She didn’t need to look to know Mason’s jaw was clenching and those sexy muscles in his jaw were flexing from her response to his suggestion they stop for food. She could feel tension buzzing in the air. She’d seen that look on him so many times today, she’d actually become fond of it. It was almost as appealing as the jealousy she’d sensed when Raz had tracked her down between scenes and they’d spent an hour running lines. Raz had a great personality, and they had fun, but that was as far as it went. Their relationship had had no spark.
Unlike the sizzling chemistry heating up the interior of the SUV.
“You have to eat, Remi. You can’t exist on an apple when you work as hard as you do.”
She looked at his large hands gripping the steering wheel, deep-set eyes focused on the road, biceps twitching, and her insides got hot. Now, those were sparks.
He glanced over, and his lips quirked into an almost smile. She really liked his almost smile. It was mysterious, like him, and it was real, unlike most of the smiles she saw on people’s faces.
“What’ll it be?” he asked. “Burger? Eggs? We can hit the grocery store.”
“Didn’t anyone ever teach you that when a woman says no, it means no?”
That earned a rough laugh that skated beneath her skin. “Princess, the word no hasn’t come out of your mouth, and you have to eat something. You expended thousands of calories today, and you can’t weigh more than a buck ten soaking wet. You’ll wear yourself out at this rate.”
She stared out the window and said, “Spoken like a man who has probably never been told what to do.”
“I spent years in the military. If you think I haven’t been told what to do, you’re sorely mistaken. How about a protein shake? You don’t even have to chew.”
“No, thank you.”
He stopped at a red light on the corner and pointed to Chapter One, Aurelia’s bookstore. “Doesn’t your friend own that place? She sells baked goods from your other friend’s bakery. How about a cupcake?”
Shocked, she said, “How do you know about Aurelia and Willow?”
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and said, “It’s my job to know who you’re in contact with. I’d rather have you put some meat in that smart mouth of yours instead of sugar, but at this point I’d be thrilled to get anything inside you.”
Her mind went straight to the gutter, and the way his eyes locked on the road and he white-knuckled the steering wheel, she had a feeling he was thinking the same thing.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly. “Let’s just get home, please.” Before the images your comment conjured get me even hotter.
When they got home, Mason checked the house while Remi waited by the door, which seemed ridiculous to her, but whatever . . .
She needed to get him out of her head, and the farther away he was, the better. The man sucked the oxygen right out of her lungs when they were alone.
“All clear,” he said as he came down the stairs. “Why don’t I whip up one of those boxed meals you’ve got in the fridge?”
The image of Mason wearing nothing but a pair of leather briefs and carrying a whip slammed into her. Holy crap. She was definitely losing her mind.
She pushed past him, heading up the stairs, and said, “I don’t need you to whip anything, thank you. I’m going to change and relax in the hot tub. You can eat my box if you want.” It wasn’t until she reached the landing that she realized what she’d said. Mortified, she spun around and said, “The meal! I meant the boxed meal!”
He chuckled.
Damn him for having that effect on her!
A little while later, Aiden called while Remi was standing in her bedroom wearing her bikini and looking out the window at Mason traipsing along the perimeter of the yard. Relief swept through her at the sound of her brother’s voice.
“How are things going with Mason? Are you two getting along?”
She swallowed hard and said, “He’s fine, very intuitive.” She watched Mason stop by the tall iron fence. He pulled out his phone, clicked a picture of something through the fence, then continued walking.
“Good. His references were excellent. Anything troublesome happening?”
You mean like the way he makes my heart race? “No. I told you. I really think all that stalker nonsense is over.” As the words left her lips, she realized that once Aiden finally believed her, he would let Mason go. A heavy feeling settled in her chest.
“Let’s hope so, Rem. And how are you? How’s filming going?”
“Good. We’re on schedule so far.”
