by Anthology
He chuckled as he reached for her, pulling her hips against his. “If my foot was still on the bag, how could I get thrown out?” He leaned in and kissed her neck. “I’m safely on second and have my eyes firmly on third.”
It was startling, but the silly baseball analogy—well, and his lips—made her melt. “You sound like you know what you’re talking about.”
“I looked some stuff up before the game.”
“Some stuff? Like what?”
“Terminology, rules, stuff like that.”
“The rules? To softball?”
“Yep.”
He read up on the rules before coming. “And you remember them all?”
“Genius, remember?”
“Right.” She couldn’t help it. She started to laugh.
“What?” he asked, with his own big grin.
“Seems that a genius would have thought to duck when a ball was coming at him.”
He opened his mouth but apparently had no answer. Which made her laugh harder.
“Hey, Adrianne!”
Dammit. Hailey. And dammit, Mason stepped back a little as Hailey came toward them.
“Yeah?” She couldn’t quite muster a smile, but she couldn’t blatantly ignore her boss.
“I need to talk to you.” Hailey arrived slightly out of breath. She had a big smile for Mason. And got way in his personal space. “Good game, Mason.”
“Thanks. It was fun.”
Adrianne gritted her teeth. “What do you need, Hailey?”
“Oh, I need to run something past you. Can I borrow her for a minute, Mason?”
“You bet. I’m going to head to the B&B and shower. I’ll see you ladies later.”
He gave Adrianne a little wink and she felt her tummy trip.
“That is so great,” Hailey said as he walked away.
The view of him from behind was definitely great. But Adrianne didn’t appreciate Hailey noticing.
“What is it, Hailey?” she asked, stepping in front of the other woman in an immature and ineffective attempt to block her view of Mason’s ass.
“I wanted to touch base with you. It seems that you and Mason are getting along great.”
Adrianne peered closely at her pseudo-friend and boss. Was she being sarcastic? Fishing? Catty? “Yes, we’re getting along fine.”
“That is so great.” Hailey’s attention finally bounced back to Adrianne’s face.
“It is?”
“Definitely. I love that he has a friend here. And the guys seem to be getting along with him too. They really accepted him during the game. It’s one final nail in the coffin.”
“We have a coffin for Mason?” Adrianne asked.
“It’s a figure of speech,” Hailey told her.
“We have a figurative coffin for Mason?”
“What we have is the perfect situation for Mason to feel completely welcome and accepted here. Which will make him happy. Which will make him more apt to donate to the project.” Hailey looked quite pleased with herself.
“You were worried he’d be unhappy?”
“Ad, I told you he was a geek. He was really not…in. Like really. He didn’t have a ton of friends, never had a girlfriend.”
“And now?” She was feeling way too defensive here. She wasn’t Mason’s champion, or his BFF, or his girlfriend. They’d just met. She didn’t know the history. For all she knew, he’d been a jerk in high school.
“Look at him.” Hailey gestured in the direction Mason had gone. “He can give any of the guys here a run for their money.”
“He was always a genius, right?”
“Sure. But he wasn’t…”
Adrianne cocked an eyebrow waiting for what she knew was about to come.
“…hot or rich.”
Right. She wanted to slap Hailey. Seriously. This was Shallow Bitch 101. How could Hailey not hear what she was saying and how could she not be embarrassed?
“Do you realize how that sounds?” Adrianne asked.
“Yes, yes, I know.” Hailey sighed. “We were in high school, Ad. We were not very nice to him.”
“You kissed him at one point.” Adrianne wanted to know that story for sure.
“And I wasn’t very nice to him before or after that.”
Adrianne waited. Then she realized that Hailey wasn’t saying more about it. Okay, so it was going to take a couple of margaritas. But she was going to hear how this went down.
“So now your plan is to be sure he feels accepted, liked and generous?” she summarized.
“Exactly. Mason obviously likes you. So you’ll be in charge of making sure he’s included in all the events and get-togethers. I’ll tell Drew and Mike and all the guys to be really nice. And I’ll make sure that he feels fully appreciated from a female perspective.”
That got Adrianne’s full attention. “What does that mean?”
“Mason always had a crush on me. I’ll flirt with him, make out a little, all that stuff. That will be the icing on the cake.”
“Make out a little? All that stuff?” Adrianne repeated, hoping her voice sounded funny only to her.
“Or whatever. It’s not like it will be a hardship.” Hailey grinned. “I’m a big enough person to admit that I was wrong to overlook Mason Riley.”
Adrianne’s stomach hurt. First, how had Hailey seen her with Mason and not gotten the vibe that maybe Mason was already feeling appreciated? And second, how come Adrianne got to be Mason’s social director but Hailey got to be his playboy bunny? That wasn’t fair.
And Hailey was going to hurt him. It wasn’t like she was looking for even a long-term affair. Phoebe had hinted that Hailey had really messed with Mason at one time. This could not be a repeat.
