Nina
Elliot takesoff across the street, long strides putting distance between us. I run to keep up, looking back to find Charlie matching my silly little jog with his walk. God, I hate these heels.
“Hey Elliot, wait up, will you? You’re going to get us run over in a minute, you…”
“Oh, wow. Who are you?” I ask out loud in my drunken state.
Elliot turns and smiles in triumph.
There’s a man. He’s lent on the top of his open car door, his dark eyes blazing all over me. My skin pebbles, but I’m like a raging inferno inside. I feel my cheeks flush with the heat. Never in my life have I been in the presence of such a man. He has dark brown hair cut shorter at the sides, subtly getting longer on the top, soft tousled strands lie in a perfect mess on his head like he’s been running his fingers through it. His brows sit naturally low, making his eyes look darker than they are. They are unnerving, his gaze searing up through them and into me. He’s wearing a form-fitting sweater that shows off every inch of his chiselled torso. His nose has a slight crook to it, but it only adds to his appeal.
I regret the tequila; I wish I was sober for this. Lucy is going to freak.
“Nina, Mason, Mason, Nina,” Elliot introduces, his face knowing and cocky. “So, I’m going for drinks by the river with Sullivan. You good with these guys?” Elliot smirks, looking at his watch as he backs away.
My eyes drift to the fine specimen propped up against the car. His eyes haven’t left me. Am I good with these guys? Who’s Sullivan?
Be cool, Nina.
“Sure, fine, yeah. Yeah!” Oh, fuck off! What is wrong with me?
The gorgeous son of a bitch can’t help himself, his lip tipping up on one side as he drops his head.
“Get the door, will you, Lowell?” Charlie still has Lucy in his arms, and I rush to help. She grumbles as Charlie slides in behind the passenger seat, leaving the front seat, the only one left to sit in.
I can feel him behind me, and I turn to see him looking up the road after Elliot’s retreating back. He shakes his head, bringing his attention back to me. We stand closer now. He looks down at me.
“Mason Lowell.” He holds his large hand out to me, my eyes falling to the Rolex watch on his wrist, and suddenly a thought comes to me.
“Oh! Are youhisboss?” I ask, pointing in the direction Elliot went in.
He considers what I’ve said for a moment, then throws his head back in laughter, and it’s the most incredible sound. I feel a knot form in my stomach.
My hand gets lost in his as it cradles mine. He loosens the grip slightly but doesn’t let go. Traces of humour still line his face as he bites into his bottom lip, running his thumb aimlessly over my knuckles.
He’s so intense. I’ve only just met this guy, and already I’m a puddle on the ground. I smile as I drop down into the seat, not taking my eyes off him as he shuts the door and rounds the car.
I whip my head around to Charlie. “Do you have any friends that aren’t fucking hot?”
Mason slides into the driver’s seat then, and I get the giggles as he starts up the engine. He cuts his gaze to Charlie in the rearview mirror. I can hear him chuckling behind me.
Lowering my window, I will myself to sober up. “Why were you not out with your friends tonight?” I ask, leaning in and fiddling with the buttons on the centre console.
“I had a meeting that ran late,” he replies flatly, his eyes flicking between me and the road and then to where my hands are currently exploring.
“This car is super flashy. It’s not like an average car with simple buttons!” I manage to change the clock from twenty-four to twelve hours. It now reads 11:23.
Oops!
“There we go.” I grin up at the deity beside me, pretending it was intentional.
He pops a thick brow at me, a devilish smirk on his face.
He’s so fucking hot.
“Can we drop Luce to her parents’ house?” I ask. “I don’t want her alone tonight, and her sofa is stupidly lumpy.”
“Sure, what’s the address?” He starts tapping the screen, and a box pops up to enter the postcode. It’s outside the city, so I feel bad, but Megan will probably end up at Sam’s, and I can’t have Luce alone tonight. She drank far more than me, and I want to wake up in my own bed in the morning.
