Page 25 of Between the Paragraphs

“It’s a great idea. Let your hair down, rip your clothes off, and mount that fine ass man,” Nikki insists.

“Do you know how much I love you?” I say through my laughter.

“I know how much you love me. But you need to not think about me, and think about mounting that man,” she says, not allowing me to change the subject.

“What if I get attached? I’ve done some research, and he’s known as an impossible catch. He reels the women in, then throws them back out to sea just as quickly.”

“You aren’t the catch anyone releases,” she assures me. “You’re a halibut, not a tilapia.”

“I don’t know,” I say. “But I think it’s going to happen. I’ll have too many regrets if I don’t see where this leads.”

“Damn right you will,” she agrees.

Before we can dive too much further into it, my phone buzzes with a new message. I pick it up and see Mason’s messaged me. He’s supposed to be helping his brother right now. I have to admit it pleases me that he’s still thinking about me though. I open the message.

Mason: You and Me. Dinner tonight.

Maria: Confident, aren’t you?

Mason: Hopeful. I can’t get enough of you.

My heart soars at these words. I can’t get enough of him either.

“Tell that man yes right now,” Nikki demands, not ashamed to be looking over my shoulder at our messages. I laugh.

Maria: I guess we do still have work to plan.

Mason: I’ll take any reason to be with you. I’ll collect you at seven.

Maria: Sounds like a plan. I do still need to get that interview my boss wants.

I hate that I have to bring this up again, but it’s something I’m supposed to do that neither of us have talked about in the past few days.

Mason: Tit for tat. I’ll give you the interview and I get you for a night of my choosing.

Nikki lets out a whistle as I blush. “Oh, he’s smooth. You better say yes.” I laugh as I begin typing.

Maria: Deal.

I guess I’ll see what’s coming next. There’s one thing for sure, I’m excited about it. This conference might be ending, but it looks like Mason and I are only just beginning.

Chapter Ten

Maria

It’s been a week since the conference, and I haven’t had a chance to see Mason yet. The dinner we were supposed to have got interrupted when I was called away for work. This normally wouldn’t bother me at all. This time it did. I miss him. I’ve never missed a man before. It feels strange to want to be with him so much.

Tonight, finally, I get to see him again. It will be a miracle if I don’t tackle him to the floor. Never have I been this attracted to a man, and this in tune with conversations as well. Though we haven’t seen each other in a week, the text messages have been flowing, and they’ve become flirtier with each message sent.

He’s cashing in on his event tonight, and I’m accompanying him to an engagement party of a friend. It’s a bit awkward, but I’m sure it will be fine. There are often plus ones on invitations. I’m used to entering a room of strangers and walking out with new friends. This is one of the reasons I do so well in my job.

The anticipation of seeing Mason again, especially outside of the conference, has been building all week. When my doorbell rings, I feel a mixture of excitement and nerves rush through me. If he chooses to come in and sweep me off my feet, we might not be going anywhere. I’m good with this.

I open the door to find Mason looking incredible in a fitted suit, holding a large bouquet of flowers. His lips are curved in a smile that makes me want to ravage him. “This has been too long,” he says as he hands over the flowers, then looks at me from the tip of my head to the point of my heels. The happiness in his eyes makes me want to purr like a kitten.

“You’re breathtaking,” he utters, his voice low, the sound vibrating straight through me.

“You aren’t too bad yourself,” I tell him, feeling a slight trembling in my fingers. If he’s feeling even half of what I’m feeling right now, it’s a miracle we’re both still standing. “Thanks for the flowers. They’re stunning.”

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