Page 33 of Every Breath

“I’ve been thinking about it, too.”

She didn’t trust herself to respond to that because if she did, she knew the next thing she’d do was issue him an invitation to the bedroom. Considering the circumstances, the last thing on her mind should have been sleeping with Mason, but it was, and now that the thought was in her head, there was no getting rid of it.

“Look, I don’t want you to think I only came for sex, because I didn’t.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Your nose is wiggling again,” he said, walking over to stand in front of her. He cupped her face in his hand and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. She closed her eyes and let the warmth of his kiss flow through her. He lifted his head and she whimpered. “We don’t have to do anything tonight. Let me cook dinner for you. Have you eaten?”

She shook her head. Now that she thought about it, she was ravenous.

“Okay. I think I can whip us up something.” He released her and headed for the kitchen. Mason pulled up one of the chairs for her. “I want you to take a seat and all you have to do is let me do my thing.”

Brandi watched in fascination as he moved though her kitchen as though it were the most natural place in the world for him to be. He found a few things in the refrigerator that he said he could cook in a hurry. Occasionally Mason would ask her where things were, but he wouldn’t let her help.

He made her laugh until it hurt, by telling her funny things that happened at his job.

She held her sides and pleaded for mercy. “Stop! I can’t take any more!”

By the time he was finished cooking a delicious-looking chicken dish, she had forgotten her troubles. “It smells yummy. What’s this called?” she asked as he placed a plate in front of her.

“I call it chicken à la Mason. I just threw some things together. I hope it tastes as good as you think it smells.” He took a seat in front of her.

She took a small bite. It was fantastic. “You’re quite a good cook. I think you’ve missed your calling in life.”

“I’m mediocre at best. I like to putter around the kitchen.”

Brandi would never have guessed that a man of his wealth cooked for himself. As though reading her mind he said, “You seemed surprised. Didn’t think I could throw down in the kitchen, did you?”

“Well, it did cross my mind.”

“Necessity is the mother of invention. I lost my housekeeper some weeks ago so I’ve basically been doing for myself.”

“That’s a lot of house for one man.”

“I suppose it is, but when Ben is with me it doesn’t seem so lonely. I think it’s the kind of house that needs a family in it.” He appeared to be sending her a message. She looked down at her plate and tried to think of something to break the awkward silence.

“Why did your housekeeper leave?”

“That’s a good question. To be honest with you, I’m not really sure, but let’s just say that I wasn’t really myself when she left. I’ve been calling Luisa’s house in hopes that she’ll come back, but as the magic eight ball would say, the outcome doesn’t look good.”

“That’s too bad. I’m sure that you could go through one of those agencies to find someone else.”

“No. I need her back.”

“Why?”

“To make amends.”

She looked at him in confusion. Sometimes Mason’s words were very puzzling.

“What do you mean?”

“Just that she didn’t leave in the best circumstances, and I would like to make it up to her.”

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