His Town

by Ellie Danes

  “I really thought you were different.” She slammed one of her bags down to the bed, already moving to collect another one.

  “I omitted some things about my life, but they weren’t the important parts. Who I am, my personality, that’s what’s important, Harper.” I stood, waiting for her to accept my reasoning.

  “That’s beside the point. You better leave, Mason—Asher,” she spat the name. “I don’t want to make a scene.”

  “I’m sorry about that, too. I know you’re upset, but can’t you just hear me out?”

  “You lied to me! I’ve dated liar after liar, and as it turns out, you’re just as bad as the rest. I just have no judgment skills when it comes to men, apparently.” She threw her hands up in frustration before bending down to pick up her bags. “So much for you being genuine and sincere. You know, for a second there, I thought you might actually care about me.”

  She brushed past me. I could smell her perfume and had to resist the urge to grab her, to stop her from walking out the door. She paused, looking straight up into my eyes as tears of anger filled hers, a tear escaping out of the corner of one eye. “To think I actually thought I was falling in love with you. I’m a complete idiot.”

  I stood there, stunned into silence. She broke eye contact, walking past me toward the door. “Wait,” I managed, as she turned the doorknob. “Harper...”

  She gave me one, last, utterly crushed look and left. I stood there, alone and empty.

  Chapter Five

  Harper

  The ice cream melted in the bowl beside my bed. I watched as the chocolate and vanilla mixed, my vision continuously blurring as sobs wracked my body. Usually, drowning my sorrows in a pint of ice cream helped with guy troubles. But I felt so sick to my stomach right now that I couldn’t eat a thing.

  My phone rang, again. I looked at the screen, but I already knew who it was. Mason. Once more, I declined the call, tossing the phone on my bed .

  A text popped up next. Mason again. Where are you?

  I buried my face in my comforter. “I’m such a fucking idiot!”

  From the very first second he had met me, Mason had been in control of the entire relationship. He had access to the mansion 24/7. Access to the cameras he must have used to watch me that very first night, before we’d even met. He’d had several cars, not to mention a driver for at least one of them, and everyone had known him at that fancy restaurant. He had been manipulating me all along, stringing me on with enigmatic answers and avoiding my real questions.

  And I was to blame, too. I had felt suspicious, but once again had fallen so deep into the idea of him that I had chosen to trust him, to really let him into my life while he kept his entire life from me. Had this all been a game? Something for him to do to see if he could get women without enticing them with money and power?

  I laid back, trying to calm my breathing and thoughts. My face felt sticky from my drying tears, my mouth and throat dry from my sobs. I thought maybe I had shed all the tears in my body.

  Next to me I saw Avery’s black Gucci dress laying out on my bed. I tugged it closer, bringing it to my nose. Mason’s scent wrapped around me and I realized I had been wrong. I definitely had more tears left.

  * * * *

  “I can’t believe you’re going back to work at the bar.” Avery leaned up against my doorframe, watching as I tied back my hair.

  I fixed my makeup, making sure I looked decent for my first day back on the job. “I’m not going back to work for Asher. I can’t.”

  She nodded, understanding. My phone rang and I glanced down at it.

  “Mason?” She asked.

  I nodded, angrily declining the call. “Obviously he can’t take a hint.”

  It had been a few days since his secret was revealed, and even though my heart still felt utterly broken by Mason, I didn’t want to prove Avery right and go into hiding just because of a man so like all the men I’d had in my past. I wanted to prove to her—and, more importantly, to myself—that I could move on with my life.

  “He really threw you for a loop.”

  “You think?” I laughed bitterly. “I don’t want to talk about Mason, or Asher, or whatever the hell his name is.”

  “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I didn’t make it into the final two—shocker.” Avery laughed, shaking her head. “I never understood why he picked me for the top five in the first place.”

  I looked at her. She was smiling, but I could tell her pride might have been a little hurt. “Yeah, don’t worry about it. You’ll land on your feet—you always do.” I tried to give her a smile, but I was pretty sure it just came off as a cringe.

