Page 7 of Sweetheart

Was it something he said? Mason mentally snickered. Levi was fun to tease.

“Wh…what?” Levi asked.

“If I want to see you,” Mason said. “How would I go about that? You don’t spend much time in your shop so—” He waved his hand around.

Levi took a drink of his ice water. He slammed the cup down. “Are you messing with me?”

“No.” Mason widened his eyes. “I swear.”

Levi grunted.

Mason was not giving up. “You should give me your number.” That was a brilliant idea. Levi, when he’d been Stone, had seemed much more comfortable talking when they’d messaged through the dating app.

“What is even happening right now?” Levi mumbled.

“I’m hitting on you,” Mason said slowly so there would be no more misunderstandings.

Levi shook his head. “I…I don’t…what?”

Mason noticed the waitress walking over with a plate. He stole a fry from Levi’s plate before pushing it toward him. “Eat.”

He was happy when Levi picked up his sandwich and took another bite.

“Thanks, Sally.” Mason waited until she’d set the roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn, and roll in front of him. He took a deep breath before smiling. “This looks great.”

“Just holler if either of you need anything else.” She walked away and Mason glanced back at Levi, who was staring at him.

Mason stabbed his fork into his potatoes. “Here is the thing. I find you incredibly attractive. I think we should go on a date.”

“Are you always this forward?” Levi asked.

“No. Yes. Sometimes.” Damn, Mason hadn’t had to work this hard to get a man in a very long time. He just knew that Levi was going to turn him down and Mason needed to avoid that. It appeared it was time to come clean. At least with one secret that Mason held. “Besides, we’re not complete strangers. Are we, Stone?”

Levi jerked back like he’d been shocked. He paled considerably, which was obvious with his smooth tan complexion. “How—”

Mason smiled. “How’d I know it was you?”

Levi nodded, the shock evident.

“The scar on your chest. I saw it in your profile picture and the pictures you sent privately to me and then again when you answered the door without a shirt.” The question really was. “How’d you recognize me?”

“I have to go!” Levi climbed out of the booth. He quickly pulled out his wallet and dropped cash onto the table.

“You don’t have to run from me again,” Mason said quietly. He should have kept his fucking mouth closed. “We need to talk about this.”

“Bye!”

Mason reached out and snagged Levi’s wrist.

Levi froze.

“You forgot your sketch pad.” Mason grabbed the pencil on the table with his free hand then the sketch pad. He flipped the pad over and wrote his number messily on the back. “That’s my number.” He handed over the pad.

Levi accepted it even though his gaze never left where Mason had grabbed him.

Mason rubbed his thumb over the pulse point in Levi’s wrist. “I hope you’ll call me. I’d really like to talk to you again. To clear up a few things.”

Before he knew it, Levi yanked his wrist from Mason’s hold and, clutching his sketch pad, literally ran from the diner.

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