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She waved a hand. "Oh well, thank you. So." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Did you guys figure out where you want to have your second date yet?"
He noticed Ellie had a shocked look on her face, and he couldn't help but laugh. But he liked the idea.
He turned to her. "Wouldn't you like to see what London is like this time of year? I have a private jet that can fly us."
Her face seemed to freeze in confusion. Finally, she blinked and opened her mouth, struggling for words. "Are you ... are you asking me on a date? The better question is, are you asking me on a date to London? Our first date to London?"
"Why not?" he said, giving her a shrug. "Do you need a passport? Or is there something else?"
She was still stunned. "Isn't it weird? To just go out of the country with someone you just met?"
Gerri quickly spoke up with a hearty laugh. "I can fully say that Mason is perfectly normal. As part of the process of enrolling him into the matchmaking service, he has to be clean and fall under certain guidelines. He's solid."
Gerri laughed. "Besides, I've known him for years. He's totally a freak and portrait of a billionaire playboy, but I can assure you he doesn't bite." She looked toward Ellie. "Unless that's what you want."
Ellie still held the shocked, almost horrified expression now. "But you hardly know me. Shouldn't Mason be concerned with me being a crazy person? Maybe I'm a serial killer in hiding."
Gerri and he both started to laugh. He couldn't help it. It was clear she didn't know much about shifters.
"Actually, that won't be a problem," Gerri said. "Shifter's instincts allow them to sense things. People's deepest secrets like that are unable to stay hidden. Besides, Mason is a shifter. He is more than able to handle himself against anyone normal. If he wasn't, I'd be a little concerned."
He snorted and chuckled. He was still waiting for her to answer the question. Was she willing? Would she go with him?
Ellie finally looked back at him and nodded. "You know what? Let's do it. I'll go to London with you under one condition. We have separate rooms."
He would rather they didn't, but he understood her demand. She was human, and jumping into a relationship was different than shifters. He could take it slow.
"That I can live with."
Gerri patted him on the shoulder. "I wish you guys the best of luck, but I really should get back. You guys have a good evening and a wonderful trip."
And just like before, Gerri was gone.
They went back to listen to the rest of the play, and after it ended, he drove her home. He was giddy with anticipation for their London trip.
As he parked in front of her house, he turned toward her. "I'll need your phone number."
He slipped out one of his cards as she wrote down her digits on the back of another one of his cards. He smiled, liking her writing. It was elegant.
"I'll be a little busy with midterms, but as soon as they end, I'll have some free time I can use for travel." He watched her smile and hoped she looked forward to it as much as he did.
"I'll call you every day until the trip just so you remember who I am. Even if I'm busy, I'll be sure to call. It might be short, but you'll hear from me."
She chuckled. "Okay. I look forward to them."
He watched her slip out of the car, and he waved goodbye. His heart pounded happily.
He drove back to his hotel suite and flopped himself onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling. His mind was flooded with Ellie.
She seemed perfect for him in every way he could think. He would need to thank Gerri for finding her. She outdid herself.
FIVE
ELLIE
To Ellie’s surprise, Mason really did call every day. The calls were short, but it made Ellie feel even more special that Mason was making time for her. She could tell he was really taking an interest in her, and for him, this was not some casual vacation hookup.
Every time she saw his name on the screen, her heart leapt in her chest. She was addicted to the sound of his smooth voice, the easy, confident way he spoke. It may have been the sexiest thing she’d ever heard.
