When You're Back (Rosemary Beach #12)(32)

Once we found our seats, Mase took the one between Major and me. There were two empty seats beside me, but the rest of the row was filling up fast. After Mase and Major left to get beers for themselves and a soda for me, I settled down and watched the people as they arrived. Several girls had their shirts tied like I’d tried to do mine. Smiling, I thought of Mase’s possessive streak; I liked that he didn’t want to show me off.

Someone slipped into the seat beside me, and I glanced up to see familiar green eyes and that stupid smirk. What the heck? He apparently read my face easily, because his smirk turned into a grin. “Fancy meeting you here,” he drawled, as if he didn’t have a hand in this somehow.

A woman with curly blond hair and an overly bright smile leaned over him, showing me her impressive cleavage in the shiny silver tank top she was wearing. “Hi, I’m Kinsley,” she said as she placed a hand on Captain’s leg. I felt like sighing in relief that he had a date. I wished he’d let Kinsley sit by me instead.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Reese,” I replied, with a smile that I didn’t have to force. It was very nice to meet her. Nicer than she could possibly know.

“Isn’t Reese a boy’s name?” she asked with a giggle. “I mean, I’ve never heard a girl called that before.”

I decided not to point out that Reese Witherspoon was a famous actress. I just shrugged. “Well, you have now,” I replied and went back to looking at the people around me and hoping that was the end of this conversation with either of them.

“Didn’t know you were a Pat Green fan,” Captain said beside me. I shot him a quick smile that I didn’t feel.

“I have no idea who he is. But Mase likes him, so here we are.”

Captain made a tsking sound. “A man should take his woman where she wants to go.”

I fisted my hands in my lap. He was already starting in on me. “He does. I wanted to come tonight. I like music, and I’ve never been to a concert before.”

He didn’t say anything at first, but my luck ran out. “So this is your first concert? Ever?” His tone was disbelieving.

I nodded but didn’t look at him.

Kinsley asked him something that I couldn’t hear, and as she chatted away, I knew she was fighting to keep his attention. I couldn’t be more thankful for her. If Mase and Major would hurry up with the drinks, then I’d have Mase to lean into and feel safe from Captain’s nonstop badgering.

“Pat Green is a grassroots kind of country. He’s Texas country. I think you’ll enjoy him,” Captain said to me. “He puts on a good show.”

I turned to look at him. “Out of all the seats in this huge arena, how did you end up in the one right beside me?” I asked. This wasn’t just coincidental.

Captain looked smug. “Where do you think Major got the tickets from?” he drawled.

I knew it. Dang that man.

“If I’d known you had never been to a concert before, I’d have opted for something bigger, though,” he said.

I let his comment sink in. What was he getting at? It wasn’t like he had gotten these tickets for the sole purpose of getting me here. He didn’t even know who Major was going to invite. Or did he?

I had started to ask him when I spotted Mase’s hat, followed by his long, muscular body clad in blue jeans, walking toward me. He was mine—this man who made women’s heads turn regularly. It was hard to believe it, but he was.

“Sorry it took me so long. The line was bad,” he said, sinking down beside me and handing me the soda I had requested. He hadn’t noticed Captain yet.

But Major had. He held up a hand and grinned. “Hey, River, Kinsley. Great seats, man. Thanks!”

Mase tensed beside me, then turned his head to see Captain and his date before looking back at me. I leaned into him and smiled to assure him that everything was fine. He put his arm around my shoulders, and I leaned closer to him, which seemed to ease his tension.

“River gave me the tickets. Kinsley’s the head waitress at the restaurant. They hooked up recently,” I heard Major tell Mase.

Mase just nodded. I knew he wasn’t a fan of the idea of being at a concert paid for by Captain. He ran his fingertips over my arm, tracing patterns while he held me close. His eyes remained on the empty stage, and I knew he was thinking hard.

Captain got up and headed down the stairs—for drinks, I figured. I smiled at Mase. “I’m looking forward to this.”

He pressed a kiss to my nose. “Me, too. One of his songs reminds me of you. Having you here while he sings it will be pretty damn perfect.”

I liked knowing he thought of me when he heard a song. I took a sip of my soda and relaxed. We were going to enjoy ourselves. No need to let Captain ruin it. Besides, Mase didn’t care for him because Captain had said a few rude comments. He didn’t know everything. He’d get over Captain being there soon enough.

When the lights went down and the stage lit up, everyone stood up from their seats, hooting and hollering. Whistles and shouts of “Hell, yeah!” filled the place. Mase stood up, reached for my hand, and pulled me in front of him, wrapping his arms around me. I leaned back against his chest. Nothing else mattered.

I was wrapped up in Mase, and the music was great. Major sang along beside us, and I was surprised by how good he sounded. Like, really good. I never once looked over at Captain and Kinsley. They weren’t even here as far as I was concerned.