Page 16 of My Virgin Puck

Mason guides me to my chair and lowers me down, slowly drifting around the table to sink down opposite me.

The candle sways between our eyes, and the way the orange hue lights up his face makes my heart melt. Slow jazz music creates a sweet ambience around the café, and when I look around the empty tables all have chairs overturned and stacked on top.

Mason grabs a bottle of water and pours two glasses. His shirt is pressed and clean. His hair styled with a fade leading to pointed strawberry blonde spikes and he’s tidied his thick, grizzly beard so it’s neat and sexy.

I gulp down and do my best not to stare.

The rounds of his shoulders bulging beneath the fabric is making me want to tear the shirt right off him and layer his muscular arms with my wet tongue. I can feel the warmth of his body radiating across the table and I just want to snuggle down with him and never leave.

“This is really, really nice,” I say, my voice shaking. “Since when did the café open for dinner?”

Mason shuffles in his seat and I swear I see the imprinted freckle of his nipple pressing against his shirt. My hand squeezes the glass of water and I remind myself to make sure I swallow any contents in my mouth before admiring Mason’s chiselled features.

Or perhaps you can choke again? That way he’ll have to give you a big squeeze?

“I may have pulled some strings…” Mason says, his deep violet eyes piercing over the candlelight. “Geoff is in the kitchen, cooking. He’s an old family friend of mine, and he owes me one for the season ticket he never uses.”

Everything inside of me is bursting to keep the conversation going. Tonight, we’re alone. Mason is an open book. He doesn’t look nervous or fidgety. His eyes keep flicking down to my cleavage, and my carefully selected dress is working a treat.

This night is about us. And if I play everything right, Mason might, might, just fall in love with me.

“Wow,” I say, flicking my hair over my shoulder. I lean on the table and inch as close as the table will allow to Mason. “I hope it’s not blueberry lava cakes… I don’t want to end up in hospital on our first date.”

Mason chuckles and my ovaries melt. “No. That won’t happen, Madi. A friend of Parker’s has handled dessert for me. She’s planning on opening up a cake shop, so she wanted the practice and I’ve asked for smooth textured food only.”

I laugh loudly and Ellie appears at our side, holding two plates which are covered with a silver cloche. She lowers them down in front of us, and when she looks to Mason, he gives her a gentle nod. Ellie backs away as she removes the lids to reveal a steaming plate of pure perfection.

“Wow,” I gasp, looking down at the stunning colours on the plate.

When I look back to Mason, his hands are threaded together and he’s pinning me with an excited gleam.

“This is a recipe I’ve made up, so I hope you enjoy it,” Mason says. “One day, when I’m done with hockey, I want to cook for people. Food brings excitement, happiness and pleasure. Everything that is good in life.”

“It’s… It’s incredible… What is it?” I ask, drawing in a deep breath of the savoury, sweet smell.

“Turmeric salmon, slow roasted with a coconut crisp and wilted leafy greens,” Mason says, passion and excitement lacing his words.

I grab my fork and the fish falls apart, cooked perfectly. The smell is amazing, the sweet tropical smell of coconut making me feel like I’m on a island resort. Mason watches me bite down and whenmy body gives way to my tastebuds, I’m left picking myself up from the floor for the second mouthful.

“This is so good,” I say, covering my mouth. “Seriously. I’ve never had anything like this before.”

Mason smiles across the table and he looks chuffed. He grabs his wine glasss and raises it. I clink my glass against his and we stare into each other’s eyes, drawing a long sip of wine and that’s when I feel it.

I’m falling in love with this man.

There had always been something about Mason that I had been attracted to. Whenever he drifted past the gift shop, all I wanted was to scream out and talk to him. My shyness got in the way, just like it has my entire life. And when you pair that with a guy who is also shy, fate was never in our favour.

But now – now we’re sitting across from each other, enjoying the most amazing meal I’ve ever had, and I know one thing is for sure.

I’m falling hard for Mason.

We finish the amazing main course, and Ellie is quick to top up our glasses of wine and deliver a decadent dessert which consisted of a colossal size serving of my favourite classic Italian dish, Tiramisu.

When I swipe the last helping of sweet creamy-coffee flavoured goodness in my mouth, I lean back and puff out my cheeks.

The night has been perfect. Mason’s recipes are extraordinary, and his company is even better.

We’ve laughed, joked and learned about our upbringings. Mason has strong beliefs about how life should be lived, and his standards are very high. I can see that with the way he holds himself, and that’s exactly what I love about him.

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