by Aubrey Cara
Last year he'd overheard two things. One, Mimi had been looking for a job, and two, she hadn't gotten laid in three years. He had wanted to rectify both those things for her. Unfortunately he rectified the first by having her work for him making the second a no-go.
He could recall in painful detail asking her out a week after he'd hired her. He'd asked her to dinner, and she'd said, “Oh that would be great. I have so many questions about your expectations. And who I'll be working with. I haven't been in an office in three years. Which you already know—”
“Actually,” he said. “I was hoping it could be a little more like a...date.”
Her face was a little O of shock. “Mr. Coleman,” she said. The formal title had been a kick to the gut. “You're my boss. I'll be working for you...you just hired me. Oh God. Is that why you hired me?” She looked so crestfallen. “I'm so stupid. Why else would I get hired after not being in the real workforce for three years?”
He grabbed her shoulders then lifted his hands, backing off. “Mimi, I hired you because you were far and away the best candidate,” he said.
She had been the only candidate but she didn't need to know that. Her resume really had been impressive. Still, she gave him a doubtful look.
“I'm an idiot,” he said. “Of course we can't date. Forget I asked. I don't date a lot, and I obviously have a thing or two to learn. Like never ask out an employee.” No matter how attracted he was to her or how long he'd carried a torch for her, he added to himself. He swallowed hard, feeling like a jackass. “If you still want, we can grab a bite to eat and I can answer any questions you have. We'll keep it totally professional.”
She looked so indecisive. He could see it in her eyes. She may have even been thinking about not taking the job, so he'd said, “It will help clear the air. I know you're going to be an amazing business manager. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable at the office. Ever. I'll even let you report me to HR.”
She laughed at the last part like he hoped she would and he'd worked on not showing how devastated he'd felt that he'd blown any chance he ever had with the woman of his dreams. “And Mimi, we've known each other since we were teenagers. You can call me Mason.” But she rarely did.
Zeke yanked on Mason's hand, pulling him back to the present. “What's up, kiddo?” he asked, hefting the bag in his other hand to shift the weight of the items he'd bought.
“Do you think the fish is okay in that bag?” Zeke asked.
Mason glanced down at the clear plastic bag temporarily housing the little white fish Zeke had picked out. “He should be fine.”
“How can he breathe?”
“They breathe water, so the leftover oxygen in the bag is enough for him to live off of for a while.” Mason hoped like hell that was true. Otherwise he'd be back at the pet store buying another fish. “So, Zeke...who's this guy your mom is going on a big date with?” He knew he shouldn't be pumping the kid for information, but just couldn't help himself.
“Oh, um his name is Craig. He's okay. He talks to me like I'm a baby. It's weird. They're going out on Saturday night and I have to have a babysitter. Her name is Stacy. She's okay too. Ian's dad said my mom is a hot comm-ah-dity and that it wouldn't be long before I had a step-dad. What does comm-ah-dity mean?”
Mason was pretty sure it meant Ian's dad needed to shut his damn mouth. He was saved from coming up with an answer when he spotted Mimi's beaming face.
“There you guys are,” Mimi said. Her face was wreathed in a smile that would have given the sun a run for its money. Half Native American, her skin was a warm honey tone, and her hair was a curtain of dark brown silk. Her eyes though were the most amazing shade of green. And so expressive. She was the kind of woman that wore all of her emotions on her face. It was damned beautiful.
Mimi squished Zeke in a hug like she hadn't seen him in a week rather than an hour. “Ugh, mom.” Zeke said trying to pull away.
“How was man shopping?” she asked, letting the squirming boy go.
“Mason got me a fish!” Zeke said. Happily holding up his new fish.
“You did what?” Mimi looked at him with betrayal and he felt like a heel.
“It's actually my fish. Technically speaking. I just told Zeke he could visit him.”
“We named him Stan Lee after the Marvel comic book guy, Mama.”
“Well, that was nice of Mr. Coleman.”
