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I grinned like an idiot, tousling my hair as I gazed out the window. “I may. Sorry, by the way.”
“No need to apologize. Just come meet me for dinner.”
I blinked. “Oh, sure.” I pushed the charcuterie plate away, surprising myself with how quickly I turned to signal my waiter for the check. “Where should I meet you?”
“I’m not sure yet. Just tell me where you are so I can send my driver to get you.”
“I’m in the Upper West Side. By Lincoln Center.”
“Text me the exact address and I’ll have a car there within ten minutes.”
“Done.”
When we hung up, I hastily texted him the address of the bistro and settled up my bill. I sucked in my bottom lip, trying to contain my excitement but the effort was in vain, so I gave up to bundle up, stepping outside with a big, stupid smile hidden behind my scarf as I spotted the black Mercedes pulling up to deliver me to Mason.
*
Upon arriving downtown at the Victorian Hotel, I gave my name up front to be escorted to the very top of the building, into the sleek, swanky lounge. It was packed and buzzing inside, cocktail waitresses drifting about in half bouffants, winged eyeliner and ivory silk shift dresses. There was a retro feel to the place, especially with swinging jazz echoing beyond the din of conversation, and vintage, chandelier sconces dimly lighting the room.
“Mr. Leo is waiting for you upstairs, miss,” said the suited gentleman who brought me into the bar. Leading the way, I followed him to a flight of roped-off stairs that he let me up before closing off again. Alone now, I made my way up the marble steps, approaching a room overlooking the one I’d just come from. There was an ornate wrought iron balcony that reminded me of a sheet of lace. Once I got to the top of the steps, I saw a cozy but sophisticated space furnished with a fully stocked bar, a hanging candelabra and a sprawling leather couch on which my favorite part of the room sat.
He hadn’t noticed me yet.
A silver pen in the easy grip of his left hand, Mason jotted in a small planner, failing thus far to look up and greet me. I didn’t mind. It gave me time to study him without his knowledge, which I’d come to realize was something I loved to do. It meant I got to see him without the jokes and the snark and the sarcasm that seemed inevitable the moment he laid eyes upon me. It also meant I could stand there for a moment and secretly admire how devastatingly beautiful he was in a simple white shirt with no tie, his suit jacket off and draped over the back of the couch. They were broad already, but his perfect shoulders broadened further from the way he leaned forward on his knees. Sitting perfectly straight yet at ease, he was a winning combination of authority and nonchalance that had me pretty furiously turned on.
“Hey.”
When his finally greeting came, it was with a glimmer in his eyes and an easy smile on his lips. “Hi,” I breathed, watching him rise to his feet and come to take my coat. Once it was hung on the rack, his hand found the small of my back and he led me to the couch. On the table in front of us, there was already a spread of risotto and scallops on the shell, served on a wooden cutting board. His glass of red was reaching its end so after pouring mine, he refilled it. Handing it to me, he laughed.
“Don’t worry, you don’t need to drink or finish it. Just seemed rude if I didn’t pour you a glass.”
“Ah, so you’re actually concerned with seeming rude now,” I teased but quickly relented. “I’m joking. You more than cleared up everything last night at Noah’s. And I guess this morning as well.”
He smirked at my references to the past twenty-four hours we had. But when he spoke, his voice was a genuine murmur. “I’m glad I got to see you tonight.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Me too. I…” Did I dare say it? I bit my lip. “I thought about you a… decent amount today,” I laughed sheepishly.
“I doubt it was anything compared to how much I thought about you,” Mason said. He laughed. “I’m actually behind on my work now thanks to the lack of thinking with my brain all day.
“Really?” I wet my lips, gazing down at my crossed legs grazing Mason’s, my body angled toward him so I could feel his warmth. “Well, you have three more days before we leave for St. Lucia.”
Mason nodded. “And once I get back I’ll have to break the news to the company that run this bar that I’m not renewing their contract.”
My lashes fluttered. “Right. Because you’re going to give this space to Vandermark,” I murmured, remembering the contract with my company Mason promised. It was the only reason Lori gave me the two weeks off out of nowhere. “That deal is going to make me look like a rock star at work, by the way. I mean it’s easily a thousand times bigger than any other contract I’ve ever negotiated, and there have been a lot.”
“Yeah? How long have you worked at Vandermark?”
“Since I was nineteen, so seven years now.”
Mason raised his eyebrows high. “Right. You didn’t go to college.” He took a moment to remember the fact that so thoroughly shocked him a couple days ago. “So, how the hell did you land a spot at that company fresh out of high school?” he asked with a curiosity that flattered me. But I struggled to figure out how to answer.
“It’s a little hard to explain,” I laughed quietly, letting myself remember. “I’d have to go way back to where I grew up and how high school went for me. Kind of a long story, so.”
Mason glanced at his watch. “Well, they close in two hours here but you and I have all night. We can stay till the morning if we want, so if you’re willing to tell me, I’d be more than happy to listen.”
I looked up at him, surprised by the honesty in his eyes. No a single glint of a laugh or a joke. I bit my lip. “Sure,” I said, failing to sound unfazed. “I guess it starts with, um, getting shuffled around a bit when I was a kid.”
“Where did you grow up?”