She and Aiden talked a little longer about filming and how good it had been to see their friends at the fundraiser. She wished him luck with his business deal, trying to concentrate on their conversation, but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that accompanied the idea of no longer seeing Mason. How could that have happened so fast? One day Aiden would realize the stalker was no longer a threat and Mason would move on to his next assignment. Then she’d be left pining over a man she never could have had. She was an idiot.
An idiot with a crush, but an idiot all the same.
When they finally ended the call, her mind was whirling. She had to find a way to stop thinking about Mason like the delicious hulk of hotness he was, and since that seemed impossible when he was around, she needed to get away from him. Fast.
She sent an SOS text to Willow. Busy? I could use some fun.
She waited until Mason headed for the front yard before grabbing a towel and going down to the hot tub. Willow’s response came through as she stepped out the patio doors. Sorry! Can’t. We’re having a couples night with Bridge, Bodhi, Talia, and Derek. Want to join?
That was just what she needed—to be the third wheel with a bodyguard in tow. She thumbed out, That’s okay. Have fun! I need to be without male company tonight. She added a smiley-face emoji and sent the text.
She set her phone on the side of the hot tub and climbed in, determined to figure out a way to put space between them, even if she had to hole up in her room.
Ahh. This was just what she needed. She closed her eyes, reveling in the solitude. She could just hide out here and relax while he did his traipsing.
“Share a sandwich?”
Her eyes flew open. Mason stood by the hot tub holding up a sandwich.
“Where did you get that?”
“A gentleman never eats and tells,” he said with a smirk.
“Ohmygod.” Laughter burst from her lungs.
He waved the sandwich and said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but I sure do like your laugh better than the ‘I’m fine’ you’ve been doling out all day.”
“Sorry about that, but I really was fine. I don’t eat a lot when I’m on set,” she explained. “I can’t afford to get reflux or feel or look uncomfortable or bloated.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. In my line of work, I can’t afford to be weighed down, either. There are things you can eat that won’t make you feel or look that way but will fuel your body and keep you healthy.”
“I can’t afford to gain weight, either. Cameras are very unforgiving.”
“In my opinion, you could gain thirty pounds and still be stunning, but I hear where you’re coming from. Like I said, there are things you can eat that’ll help maintain your figure and still fuel that smart brain of yours.”
You think I’m smart? Most guys wrote actresses off as brainless beauties.
“Trust me,” he said. “I know what I’m talking about.”
He lifted his shirt, flashing toned abs and a treasure trail she wanted to follow all the way down to paradise. Her mouth watered, and she looked away, hoping he wouldn’t notice. Just breathe . . .
“Come on, Remi. Aiden would never forgive me if I let you starve.” His tone softened. “Please tell me you’re not one of those women who tries to survive on air.”
“I’m not. I like to eat, and when I’m not filming, I eat a lot.” But she’d never been around
a guy who noticed or cared what food she put in her mouth. Although she’d been around plenty of men who wished she’d put certain body parts of theirs in her mouth.
Great, now she was thinking about having Mason’s certain body part in her mouth, which was weird, because she’d given exactly one blow job in her life, and it hadn’t been the best experience.
“Glad to hear it. Come on, Princess, make me feel better. Take one bite.”
She’d been momentarily struck dumb when he’d first called her the endearment her mother had used so often. This time Princess came out soft and seductive, so different from the way he’d said it at the fundraiser. She met his compassionate gaze, and her stomach fluttered.
God . . . She was crushing on him like a naive girl of eighteen instead of a grown woman who had resisted more advances than she cared to remember.
He wiggled the sandwich, his eyes narrowing. “Sure you don’t want a bite of my big, meaty sandwich?”
Holy cow, did she ever. She grabbed his hand, pulling the sandwich forward to take a bite in an effort to stop thinking about his other big meaty thing she wanted.
“Oh my goodness,” she said as sweet and spicy flavors exploded on her tongue.
He winked and said, “Attagirl.” Then he took a bite, too.
