AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stare at her in surprise. “Absolutely sure. And you’re not suggesting that I go for Mason, are you?”
She shakes her head. “Oh, dear Lord no. I mean, he’d probably be fantastic for one night, but I wouldn’t go for anything more unless you want to get your heart broken.”
“Thanks, I’m all set there. And I have no interest. None at all. He’s a complete, total, unbearable donkey of a jackass. Definitely not into him. He’s the last guy on the planet I’d grant access to my vajayjay.” Okay, I’m protesting too much. I need to change the subject. “So, my goal is to make his life a living heck for the next eight weeks.”
Shelby arches an eyebrow. “A living heck?”
“Yes. He doesn’t quite deserve hell, but he definitely deserves heck. So here’s my idea. When we show up at the hospital, I have a little surprise for him. He is going to be doing this in costume. And he’s not going to like what I pick, but he has no choice.” I smile triumphantly. “It’ll entertain the kids and also knock his ego down a peg or two. What to choose, what to choose ...”
“Oooh. So many great possibilities.” Shelby grins wickedly. “I mean, a jackass. Or is that a little too on the nose?”
“I like it, but let’s keep brainstorming. I kind of like the idea of a cow with udders ... because he’s udderly infuriating ...” I throw back my head and laugh at my own witticism. Shelby just squints at me.
“No?” I pout. “Okay. Well, it’s got to annoy Mason but be fun for the children. What do kids like?”
Her forehead wrinkles in thought. “A Raggedy Ann doll?”
“Do kids still like those? Wait, I know, I know. A clown,” I crow triumphantly.
She bursts into giggles. “Oh. My God. You’re going to make Mason Raker wear a clown suit. Please tell me there will be a red nose involved. Please, please ...”
“Oh yeah, baby. And clown shoes.” I am electric with excitement. If Mason’s going to be a rude, sarcastic pain in the hiney, I’m going to dish it right back to him.
We spend a little while going over other costume ideas for him. Some of them are fun, some of them are X-rated. I have to remind her that this is for the kids, and therefore her ass-less chaps cowboy costume gets a big thumbs down.
She tosses back the rest of her drink. “This has absolutely made my night. Unfortunately, I’ve got an early shoot tomorrow, so I’m going to have to call it a night. Drinks are on me. Because you’re making Mason put on a big red nose.”
“Oh, believe me, it will be my absolute pleasure. Thanks, partner in crime. I’ll get it next time,” I say, standing up and grabbing my purse.
I wait while she settles our tab, and then we head for the door. Stepping out onto the crowded street in the August heat, I inhale deeply, drawing the sharp, unique perfume of Manhattan into my nostrils. The baking sidewalk, the traffic fumes ... call me crazy, but I love it. It reminds me that I’m in my favorite city in the world.
My mother wanted to move here when she was a journalism student. Then she ended up getting pregnant, marrying my father, settling for writing a column for the local weekly ... I know she loved my dad, and me and my younger sister, but I also know she wanted more. And she pushed me to follow my dreams first, to get established in my dream career before I even considered settling down. It was so important to her.
A buzz of excitement ripples through the crowd as I move down the sidewalk. I look around to see what everyone is looking at.
They’re all staring and whispering about the same thing—a tall, handsome man with a gorgeous chick hanging on his arm. Why? This is New York. The hotness level of New York residents is positively obscene.
”Oh, hell no,” I groan. “Why, universe? Did I sin in a previous life?”
“What?” Shelby asks. She follows my gaze.
Mason. With a date. A surge of annoyance flares through me. He’s basically trying to sabotage my job before we’ve even started working together.
Freaking awesome.
“Well, well, well,” Mason drawls, walking up to me. “If it isn’t my biggest fan. What are you doing here? Stalker much? I mean, this is a little embarrassing, Rowan.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Actually, you’re the one walking in and we’re just leaving, Mr. Jackass and the Bean-stalker.”
Shelby bursts into laughter. Mason shoots her an annoyed look.
The hot chick, who’s wearing a dress so short I could give her a gyno exam, tugs on his arm. “Let’s goooo ...,” she whines.
He gently slides his arm out of her grasp. “In a minute.”
“I’m bored.”
He ignores her and nods at my outfit, a vintage Norma Kamali wrap dress. “Nice. I thought in your off hours you dressed up in Mary Poppins outfits and scolded children.”
