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"Of course. That is what friends do, help each other out, Mason. Did you live in the big city for so long that you forgot howthings work in Cottage Grove? You've been back almost a year, you would think that would be enough time to remember what it's like here.”
"I know you're right, it's just I forgot what it was like to live around genuine people again. The guys on my team were great but everyone else just wanted a piece of us."
"That’s a sad way to live, Mason. I almost think your knee injury was a blessing."
Her words echo my thoughts from the other day. No one else has had the courage to tell me that maybe my knee injury saved me from becoming an arrogant jackass.
"Speaking of small towns, the people in Cottage Grove sure love to gossip."
"That’s an understatement. It's almost a sport here," Emily grumbles.
"I heard through the grapevine that you and Stuart, our stalwart new lawyer in town, have a date for Thursday night."
I can almost see her face turn red. The long silence after my words has a grin sliding across my face.
"We are both single adults who happen to like the same book series and Italian food. There is nothing wrong with us going out and enjoying good food and lively conversation."
Her voice is so prim it has me laughing. "That sounded so boring Em."
I can't stop laughing and soon she is joining in. Her laugh is the best, it is a sound of pure joy.
"Shut up, Mason. That is what an adult date is like. Not all of us take a girl to dinner then to bed and consider it good."
"That is not what I do."
"Right. Name one girl you've gone on a second date with since you've come home." She taunts me and I can’t say anything because she’s right.
"Why are you so interested in my love life?" I shoot back at her and she laughs again.
"Didn’t you just say gossip is the official sport of Cottage Grove? I own a bookstore with a coffee counter. Other than the diner, Book and Brew is the only place to come and share the gossip. I hear everything, and your serial dating has been a hot topic ever since you came back"
"I've been shunted to the side now that you and Stuart are an item," I tell her and I hope she doesn’t hear the little edge in my voice.
"First of all, we are not an item. It is only one date and why do you care? We’re just friends."
The silence hangs in the air after her words and I finally clear my throat and break the tension.
"Thanks again for doing this for me. It really does mean a lot. I’ll come over tomorrow and give you my credit card to take to the boutique."
"That's okay, I can pay for the dresses, Mason."
"Don’t you even try to tell me that you’ll pay for the outfits. This is my deal and you are going to let me pay. I'm not hurting. I still have millions from when I played ball. I donate my salary from the firehouse to charity or back to the firefighter’s fund."
I hear her sigh a little and it makes me grin. I know that I'm laying it on thick trying to be the perfect guy. I don’t even know why. This is Emily, not some woman I want to date.
"Goodnight, Mason. I’ll see you tomorrow." She ends the call and I set my phone on the table. I need to get my head straight and figure out why Emily dating is bothering me so much.
Chapter Five
Emily
"Hey girl! Are youready to make Clarissa's year? I went by there and she has the entire shop done up like some high-end New York boutique with champagne and canapes and everything. We are going to have so much fun."
I smile at Leah. I’ve been trying to get the phone call with Mason out of my head. It felt almost as if we were flirting and then he was telling me that he donates his salary to charity? From any other guy that would sound like a line but I know it’s not with Mason. He is such a good guy and he never let the fame go to his head. I just want the New York weekend over with because the more things he says, the more I fall for him.
"How was the dinner date last night?" Leah asks, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"It was fine. We talked books and have similar tastes. We had a good conversation about the latest Williams book, went to dinner and then I came home.”