“That’s the best thing I’ve ever had. Where did you get it?” She reached for his hand, taking another bite.
“La Love Café. One of the guys on set turned me onto it, and I had the sandwich delivered while you were filming. I figured if I ordered something different every day, I might find one thing you like.”
Her thoughts stumbled. “You would do that? Just to get me to eat?”
He shrugged and leaned on the edge of the hot tub. He didn’t look at her breasts or steal a glance at the rest of her nearly naked body, like most men did. He looked only at her face, like he wanted her to know he saw her. Didn’t he know she’d gotten that impression the second he’d offered to walk her to the restroom at the fundraiser when he’d noticed she’d never gone?
He reached for her face, his rough hand cupping her cheek, his eyes locked on her mouth, stealing her ability to think past what it would be like when his lips touched hers. She felt like she’d been wanting him for months, rather than days. He leaned in, and she closed her eyes. His thumb brushed over the corner of her mouth. Yes, kiss me . . .
“Crumbs,” he said as his hand slipped from her cheek.
The air rushed from her lungs at the same moment her phone vibrated. She jumped, knocking her phone from the ledge. Mason caught it in midair.
“Just breathe, Princess.” He handed her the phone and walked a few feet away, giving her privacy to read her text.
She was flustered and more turned on than ever. Mason had not only gotten under her skin, but he definitely had superpowers and was figuring out all her secret vices. Lord help her if he ever actually kissed her. With her luck she’d probably melt into a puddle of liquid heat and slip away, rendering him just out of reach forever.
She opened Piper’s text with trembling hands. Willow said you’re down to party. I’m getting ready to ditch a sucky date and head to Decadence. You in? Bring your hottieguard!
Remi choked out a cough at the thought of Piper and Mason. The last thing she needed was to watch Piper hit on him all night.
Mason spun around with concern in his eyes. “You okay?”
No! I’m hot and bothered and seriously need to get away from you because you look like last night’s delicious fantasy and I know just how incredible that was!
“I’m fine,” she said as she sent a response to Piper. I’m suffocating from his hotness! Pick me up?
Piper’s response was immediate. What about your stalker?
Nonexistent! Please!? Remi added a kissing emoji and sent it off.
Piper agreed with a firm I’ve got your back! Remi had thirty minutes to get ready and sneak out. She felt a little guilty ditching Mason when he’d been so nice, but if she stuck around, she’d end up eating a lot more than his sandwich.
She climbed out of the hot tub, secretly planning her escape.
Mason handed her the towel. “You okay? You weren’t in there very long.”
“Yeah. I’m exhausted.” She feigned a yawn. “It’s been a really long day. I’m going to take a quick shower and go to bed. Thanks for sharing your sandwich. I’ll see you in the morning. I have tomorrow off, so sleep as late as you want.”
“Great. I think I’ll hit the shower, too. If you need me, just bang on the door or text.”
In her head she twisted his response to If you need to bang me, just text.
Yep, he’d turned her brain to dust.
It was a damn good thing she was leaving.
She told herself she wasn’t really ditching Mason. She was preserving her sanity.
Remi stood in front of the mirror, second-guessing her frayed skinny jeans and black T-shirt. She wanted to fit in at Decadence, an upscale nightclub that featured male and female dancers. It was classier than a strip club, but classy meant something much more casual in the small town than it did in LA. Remi had gone with Piper and the girls a few months ago to see Talia’s fiancé, Derek, dance. Remi tried to channel her inner Piper and figure out what her tough-as-nails friend might wear on a date. She stripped off her jeans and put on a short, hip-hugging black skirt with a zipper running from the middle of her thigh to the waist, which lay just below her belly button. Remi usually wore that particular skirt with a nice sweater, but in an effort to look nothing like herself, she pulled on a black crop top and shoved her feet into chunky black boots. She twisted her hair up and pulled on a black baseball cap.
