Page 20 of Scary In Love
She shakes it firmly. “Please call me Mandy. So you’re the famous Mason Miller, are you?”
He swings his axe up over his shoulder and turns to me, his surprised expression the opposite of my embarrassed one. “I don’t know, am I famous?”
I have no idea what Mum is talking about. We’re close, but not confessing our crushes close, and we literally haven’t spoken about him.
“The one from all the canoodling on the doorstep, according to her father.”
“Jesus,” I groan. “There was no canoodling.”
“Well, not yet anyway,” Mason retorts with a wink.
My jaw drops, and Mum elbows me in the ribs before I can hide it.
“So, you survived the Miller mansion. Did you enjoy yourselves?” he asks, and I’m grateful for the change in subject.
“Hated it,” Mum tells him bluntly. “Nearly peed myself. My daughter is the Halloween fan in our house, but she didn’t get it from me. I’m a total wuss.”
“Ah yes, your daughter is a very bold woman indeed,” he says, pressing his tongue into his cheek. “And gorgeous, which she definitely got from you, Mandy.”
He’s not wrong. Mum is undeniably gorgeous, and I’ve spent most of my life watching people flirt with her. We have similar faces, and just like people sometimes mistake Dad for my partner, they often think Mum and I are sisters. Except she’s glamorous, and confident, and makes friends wherever she goes, and I’m… well, not built that way.
I used to wonder if she’d have preferred a daughter who is more like her, but beyond her dislike of some of my childhood hobbies, she’s never put any pressure on me to look, or act, or dress a certain way.
After I grew out of the teenage phase of hating everyone and everything, we’ve been much closer, and even if we’re not at work, I really enjoy spending time with her. She has plenty of her own friends, but sometimes we do things just the two of us, and I appreciate those nights the most. Not everyone is so lucky in the parent department.
“Will you stay for a drink?” Mason asks. “I’ll fix you something that’ll really rattle your demons.”
I want to tell him we’d love to, but I’m not about to ditch my own mother to stare at a barman, no matter how cute he is. And I’d much prefer to see him alone, anyway.
Thankfully, she answers before I get the chance. “I need to get home and hug my dogs and my husband before the nightmares kick in. In that order.”
Mason gives her an understanding nod, stepping back into character.
“Well, I hope you’ll grace us with your presence again soon, ladies. Be sure to tell your friends to visit us… and tell your enemies twice.”
We weave our way through the crowd, and as we step out into the cold night air, I glance back, thrilled to find him watching me leave. He blows me a kiss with that same little wave he gave me the first night, and really I hope it won’t be long until I see him again.
12
Mason
MASON:Sorry we didn’t get to chat more last night.
JENNA:I’m sorry, my mum is so embarrassing.
MASON:You’re very cute when you’re embarrassed.
MASON:Would you like to come for a tour of the house on Saturday around noon?
JENNA:I thought you wanted my number for non-work purposes?
MASON: I do. This is strictly unprofessional.
13
Mason
Jennaarrivesrightontime, buzzing the rusty old intercom at the main gates.
