Chapter nineteen
Maria
With all that’s been going on, I hate that I have to do this interview right now. We’ve already scheduled to have Mason and Miles do it together. This makes more sense to me than doing an interview of Mason alone. I haven’t approved this with my boss, but I don’t care. I’m not super happy with Robert right now, and I don’t do things I’m uncomfortable with. I’m not sure how Miles will feel about this now that Ruth’s brought up concerns.
He’s still agreed to the interview though, so that’s in my favor. This deal hasn’t fallen apart yet, so I’m crossing my fingers. The thing is, though, if I find out that the rumors are true, I won’t be the one to close a deal. I’ll walk away. I can’t live with myself if I do something I don’t truly believe in.
I make my way to Mason’s house where I’m meeting with him and Miles. This is business, instead of pleasure. I’ve yet to come to Mason’s house where we aren’t throwing each other against the walls within seconds of me entering the home. We’ll have to be on good behavior this time with Miles in the place. He’ll eventually leave, though. This makes me smile. It seems pleasure now consumes my mind far more than work does.
I sit in my car for a few moments as I go over my interview questions. I want to be fully prepared for this. Just because Mason and I are a couple, and I can consider Miles a friend can’t impact this article I’m writing. I need to do it justice for them and for me as the writer.
I finally come to the door and Mason opens it before I can knock. He’s smiling before he pulls me close and gives me a kiss. I push back with a laugh.
“I was wondering how long you were going to sit in your car,” he tells me.
“I was looking at my notes. No kissing me right now. I’m in work mode,” I tell him, but I can’t quit grinning.
“All work and no play makes for a very boring life,” he tells me.
“That’s never been my saying, but I’m starting to believe you now.” I give him one more quick kiss. “But not today. I’m trying to win over your brother.” This makes him laugh.
“You’ve already won both of us over,” he assures me. I push him back.
“Don’t forget that I’m interviewing you today, too. If you’re a good boy, and behave for the interview, you’ll be rewarded after,” I promise with a wink. He pulls me to him and shows me how much this promise affects him. I laugh again as I pull from him and dance away.
“Behave!” I tell him with a giggle. I can’t help but notice the tightness of his pants. I like this a little too much.
“Both of you behave,” Miles says as he enters the room. “I’m giving up time flirting with my fiancé for this.” My cheeks flush red and I look to the floor for a minute as I try to gain control over myself.
“I’m sorry. This isn’t very professional,” I finally say.
Miles laughs as he waives his hand in the air. “We can get professional in a moment. I like seeing my brother so whipped.”
“I’m not whipped, but this woman does tie me up,” Mason says. I like that I do that to him. It’s very mutual.
“Okay, let’s sit down and get to this,” I say. I do really like Miles. He’s a good man. I still have no answers on my company right now, but no contracts have been signed yet. This is an interview, nothing more. I’m looking forward to getting to know him more.
“I’m ready. Let’s talk,” Miles says. I follow him and Mason into the living room where Mason has drinks and snacks set out. I take a seat as he pours me a glass of wine. I normally would never drink while doing an interview, but as each of them pick up a glass, I don’t want to be the only one refusing. I decide to slowly sip on it. The problem is the wine’s delicious, dang it, making me want to guzzle instead of sip.
“Miles, what attracted you to the world of romance?” I ask. This is the question the fans most want to know. When a male author turns to romance it’s a story. Sure, there are some greats out there, but it’s a mostly female dominated market.
Miles grins from ear to ear. “To be honest, I couldn’t stand romance when I started writing. Or at least I didn’t think I liked it. That was until I met Emily and she changed my opinion on this. She also pointed out that there’s romance all around us, that I simply wasn’t looking for it. Without romance, there is no plot to any story, even the twisted ones. Since meeting my soon-to-be wife, I find that I love the world of romance so much more. I see the birds flying overhead, hear the song in the trees, and find myself wanting to dance in the rain. I can’t feel this strongly about love and not want to write about it. I don’t think I have a choice. A writer can only put words on paper that they feel. When an author forces words, the fans notice. It comes out as less than genuine.”
I beam at him. “Beautiful answer. You’re breaking a million hearts right now that you’re a taken man while at the same time making them fall in love with you anyway,” I say.
“I’m most definitely a taken man. I didn’t know what real love was until I met Emily. I can’t imagine my life without her,” he says. I want to sigh now.
Mason chuckles, but as I look over at him I see the intensity in his eyes, making me wonder if that’s what’s going on with us. Are we falling in love? Are we already there? How does a person know? I shake my head as I focus on Miles again. I can’t go down this train of thoughts right now.
I ask a few more questions as the interview smoothly flows. It’s easy chatting with Miles, like two friends meeting, sharing a drink, and talking about their lives. Miles is engaging and incredibly articulate. He’s funny as well, and has zero problem sharing his journey with me. Authors sort of give up their privacy when they open up their brains for the world to see. I’ve never felt this as strong as I do now while talking to Miles.
“Miles, what inspired you to do this potential collaboration we can’t speak about at the moment?” I ask with a chuckle.
“Don’t we all love super-secret announcements?” he asks. “My wife Emily inspired me for this one. I’m thinking of staring in my own Romcom next. I’ve fallen in love with romance which means I want to work with the best so I can perfect my craft. I’m also fascinated by the complexity of relationships, how they form, how they build, and how they last. What causes them to end. There’s so much more involved than people realize, and as imperfect humans we make mistakes that can’t be taken back. When we’re in the right relationships, though, people forgive us. I want to write about it all, the good, bad, and beautiful.”
“Can you tell me more about your background and how it’s influenced you as a writer?”