For one thing, if Mason found out Hailey’s attention was only a ploy to get a donation, there was no way in hell they’d see any of his money. For another, Adrianne liked him. It wasn’t only jealousy that made her want to keep Hailey away from him—though that was one definite reason for wanting Hailey as far from Mason as possible—it was also that she liked him, as a person. He didn’t deserve to be used. And if Hailey had told Drew and Mike to be nice so that he’d write a check, then they’d be in on it too. All behind Mason’s back, faking it, or at least having ulterior motives. Really not good.
She couldn’t tell Mason what was going on though. What was she going to say, “Hey, Mason, by the way, Hailey’s only paying attention to you because you have money now.” That would definitely not help their cause.
She was going to have to make sure he didn’t find out. And that Hailey didn’t have a chance to make things worse.
“Make sure he’s at the poker game tonight,” Hailey said.
“No problem.” The poker game was happening at Drew’s house but obviously Mason was now on the guest list. And Adrianne would be there to be sure that no one did or said anything that might hurt him. Or their cause. In that order.
She dialed Phoebe as soon as she was safely in her car heading away from Hailey.
“Mission Keep Hailey Away From Mason is a go,” she said. “I’m totally in. In fact, I’m captain of the freakin’ team.”
Chapter Five
The poker game was a Tuesday night tradition, but Hailey had talked Drew into hosting a game on Friday for the alumni group. The guys had played poker on Saturday nights in high school and she’d felt it would be another way to get them all together and feeling nostalgic.
The invitation had garnered enough interest that there were two tables of players tonight, one in Drew’s kitchen and one set up in the living room. Drew wasn’t married and didn’t currently have a girlfriend, so Hailey had offered to clean the house, help provide snacks and act as hostess. Which meant that Phoebe and another friend, Jill, had cleaned while Adrianne cooked. The four women were supposed to play waitresses together, but the three were secretly plotting how to get back at Hailey as they worked.
“Guess it’s just you and me,” Phoebe said, bringing a bag of ice in from Drew�
��s deep freeze in the garage.
“What’s that mean?” Adrianne asked with a scowl. She didn’t mind making appetizers. She didn’t mind entertaining. She didn’t mind dusting—even if it was a bachelor’s house and they’d had to bring their own dusting spray. But she hadn’t seen Hailey yet and if she wasn’t coming…
“Hailey’s not feeling well and I told Jill to take off, that we could handle it.”
Adrianne had been planning on sending Jill home anyway. She had two little kids and it was ridiculous that Hailey had talked her into coming in the first place. “What’s wrong with Hailey?”
Phoebe waved her hand. “Oh, some allergic reaction.”
Adrianne paused in mixing the salmon dip and looked at her friend. “What did you do?”
“Me?” Phoebe looked offended. Or tried to. “Matt did it,” she finally admitted.
Adrianne groaned. “What did he do?” It occurred to her after she asked that it might be easier if she didn’t know.
“A little cat hair in her face powder.”
Adrianne thought about that, but it didn’t make sense. “Why?”
“She’s allergic to cats.”
Adrianne sighed. “That’s mean.”
“Her eyes will water and she’ll sneeze a few times. She’ll live,” Phoebe said, clearly unconcerned.
Adrianne frowned suspiciously. “Then why isn’t she here?”
“Relax. She’s a little puffy and bloodshot. A few blotches. It’s fine. It will settle down by—about the time the game’s over.”
“Convenient,” Adrianne muttered.
Men started showing up in clusters, and Adrianne felt her chest getting tighter and tighter, anticipating Mason’s arrival. Every time the door opened or a knock sounded, she jumped a little. But it was never him. And her growing disappointment was ridiculous. Maybe he didn’t play poker. Actually, once she thought about it, she was pretty sure Mason didn’t play poker.
Maybe he was in his room at the B&B working. Maybe he was working some magic with the formulas he’d figured out and scribbled on her arm that morning.
With that thought, her whole body got tingly and she felt the need to do jumping jacks or run a lap around the house to get rid of some of the energy she felt coursing through her.
That made the most sense though. Surely Mason Riley, world-renowned agricultural specialist, would rather be working than playing cards.
Adrianne had just taken the spinach and artichoke dip out of the oven and finished arranging the pita bread triangles—knowing full well that the guys would have been fine with chips and bean dip—when the doorbell rang and she heard Drew call, “Come on in, Mason, it’s open!” through the screen door.
Her whole body reacted to the sound of his name.
Crazy.
A moment later, Mason was escorted into the kitchen and to a seat at the table with Drew and the other regular players. Mason probably didn’t realize it, Adrianne thought, but being given a seat at that table meant he was a VIP.
They made eye contact across the room. She was at the kitchen island behind the breakfast bar and he was near the patio door, but they looked at each other at the same moment and she felt it clear to her toes.
He gave her a warm smile and she was stupidly glad he was here instead of working in his room. The world would be a better place if he was working in his room. But her world was a better place at the moment because he was here.
She’d feel guilty about that later.
She headed for the table with drinks. Beer for all the guys but Mason. She’d known them all long enough to know that was their drink of choice and it didn’t matter what kind as long as it wasn’t light. “What can I get you, Mason?”
She wondered if that sounded suggestive to him. It did to her and she was the one who’d said it.
“Anything I want?” he asked.