  She grinned nonetheless, shrugging. “I’ve been invited to another mixer next week. I have to stop by and see Natalie today, though. Do you need me to...” she trailed off.

  “Good luck.” I didn’t want to hear about any of it. “I have to get to work.”

  Chapter Six

  Mason

  “Alright, so let’s start this off. How old are you?”

  The woman across from me crossed her long, toned legs, laughing lightly at my first question. “Age is just a number, but 45.”

  I tried giving her a grin as Hunter, who sat beside me, laughed too. She gave him a smile, then turned her attention back to me. Kristen was a powerful potential client. As far as I could tell, she had a witty personality that might come on too strong for most average guys, but could easily attract smart businessmen. The analysis came so easily to me, now. I hardly seemed to have to think about it anymore.

  “What do you do for a living?” Hunter asked.

  “I’m a CEO of a fashion house.”

  “Why are you looking for love?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I have a lovely asshole ex-husband who cheated on me with some models. He always liked the younger girls, but about a year ago I had had it. I wouldn’t usually admit this...” she leaned over, confidentially speaking to me. Her eyes took me in now, and I wondered if she had leaned over to present her large—likely fake—breasts to me. I stayed attentive. “I was really hurt, more so by the model he cheated with than by him. It was his loss.” She gave me a wink.

  “Exactly.” I smiled back at her.

  “Well, I simply want a real man in my life, is that so much to ask?” She eyed me again, eyes glancing downward a little.

  I folded my hands over my desk and nodded at her. “Sure.”

  I instinctively rattled off the next question. “What is your biggest fantasy?”

  “Oooh,” she said, “Let’s see...”

  I had asked Harper that question not so long ago. Harper’s fantasy had been about me—at least, that’s what I had fantasized as she had described the scene. She wanted me to wine and dine her and treat her like the beautiful woman she was, appreciating both her body and mind.

  And I had, in reality. I had taken her under the soft glow of stars, beneath nature’s greatest glories. I had opened her up to me, mentally and physically, willing her to trust me and give me everything. And she had, given me everything.

  I could hear Kristen’s voice in the back of my mind, the words now incomprehensible, muffled. Harper’s voice was much more clear, describing to me things she had never said to anyone, trusting me. But the lies had been too much for her, and I couldn’t stop missing her, wanting her near me.

  “Asher,” Hunter mumbled, nudging me with his foot.

  “I’m sorry, what?”

  Kristen blinked. I realized she had asked me a question. Her face was a little flushed, as she stared at me.

  Natalie entered, making us all jump in surprise as she gave Kristen an apologetic smile. “Asher, I need you for a moment.”

  I excused myself as Kristen composed herself, watching me as I walked through the door. Avery Gaines stood before me, arms crossed. She didn’t back down as I closed the door behind me,

  “Wow, you look like shit.” Avery quipped as she stood in front of me. She was definitely one to speak her mind, wh
ich was likely exactly why she was still single.

  I exchanged a glance with Natalie. She nodded, walking off to attend to her own business.

  “I guess I deserve that, it’s been a rough few days. I’ve been trying to get in touch with Harper for days, but she won’t take my calls or answer my texts.” I paused, waiting for some information from the usually talkative Avery, but she didn’t say a word. She knew Harper better than anyone I knew, but she didn’t seem willing to share anything with me.

  “Why am I here? I thought Natalie wanted to talk to me about next week. She said you wanted to speak with me.”

  I stared at her for a moment, trying to comprehend her words. “I—I wanted to make sure you were paid and I was hoping that maybe you could get something to Harper for me.” I produced two envelopes from my pants pocket, handing them to her. She observed them.

  “Why two envelopes?”

  “One is for Harper.”

  “I’m pretty sure money isn’t going to help this situation.”

