by Natalie Ann
“Don’t make the mistakes I did. Just go with it.”
“There’s nothing to go with right now. She’s young and inexperienced. That’s my biggest problem.”
“So she hasn’t dated much, you can get over that. It’s not like you’re burning up the hotlines yourself.”
“Pot calling the kettle black here...until Nic.”
Aiden laughed. “I know. Don’t work so hard. Take some time off and go on a date. Get to know her. If it works, it does, if it doesn’t, then no worries. She’s only here until she graduates, so it’s not like it’d be that awkward for long.”
Aiden left a minute later and Mason made his way to his office thinking of what his brother just said. The thought of Jessica being gone in a few months didn’t sit well with him. Why hadn’t he thought of that before?
She’d made no secret she was graduating from college. She’d probably be looking for a full-time job after that. He’d looked at her resume and saw her GPA listed, blowing his 3.6 out of the water. So there was no way she was going to stay here doing tours, even if it did seem like she loved it.
That’d be completely irrational thinking on his part, and if there was one thing he wasn’t, it was irrational.
He was just sitting in his chair when he heard footsteps outside his door. Jessica popped her head around. “Hi. You wanted to see me?”
“Yeah. Close the door.” When she started to look a little nervous, he added, “Nothing bad.”
“Oh.” She shut the door and walked forward.
“You can sit.” He was trying to figure out what was going on with her. She wasn’t acting like she had the last time he’d seen her.
He slid a white keycard toward her. “So you can get in the building now and don’t have to worry about trying to open a locked door and falling on your butt.”
She laughed. A sound that had his heart picking up a bit of speed. “Thanks,” she said reaching for it.
He put his hand on hers, stopping her from moving it, then said, “Give me your phone.”
“What?”
“Your phone. Can I see it? Please,” he added, thinking he was starting to sound bossier than he intended.
“It’s in my purse in my locker.”
“Really? You must be the only person of this generation I know that doesn’t carry their phone on them.”
She blushed. “It’s not like I talk to that many people. Why did you need it?”
“I was going to program my number into it for you. I was thinking that was why I haven’t heard from you. Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
“No,” she rushed out. If it was possible for someone to stumble over one word, he was sure she’d be the one. “I haven’t. I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from you. I mean you could have gotten my number from my file. I guess I thought you changed your mind.”
“I could have gotten it that way, but I’d rather do it this way and not take advantage of the fact I’m your boss,” he said, grinning at her.
“You can take advantage of me.” He burst out laughing, and her face almost matched her shirt. “I completely did not mean it that way. Oh my God, that is so embarrassing.”
“It’s funny. And it’s fine.” He pulled his cell out. “Can I have your number?”
“You really didn’t look it up?” she asked, not believing him, he could see.
“I didn’t. I’d rather you gave it to me willingly.”
She held her hand out for his phone and then programmed it in for him. “Now you can text me first and I’ll have your number.”
“I can do that. I’d also like to take you to dinner tonight if you don’t have plans.”
“After work?” she asked. “When? Don’t you normally work late?”
It wasn’t a secret the amount of time he spent on the job. “I can come and go when I want. I thought maybe we could have a real date. I can take you out somewhere.”
“I’d like that. Will I have time to go home and change?”
“Why don’t I pick you up at your place at six thirty. That gives us both time to change.” Just enough time for him to go home and shower too, if he got out of here on time. He’d make sure of it.
“Then, yes. It’s a date,” she said, her blush gone, her smile huge, her eyes just flashing joy and excitement at him...and maybe something more. Or was that wishful thinking on his part? Yeah, wishful thinking, he was sure. Inexperienced, he reminded himself.
“I’ll let you go get ready for your first tour.”
She looked up at the clock. “I’ve got time to lock this keycard up too. Bye.” She jumped up and dashed out of his office, her feet hitting the stairs fast.
He picked his phone up and sent her a little text. He wondered if she’d check her phone while she was down there right now.
Not A Big Deal
Deep breath. Deep breath again. In and out. One more time.
She was pacing around her apartment waiting for Mason to pick her up for their date. If she thought cooking dinner for him the other night was nerve inducing, it was nothing compared to waiting for him to show up now.
As if she wasn’t excited enough that he was taking her out to dinner tonight, she’d run down to her locker earlier and heard her phone going off. She pulled it out and saw a smiley face with the words looking forward to later on her phone.
It could only be Mason who sent it to her, so she added his name so that it would flash every time she got a text now. She was debating if she should respond, but then realized he’d know she’d read it, and she didn’t want to be rude, so she typed back me too.
So now here she was having a mild panic attack. No, not mild, major. A major panic attack.
Mason Fierce was taking her on a date.
The first thing she had to do was figure out what to wear. He’d never said where he was taking her, but she went with her gut and figured it’d be casual, so jeans would be good enough.
She didn’t have a large wardrobe, but at least what she had wasn’t extremely boring. Not flashy or provocative either, but she tried to stay in fashion.