“I grew up with my twin, Mason. In our community everyone knew everyone else’s business. This gave me a lot of material to work with from the time I was young. I’ve always enjoyed sitting back and watching things happen all around me. Some need to be right in the middle of the action, but I’ve always been happiest watching and taking notes. When you stop talking for a minute and really listen, it’s fascinating what you’ll hear and see.”
The two of us continue delving into his favorite authors, his writing process, and what he hopes his readers will take away from his books. I love how candid and open Miles is. He’s not afraid to share who he is. I love the stories he shares from his childhood, giving me great material for the article, and helping me learn more about Mason as well.”
“What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?” I ask.
He leans back as he chuckles. “Something that might shock my readers is that I’m a pretty dang cook. I loved spending time with my mother in the kitchen, and since I love watching everything around me, I really picked up on her techniques. I’ve impressed Emily a few times with my mad cooking skills. I think a couple who spends time together preparing a meal for the family brings them closer.”
I smile at him. “I’m supposed to be nonbiased when doing interviews, but I have to fully agree with you here. There’s something intimate about cooking together, whether it’s with family, great friends, or your partner. It’s a good way to bond with your children as well. Sitting down for that dinner while you share your day is the icing on the cake.”
“Exactly,” he says.
We have a few more questions before the interview’s wrapped up. I’m surprised Mason’s sat back watching without jumping in. He’s next, but he’s been very respectful as I interview his brother.
“We’re all done now. That wasn’t so painful,” I tell him.
He grins at me. “I have to say this has been one of my favorite interviews. It’s relaxed and feels more like chatting with a friend. You have a way of drawing out information,” he says.
“I appreciate it, Miles. I think it’s because I truly love talking with people and want to know their history and what makes them who they are. I know your readers will love getting to know you more on a personal level.”
“As much as I’d love to watch my brother squirm for his portion of the interview, I have a woman to help make dinner with,” he says as he stands. He moves up to me and gives me a hug. I gladly hug him back. He says goodbye, and then Mason and I are alone together. We’ll see if we can get through it before we end up naked.
Mason and I have spent so much time together that it’s almost silly to do an official interview, but this is what the boss is demanding. We can do this. I like to push myself, and if we never get into uncomfortable situations then we aren’t prepared to face the real world.
I sit across from Mason. He grins at me with a look in his eyes telling me he’s picturing me naked. I take in a deep breath and decide not to call him out on that.
“Thank you for taking the time to do this,” I tell him.
He laughs. “You know there’s nothing I won’t do for you.”
I get right into the interview, and soon Mason settles in with me, his normally charismatic self coming to the forefront. He talks about his career, about his relationship with his brother, about his old team and the friendships he still maintains.
Some of the things he tells me, he says is just for the two of us, not the interview. I assure him I won’t add anything he doesn’t want. What I’m most impressed with is his determination and his love for the people around him.
“It’s clear to see why you’re so successful,” I tell him. “I also love how diverse your career has been. Some people think of athletes as one-note, but that’s certainly not the case with you. What do you think has been the driving force behind all of your adventures?”
He considers this for a moment. “I’ve always believed in following my instincts. Sure, I make business decisions, but I also trust my gut. Whether it’s a business deal, a new project, or something I’ve done for a long while, I trust myself. So far, this hasn’t steered me wrong.”
“When you decided to retire, was that your gut?”
He nods. “Age is a factor in athletics. I was reaching the peak of my career. My last injury made me decide it was time to go. I could’ve pushed through it, but I didn’t want a permanent injury that would last me for life to play another month. I don’t regret that decision.”
I smile at him. “From a personal perspective, I’m pretty pleased about that,” I tell him.
“Don’t worry, baby, cause even injured I can take care of you right,” he assures me. I feel my cheeks heat.
“What’s been the biggest challenge in your career so far?”
“Sometimes the biggest challenge is in who to trust. There are so many vultures out there. I’ve been burned a time or two as have many of my friends. It makes it hard because you think someone has your back, and then you come to find out they’ve been stabbing you the whole time. I guess the biggest challenge would be trust.”
I nod. “There is some of that in the publishing industry as well. It makes it hard.”
We move on talking about his highlights, mentors who have guided him, and on how important leadership is. Mason shares more personal stories with me as the interview becomes less formal. I can sit and listen to him for hours. I forget to take notes, forget this is an interview at all. He explains how all of this has shaped him into who he is.
“What’s your favorite activity to relax?” I ask.
“Now that football isn’t my career, I love gathering with the guys and playing for fun. It keeps me connected and grounded at the same time. Football will always be my first love and I hope to be playing when I’m eighty.” He then laughs. “Don’t share this, but I’ve also really gotten into gardening. There’s something incredibly satisfying and therapeutic about planting a seed, seeing it develop into a plant, plucking the vegetable, and then cooking the food up.”
I don’t think it’s possible for this man to be any more perfect than he already is. I’m ready to end this interview and get him naked. We wrap it up with a couple of more questions.
I wink at him as if I don’t already know this answer. “Is there any truth to the rumors that your brother is entering a deal with a world-famous author?”
He throws his head back and laughs. “I cannot tell a lie so I’ll keep my lips sealed,” he says.
“Is there any truth to the rumors that you might be joining your brother in the world of publishing?” I ask.
He again winks. “You never know. The Bennett brothers are full of surprises.”
“That’s a wrap,” I tell him.
“About time,” he says as he jumps to his feet. I squeal when he rushes to me, making me drop my notebook as he lifts me up and throws me over this shoulder. I forget all about the article as the two of us make our way down the hall, me giggling as he spanks my butt and rushes to the bedroom. Life truly can’t get better than it is right here and now.