“Mason,” he said. “We're not at work. You can call me Mason.”
Mimi just blinked up at him like she wasn't sure how to respond. The moment was broken by Zeke saying his was hungry.
“I guess we should go. It's getting late. Thank you for watching Zeke. That was amazing. I even had time to get my nails done.”
She held up her slender hands with newly polished nails. He wanted those hands to run over his body. Mimi started putting Zeke's jacket on him to go and Mason fought to think of a way to drag out this random encounter.
“Do you want to go get some pizza?” he asked.
Zeke whooped, “Yeah, pizza! Can we mom?”
“You want us...to have pizza...with you?” Mimi asked. She sounded a bit scandalized.
“Yes. Pizza. With me. There's a new place called Mario's just down the street. It's supposed to be really good.”
“Come on. Piizzzaaa,” Zeke begged.
Mimi looked up at Mason with such a conflicted look he almost rescinded his offer. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she got out, “It's just pizza. We could do pizza.”
“Yay!” Zeke fist pumped the air, and Mason gave him a high five liking his spirit.
“Where are you parked?” he asked feeling a bit triumphant.
“South entrance.”
“Me too. I'll walk you to your car.”
Shifting his shopping bags to one hand, he put his palm on the small of Mimi's back and led her toward the mall exit. Zeke ran out in front of them. Mason had to fight the urge to move his hand to her waist and pull her into his side.
“Just pizza?” Mimi said, sounding concerned.
“Just pizza,” he said smiling. And making you fall hopelessly in love with me, he silently added to himself. It was time Mimi Westfall saw him as more than a boss.
CHAPTER TWO
When Mason had asked them to pizza she'd had to pinch herself. It was just too close to her fantasy. The universe had to be punking her. She'd half expected Ashton Kutcher to jump out from behind the counter of a sunglasses kiosk and yell “gotcha!” as a camera man revealed himself and Mason laughed.
Sure, Mason had asked her out once right after she got hired, but she'd freaked out so bad on the poor man he'd become Captain Platonic since then. All professional courtesy at work and big-brother's-best-friend out of work. Which she'd told herself was for the best. He was her boss. Dating him would be complicated, to say the least.
Now she sat in the pizza parlor booth, fidgeting more than her six-year-old who happened to be behaving like an angel. She'd been prepared to apologize for Zeke's behavior and cajole her son to be good with the promise of playing games on her phone. Her usual tactics hadn't been necessary this evening.
The second Zeke had started acting up Mason gave him a look and said, “Best behavior, buddy.” And that was all it took. One semi-stern look and a friendly reminder from Mason and Zeke was acting like he'd just finished a two week boot-camp with Super Nanny.
She'd like to have Mason come perform that neat little trick every morning she was getting her kid ready for school and every evening around bath time.
She'd be annoyed if she wasn't enjoying it so much. Of course she'd listen to Mason too, she thought. The man had a commanding air that went far beyond running his own company. She remembered him having that same special something in high school, but luckily the cocky arrogance of his teen years had worn off.
She'd thought her ex, Jay, had been commanding, but realized too late he'd just been an arrogant a-hole. He'd castigate her for the slightest things in the most condescending m
anner. She couldn't believe she'd once thought it was sexy. His behavior turned cruel and belittling by the end. She'd missed so many red flags when it came to her ex.
Now she wondered what it would be like to be chastised by a man like Mason. His smooth, rich voice ordering her to her knees, or better yet over his lap. His strong capable hands striking her naughty bottom. Realizing how badly she was turning herself on she squirmed in her seat. She hoped her nip-ons weren't showing through her t-shirt. She glanced down and inwardly groaned as she tried to inconspicuously cover her chest. She could hang coat hangers with these things.
She needed to stop reading so much erotica. She also really needed to get laid. That's why she had agreed to a third date with a guy named Craig she'd been casually seeing, even though she was still on the fence about the man. He was to be her transition guy. Her quick bad lay that would help ground her and break her celibacy streak. She needed to get her focus back on her son, work, and holding out for Mr. Right. All that was nearly impossible to do when her lady parts were screaming to hop a ride on Mr. Rightnow.