  I shrugged. “Give it to her anyway.” I stood and waited for some sort of response, but got nothing other than her hard stare. “As far as the other mixer, I interviewed a really nice, genuine guy. He’s outspoken, fun. I think you two would hit it off.”

  Avery rolled her eyes. “The last one really didn’t go so well, and I don’t exactly have a desire to compete with a roomful of pretentious girls.”

  “Well, if you’re serious about finding love, I can make arrangements. You won’t have to go to a mixer, I’ll just make the introduction and let you two go at it from there.”

  She paused for a moment, chewing on her lip. “No, this just really isn’t for me. Thanks though, Mas—Asher.” She took Harper’s envelope in her other hand, toying with it before handing it back to me. “I think maybe you should bring this to her in person. She’s at work, Lucky’s Bar on Third Ave.” Avery looked deep into my eyes as she delivered her last words to me, “Mason, she really cared about you and you really screwed things up. It’s funny, you find love for others and know exactly what they need to do, but you can’t even follow your own advice.”

  With that, she turned and walked away. I felt her words stinging, even minutes later. She was right. Harper didn’t want to talk to me, and it was because of what I had done. I had to tell her how I felt, to apologize for the deceit and try to make things right.

  Chapter Seven

  Harper

  Just a few more hours, then freedom. It had been a hell of a night, and after having two drunkards in the corner booth constantly commenting on my “mighty fine” ass, not to mention having more than a few drinks spilled on me, I was about ready to call it quits again.

  “This table is dirty,” one of the girls who had just sat down in a booth with her group of friends grumbled at me.

  The back of my eyes hurt with the beginnings of a headache. “We haven’t gotten around to cleaning that one up,” I explained. “But I can wipe it down for you.”

  “Ew, yeah,” one of the other girls said, bending down to inspect the table. “It needs a deep clean. Yuck.”

  I grabbed a rag off the bar and made my way back over to them, clearing off some of the dirty dishes and wiping away a majority of the crumbs.

  The girl who had first spoken began to talk again, lowering her voice only slightly. “I’d never work at a dive like this, no matter how desperate I was.”

  “Table’s ready for you.”

  “We need a couple Cosmos,” she called over her shoulder. “If you can handle that.”

  I kept my eyes down as I brought the order to Miles, the bartender. I glanced over at the girls, now sitting, giggling, and whispering as they looked at me. I resisted the urge to spit in their drinks as Miles handed them to me.

  “You look happy,” he said. He was an older man, and had been the bartender here for at least a dozen years.

  I hoped to God I didn’t have to work in this bar that long. “I am happy, can’t you tell?” I gave him a dirty look.

  He laughed. “Don’t be spitting in their drinks.” He grinned as I looked at him innocently. “Yeah, little missy. I know what you’re thinking, and it isn’t worth it.”

  “I just can’t do this anymore,” I groaned, grabbing the drinks and making my way back over to the girls.

  “Oh my God, finally,” one of them said, taking a sip of her drink. “Whoa. Who the hell is that?” She then said under her breath. “He’s fucking hot.”

  Not even kind of interested in following her gaze, I sighed. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “You can get out of the way so we can see,” the same girl answered, as the others craned their necks to look.

  I sighed inwardly as I turned around and immediately froze. The hot guy was Mason, and he was making his way toward me. I attempted to ignore him and make my way over to the bar, grabbing a handful of empty glasses and not looking his way. But obviously, I knew he wasn’t leaving.

  I felt him approach and could smell his manly cologne. “Harper, you can’t ignore me forever.”

  I glanced up. His deep blue eyes were bloodshot, but still had a slightly hypnotizing affect on me. He looked tired and worn out. Good, I thought to myself.

  “What the hell are you doing here? How did you find out where I work?” Even as I asked the question, the answer hit me. “Oh,” I said, bitterly. “That’s probably just part of your ‘perks,’ right, Asher?”

  “I came to give you this.” He attempted to hand me a white envelope.

