“Do you feel intimidated, Lacie?”
How did he get so close so fast? She heard the words shouted in her head, her palms flat against the door. “If I say no, you’ll try harder. If I say yes…well…then it makes me weak.”
“I don’t believe you’re weak,” he told her without hesitation. “What did you feel when I kissed you? When you kissed me back?”
She pulled her eyes from his, studying the open edge of his shirt, the light jacket and the way his hair just touched the collars. “I don’t know,” she admitted after a pause.
“Ever feel it before?” He decided another route might be better.
“No.”
“Aren’t you curious?” He saw that carefully hidden intelligence flair to life, her eyes up immediately on his.
“If I were that curious we wouldn’t be having brunch, we’d be in bed trying to figure out what causes the combustion,” she told him bluntly, surprised when he laughed. Just a warm, deep laugh that reached far into his eyes, she thought, barely registering the soft kiss he offered before pulling the door wide for her.
“I think we should continue this over food, Lacie. Honesty can be a very disconcerting thing in a relationship,” Mason commented as they walked down the corridor to the stairs. “I have to admit it’s refreshing if a little…unbalancing at times.”
“When did you come to this conclusion that there was a relationship?” Lacie didn’t like arguing with herself. No matter which way it went, you lost, she thought, sighing and hearing the low growl of her stomach as they entered the restaurant on the first level of the resort. “You’re a very good businessman. I don’t know what you’re manufacturing, but the plant is well designed and solid. You’ve trusted your instincts on things for a long time, which is why you’re probably thinking this…” she told herself it was the scent of all the food that distracted her, not his palm casually sliding over her lower back as they walked to the table behind the waitress.
“Coffee, please, black. Lacie?”
“Orange juice, please,” she lifted the menu and read.
“So you think because I’m good at business, that I’d trust those same instincts where you were concerned? There’s a confidence in one’s career that goes without question at times. I’ve discovered it’s rarely that way in your personal life. Did you always trust your instincts?”
“No…no and that’s why it took me a couple days to figure out what was going on with the wolf, because you were inside my head and all my brain wasn’t focused like it should have been,” she accused, making her choice and setting the menu aside.
“It’s nice to know I’ve made it to your thoughts,” he said easily, taking a slow taste of the coffee and sighing gratefully. His chuckle was low when she realized what she’d said and couldn’t figure out how to take it back. “Think how much energy you’re wasting, Lacie.”
She considered this as they placed their orders, sitting back in the comfortable chair with a sigh. The soft chiming had them both looking at the other. Lacie shook her head. “Not mine.”
Mason patted in inside pocket and pulled the small unit out, reading the screen and dropping it back inside. “Do you own any evening gowns?”
Lacie raised one eyebrow in a high arc.
“Let’s try this another way. I have a charity fundraiser this evening. I’d like you to go with me,” Mason said, one set of fingers up and raking the longish hair back. “Please.”
“Long dress?” She saw the answer in his eyes. “Don’t have a need for them. I could ask one of my friends, I suppose…”
“There’s a shop in the resort that will have what you need.” Mason met the stoic expression with patience. “I can set up an account easily enough for you.”
“You don’t see just the smallest bit of…” Lacie fumbled for the right word.
“I can buy you lunch but not a gown for something I invited you to attend with me?” He knew the answer immediately and laughed. “Lacie Barton, you are an interesting, intriguing bundle.”
“Why is equality wrong?”
“Do you honestly believe the sexes are treated as equals in this world?” He leaned back as their lunch was spread before them, watching her attention torn between answering and devouring.
“I can choose not to participate,” she answered before lifting half her sandwich and biting down hungrily. “I had no idea I was so hungry.”
“Missing two meals will do that to you,” he mentioned lightly, showering pepper over the plate of rice and vegetables. He glanced at the slender hands and wrists doubting that it would be good for her to miss many meals.
“Back to the equality thing...” Lacie chewed and held up one finger for patience. “Simply because tradition dictates that a man is supposed to ask the woman out, doesn’t mean it’s one of the best ideas ever. You’re supposed to impress us, gather up your courage to ask us out, pay for the meal and generally tempt us into giving you what you want.”
“That’s only true if you’re going out with an individual who believes the meal equates to something in return. Why wouldn’t the simple pleasure of your company be enough payment?” Mason watched the corner of her mouth lift before she took another bite.
“So if I wanted the pleasure of your company, and initiated the date, then it would be my responsibility to pay for the date?” Lacie almost laughed at the way her words struck. “Ahh…a problem with equality?”
Mason finished the forkful of food with a long thoughtful look at Lacie Barton. “You continually manage to make my brain shut down.”
This time she did laugh, soft and bright. An expression that he noticed went deep into a pair of now sparkling amber eyes.
“If I even pretended to believe that, I’d deserve time in a shrink’s office,” she shook her head. “Did your parents’ raise you traditionally? Was it learned or is it simply that, tradition not to be brooked?”
Mason broke off a piece of the crunchy bread that came with his meal, dredging it in the sauce and biting down thoughtfully. He wondered at her question. He wondered because from someone else, it might have come across as rude. But not only didn’t he see that in the honesty in her voice and expression, but he heard genuine curiosity in her tone.
