Chapter 27
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
MASON
“ A re you smiling at a text?” Sam throws an empty Pepsi can at me. Both my brothers are here for the day. Chloe, Sam’s wife, is helping Josie, Jacob’s wife, go prom dress shopping for Josie’s teenage daughter. They let her skip school and everything to be here, and we have plans to go to dinner tonight.
“No,” I reply without looking up.
“For someone who goes undercover for a living, you’re a fucking terrible lair.” Jacob crosses his arms and stares at me.
“Whoever it is,” Sam starts. “Should I pretend to want to date her?”
I cock an eyebrow and just give him a you’re fucking stupid look. He’s trying to poke fun at me but is failing miserably. It wasn’t that long ago he was denying his feelings for Chloe and I said if he didn’t like her, I’d make a move just to force him into action. “And what would Chloe think about that?”
“Rory’s roped her into her little match making schemes so I think she’d be fine with it.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “It’s just this chick I’ve been working with. She’s undercover, not me. And I can’t say more than that.”
“That was not a I’m just texting a coworker smirk,” Jason goes on.
“Okay fine. She’s hot. And feisty.”
“You got it bad for her,” Jason goes on and it’s like we never left middle school.
“I don’t,” I retort, glad I’m able to keep a poker face. Because I do have feelings for Mira. After meeting her friends a few days ago, the lines have blurred even more. Enzo hasn’t really texted her much, making me think this well may have run dry. “I’m going to turn her down tonight anyway. We got plans.”
“Invite her to come with us.”
“I don’t know if she’d like that.”
“Why not?” Sam asks. “We’re awesome. Though I can pretty much promise you the conversation is going to be all about Chloe’s new horse.” He rolls his eyes and Jason laughs, mostly at the fact that he’s annoyed but because he’ll be talking about hosers too.
“She has a horse,” I say and almost regret it.
“She’d fit right in.” Sam holds up his hands. “Dude, you gotta invite her. Or at least let me see what she looks like.”
My brothers give me shit until I pull up a photo of Mira, and they’re impressed—of course.
“How long has this been going on?”
I shake my head, not really sure when things shifted from strictly work-related to something more. “Not too long. Three, four weeks maybe.”
“That’s long for you, dude. She must be good in bed,” Sam says.
“I haven’t slept with her. Yet,” I add hopefully.
“Seriously?” Jacob’s eyes widen. “You like-like this chick. Should we call Mom? Give her the good news that you won’t be single and alone forever?”
“You’re an ass.”
“He’s right,” Sam says, acting like he’s agreeing with me. “Let’s not get Mom’s hopes up.”
Jacob points to my phone. “She’s texting you again. Invite her. Better she get to know this fucker early so she can opt out of the Harris family before it’s too late.”
“Fuck you,” Sam jeers and I look back down at my phone. She sent a screenshot of the Instagram account I had set up for her and it takes me a few seconds to realize what she’s showing me. Bianca Moretti is following her.
Mira: I’m not quite sure how Mr. Super Special Agent wants me to proceed. Obvs Enzo mentioned me. She’s my target demo. There’s a chance she might recognize me.
Well, this is definitely something that should be handled in person.
Me: We’ll figure it out tonight. What are you doing for dinner?