Page 46 of Anchored Love
“I love him. I do; it’s just he wants kids one day, and I don’t know if I do.” Her face fell, and she stared at her shoes. “I … I don’t even know if I can have kids, Ev. I haven’t told anyone this, but Casey and I haven’t always been smart about protection, you know, and I don’t like putting anything into my body I don’t have to. I’m not even on birth control, and nothing. What if I’m sterile and it’s a deal breaker for him? What if he decides we’re over because I can’t give him the family he expects to have?”
“You aren’t practicing, you know, safe sex … condoms?”
Her head shook, and she shrugged. “I know it isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. For a while, I thought if it happens, then it’s meant to be, but it has been two years. He keeps pressing me about marriage and kids, and I freeze up or run off.
“You’ve got to talk to him and be honest. He deserves to know what’s going through that crazy head of yours. He loves you, and you know it could be him and not you. You guys have options and plenty of time to think about it.”
“Why do you have to be sensible and right all the time?” Jess fidgeted, twisting her fingers in her lap. “I should let you get back to work. Promise you won’t say anything? Especially not to Mom?”
“Of course. But I want you to promise me that you’ll talk to Casey. He’s a good guy, Sis.”
“Yeah. I know. Maybe that’s the problem too.” She stood and moved toward the door. ‘Thanks for listening.”
“Always.”
Jess left, and I got busy with work until I started a new client and needed a file.
In the supply room, I needed a new expandable folder and, of course, the box they were in had to be on the top shelf.
Up on my tiptoes, I extended my hand and tried to reach the shelf without getting the step stool. It was stupid, but I could do it, dammit.
A pair of firm hands gripped my hips, the familiar scent of Dior wafted up my nose, and I couldn’t deny the smile stretching across my face when his warm breath fanned along the shell of my ear. “Allow me.”
Mason reached over my head, nabbing the file I was aiming for. “Here you are.”
Sucking in a deep breath didn’t help the nerves that flittered around me.
He held the package close to his chest as I turned to face him for the first time since we parted ways after the cruise. My heart hammered in my chest, and my pulse throbbed in my ears. I wasn’t prepared to see all the gorgeousness that was him.
His face still had that sun-kissed glow from the beach. My mind wandered back to the time on the boat.
I licked my bottom lip. “Hey.”
“Hi.” He smiled his signature panty-dropping smile, and it still had the same affect on me as before. Damn him.
“I’ll take that.” I held my hand out for the folder. He shifted, moving his arm up over his head, completely out of my reach.
“Come on now, Mason.”
His eyes bore into mine. “I’ll give it to you on one condition.”
“Oh, and what’s that?”
“Agree to go out with me tomorrow night.”
“You know I can’t.” I closed my eyes, shaking my head. I hated having to tell him no, but it was in his best interest.
“Can’t or won’t.” I felt him take a step toward me, his head getting closer.
I opened my eyes to find him in my personal space, backing me against the counter on the opposite side of the room. “We’re at work.”
“Stop making excuses, Ev. I can’t go on without you, and I refuse to pretend that we don’t belong together.” Mason’s heated gaze pierced straight through me to my soul, warming me from my head to my toes.
My breath hitched in my throat, and I felt as though he’d sucked all the air from the room with his declaration. “I…”
His finger met my lips, and his hands were now empty. “Shh. Don’t give me a reason why you want to say no. Stop thinking so damn much. We work. We make sense, sweetheart.” Dipping his head, his mouth crashed down to mine. Tongue thrusting between my lips, he kissed me deep, hard, and wet, reminding me of how well we worked. Not that I could have ever forgotten how good of a kisser he was. That was imprinted on my brain.
I returned his kiss, unable to resist him; nor did I want to. What sort of trouble would be waiting for us if anyone saw didn’t matter, because in that moment I was all in; to hell with it. Mason was a man worth the risk.