“I’ve never given it much thought,” he answered with equal honesty.
“I have friends I can borrow clothes from, Mason,” she said quietly.
“It’s black tux and I’ll pick you up at six for the trip north into Seattle,” he said simply, accepting her nod. “I think it came from my father,” he said thoughtfully. “How to behave, how to treat women…that sort of thing. I never saw anything but respect and kindness toward my mother, even when they separated.”
“That’s a good place for tradition to begin, I think,” she said with a little nod. “You’ve spent time in Europe. In school?”
“England and Italy,” he answered, only a little surprised at her statement. “My father and mother were both military. He’s in security and she’s a physician. Have you been around Europe?”
“A little. Some places are very different than here. Others too much alike,” she took a bite from the pickle spear on her plate. “Did they separate because of the military?”
“I think they separated because they forgot each other along the path of their careers,” he answered after a quiet pause. “It’s been about ten years now and they seem happy where they landed, so that’s a good thing.”
“Is that why you’re still single?”
Mason almost choked on a swallow of tea, his palm up and rubbing his neck. “If you can’t learn from watching the mistakes of others, what’s the point?”
“Very true,” Lacie glanced at her wrist. “It was a wonderful meal and I have to admit to enjoying the companionship, Mason. But…if I’m to make a six deadline, I have to make some calls and do some stuff. Fitting eye candy doesn’t fall off trees,” Lacie stood up and moved to his side, her palm on his shoulder when he would have stood up. “It’s okay. Finish,
” she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I’ll see you later.”
Chapter Seven
Lacie wandered from the restaurant, hands sunk in the pockets of her jeans as she went past shops and shoppers. She stopped in front of one and glanced at her watch again as she pulled her phone out and dragged in a long breath.
“I need help,” were the immediate words she spoke.
“What’s wrong?” Faith came to immediate alert, her hands moving absently over the keyboard to end what she was working on.
“I need a long gown for an event,” Lacie spoke each word clearly.
“Hope’s got some…and I know Charity does. You going to the opening of the Hospice tonight?”
“Does where make a difference? Hold on and I’ll ask,” Lacie sighed and put her on hold, tapping in Mason’s number. “Are we going to the hospice opening tonight?”
“Yes,” Mason replied.
“Thanks,” Lacie clicked off and went back to Faith. “Yes on the hospice thing.”
“We got tons of friends with clothes. Are you at home?”
“I found my dress,” she said softly. “I will be in a few minutes. Gotta do something with the hair, I guess,” she sighed, listened and closed the phone before going in to the shop. She wanted that dress. She could see it in the distance.
Mason knew he was nervous.
It was the why he didn’t get. He’d be thirty-seven soon. He’d taken many women on dates in his life. Out on every possible type of date. He used his master to open the gate, taking the stairs two at a time and rapping sharply on the door.
“You’re punctual,” she said with a smile, holding one shoe in her hand. She dropped it to the floor and stepped inside, about to step through the door when she realized he was staring. Lacie looked behind her and then at him again. “Mason? I’m ready. We can go.” She looked out at the black town car waiting for them, the driver standing by the door. “A limo? I’ve never ridden in one of them before.”
“Lacie…”
“It’s okay, right? They were fussing for the last hour,” she looked down at the water like fabric in a color close to the ocean beneath a brilliant sun. Now and then when she moved it waved, shimmered and flowed as if breaking upon a brilliant white sandy beach.
Her arms and shoulders were bare, the corset style hugged along her form to a flow of fabric that fell from just below her breasts and stopped just touching the open toes of the pearl colored heels. Her nose came to his chin so she tipped her head slightly, her palm up to wave before his eyes.
His eyes left the simple gold chain circling her throat, taking in the elegantly woven braid and wide, expressive eyes watching him.
“You look very nice, Mason,” Lacie lifted the wrap and draped it over her shoulder, taking his palm and leading him from the apartment. She held up the skirt of her dress and stepped carefully down the stairs to the man holding a door open for them on a nice, shiny limo.
“Thank you,” she said, a bright smile lighting up the evening. She slid easily onto the comfortable seat, wiggling as the door was closed.
She leaned forward, squinting and giggling. She couldn’t see through a single window. She faced the center, smiling at Mason. His dark hair hung loosely around the lean lines of his face, touching the pristine white of his collar. She caught a slimmer of gold at his cuffs and a silver color on one wrist. She raised one hand, brushed hair from one ear. She thought she’d seen a glimmer there, too, a tiny gold dot.
“This is nice,” she sat back, sighing. “If you closed your eyes, you could imagine you’re in the middle of a gilded pumpkin on the way to the ball.”
“You look beautiful, Lacie,” Mason said quietly, lifting her palm from her lap and carrying it to his lips. A faint, clean scent of spice wafted from her skin.
“Thank you,” she looked up nervously from the hand resting on her lap. “I spent a great deal of my life in books…and situations. Things like this…to me…only came from books.”
“Why, Lacie? How could you have been in a world where men were that blind until I happened along?” Mason watched his question float around in her eyes.
