Page 18 of Love Me Ever After
“You’ve done an amazing job, Ems.” A male voice whispered in my ear. “You should be proud of yourself, I know I am.”
Mason’s breath tickled the sweet spot just below my earlobe and I tensed. “You didn’t have to say that.”
“Why not? It’s the truth.”
I whirled around to face him, his intense brown eyes on mine. “And you don’t have any right to say that either.”
“Can’t I be proud of my friend?”
Of course he could be proud of me. That’s what friends did, supported you on the big things in your life that were important to you. But his whispering in my ear brought on all sorts of physical reactions which were totally inappropriate for where we were right now. And it unnerved me.
“I, um, need to go and check on something with the kitchen,” I blustered, needing to put some distance between us. “I’ll catch up with you later.” Before he could answer, I turned on my heels and all but ran to the safety of my office.
When I slammed the door behind me, Sonya’s head jerked in my direction.
“Everything okay? Has something happened?”
Although we’d worked together for a long time and were superficially friendly, Sonya wasn’t the person I was prepared to spill my guts to on the whole Mason situation.
I sank down into my chair and switched my computer screen on. “Everything’s fine. They’re just about to go into lunch.”
Sonya nodded, then looked back down at the document she’d been reading. “Good. Keep me posted on any issues.”
My phone pinged and I held my breath, wondering if it was Barbara.
Georgie: How’s the conference thingy going? Darcy said Fraser was really looking forward to it.
If I had any doubts about my supporters, I knew one of them was Fraser. Without him, I wouldn’t even be organising this.
Ems: Is it time for a drink yet?!
Georgie: You work in a hotel with a bar. Do you really need to ask the question?
Ems: How is it not Friday?
Georgie: Don’t say that!! We have three days to get the restaurant ready and I’m bricking it. There’s so much to do. You are coming to the taster evening, aren’t you?
Ems: Wouldn’t miss it for the world. As long as there’s alcohol.
Georgie: If I haven’t drunk it all by then…
Friday was Georgie and Marcus’s soft launch for their restaurant, E.S. Riverside. They were inviting friends and family along for a taster session, to sample their menu. It would be a great way to celebrate my own successes at the same time—as long as I had something to celebrate.
For the rest of the afternoon, I stayed in the office, only popping out at break times to check in with Barbara. From what I could tell, she was happy with everything, despite a slight mix up over a vegan lunch dish. Each time, I checked around to see if Mason was there. I hated how he made me feel, so confused about what I wanted. Having him living in the same house caused all sorts of unresolved tension. If I could have looked for an alternative place to stay, I would. Resentment towards Sara and Tasha for making the decision without me crept in.
But it looked like I was stuck with him, for the time being at least.
9
Mason
Everywhere I looked,Ems was there.
During each break, she hovered in the background, quietly making sure everything was going to plan. I spotted her chatting to Barbara on more than one occasion, then Fraser and at one point, Janine.
I couldn’t concentrate on the afternoon presentations, my thoughts clouded by her reaction to what I’d said to her at lunchtime. I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t accept a compliment from me. Especially over something so important to her and her career.
By the time dinner came around, I was so ready for a drink.
