Page 39 of Stood Up
Chapter 17
Mason
Aiden tookElizabeth on like a champ. Elizabeth can be dramatic and over the top with so much of what she says. I’m actually happy that Aiden was here to see it, just so I could clear up any misunderstandings because she’ll have to see Elizabeth on occasion.
After she left, I took Aiden right there in the living room. Now, she lay against my chest in the bed, her breathing slow and steady. All the while I play with her hair. It’s so damn soft I can’t get enough of it.
“I was jealous,” she whispers. I barely hear it, but she says it. My fingers momentarily still as her head turns to me, her chin resting on my chest. “I didn’t like her here. Every thought I could muster up ...” She closes her eyes.
“Hey.” She opens them slowly, and I push a lock of hair behind her ear. “No one, and I mean no one, in this world hold a candle to you. There is nothing to be jealous of—ever. I’m with you. You’re with me. That’s all we need to have.”
Her smile hits me in the gut. Love. Yeah. Love. Aiden is it for me.
* * *
“Mason, you look dashing!” Randolph says in only his way as I adjust my bowtie.
“How is she?” I ask instead of responding to him.
“Beautiful. No, spectacular. No,” he shakes his head. “I don’t think there’s a word for it yet. Maybe you can come up with something.”
“Hey,” Aiden calls from the doorway, my head snapping to her. Everything stops. The world. My breaths. My heartbeat. Time. Movement. Everything. She’s stunning and Randolph is right, there isn’t a word for it. I think she’s beautiful with zero makeup on and her hair messed from me fucking her all night. This, this is beyond a dream.
Her red dress accentuates all of her curves, and the low neckline gives a fantastic view of her cleavage. It’s strapless so all her creamy skin is exposed. Instantly, I regret buying the dress. All those assholes there tonight will be looking at her the same way they were at the restaurant when we met.But she’s with you and only you.That thought has my stunned face turning into a smile.
Her apprehensive steps tell me of her uncertainty. I reach out my hand to hers, and she places her delicate one inside.
“I have no words.”
Her brows crease.
“No, Aiden. It’s beyond a beauty I couldn’t have dreamt up.”
Her smile radiates. “You’re not so bad yourself, handsome.” I move to kiss her and she backs up, startling me. “Oh no you don’t, mister. It took Randolph like, forever to get these lips right. Don’t you dare.”
I only smirk then pull her hard to me and kiss her. It takes Randolph another ten minutes to put her back together again, but I’m not sure why he bothered because it’ll be gone by the time we get there.
The gala is an over the top donation fest, but I come because it’s for an old friend, Luca. Aiden fits in perfectly with everyone she meets and is introduced to. She handles everything with a grace and ease that I admire.
“Mr. James.” Aiden says surprised. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
Brantley gives a smirk of a smile. It’s not one where I want to punch his lights out for oogling my woman, but more of humor.
“Good to see you can dress in something other than jeans.”
Aiden scoffs. “You have a hang up with my clothes.”
Brantley shrugs and turns to me holding out his hand. “Mason.”
“Brantley. You obviously know Aiden.”
“Got yourself a real catch in that one, Mason. Do yourself a favor and don’t let it go.”
Brantley doesn’t allow me to respond because he walks away and disappears into the crowd.
“That was weird.”
“It’s Brantley.”
