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“Including libraries?” Mason asked, teasing. Ellie laughed.
“Of course. I don’t want to spend so much time in them that I feel like I’m back at work. Don’t get me wrong, I love books, but I do like to get away from the stacks sometimes.”
“Why did you become a librarian?” Mason asked. He was expecting an answer about her love of literature, maybe something about studying the masters of the written word.
“Well …” Ellie looked away, shifting her gaze to the horizon. Mason felt like she was about to be completely honest with him, that her next remark would not be a flippant one.
“I wanted to visit places I could never afford to go,” Ellie said softly. “Books were my greatest escape, and in the library, they’re free. I can go on as many adventures as I want. I knew I’d never have the money to go all the places I wanted to visit, so the library was the next best thing.”
Mason watched her, feeling a strange excitement growing in him. He could show her so many wonderful things and take her to any place she wanted to go.
But will she let me?
“Don’t get me wrong,” Ellie said, grinning. “I like books. I like order and silence. I also love helping people find the book they need for whatever occasion. But that was my first motivation. To visit places in my mind, I could never see in person.”
She sighed, turning away from him to put her hands on the railing. She stroked it gently as she watched the boats gliding up and down the river.
This must be a dream come true for her. I hope it is. I will make sure it is!
“You know, sometimes I wish I had your life,” Ellie said softly. “I like my life, but I do wonder what it would be like to constantly jet-set around the world, with every day an adventure.”
She turned to him and smiled, the joy in her face lighting her blue eyes until they looked like they were reflecting the blue sky.
“You can,” he muttered. The words were pouring out of him before he could think. “You can live a life like that if you really want to.”
The words were out there now, and Mason couldn’t take them back. He felt like he might have taken a step into a precipice, and if he dared to look down, he might crash and burn.
Ellie laughed, shaking her head. “What, people just magically get rich? I’ll wake up one day with all the money I need to take off and see the seven wonders? Life doesn’t work like that, Mason.”
“It can,” he said, his voice catching in his throat. He figured that since he was already right out on the ledge, he might as well jump.
“You can marry into money,” he said, a bit more forcefully. “You can marry into that lifestyle. Then it really can happen, just like that.”
He snapped his fingers to make his point, and as he did, he saw Ellie’s blue eyes darken. It was as if a cloud had suddenly fallen across her mind, and the gloom had penetrated her gaze.
Mason's sense of dread increased when she turned away to look down the river again. He’d obviously upset her. She stared out across the water with her shoulders set, and her eyes narrowed as if she was trying to erase his words from her mind.
For a few moments, a tense silence deepened between them. Mason struggled to find something to say that would break the mood.
“How about we get something to eat?” he said, finally settling on something to say that was neutral. He couldn’t believe he’d just dropped marriage so casually into the conversation.
“Sure,” Ellie said, smiling. They began to walk down the bridge together, but she did not reach for his hand, and he was now too shy to ask for hers.
Mason took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he walked beside Ellie. He felt like he was hunting unknown prey … a creature that could surprise him with its every movement. The natural confidence he’d always had constantly evaporated around Ellie because he was afraid to scare her away.
He’d never done this before, after all. No other conquest could be like his fated mate. She was the most amazing woman in the world, but she was human, and she would not feel the mate bond the same way he did.
That meant he had to tread very carefully. It would take all of his effort to win her over.
Yeah, but first, I have to figure out how!
SEVEN
ELLIE
When Mason suggested getting something to eat, Ellie assumed they’d stop at a bakery or café for a quick bite and a coffee. She was shocked when he took her to the Westbury Hotel to be personally served by Allyn Williams.
Ellie was aware that she looked too much like a tourist, but she couldn’t help her wide-eyed stare. Everything was so opulent and luxurious that she wanted to take it all in. Mason ordered food for them both, and Ellie was glad. She was so starstruck that she’d forgotten she was even hungry.