With a pair of burgundy skinny jeans and a black shirt and black ankle boots, she felt she could pass for older than twenty-two. She hoped.
She’d kept her hair down, but ran a flat iron through it, trying to make it look a little bit more slick—sophisticated, sexy even—but she was thinking all it did was make her hair look limp and decided to let it go. Not enough time to wash it and start over.
Makeup was easy and she was minimalistic at best. Mascara and lip gloss and she was done. She was who she was and if people didn’t like that, she didn’t care. As much as her mother wanted her to be Ms. Popularity, she didn’t covet that one bit. Not if it meant being someone she wasn’t or didn’t like.
The minute she heard a knock at the door, she raced forward, not wanting to keep Mason waiting, then stopped and took another deep breath before pulling it open. “Hi.”
“Hey,” he said, walking in. “You look nice.”
“This old outfit,” she said flashing her hand, then burst out laughing. “Yeah, I know. Stupid. I stressed if this was okay.”
He smiled and when he did her heart raced faster than if she were sprinting up and down the road with a German shepherd chasing her. “It’s perfect.”
“Where are we going?” she asked, walking to get her jacket and purse.
“Just a restaurant downtown, if that’s okay. Nothing fancy. A pub with some great food and beer.”
“You don’t want to go to Fierce?” she asked. Or maybe she shouldn’t have. That would put them out where everyone could see them. He probably didn’t want anyone to know.
He hesitated and finally said, “We can if you want. We won’t get in the restaurant for a long time. At this point, we’d be lucky to get a seat in the bar unless we want to eat in the break room.”
“They won’t make room for you?” she asked, tilting her head and grinning, happy that there was a reason after all.
&n
bsp; “Nope. No special treatment. Just my parents get that. We can go there if you want though.”
But he looked unsure. “No. I was just teasing. It’s probably better that we aren’t seen together.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I figured you wouldn’t want anyone to know.”
“It’s not a big deal. Aiden knows, but then again, Aiden knows more than anyone else when it comes to my siblings and information I share.”
“You told him?” That had to mean something, right?
“Is that a problem?”
“No. Not at all. And I’m nervous and not making sense and it’s probably best we go. Probably best no one knows in the brewery right now either. I don’t want to be talked about.” Though she’d never been talked about for something like this, so maybe it’d be nice. Or fun. Nah, she still didn’t want the attention.
“Your call,” he said, holding his hand out for her to proceed.
They were in his truck, neither of them talking and she finally couldn’t take it any longer. She blurted out, “Please tell me if I do something wrong. Or something stupid.”
“What does that mean?” he asked, turning to look at her.
“First date, remember? I have no clue what the protocol is.”
He snorted out a laugh. “You know. I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I’ve laughed as much as I have since I’ve met you.”
“Thanks,” she said dryly.
“I don’t mean it as an insult, so sorry. There’s no protocol. And it’s not your first date, but your second.”
“That one didn’t count. It was at my house and I was relaxed there. Well, sort of relaxed.”
He reached his hand over and placed it on hers and held it and it felt awesome. She threaded their fingers together and she didn’t care if he let go in a minute, but she wanted to savor it now. The heat and strength of his hand on hers. The memory that he made the first move to do it. To soothe her. To calm her.
“I want you to relax. You’re not going to do anything stupid. And if you do, then you do. But I’m sure you won’t be alone. Just be yourself. It’s working so far.”
She nodded her head because really there wasn’t much more she could say. “When does Aiden think the food will be in the brewery?”
“A couple of weeks. Cade is working on some marketing and promos for it, trying to get the word out. Which reminds me, Ella wanted to know if you’d be willing to meet with a vendor or two with her next week on the token machine. She wanted some input from people who’ve used them before.”
“I’d love to.”
“I’ll let her know and she’ll give you a call.”
They chatted a bit more and then pulled into a parking lot and got out. The place was packed, but there was a table in the corner and they took it. When the waitress came over to get their drinks, Mason ordered a beer she’d never had and she decided to order the same.
“Can I see your ID?” the waitress asked.
She flushed, not thinking this would happen, but was not surprised. So much for trying to look older. Even being with Mason, it didn’t matter. “Of course.” She pulled it out of her purse and showed it to the waitress. “Sorry about that,” she said to Mason.
“Why are you sorry? I’m the one that was just insulted. She didn’t want to see mine. Nothing like making me feel old.”
She angled her head and looked at his grin, thinking he was joking with her. “I never expected you to be like this.”
“Like what?”
“This friendly.”
“Don’t tell my family.”
“Your secret is safe with me. Really though, thank you. I want to remember everything about this night and it seems like so far I’m remembering all the stupid things I’m saying and doing.”
***
Mason was wondering what had come over him. If his family had seen his behavior right now they’d think he was switching places with one of his brothers.
He never teased like this. Never laughed as much. Never even wanted to.
He always thought he was a happy guy for the most part. Happy when he was left alone.
