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,” she conceded. The boys didn’t need to know what an ass she just made of herself in Mason’s bedroom. “I’m sorry I called you away from your game, honey. Mommy was just being silly. Have fun, and I will see you tomorrow.” She leaned over and kissed him goodbye.
A wide grin spread on his face before he turned to his friend. “Come on. My team is going to win.”
“No way! I was coming back,” Ben protested as he raced after DJ.
Brandi watched the boys leave the room again. When they were alone she turned to Mason.
“Don’t say a word. This never happened.”
When Mason looked as though he wanted to say something, she held up her hand. “Not a word. Have my son ready at noon.” Collecting her purse, she did what she should have done the minute she stepped foot into his house: she got the hell out of there.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Smooth move, Casanova.” Paul laughed at him.
“Dammit, Paul. Where the hell have you been this past week? I’ve been calling out to you.” His friend was floating around the room, grinning cheerfully.
“I had some things to take care of, but you were doing quite well without me.”
Mason snorted. “I screwed up. Brandi hates me, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get another chance with her.”
“Well, you did come on pretty strong, my friend.”
“I couldn’t help myself. Whenever she’s near me, I can’t keep my hands off her. It’s been so long. You’ve forgotten what it’s like to be away from the woman you love, not being able to touch her, or hold her.”
“The hell I have! You at least have another chance. My wife has moved on. I’ll never get to touch her or make love to her again.” Paul’s eyes flashed with anger.
Mason felt instant contrition at Paul’s rage and pain. He didn’t stop to consider how his friend must have felt to see his wife remarry and have children with another man. Had Brandi found another man worthy of her love, he knew he would have had to let go as well. Even as he thought of her being with someone else, he ached.
“Paul, I’m sorry. I was only thinking of myself.”
“All right.” Paul took a deep breath. “Brandi doesn’t hate you. She’s just confused. She hasn’t gotten over your, er, Damon’s death and Rodney ingratiated himself into her life when she was most vulnerable. She feels an overwhelming sense of gratitude, which he naturally has no problem exploiting. It won’t be easy for you to break the hold he has unless he messes up.”
“How am I supposed to get close to her now? There’s only so much time I have in a day and lately it’s all been spent on trying to right all these wrongs of the old Mason. I seem to be making some headway with Ben at least. He’s a great kid. I can’t see how any man could have neglected his son so shamefully. When I think of the times I watched DJ growing up without me, I can’t help but feel that this guy should be exactly where he was going in the first place.”
“Well, I agree with you about that. He’s lucky he had some heavenly connections, but on the bright side, now that you’re Mason Collins, it will make all the difference in the world to Ben.”
“I hope so. I’m not doing so well with my mother though. She seems so hostile to me. I offered to bring her home with me, but she won’t even speak to me. She looks at me like she doesn’t see me. I sit with her for a couple hours each visit and tell her about what’s going on in my life and how Ben’s doing and what’s going on at work. She only shows any interest when I mention Ben’s name.”
“Well, you have to remember the raw deal she received when her husband died. I think she has the right to be upset at being placed in that dump of a nursing home when she expected support from her only child.”
“I know, but I wish she would talk to me. That reminds me, I have an appointment with the director of another facility. That place is much nicer. More of a country club than a nursing home. Hopefully, she will like it better.”
“It’s a start, but you still will have to keep putting in time with her. Money isn’t going to solve all of your problems,” Paul pointed out.
“Probably not, but it certainly helps. You know, it’s funny. I always dreamed of a place like this, but it all means nothing without Brandi and the kids. You’ve got to help me, Paul. What am I supposed to do?”
“How about getting your teeth cleaned?”
Mason stared at Paul. What the devil was he talking about? “As cute as that idea is, I have more pressing things on my mind.”