Page 29 of Stood Up
“Don’t you like, have people that go and get you drinks?” Lila asks.
“Of course,” is all he answers. “I’ll see you tonight.” He lands a hard kiss on my lips, and I fall back into my chair. Once he gets his coffee, I get a wink and then he’s gone. It doesn’t go past me that every single eye in the place is looking at him as well.
“Okay, go as fast as you want,” Lila says, grabbing my attention.
“Huh?”
“Aiden, the way he looks at you and touches you. It’s like he’s done it for years and not mere days. I see the same thing in the way Brad looks at me. It’s a beautiful thing that you need to hold onto.”
“I can’t predict the future, but right now I’m happy, and I’m going to see where this leads.”
“Smart woman. Damn, he’s hot! I’ve really only seen him from a distance. Not that up close and personal.” Guess that explains that question.
“He’s even hotter between the sheets.”
“Damn you woman.”
Laughter erupts from my chest as Lila and I continue our conversation until the last bite is eaten.
* * *
“You lookas beautiful as ever.” Mason greets me, opening his door. I went home after work and freshened up before coming over since Mason decided he wanted to take me out tonight. I’m dressed in jeans like I am pretty much every time. I did take a bit to fix my makeup from the day and brush my hair, though.
“These old things?” I point to my jeans and the chucks I have on my feet. I’m a simple woman who likes the simple things.
“I like you better naked, but no one else sees that but me.” He looks handsome as always in dark black jeans and a white button-up shirt with his sleeves rolled up. Casual, but hot. I’m pretty sure there isn’t another way for him to look.
“So, where are we going?” I ask, stepping into the walkway.
“I wish you would have let me pick you up,” he says, brushing a piece of my hair over my shoulder.
“I like driving here.”
“You like to have an escape.” He’s right. I don’t want him to be, but he is. It’s my way of keeping things in control and as fast as this relationship is going, I need that small bit.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I have no plans to at least, but I do like that I have an option if I need it.
“We’ll get there,” he says before placing a chaste kiss on my lips. “Let’s go.”
Mason opens the door to his Navigator and helps me in, then goes to the other side and gets in himself. As he starts the engine, I wonder something so I ask, “Why don’t you have a driver?”
He pulls out and starts down the road, giving me a chuckle. “Why would you ask that?”
“I’ve been to the movies and guys in…” I stutter because it sounds pretty stupid what’s going to come out now that I think about it. But I push through anyway. “You run your own company and have a gorgeous home. Anytime I see stuff on television or in books, a guy in your position would have a driver who carts him around from place to place.”
His laugh deepens. I fully admit I love the sound of it, even if it’s directed at my question.
“I don’t want one,” he tells me matter-of-factly. “Now, do I plan one day to get a limo and have a driver so I can fuck you senseless in the back, absolutely. But not every day.”
His eyes never leave the road, but he continues talking, “I have money, Aiden. Enough to retire right now and live damn good.”
I interrupt, “I don’t care about your money, Mason.”
“No, but you’ve lumped me into a generalization, and I need to wipe that from your head.” A rock hits my gut because he’s right, and I shouldn’t have done that. Can I just blame TV? Or the movies?
“Sorry,” I whisper. He reaches out and clasps my hand in his, pulling it to his lips and giving me a soft kiss on it.
“I have money because I’m smart about it and live that way as well. Can I buy whatever I want, absolutely, but that doesn’t mean I will. Everything is about the end game for me. Living life with someone I care about. That’s the goal. The success, the money—none of it means anything unless I find someone to spend it with. At least that’s what my realization is lately.”