That also sounded suggestive. It was probably just her.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Butterscotch schnapps?”
She straightened from setting Tim’s beer down and looked at Mason, warmth curling through her. Okay, it wasn’t just her. “Or maybe something cinnamon flavored?” she asked. She had gum in her purse. He simply had to say the word.
“Very tempting,” he answered.
No kidding.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Drew asked her. “I’ve got beer and soda. No sissy schnapps.” He glanced at Mason. “No offense.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” Mason told him, taking his chair.
“I’ve got tequila if you want to do shots,” Drew offered. “But I better warn you, this poker thing is fun but serious. You lose, you lose. No blaming it on the liquor.”
“Got it,” Mason said with a nod. He looked up at Adrianne, humor in his eyes. “Guess I’d better stick to soda. For now anyway.”
She grinned and headed for the fridge. She knew the poker games went late, but they did end at some point. At some point, Mason would be done here—and maybe in the mood for schnapps.
Adrianne didn’t even have to try to linger near Mason’s table over the next half hour. Phoebe was focusing on the table in the living room, leaving Adrianne to see to the needs in the kitchen.
Their plates were refilled before they asked and their drinks never got completely empty.
She felt Mason watching her every move. Every time she looked at him, he seemed to sense it and look up as well. She was sure it was her imagination, but it seemed that every time their gazes locked, there was more heat as well. It was driving her crazy. So she figured it was only fair he feel a little crazy too.
Every time she got close to him, she made a point of touching him. At first, she made contact with her hip against his upper arm. The next time, she put a hand on his shoulder as she set the popcorn bowl down. The next time, she chose his side of the table and leaned in to put the nachos in the middle, making sure her breast pressed into his shoulder blade—and making sure to pause long enough for him to know what it was that was pressed into his shoulder blade.
As she lingered, she took note of the actual poker game for the first time that night. She had played with these guys before, and while the games were usually more of a break from home and a chance to hear themselves talk, the guys always played for real money. It was one of the unwritten rules. If you didn’t have the cash to put up, don’t show up. There were definitely winners and losers here.
As Tim dipped into the nacho chips, Adrianne noticed the distribution of the other chips around the table. One thing was quite clear. Mason was losing big.
She grabbed Drew’s empty bottle and replaced it with another while she listened to the bidding going around. Mason met and raised on his turn. When she grabbed another can of soda for him, she peeked at his cards.
He had nothing.
She felt his eyes on her face and looked to find him watching her. Maybe he was as distracted as she was. If so, it was costing him—seriously.
Hmm.
She listened for a few more minutes and it took her only half that time to figure out that Mason was either losing on purpose or had no idea what he was doing.
She heard a phone ring in the other room and an idea occurred to her.
Her purse was in the bedroom and she slipped down the hall without being noticed and quickly dialed Drew’s home number from her cell—thankfully, he was too cheap to have caller ID. It rang three times and she heard chairs move on the kitchen floor.
“I’m heading for the can,” Tim called.
Adrianne hung up and waited for Tim to shut the bathroom door before she headed back for the kitchen. The phone call had succeeded in breaking up the game for a bit and Adrianne found Mason and motioned him to the corner of the kitchen that had no food or drink and therefore no other people. “Can you reach that pitcher for me?” she asked, loud enough for everyone to hear, pointing to the cupboard above the fridge.
He stretched up, the position pulling his shirt tight acr
oss his stomach and chest. “Which one?”
“You know, if you’re losing on purpose to make them happy, you need to not lose quite so badly. It would be more convincing to win at least a hand or two,” she said, pointing to the blue pitcher. “And you don’t want them to know you’re letting them win. That will piss them off.”
“What do you need the pitcher for?”
She took it from him and set it to one side. “I don’t. I needed to talk to you. Because I don’t think you’re losing on purpose. Am I right?”
“I don’t really care that I’m losing.”
“Answer the question, Mason.”
“No, I’m not losing on purpose.”
“So you actually suck.”
Mason opened his mouth, but seemed to reconsider whatever he’d been about to say. “Yes. I actually suck. At poker, anyway.”
“Here, will you put this back up there?” She handed him the pitcher. “Have you ever played?”
“No.”
Adrianne glanced at him and fought a smile at the disgruntled look on his face. “Never?”
“Never wanted to.” He stretched to replace the pitcher.
“Then why are you playing tonight?”
He shrugged. “They asked.”
She rolled her eyes but also understood. Mason had never been included in group stuff with the guys in his class in Sapphire Falls. The invitation to do something with them now had likely been too tempting.
“Okay. But you’re going broke,” she pointed out.
“I don’t mind losing the money,” he said.
“Well, you’re losing respect too.” Adrianne pointed to a clear glass pitcher. “Grab me that one.”
“I’m losing respect?”
“They won’t let you play anymore if you keep this up. They like to win and they like to brag, but beating the worst poker player in the history of the world isn’t much to brag about.”
Mason reached for the pitcher, saying nothing.
She took it from him. “Okay, so I’m going to help you win a couple. Or all of them if you want to.”
“How?”
“We’ll cheat.”