  “I don’t want your fucking money.” I pushed the envelope away, disgusted. “Now leave me the hell alone.”

  I attempted to walk passed him, but he grabbed my arm, his grip tight but gentle. “We need to talk.” He found my eyes, pleading with me. “Please, Harper?”

  “Harper, are you alright?” Miles stared hard at Mason.

  I gave him a weary smile. “I’m fine,” I said, turning my attention back to Mason. “You’ll leave me alone after this?”

  “I will, if you want me to.”

  I led him over to the wall near the kitchen. Traffic was relatively slow tonight, so not many people walked past us. The smell of greasy burgers wafted through the little hall. “You have two minutes.”

  “Look, I know you think I lied to you about everything, Harper. But I swear to God, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I deal with so many of my clients, and so many women from these events. It’s hard to tell who wants to know me for me, and who wants to get close because of who I am and what I have.” Mason licked his lips and I had to look away, I didn’t want to fall for his spell, or his games. “I wanted to have a fresh start with someone.”

  “You manipulated me and the situation.” I spat out.

  “It wasn’t like that. I just wanted you to like me for me, not for my money. I know you aren’t one to be blinded by wealth, but how was I supposed to know that when we first met? I had to be sure. And I am sure, now, Harper. I want you in my life.”

  “If this is supposed to be an apology, it’s a pretty shitty one.”

  “I’m sorry. I am. If I could have done things differently, I would have. But don’t you remember that afternoon at the vineyard? Do you think I was lying then? I care for you, deeply. I never lied about my feelings for you.”

  Tears filled my eyes, hot and unshed. I wiped my nose with the back of my hand, not able to meet his gaze. “Go away, Mason.”

  “At least take the envelope.” He pleaded.

  “I don’t want it.”

  He took a step closer as he begged. “Please.” His lips hovered inches from mine. I turned my head just moments before he pressed his lips up against me, kissing my cheek instead of my mouth.

  “Go away,” I repeated, a lump forming in my throat as my entire body protested my words.

  He straightened, placing the envelope in the apron pouch I was wearing. “Goodbye, Harper.”

  Then he was gone.

  Chapter Eight

  Mason

  I
walked out of the restaurant, throat so dry I didn’t think I’d ever be able to swallow again. The lights of the city blinded me, pushing me further into the daze that I was in as I headed toward my car. Harper didn’t want me. She had wanted me, but somehow I had managed to fuck our relationship up so badly that it was now, clearly, irreparable.

  I felt the weight of the world crushing me. The one thing I had wanted for so long was gone. I’d been so sure I knew what I was doing, but I had only fooled myself. I was no better than my clients that needed help finding love. I was now lost, like so many of them. Alone.

  The immediate pain shook my entire being as I felt my knees buckle and the back of my head ache. I faded to black as I heard the words echo from the darkness. “I told you this wasn’t over.”

  It Takes Two

  The Matchmaker Series, Book Six

  (A Billionaire Romance)

  By

  Ellie Danes

  www.EllieDanes.com

  Chapter One

  Harper

  By the time I had calmed myself down enough to walk back out to the front of the bar, Mason had gone. Searching for him amid the Lucky’s customers only made the lump in my throat grow bigger, threatening to drive me to tears.

  “You okay?” Miles asked. He mixed a drink for a waiting customer with expert hands as he looked at me. Miles always offered up good advice when asked, but I didn’t feel like speaking to anyone at the moment.

  I gripped the side of the bar as I steadied myself, unable to respond just yet.

  “Harper? Are you okay?” Miles stared at me now, seeming prepared to jump to action if something was really wrong.

  Something is really wrong, I thought. But nothing anyone can fix.

  “I’ll be fine, I just need a minute.” I turned and silently shuffled to the walk-in cooler in the kitchen, a place where I could find some space to be alone. Swinging open the door, the cold air instantly hit my overheated face, seeping through my shirt. It was strangely comforting, despite the circumstances.