Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“Okay. I think I can whip us up something.” He released her and headed for the kitchen. Mason pulled up one of the chairs for her. “I want you to take a seat and all you have to do is let me do my thing.”
Brandi watched in fascination as he moved though her kitchen as though it were the most natural place in the world for him to be. He found a few things in the refrigerator that he said he could cook in a hurry. Occasionally Mason would ask her where things were, but he wouldn’t let her help.
He made her laugh until it hurt, by telling her funny things that happened at his job.
She held her sides and pleaded for mercy. “Stop! I can’t take any more!”
By the time he was finished cooking a delicious-looking chicken dish, she had forgotten her troubles. “It smells yummy. What’s this called?” she asked as he placed a plate in front of her.
“I call it chicken à la Mason. I just threw some things together. I hope it tastes as good as you think it smells.” He took a seat in front of her.
She took a small bite. It was fantastic. “You’re quite a good cook. I think you’ve missed your calling in life.”
“I’m mediocre at best. I like to putter around the kitchen.”
Brandi would never have guessed that a man of his wealth cooked for himself. As though reading her mind he said, “You seemed surprised. Didn’t think I could throw down in the kitchen, did you?”
“Well, it did cross my mind.”
“Necessity is the mother of invention. I lost my housekeeper some weeks ago so I’ve basically been doing for myself.”
“That’s a lot of house for one man.”
“I suppose it is, but when Ben is with me it doesn’t seem so lonely. I think it’s the kind of house that needs a family in it.” He appeared to be sending her a message. She looked down at her plate and tried to think of something to break the awkward silence.
“Why did your housekeeper leave?”
“That’s a good question. To be honest with you, I’m not really sure, but let’s just say that I wasn’t really myself when she left. I’ve been calling Luisa’s house in hopes that she’ll come back, but as the magic eight ball would say, the outcome doesn’t look good.”
“That’s too bad. I’m sure that you could go through one of those agencies to find someone else.”
“No. I need her back.”
“Why?”
“To make amends.”
She looked at him in confusion. Sometimes Mason’s words were very puzzling.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that she didn’t leave in the best circumstances, and I would like to make it up to her.”
Brandi paused, taking another bite of her dinner. The more she got to know him, the more of a mystery Mason Collins became. She peeked at him through lowered lashes. He looked good tonight in a dark-green polo shirt that brought out the color of his eyes. Her gaze kept straying to the sensual curve of his mouth; she wanted to lean over the table and kiss him.
In that moment, she knew what she truly wanted: she desperately wanted to fuck Mason. Brandi knew he really had come over with noble intentions and she appreciated that, but seeing those sexy green eyes staring back at her made her so damn horny.
If someone would have told her a few weeks ago that she would find herself so sexually drawn to some slick car salesman, let alone a white one, she would have laughed them out of town. Strangely, she didn’t feel just a sexual connection. There was something else, and that was the part that she didn’t want to analyze too closely.
Damon.
It was the first time in a long while that she wasn’t haunted by his image.
“May I ask what are you thinking about now?”
She blinked. Mason’s eyes were twinkling at her and had a look of curiosity.
“Oh, my gosh. I must have been daydreaming. I’m sorry.”
“What about?”
“I hope you don’t get mad. I was thinking about my husband.”
“Oh?” He didn’t seem upset but looked oddly pleased.
“He was killed in the line of duty a couple of years ago.”
“I’m sorry. I can imagine how painful that must have been for you,” he said sympathetically.
There was some unreadable emotion in his eyes, but maybe she was just imagining it. “It was tough for a long time. They say time heals all wounds, but I don’t think I’ll ever be completely healed.”
“You must have loved him very much, and I’m sure he loved you just as deeply. Any man lucky enough to be with you would be crazy not to.”
She smiled. He was a flatterer, but she liked it. “You’re embarrassing me.”
“It’s only the truth.”
“Thanks.”
A comfortable silence followed while they finished eating. Regardless of why he’d come tonight, she was glad he was here. She was about to tell him so when the doorbell rang. “Who could that be at this time of night? Stay here and I’ll go get the door.”