murmured.
    “I already told you.” But he pulled me closer.
    I propped up on my elbow and searched his face, barely able to make out his features in the dark. “No, you didn’t. Instead of answering my question, you distracted me.”
    He grinned lazily. “I didn’t hear any arguments.”
    “Mason, I’m serious. I understand you can’t tell me certain things about your work, but you need to tell me if it’s important. I had a right to know about your sting operation last week.”
    His grin faded. “Rose, I couldn’t tell you.”
    “Why?” I asked, getting indignant. “Did you really think I was going to blow your cover?”
    “No.” He sat up. “Of course not.”
    I sat up with him and turned to face him. “Then why did you keep it a secret?”
    He took my hand and searched my face. “Sweetheart, it’s not that I don’t trust you. I would trust you with my life. But you know that, officially, I can’t tell you.”
    “That’s not fair, Mason.”
    He was silent and looked out the window, as if searching for an answer out there.
    “You could have been killed—no, you would have been killed—if I hadn’t been there.”
    “Rose,” he said, sounding more gruff. “If you hadn’t been there, things might have turned out differently.”
    “What does that mean?” I asked, getting angry. “Are you insinuating that I messed up whatever it was you were doin’? Because the way I remember it, you were about to be tossed out on your behind when I showed up.”
    He rubbed his forehead. “I still might have been able to salvage the situation.”
    My mouth dropped open. “You do think I messed it up!”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “You didn’t have to.” I slid out of bed and padded to the bathroom, flipping on the light.
    Mason followed me and stood in the doorway. “Rose, look, I understand why you felt it was necessary to go to Gems that night.”
    I grabbed my toothbrush and looked at his reflection in the mirror. “ Do you? You think I was there looking for Dolly Parton, right? Well, there was a lot more to it.”
    He had the good sense to keep quiet, his eyes focused on mine in the mirror.
    “A good part of the reason I was there was to save you , Mason Van de Camp Deveraux. I thought you might be caught in something that would get you in trouble, and I was there to help you get out of it.”
    He was silent for a moment, his body rigid. “I still can’t believe that you thought I was taking bribes. You really think I’d commit the crime