Mason's attention went from the tic-tac-toe game he was playing with Zeke on the back of a place-mat to her. She bit her lip to hold in a nervous giggle.
“What are you thinking over there?” he asked.
Oh, just about you spanking my naughty bottom til' I come like a geyser, she thought to herself before saying, “How different you are from the boy I knew in high school. And about how different life is even from a year ago.”
“How was I in high school?”
“Good looking but such a jerk. Do you remember when I asked you to Sadie Hawkins? It had been my sophomore year and your junior.”
“Oh yeah, but I was already going with...huh, I can't think of her name.”
“Jenny Walker.”
“Yeah, that's it. I can't believe you remember that.”
“She and Chelsea Phillips made my life miserable after they found out I had asked you to the dance. We had just moved here from Austin and I hadn't really known anyone and with one wrong move I became the least popular girl in school.”
“I had no idea. Is that why you shot me down for the prom?”
Nodding she said, “I wanted nothing to do with you. I figured it was some kind of setup and I'd be made the laughing stock.” She had no idea why she had admitted all that but it felt good. “I almost didn't apply for the job when you said you were hiring.”
“Wow, I had no idea. I would have dumped Jenny Walker like a hot potato had I known. You would have been my Molly Ringwald.”
Laughing, Mimi said, “What? Like Sixteen Candles?”
“Just like Sixteen Candles. I had a big crush on her back then.”
“Molly Ringwald?”
“Oh yeah. She was a hottie.”
“So you had a thing for nerdy redheads?”
“And brunettes with green eyes,” he said meaningfully.
“Mama, has brown hair and green eyes,” Zeke chipped in.
“That she does,” Mason said, smiling. He was talking to Zeke but looking right at her as he said, “I had a crush on your mom when we were teenagers, but then she just crushed me.”
“You did not!” she laughed.
“I did. I thought you were the prettiest girl in school. That is why I asked you to the prom. You went with Jimmy Ivarson and broke my heart.”
“I can't believe you remember that. Is that why you were such a prick to me after I turned you down?”
“Mmhmm, and I would have made an after school meeting with Jimmy had he not been built like a twenty-six-year-old marine. Couldn't you have dated a guy I could have fought without losing my dignity?”
“Oh, please. If you'd truly loved me you would have fought Jimmy for me.”
“My luck I would have gotten beaten to a pulp and you still wouldn't have given me the time a day.”
“Probably,” she said with a grin and a wink. “Besides, Jimmy was really a teddy bear of a guy. He would have hated fighting you.”
Mason's rich laughter rang, warming her to her toes. “Sure,” he said still chuckling. “I'm sure he would have been real torn up about breaking my face for being sweet on his girl.”
“I was his girl for all of a semester or two. Just long enough to be introduced to the back of his daddy's Chevy,” she said slyly so he caught her meaning.
“Ugh, so cruel.” He picked up his fork and play-acted like he was stabbing his heart, his head thrown back with his tongue hanging out in death. Zeke giggled at Mason's antics and Mason winked down at him.
“Miriam, is that you?”
“Nana! Papa!” Zeke practically crawled over Mason to get out of the booth and hug Mimi's parents who were standing there with matching silly grins.
Her dad looked like a green-eyed Gepetto more each year he got older with his thick gray hair classically combed over and glasses sitting on his nose. A fleecy winter vest covered his suspenders he wore to keep his belly from knocking down his pants. Her mom was a more than pleasantly plump Native American woman. She looked like a grandma in her green turtle neck with embroidered fall leaves across the chest and her graying black hair up in a bun on the top of her head. She too wore a fleecy vest, but hers had a furry collar.
“Mom...Dad...hi.”
