Chapter 9
9
PIA
“Yes, Mom, things are fine.”
I popped her on speaker and glanced around the office, which had clearly been Mason’s father’s. He’d emptied the desk but his bookshelf was still intact, something I was inclined to leave even though Mason told me I could box anything else I’d like.
It was a cozy, well-appointed space with a view of the lake that Mason assured me he didn’t need, saying there was a desk in his bedroom, though he hardly seemed to use it. Anytime I had seen Mason doing paperwork this past week, it was at the kitchen island.
“Your apartment looks small in the picture you sent yesterday.”
I logged into my computer. “It’s fine, trust me. I’ll send one of my office. It’s got a gorgeous lake view.”
My mother was a sucker for the water, just like me.
“Oohhh, nice. Have you met anyone there yet?”
“That woman I told you about, Delaney. We have dinner plans Saturday night.”
“That’s great.”
Mason appeared in the doorframe, filling it, as he always did. In jeans and a navy distressed T-shirt, his arms were on full display. I waved him inside.
“What about any boys? Oh, and I forgot to tell you, I saw Richard Sterling yesterday.”
Oh my God. Quickly pressing the speaker button, I picked up my phone. “Seriously, Mom. I’ve been here less than two weeks. Have to run though, the boss is here.”
A smiling Mason slayed me. It was so much easier when he was being a jerk, something he did from time to time, though never quite as much as that first day. But sometimes his short, curt responses jarred me. We were opposites in so many ways.
Getting my mother off the phone, I was prepared to pretend he hadn’t heard part of our conversation and thought quickly what I could ask him instead.
“Boys, huh?”
So much for that.
“My mother is very… curious.”
He sat down in the plush evergreen cushioned chair opposite my desk. “Curious?”
“Yes. My sister calls her intrusive, but I don’t see it that way. She just cares and wants us to be happy.”
“Hmm.”
He was so difficult to read. Did the Rangers teach him to do that? Make his expressions completely neutral?
“So I guess that means no boyfriend?”
It was the last question in the world I’d have expected from him.
“No boyfriend.”
Did he have a girlfriend?
“You?”
Oops. It slipped.
“Do I have a boyfriend?”
“Sure. Or girlfriend. Whatever.”
At least he was still smiling. “No girlfriend at present.”
Alrighty then.
“I actually came in to see what you thought of this.” He leaned forward, putting a color palette on my desk. “Parker is going to start working on the reception and foyer area next week, so we need a wall color. It’s similar to the one you sent, maybe a shade darker.”
“Next week already? Wow, that’s quick. How are you thinking to reroute guests?”
“What do you think of some sort of wall divider as soon as they enter, taking them into the parlor? I could have the reception desk moved in there.”
“I think it’s a great idea, and I love the color too.” I handed the swatch back to him. As I did, our fingers touched. Brief enough to hardly notice. But I noticed. And the way Mason looked at me, it seemed he did too.
At first I thought it was my imagination, but every day the charge between us grew stronger. There was no doubt at this point he was attracted to me, and I was to him. Big time.
Boss.
Jerk.
I tried to remember those two things, but when he wasn’t all sulky and reticent, thinking of him like the big jerk he was that first day became more and more difficult. Added to the fact the poor guy’s father just passed away… it was a dangerous train of thought.
Mason cleared his throat.
“I also wanted to mention,” he said, as if that exchange hadn’t happened, “Cole’s heading back tomorrow. You’re welcome to come to O’Malley’s tonight with us to celebrate.”
That seemed like an odd word to use. “Celebrate? That he’s leaving?”
“He’s a pain in the ass sometimes.”
“But you said he’s one of your best friends?”
“Also true.”
“So why are you best friends with a guy who’s a pain in the ass?”
Mason shrugged. “Because he’s also loyal to a fault and a lot of fun when he loosens up. Not to mention, he’s the smartest guy I know.”
“I see.”
“Come out with us tonight. You’ll see what I mean.”
I had no plans and would love to, but… “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Mason appeared genuinely confused. “Whaddya mean?”
Shit. “You know, boss. Employee. All of that.”
“That’s not a concern for me at all. We’re a team of two, three if you count Esther. I think it’s perfectly reasonable for us to be more like friends, but if that’s not what you want?—”
“Oh no,” I reassured him. “That would be great. I just never want to overstep.”
Mason sighed, not like he was annoyed but more as if trying to sort through his response. “I invited you, so no worries about overstepping. Plus, you’re going to be seeing a lot of Parker and Beck, so might as well get used to them.”
Mason had told me about their arrangement, how they were moving in with him. I hadn’t seen much of Parker these past few days, but Beck popped his head into the office periodically. Asking me out, and me saying no, had become a running joke between us. At this point, I didn’t even think he really wanted to go out with me but did it more for laughs. It felt as if we were becoming friends. And I actually liked friend Beck a lot better than potential date Beck. That guy was as cocky as they came.
Actually, they were both pretty cocky.
“What’s so funny?” Mason asked when I didn’t respond but laughed instead.
“I was just thinking about Beck’s latest attempt at getting me to go out with him,” I said, pointing to the vase of white roses on my desk.
“Are you fucking kidding me? I told him not to make you uncomfortable.”
“Oh no, no, it’s not like that. Honestly, I don’t think he even wants to go out with me at this point. It’s sort of just a running joke.”
Mason raised his brows. “I might not get too comfortable with that idea. Trust me, if you said yes, Beck would go out with you in a heartbeat.”
“You think?” I teased, not caring really about the answer since it was never happening. He simply wasn’t my type.
Mason was about to say something more but stopped. Looked pointedly at me.
“What is it?” I prompted, curious.
“Nothing,” he said, standing.
It wasn’t nothing. I was sure of it. And just as sure that Mason wasn’t going to spill the beans.
“What time tonight?” I asked.
“Seven.”
“See you there. If it’s okay, I’m taking off early today for a dentist appointment.”
“Like I said on your first day, there’s no set time or days. As long as we’re on the same page with what we’re both responsible for, think of your schedule as flexible as mine.”
In other words, just get the job done. Not a problem at all.
“Thanks. I’ll email you my final proposal for some of the things we discussed yesterday before I leave.”
“Sounds good.”
He walked out, Mason’s incredibly well-shaped ass impossible to ignore. At my door, he stopped, though, and turned back to me.
“I don’t think so. I know.”
With that, he was gone.
Know what?
I replayed our conversation.
Ahh. Beck. Mason knew for certain he’d go out with me. But was I crazy to think there was another layer to that? Like maybe because Mason would too? It was a train of thought I should definitely not spend any time exploring, just like I should not be excited to hang out with Mason tonight at O’Malley’s.
If only the mind worked like that and you could turn off your thoughts. Fat chance of that happening anytime soon.
Especially when it came to Mason.