Page 55 of Gin and Lava

“Wait, who is here?” I ask Elise again.

“Your boyfriend,” she repeats, but then she purses her lips together. “Well, actually he said he was your fuck buddy, but I think he was joking.”

I feel the blood drain from my face like a vampire popped a straw in my neck and declared it’s happy hour.

What the hell is Mason Haas doing at the spa?

“He’s not my—” I start to explain, but I don’t even know how to correct Elise. He actuallyismy fuck buddy … I guess. “Never mind,” I correct. “He’s up front?”

I point to reception, but I’m already walking with Elise trailing behind me as I bee-line it to the entrance. We’re not supposed to have personal friends visit the spa, yet here I am on the phone—strike one, and with a visitor—strike two. I only pray Elise is in a good mood and won’t tell our supervisor. I rush through the labyrinth of stone corridors lined with fountain rivers by my feet. I zip around the palm fronds oasis, and sure enough—

There’s Mason.

He leans against the marble counter, standing out like a sore thumb in the middle of our uber-chic reception. He wears the classic Mason uniform of board shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, and today’s specialty is flamingos fornicating with their long pencil legs bent in every direction. Honestly, he’d look surfer cute if he ditched the flamingos and the pervy extra button that’s open at his collar.

“Surprise!” Mason says when he sees me, but I’m shaking my head.

“What are you doing here?” I hiss.

He turns with a smile, ignoring myGet the hell out of my workplace!vibe. “I was in the area,” he says with a wink, and my traitorous belly warms at what mischievous plans that wink might have in store for me.

“You can’t be here,” I explain, lowering my voice. “I’m at work.”

“Well, youcameto my work.” He raises an eyebrow, indicating I should pick up on his double meaning. But I glare at him, eyeing Elise who’s pretending to mind her own business as she returns to her spot behind the desk. “Or should I say, you cameatmy—”

“Mason!” I grab his elbow and drag him out of the spa into the adjoining hallway, where we can have a little privacy.

“How does one get a massage here?” Mason asks. “I hear you’re good with your hands. Especially, if I’m naked under that towel.”

“Stop talking, Mason!” I growl, even though he’s giving me a smirk like he knows I’m excited by the towel challenge. Which in truth, could be fun—nope, not the right time, brain!“I’m not giving you a massage.”

“I gave you amassageat my work,” he counters. And when I frown, he feels the need to clarify. “A massage with my coc—”

“No massages! Especially at my work!” I peek over my shoulder at Elise who’s pretending to be busy with the computer but is definitely eavesdropping. “Seriously Mason, you can’t show up unannounced like this.”

“What if you gave me a massagenotat work?” he asks with a devious grin. “Would any padded surface work? Does it have to be padded? I have a large wooden bar top at the Lava we could—”

“Mason! I said I’d call you when—”

“Yeah, but you showed up at the Gin n’ Lava unannounced, Princess,” Mason counters, looking through the glass at Elise who turns away quickly. “I’m all for woman-on-top girl-power, but if you’re allowed to show up unannounced, then in the interest of equality, I can too.”

“Fine, I won’t show up at the Gin n’ Lava anymore,” I offer.

“But I like it when you beg,” he whispers with a cheeky smile.

“Mason!”

“You do too.” He leans in closer, saying that with a low voice. Yes, that afternoon in his office was crazy-hot, but I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

“Hellooooo?” A muffled voice echoes below my ear, and I realize I’m still clutching my phone at my shoulder. “Helllooooooo? Naomi?”

“Shauri!” I say, lifting the phone up quickly. “So sorry! I’m at work and—”

“I want to meet your boyfriend!” Shauri interrupts, peering off the side of the frame as if she might actually see Mason.

“Boyfriend?” Mason frowns, giving me a look of confusion, and God, I don’t even know how to explain it to him.

“Hello! Hello!” Shauri calls out. “I’m Naomi’s friend. I can’t see you! Step into the frame secret boyfriend that Naomi’s not telling me about!”

---