Page 10 of Between the Paragraphs

“Without the double suicide in the end,” Miles agrees with a nod, his serious expression broken by a grin a fraction of a second later.

Our food is brought out and we chat a few more minutes when I feel a new tingle travel up my spine. I have no doubt who’s just come into the restaurant. I look up and see Mason making his way toward us. It doesn’t take him long. He grabs a chair, flips it around, and takes a seat, all without taking his eyes from me.

“Never one to turn down an opportunity to make an entrance,” Miles says with a laugh. Seeing the two together, the differences are much more apparent. I’m surprised I thought Miles was Mason for even a moment.

“We’re in a meeting,” I tell Mason in my most prim voice. I’m careful. This is Miles’s brother, after-all.

“I couldn’t leave my girl alone with my brother,” he tells me with a wink.

“That’s sure to win her over,” Miles says.

“I’m not your girl,” I tell Mason.

Mason only shrugs as he reaches over to my plate and grabs a fry. “I’m starving. I had a killer workout and now I need food. He takes an onion ring from Miles’s plate next. I don’t even know what to say.

“What are you two discussing?” Mason asks as the waitress comes back. Mason orders so there’s no getting rid of him now.

“A romance deal,” Miles says with zero shame. He might just be the next Nicolas Sparks, though maybe without the sad endings. I can see it. He’s a lot better looking in my humble opinion, and from the way he’s talking about his fiancé, more of a romantic than the most famous male romance author.

Mason whistles. “My brother wants to be a romance writer. Nice. Sappy, but nice.”

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with romance,” I shoot back. “It’s in every single story ever told. Do you really think Superman saves the world because he has nothing better to do? Nope. He does it for a woman.”

“I like that. Maybe I’ll write some of my own romance. Want to help me come up with scenes?” he asks with an incredibly sexy smile.

“What you’re talking about is smut, and that’s not happening,” I tell him, but I can’t stop my laughter. His infectious joy of life is hard to be mad at. That swaggering smile is going to live rent free in my head to the end of time.

“Come on, we’re each other’s wingmen. We have to do this together,” Mason says.

Miles looks at his watch. “I have to run. I’m giving a talk in fifteen minutes. It truly was a pleasure meeting you today, Maria. I look forward to seeing what we can do together.”

I stand with him and shake his hand again. Miles pats Mason on the back, and then he disappears. I’m left behind with Mason who looks quite smug about this.

His food comes and the two of us get into some friendly banter about the best genres for books. We both like multiple genres, getting bored reading only one style over and over again. Life’s too short and there are far too many books not to have many different reading materials to consume.

I realize I’m going to be late for my next meeting and call over the waitress to pay. Mason does it before I can stop him. I give him a glare.

“This was a work meeting,” I tell him.

“Work. Play. I like paying,” he says. I roll my eyes.

“Are you one of those men intimidated by powerful women?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Hell no. I love a powerful woman. Weak women bore me. Why do you think I’m harassing you? I’m damn impressed,” he says. His words are filled with truth. It makes me a glow a little, but I don’t want to admit it.

“Thanks, I think,” I tell him.

“It’s a compliment for sure,” he says. “What time are your appointments over so we can meet up and collaborate?”

I have a feeling he’ll follow me through the halls if I don’t agree to meet with him. I tell myself this is the only reason I’m agreeing to it. I can’t lie to my bestie, but I can lie to myself all day long.

“Fine. I’m done at seven,” I tell him.

“Perfect. I’ll walk you to your next meeting,” he says as he stands and holds out his arm. I don’t take it.

“Nope. I’m stopping at the restroom and have a few last minute things to do. You’re going away unless you want our meeting tonight to be cancelled,” I tell him. He looks like he wants to argue for a minute, but then he takes my hand and kisses the back of it, before giving me a bow, then walking away.

I wait a moment before following behind him, feeling a bit wobbly on my feet. I pass a table where an older woman reaches out, catching my attention. I smile at her.

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