Page 36 of Housekeeping

19

Mason

“Laura. Do you really have a date for tonight?”

I asked, because while it surprised me when she said it, it also struck me as odd. I didn’t know much about her, and what I’d heard about her probably wasn’t enough to base anything on. While her gaze had remained steady on mine up to the end of our little conversation, there were moments when she’d seemed a little off.

I was the deal maker of the family and it involved knowing how to read people well. I hadn’t even tried before with Laura, besides seeing her obvious attraction to me, and that was another mistake I’d made.

This time, I was going to do things properly, and I wasn’t going to let her just run away from me without a fight.

“So what if I do?” she countered after a moment of floundering, her chin tilting up higher. “Whether I do or not, it’s not any of your business, is it?”

“Now, who’s acting like a kid? True, if you do it has nothing to do with me. But that poor guy is just wasting his time. He doesn’t have a chance with you,” I said, folding my arms.

She let out a small huff. “Aren’t you being just a little conceited right now?”

I shook my head. “I wouldn’t say that. If anything, you could say I have some confidence. Because you can try to hide it all you want, Laura, but I can tell you want me. You wouldn’t have taken my hand that night if you didn’t; if all you really wanted was one night. You’re right, that’s not the kind of person you are. I’m sorry for not seeing it before but I definitely see it now.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, her expression going slightly dazed. A second later, she rearranged her expression, though it looked like she was having some trouble. Her eyes wavered once more before meeting mine again, and I would have smiled in triumph but I didn’t want her to see it and pull back.

“How smooth,” she muttered. “I can see why women fall for you. Even with everything else, you have enough charm to make any woman do whatever you want them to do. Don’t you?”

I chuckled. “I don’t see it that way. There are things you’re born with and things you can do on your own. My charm is something I perfected all by myself.”

After all, I’d done a great job keeping my hidden emotions from all my family and friends over the years. No one had ever seen me lose control, unless it was of the drunk variety, because I never let them see it. Instead I watched people, found ways to keep them fooled, learned to read them all like open books. Back when I was a teenager, even when I was part of my high school rugby team, I’d always thought it was me against the world. That mentality had made it slightly easier to quit the game when Dad made me do it.

“Just because you have a little charm, it doesn’t mean I’m going to be all over you, you know,” she blustered.

I noticed how she tensed her arms around herself and pressed her lips together. I was affecting her and she didn’t like it. She was probably telling herself something along the lines of ‘don’t be swayed’. While I couldn’t say she was like any woman I’d met before, Laura was still a woman, after all.

“I brought you something,” I said, raising the basket up.

Her eyes were curious, but in the next second, she narrowed them and looked up at me with a scowl.

“You haven’t had enough of me returning your gifts? Do I have to do it personally for you to get it?”

“I’m hoping you’ll accept this one. Especially because it was hand delivered,” I said honestly. “I was careless before but I put some thought into this, so I hope you’ll think about accepting it.”

She was still frowning, but the curiosity was back in her face as she looked down at the basket. She even uncrossed her arms, meaning she wasn’t on the defensive as much. I was being insistent, and it was probably annoying for her. I didn’t want to give up though, and not just for the sake of my pride. I actually wanted something with Laura, and I knew it would be an uphill battle, but I no longer cared.

“What is it?” she asked, peering closer.

The fact she wanted to know what was in the basket, let me know that all things were not lost. With a smile, I held the basket out to her, so she could take a look. She did so cautiously at first, then her eyes went wide again as her mouth parted.

“This is all…”

“Groceries,” I finished for her. “Hopefully, things you like. I asked around a bit for healthy food. I hoped you’d at least appreciate this. And if you’re worried about reciprocating, though it’s really not necessary, I won’t mind you making dinner for me some time. It would only be fair, after all, since I did cook you steak last time.”

She looked up at me.

“Why are you so shocked?” I teased.

“It’s just… so thoughtful of you…”

“And you didn’t expect that of me?”

“What?” she said, blinking. “Oh! No, no. That isn’t what I meant, it’s just…”