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“You said no offense. If you didn’t mean to offend me, you wouldn’t have said it.”
He blinked at the road a few times. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Then why did you say no offense?”
“I didn’t—” He paused, flicked the blinker on, and turned. “You’re not a low standard. I mean, you’re a high—Jesus fucking Christ.”
I grinned.
“You did that deliberately.”
My grin widened. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
His nostrils flared while Pru cackled in the back seat. “I’m not flustered.”
“You’re so flustered,” I retorted. “And cute. So, so, cute.”
“All right. I get it. You’ve made your point.” His lips twitched. “No more cute.”
I hid my laugh behind my hand. His great-aunt did no such thing, and she laughed the entire way to the restaurant. She only stopped when Mason pulled into an empty parking space.
Then, she leaned forward and tapped his shoulder. “Mason.”
“Yes, Aunt Pru?”
“Marry this one. I like her.”
Mason’s gaze flicked my way. “We’re not getting married.”
“What’s wrong with marrying me?” I asked.
He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped and shook his head. “Nope. I’m not getting into that again. This is a trap.”
Laughing, I undid my belt and got out of the truck.
“Seriously,” Pru said as Mason helped her out. “Marry her. She’s brilliant. It doesn’t matter if you don’t love her. Hundreds of people marry each other when they don’t love each other.”
“Yes, but we’re not royalty looking to strengthen alliances,” Mason replied, locking the truck and offering her his arm.
“Oh, so you’re going to let your girlfriend walk in there by herself? Your mother will have a fit.”
I understood why Mason could deal with my sense of humor.
“Mom will have a fit no matter what I do. If I walk in with Lauren, she’ll complain I didn’t walk you in. If I walk you in, she’ll complain I didn’t walk Lauren in.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “Where’s the stomach flu when you need it?”
I laughed and took Pru’s hand, positioning it inside my elbow. “There. Problem solved. Now be a good boy and hold the door for us.”
“Be a good boy?” He stared at me. “I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. All that can save me now is food poisoning.” He crossed his fingers and looked to the sky. “Come on, food poisoning.”
Pru chuckled. “I’m having the best time, and I haven’t even had a margarita yet! Ay-yai-yai!”
CHAPTER TWELVE – LAUREN
For the most part, my introductions to Mason’s family were painless. His great-uncle Charlie had tried to offer me a coupon for a striptease which I politely rejected before Mason had thankfully taken me to our seats at the other end of the table.
Which were, unfortunately, next to his mom, Nadia; his dad, Graham; and sister, Kirsty.
It was the height of awkward. His sister kept sending little smirks our way—ones his parents were completely oblivious to. In fact, his mom was nothing but completely sweet, and his dad was genuinely interested in my life.
I felt awful. I was straight-up lying to these people, and it was all because of the other young woman at this table who I knew nothing about. I knew she’d responded to my ad because she hated Mason’s ex, but there was no reason for her to drop us in this.
“So, Lauren, you work at The Beachside?” Mason’s dad buttered a slice of bread.
“Yes, sir,” I replied. “I’ve worked there for around three years now.”
He nodded. “I know Pete. Good man. How you like it?”
“It’s great.” I smiled. “Not my first career choice, but I could do worse.”
“Oh? What’s your first?”
“I’m actually a qualified hair stylist.”
“You are?” Mason looked at me. “I didn’t know that.”
“You didn’t know?” His mom raised an eyebrow.
“Uh…”
“The butthead probably asked,” Pru chimed in.
I nodded. “You never asked.” Thank you, Pru.
“Makes sense.” His mom reached for her glass of wine. “You really should ask these things, Mason.”
“Noted, Mom, thank you,” he replied dryly.
His dad hid a smile. “Interesting. Why don’t you work in a salon? If you don’t mind me asking.”
“A chair rarely opens up in town,” I said honestly. “I don’t feel like traveling to a salon when Pete is a fair boss. I keep my license valid and do my friends’ hair to keep practice up.”
“Smart.”
I didn’t know what to say to that so I said nothing. Silence hung in the air for a second before Kirsty wiped the corner of her mouth and said, “So, how did you two meet?”
The question was directed at me and Mason, and if I didn’t know better, I’d say there was a challenge in her eyes.
We had the attention of the entire table.
Mason slung his arm over the back of my chair as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Online, actually.”
I smiled at him.
“Really?” his grandpa asked. “Are there women wanting some of this online?” When he said ‘this,’ he motioned his hand down his body.