“This is exciting,” her mom said practically vibrating with glee. “When we decided to try out the new pizza place we had no idea you and Zeke would be here with your new beau.”
“He's not my new beau.” Who even said 'beau' any more? “I don't have a beau. There's no beau,” Mimi said to Mason. She wasn't sure why, but she needed him to know she wasn't in a serious relationship with anyone.
“Is Craig your beau?” Zeke asked.
Mimi said, “No,” just as her mom asked, “Who's Craig?”
“No one really. Just someone I met—” She stopped before saying “online.” No one needed to know that she'd been desperate enough for some action she'd signed up to one of those online dating services. She had yet to see any action, but she had a plethora of dates that had ranged from tragic to meh.
“Mom, this is actually my...um, my boss. Mason Coleman. Mason, these are my parents Herald and Elaine Westfall.”
Standing Mason shook both her dad and mom's hands. “Nice to finally meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Westfall. Would you care to join us? We could get a bigger table.”
“That's kind of you to ask,” her mother said beaming up at Mason. “But we just wanted to say howdy. We're taking our pizza to go. We're going to go home and watch that Kate Winslet movie Labor Day.”
Her dad made a gagging motion behind her mother to indicate what he thought of her mother's movie choice. Mason choked back a laugh while Zeke giggled now back in the booth next Mason.
“Ya'll have a good dinner,” her mother said, but she made no move to leave. Her mother looked from Zeke to Mason to Mimi getting a considering glint to her eye that meant whatever she was about to say, Mimi wasn't going to like. “Mason, I know it's short notice but do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?”
Oh no. She automatically got a mental image of Mason wedged between her Auntie Tita, and one of her flighty cousins, Mini or Missy. What was her mom trying to do? It wasn't like she was going to date her boss. Her cousins were certainly not going to date Mason. She got disgruntled at the thought.
“Mama, Mason probably has—”
“No plans that are set in stone,” Mason cut in.
“Well then it's settled,” her mom said.
Mimi muttered, “Nothing’s settled, what's settled?” As her mom said,“You're coming to the Westfall house for Thanksgiving.”
“You don't have to—” Mimi said, just as Mason said, “I'd love to.”
Just then their pizza arrived and her parents finally left, her mother practically skipping to the door.
“You don't have to come to Thanksgiving,” Mimi said.
“I want to.”
“Will you sit next to me?” Zeke asked.
“Of c
ourse, buddy.”
“So you're really coming to Thanksgiving?” she asked.
Mason nodded and grinned around a big bite of pizza.
“Okay then,” she said feeling a bit dazed.
“Okay then,” he said wiping his mouth and taking a drink of his soda.
“Thanksgiving,” she said.
“Thanksgiving,” he said, now smiling from ear to ear.
And that was how her boss, the man Mimi had been lusting after for a year, got invited to Thanksgiving.
Pizza. It had only supposed to be pizza.
CHAPTER THREE
Mimi focused on the computer screen and willed herself not to glance up. Mason's office door was open, so he had a side shot view of her sitting at her desk. She in turn could glance up and be looking straight at the gorgeous man sitting behind his desk.
She didn't even have to look to picture him. His image was seared into her brain from a year of sneaking glances and the all out stare-fests she'd indulged in. His broad, well-formed shoulders would be filling out his white cotton dress shirt. The sleeves on his shirt were always rolled up on his forearms while he worked. Whatever slacks and shoes he wore were hidden behind his desk.
Many an afternoon she'd spent fantasizing about being bent over the cherry expanse of that desk top. And, alright, she may have had a fantasy or two about what she'd do under that desk.
For the millionth time in the last ten months she worked at Coleman Automotive she wished her office had proper walls, or shades. Or wasn't situated directly in front of Mason's office.
Her office was all glass on two sides. The front and the left side. The left side being what annoyed her the most. That was the side that housed Mason. She swore she could feel his eyes on her, yet she knew if she looked up his eyes would be locked on his computer. It was distracting and she was giving herself a complex.