She shoved her phone and keys in her pocket and opened her bedroom door. The house was silent, and Mason’s door was ajar. She tiptoed across the hall and heard the shower running. Perfect.
She ran downstairs and out the front door. The cool night air stung her skin as she sprinted down the driveway, feeling the familiar rush of freedom that overcame her every time she’d ditched her previous bodyguards. Only this time it was followed by a heavy dose of guilt for ditching this particular bodyguard.
Her lungs burned as she rounded the first curve. She’d never noticed how long the driveway was! As she hurried around the second bend, she realized she’d forgotten to open the gate. She’d climb the damn thing if she had to. With one hand on her hat, she navigated to Piper’s phone number and called her.
As the gate came into view, “Hello, Princess,” sounded in her ear, rich, smooth, and masculine as hell. Mason. No, no, no! She must have called the wrong number! She poked at her phone, trying to end the call. Panting, she shoved the phone in her skirt pocket and grabbed the cold iron gate to catch her breath—and her stomach sank at the sight of Mason leaning against the hood of his SUV on the other side, arms folded over his broad chest, legs crossed casually at the ankle, and an angry look in his eyes.
Piper stood beside him in a pair of black skinny jeans and sky-high heels. “Looks like someone’s gonna get spanked,” she said with a smirk. “Hope it’s me.”
Mason handed Piper her phone and pushed from the hood of the car. “Feeling restless, Princess?”
“How did you get down here?” Remi panted out, her heart racing. She was angry, annoyed, and oddly intrigued that Mason had figured her out so easily. “You were just in the shower.”
“That was a test.” He stepped up to the gate, glowering down at her. “Guess who failed?”
“I’ll happily fail a test if you’ll wait for me in the dark,” Piper chimed in.
“Piper!” Remi snapped. “That’s not helping.”
“Piper tells me we’re going to Decadence. All you had to do was tell me you wanted to go and I’d have driven you.” His gaze raked down her body, leaving a heat wave in its wake. “You’re going to a nightclub wearing that?”
“It’s a disguise,” she snapped. “I’m trying to fit in.”
“You look like the nineties threw up on the e
ighties.” He turned to Piper and said, “I’m going to take Remi back up to the house, turn off my shower, and get her into some clothes that are fitting of who she is. We’ll meet you at the club. Cool?”
“I’d be cooler if you said you were going to get my friend out of her clothes and leave it at that, but whatever floats your boat.” Piper stepped up to the gate, pressing her face close to the bars, and whispered, “Take your time with hottieguard.” She put a hand on her hip and narrowed her eyes at Mason. “I’d never let anything happen to her. I know the owner and bartenders at the club. I’d make sure she was safe.”
Eyes on Remi, Mason said, “Not as effectively as I will.”
After Piper took off, Mason brooded in silence on the drive up to the house. His jaw was clenched as he parked, and they stepped from the car. His face was a mask of anger and something else that felt a lot like disappointment. Remi could handle anger, but the disappointment sent regret slicing through her.
“I’m sorry,” she said at the same time he said, “What the hell was that?”
He rubbed the back of his neck like she’d caused a pain there, and then he crossed his arms. “What’s this about, Remi? I’m here to protect you, and I can’t do that if you don’t trust me.”
“I do trust you!”
“Bullshit. Trust means coming to me, telling me that you need to get out of the house. You want to go to a club? I’m there. You want to dance with a dude? I’m there to make sure you’re treated right. You want to hook up with a guy?” His hands fisted as he said, “Just give me a few minutes to check him out first. I’m not here to judge you. Your personal life is your own. But I am going to protect you with everything I have, and I’m not going to play games. You’re either going to trust me, or we’re going to find you a new bodyguard, because I will not chase you down like a child.”
“I’m not a fucking child.”
“I know you’re not, which is why I don’t understand this. I thought we were getting along pretty well.”
“We were.” Too well. Regret settled on her shoulders like a lead shawl.
This is Love Page 6