Ironically, he lived here in the Valley now, and I’d grown to love my picket fence in Downtown.
“There you are.”
I spun around and saw Mason coming toward me, and just like that, the heat made a swift return. Goddammit, what was the man doing to me? I’d never been blind to his looks before, yet he hadn’t had this effect on me until now. I hadn’t let it. I’d always known the risks about him on some level, so I hadn’t allowed any reactions.
Now you’re both suddenly divorced, and this isn’t a boring Christmas party.
“How come we’ve never done this before?” I asked. “Gone out, I mean. Instead of just sticking to stilted conversation during holiday dinners.”
His mouth twitched with humor. “I can think of a couple reasons.” He stopped a foot or two away from me and tilted his head. “That confirms my suspicion, though. I knew you were bored out of your mind at those things.”
“Heh.” I averted my gaze to the ground.
He stepped closer and gripped my arms loosely. “You’re cold.” Yeah, it was getting a bit chilly, even though my heart felt like it was hammering its way through a lava field.
A shudder ripped through me as he started rubbing my arms unhurriedly, his touch warm and firm. So firm. All of Mason was firm. Solid. I brushed some invisible lint off his chest. Yep, definitely solid. I couldn’t quite remove my hand either. I let it drop to his toned stomach, and I felt him tense up under my palm.
What was I doing? I was nuts.
“I should get back inside.” I hated saying that. Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I managed to say one more thing. “It’s so good to see you again, Mason.”
I could tell he was affected by the alcohol, probably about as much as I was, but it didn’t make the intensity in his eyes any less real.
“How are you getting home?” One of his hands slid up my shoulder, back to my neck, under my hair.
I swallowed dryly. “Sharon’s husband…”
He nodded minutely and dipped down, placing a lingering kiss to my cheek. My God, he made my head spin more than the drinks ever could. Before I knew it was happening, my hands were gliding up the hard planes of his chest again, and I was completely at his mercy.
Jesus Christ, this was Mason.
“Mason,” I exhaled.
He whispered a low curse, and then his mouth covered mine. An overwhelming rush of desire crashed down on me, eliciting goose bumps and shivers. I locked my arms around his neck and threw myself into the kiss. We pushed past the tentativeness within seconds, and as soon as our tongues touched, I was gone.
He squeezed me to his perfect body as I wove my fingers into his hair.
Thank goodness I wore heels, because he was ridiculously tall. At least a foot taller than me.
He tasted delicious, and he was an amazing kisser. In between shallow breaths, he gave me deep, hungry kisses that made me literally weak in the knees.
When he eventually slowed down the kissing, I was flushed, pathetically desperate, and utterly out of breath. I panted against his neck, willing the need to simmer down a bit, and he slid one hand down to cup my ass.
That wasn’t helping.
“Go back inside while I still have a shred of self-restraint left.” He pressed a firm kiss to my temple. “Christ, Lis.” He cupped my face in both his hands and dipped down, kissing me once more. “You’re as intoxicating as I knew you’d be.”
I shuddered violently. How could he still form words?
“So fucking beautiful.” He kissed me harder but didn’t go deeper. “Go back inside,” he repeated in a rough whisper. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I drew a ragged breath and peered up into his predatory gaze, and I was sure he saw the hunger in mine. I couldn’t fucking hide it, and it was his fault. He’d disarmed me, the bastard.
I swiped the pad of my thumb over his bottom lip to make sure he didn’t have any lipstick traces.
He flashed a dark little smile and nipped at my thumb. “I’ll tear down those walls, darlin’.”
What…what walls?
I bit my lip and tried to read the answer in his expression.
Then my stare dropped to his mouth, and I heard myself murmur, “Kiss me.”
Because fuck reading into things. My brain couldn’t handle it right now.
He lowered his mouth to mine, keeping it too soft and chaste for my liking. “Dangerous girl,” he whispered. “You don’t know what I’m capable of, though.”
“Sounds…ominous.” I ghosted my fingers over his silver fox scruff. I was so drunk on him. “Did I mention it’s good to see you again?”
Amusement joined the lust in his eyes, and he shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
I smiled and kissed him. “It’s so good to see you, Mason.”
He hummed into a kiss that had a finality to it. “It’s good to see you again too, Lis. We should do this more often.”
His smirk gave me a damn fever.
“Maybe we should.” I tried to keep my cool, probably failing, and smoothed down his shirt. I’d grabbed on to it at some point.
He chuckled quietly and kissed me on the forehead. “Go back to your friend.”
I suppose I should.
Four
I touched my lips and leaned over the counter next to the sink, planting my elbows on the surface. I hadn’t chosen this spot to have my morning coffee because it happened to have a view of the house that was for sale on my street. Definitely not.
I was ridiculous.
I was a mess too. A happy mess that couldn’t stop smiling to myself.
If Mason did buy that house, he’d be neighbors with the couple right across from me.
It could be…fun? Casual, undoubtedly. He’d seen me at my best last night. I’d rocked that dress and those heels, if that was okay to think. Good color lipstick too. I’d felt confident and carefree. And it was a contrast to who I really was. The reality wasn’t as polished.
I stirred some honey into my coffee and watched the sugar blend with the black gold.
Adjusting my glasses, I peered out the window again. It was going to be a nice day. Blue skies, not too cold. The leaves had shifted to orange and red almost overnight a couple weeks ago.
I cracked open the window, and a crisp breeze rolled in.
Brady would be here any moment, and I’d probably cave and fuss over him, not to mention take care of his studio above the garage. He wouldn’t be able to paint and pick up furniture if he was sick.
“Morning,” Aurora yawned behind me.
I turned to her and took a sip of my coffee. “Morning, sweetie. Did you and Jess have fun last night?”
She’d been asleep on the couch by the time I came home, and Jess had left. Sometimes he spent the night, but we hadn’t bought a new air bed yet.
“He tried to teach me some game on the Xbox. It went so-so.” She slumped down on one of the stools at the island. “What smells good?”
I nodded at the oven. “I’m making scones. Your brother will be here soon.”
I studied her as she opened the fridge to get some fixings for breakfast. I didn’t think I had anything to worry about where she and Jess were concerned, but I wasn’t a hundred percent. For as long as boys had been on her radar, she’d been all about Kelly’s son, Matt.