Page 46 of The Sweet Part
He grins. “I had a good time last night.”
“Me too.”
He leans close, his lips brushing my cheek. “Do you want to see me again?” His voice is a whisper with a note of hope.
I smile. “Yes.”
He smiles too, his eyes trailing to my cheek, my lips, and back to my eyes. He leans close to my ear again. “Your friends saw me here, your mom and sister know we were together last night, so can we go out in public together? Or is this strictly an inside-the-house thing?”
I read between the lines. Relationship or casual sex?
I whisper back, “Inside the house in complete secret is best. The important thing is Sophie’s kept out of it. I don’t want people talking. Word gets around fast in a small town.”
He nods solemnly.
“If you’re okay with that,” I say. “I understand if you’re at a place in your life when maybe you’re looking for more, and if that’s the case, by all means, go out there and find it.”
The corner of his mouth lifts in an adorable lopsided smile. “You know, it’s crazy, even after surviving a girl rager, I still want you.” His eyes smolder into mine, and suddenly I want him, too, like right now.
“Can I have a juice box?” Sophie asks, running to the kitchen. She doesn’t even look at us.
“Yes!” I say.
She runs back to the family room.
Mason leans in for a kiss, but I push him away. “Thanks for coming!”
He grins. “Thank you for coming too.”
I flush and shake my head. “Bye.”
“When can I see you again?”
“I’ll text you.”
He gazes at me with such longing it hits me that it’s more than lust for him. He likes me too. “Okay,” he says, and then louder, “Bye, Sophie! Happy birthday!”
“Bye! I can’t get the straw in the juice box.”
Mason goes to help her, but I put a hand on his arm, stopping him. “My job.”
“Right.”
I go to help Sophie and hear the front door shut. Did I do the right thing agreeing to see him again? For how long can I keep this a secret casual thing? I’m playing a dangerous game. Who am I kidding? I’m already falling. Who wouldn’t after he was so generous with his repairs and naked time and coming to my daughter’s birthday party.
I join Sophie on the sofa and put an arm around her. She leans into my side and looks up at me. “Are you and Mason getting married?”
I freeze. “Why would you ask that?”
“All my friends say you are. Can I pick out the cake for the wedding?” She knows all about weddings now, but she doesn’t get adult relationships.
Damn, she’s already too invested. “No, sweetheart, we’re not getting married. He’s just a nice man who fixes things, and we return the favor by making him dinner. Adults can be complicated.”
“It’s simple, Mommy. You like each other, fall in love, and get married.”
“We’re not doing that. Mason and I are friends like you and Olivia H. are friends. He’s very busy and so am I. We probably won’t have time to see each other much.”
“That sucks.”