“I don’t know if they noticed me or not. I never paid a mind to them. I like learning. I need to learn,” she shook her head and looked at him, almost sorrowfully. “I’ve tried warning you. Tried telling you that you really have no idea what you’ve chosen to involve yourself with, Mason. But you won’t listen.”
“I should be wary because you enjoy learning? You’ve let me inside,” he pointed out simply. He started to worry when the quiet stretched on but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. She leaned back, just watching him, studying him.
“I suppose I could have abjectly refused and thrown a couple serious fits,” she finally said with a sweetly innocent smile. “But somehow I have a feeling you would have enjoyed that and that’s a little disturbing.”
“I’m the only one smart enough to find your weakness, Lacie Barton,” Mason laughed and leaned closer, a soft groan breaking from his throat when she refused to back away. “You’re curious,” he whispered against her mouth, his lips tasting from one edge of the delicately painted pout to the other.
“Isn’t that what’s driving you?”
“Perhaps. Just a little. You’re a fascinating woman.”
“And once your curiosity is sated, Mason?” Lacie raised her palm, slim fingers stoking along the side of his face. She let the very tips touch the dark hair at his temples. Thick, she thought, very thick and smooth. Fingertips trailed along the hairline, from the center of his forehead to his ear, touching the tiny gold dot.
“I don’t ever see that happening,” he answered, catching her palm and trailing a kiss on her wrist.
“You’re very smooth. Continental,” she said when she was sure her voice worked.
“And that intrigues you. Fascinates you, Lacie,” he stopped and slid from the car when it stopped. He held his palm out for her. “And that’s your weakness,” he whispered, his mouth touching her shoulder as she rose from the car to stand at his side.
“You haven’t known me long enough to uncover all this,” Lacie held her breath, looking from the palm that curled around his arm. How did that happen?
“Then it makes my comments totally unfounded,” he said casually, a charming smile that sent a shiver through her.
Lacie looked around her, down at the thick red carpet beneath her feet and the many cameras and reporters around the edges, held back by the thick woven cord.
Mason heard the tiny sup of air, his lips moving next to her ear. “Head up and give them that gorgeous smile, Lacie.”
“How do you do this?” She asked when they made it inside, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. “And please don’t tell me you imagine them in their underwear. That was the stupidest thing I ever heard in school.”
“That one never made sense to me either,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t really think about them. I think about why I’m here. The good that will come from it, the people it’ll help. It’s all part of the game, if you will,” Mason slid his hand to her waist when she moved to stare out the glass elevator as it glided slowly higher. “No problem with heights?”
“No…no…it’s beautiful,” she said softly, taking in all the shimmering bright lights of the city and water far below them. Boats, cars, signs and buildings all brightly lit up in the failing sunlight.
“You’re not afraid of heights or wolves,” he said softly, staring at her profile. He saw one shoulder rise and fall.
“Why be afraid of something that’s never hurt you?”
“Why indeed,” Mason agreed, letting people exit before taking her palm and walking with her to the large, elegantly decorated ballroom. “You already know Hope and Devon.”
“I do…Hope and I have been friends for a while,” Lacie relaxed when she saw her friend standing with the new husband in her life. She lifted a palm, waving excitedly at Hope and Charity, looking around for others she knew. “It�
��s amazing,” she told Devon, hugging him warmly. “Congratulations. It’s a really good thing.”
“Thank you,” he knew he should have gotten past it, but still felt the flush of heat at the attention.
“Come on, I’ll show you the drawings and plans for the next phase,” Hope led her off, snagging Charity on the way. “Where did Faith get to?”
“Sometimes, I’m afraid to ask,” Charity said, looking back to see Dominic joining the men behind them.
“Right here…” Faith announced, carefully holding the golden brown gown from her feet. “So…gonna tell us about your beau?”
“That’s why I like you, Faith, always straight to the point,” Lacie said with a little laugh, her glance careful over one shoulder at the cluster of men they’d walked away from. “They make an interesting pack.”
“Interesting isn’t the word I’d chose,” Hope followed her eyes. “Sex appeal gone rampant.”
“No kidding,” Charity chuckled. “They make basic black look amazing.”
“They look a little nervous,” Lacie commented softly.
“Nico has been so excited about the opening. I think he is nervous, but he pretends not to be. He starts limping a bit more when he’s stressed,” she said with a concerned sigh.
“He’s done an awful lot of work since he came on with Devon,” Hope led them to the food tables to fill pates. “We can get comfortable at the owners table. The project is mostly financed by me, Devon and people we know, you guys included. After the speeches, I’ll show you the park I had them build in the first floor ballroom. The simulated lighting is beyond amazing.”
“How do you trust them?” Lacie asked, absently selecting things for her plate.
Faith frowned and looked from one to the other, taking a guess. “I think it’s more that you have to trust yourself to be strong enough to move on if you’re wrong.” She thought about herself and the life she was building before Dominic came for her.
“But you weren’t wrong,” Lacie prodded, looking from one to the other. “None of you were wrong. How did you know?”
WindSwept Narrows: #19 Lacie Page 4