Yet here he was with Jessica in a loud crowded bar that he didn’t own and didn’t feel obligated to be in because he was the owner. But, he was enjoying this.
She made him realize that everything he tried to be for years had been so hard, but being with her was so natural. His words and actions were the real him fighting to show themselves right now.
The waitress came back with their beer and he picked it up and took a sip. He’d had the stout before and liked it. He liked a good stout but didn’t make that many of them. He was surprised when Jessica ordered the same when she’d said she liked IPAs before.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“It’s good. Heavy. I’m tasting the coffee and chocolate in it though. Almost like a dessert.”
“See, that’s why we get along so well. You get it.”
“It is nice being with someone who can talk the same language as me. Or understands what I’m saying. Though I’m sure you’d be talking over my head a lot if we really got into a conversation.”
“Probably not as much as you think,” he said.
And he was right because an hour later there’d been no lapse in the conversation, which was shocking to him. More shocking was that he talked as much as she did.
“Do you want dessert or another drink?” he asked when the waitress was on her way over to get their plates.
“I want to say yes because I don’t want the night to end, but we both have to get up for work tomorrow.”
He wanted to laugh. It was barely eight on a Friday night, but it’d be nine by the time he got home and he wanted to get into the brewery by five and try a few things before anyone showed up.
“If it isn’t brainy Mason Fierce in a competitor’s bar. Imagine that.”
Mason felt the hair rise on his neck at the voice that had haunted his dreams so much as a kid. “Chuck,” he said, nodding his head. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“I think that is something I should be saying to you,” Chuck said, sending his normal condescending grin Mason’s way. “So who’s this you’re with? A younger sister?”
Mason stood up fast, nose to nose with Chuck, who still had fifty pounds on him, but Mason wasn’t thinking of anything other than the need to defend Jessica. “Is there a reason for your visit to my table?”
Chuck laughed at him. “Just wanted to say hi to my good friend,” he said putting his hand on Mason’s shoulder. “Have a good night.”
Mason sat back down, his heart racing and wondering why. Why he stood up ready to fight when he never had before. Why he was saying all along he was putting on a front when maybe he wasn’t? Could that be possible? Did he really have it in him to fight for the right purpose? It sure seemed it lately.
“Was that your class bully?” Jessica asked.
“What?” Is there any way she could have guessed he was pushed around as a kid? Talk about a major turn off to a woman.
“Every class had a bully. I’m wondering if he was yours. I mean I got bullied over everything in school, so I can spot one a mile away. I’m thinking he’s the normal prick that always wants to start something but he had no problem backing away like you were friends when you got in his face. It was kind of sexy,” she said, then slapped her hand in front of her mouth. “Oops, shouldn’t have said that.”
He grinned slowly. “You can say it anytime you want.” His heart was racing for a completely different reason now.
“Anything else I can get you?” the waitress asked, interrupting them.
“We’re good,” Mason said, taking the check and paying. He was thinking it was time to get out of there.
They walked out to his truck and drove back to her apartment still chatting away. He would probably have no voice tomorrow since he couldn’t remember the last time he talked this much.
When they pulled in front of her apartment, she asked, �
��Did you want to come in for another beer? I realize that it’s earlier than I thought. Honestly, I’m not used to the noise and the crowds. I was kind of feeling overwhelmed.”
“You should have said something,” he said, feeling bad. He was feeling the same thing and would have gladly left. She may have made him feel happier than he’d felt before in a crowd, but that didn’t mean he was comfortable in the setting they were just at. He’d done it for her.
“I wanted to go. I mean, I enjoyed it.”
“But in small doses,” he said. “I get it.”
“Yeah.”
“Then if you don’t mind, I’d love to come in for a drink.”
They sat on the couch in her small apartment and talked and laughed. The time flew and the next thing he knew it was ten and she was fighting back a yawn. “I guess it’s time for me to leave now.”
“Sorry,” she said. “It’s not that I think you’re boring.”
“That’s good to know. You might be one of the few people to ever say that to me.”
She stood up when he did and walked with him to the door. “I’m going to kiss you. Unless you’d prefer I didn’t. I just figured you might jump back on me if I surprised you,” he said, winking.
When was the last time he’d ever told a woman he was going to kiss her? Warned her about it? Never. Not unless he was being demanding, which he hardly ever was. That was Brody’s personality, not his, and the few times he’d done it, it’d felt forced like everything else in his life when he was around women.
“I’d like that. Don’t judge me too harshly though.”
She was looking panicked and he didn’t want that either. Nor did he want her to keep talking, so he took matters into his own hands and lowered his head, then put his lips on hers. Just tenderly brushed them back and forth, nice and soft, with Jessica fitting against his body so perfectly when he pulled her in.
She wound her arms around his neck and held on and he let her.
When she sighed, he nudged her mouth open a little and brought his tongue out slowly to hers. Just touching and tasting. She was slow, but she caught on, and then she wouldn’t let go.