He dips his head, a smile tipping his lip up. “See you a bit later, love.”
I seem to have lost the confidence I had in the gym yesterday, and I’m pretty sure it has everything to do with the penthouse, but I know I need to do this. I want to.
The keypad flashes green and Ellis bounces in my arms.
I give myself a pep talk on the ride up. I need to do this for Scar. She wants him at the ball, and I want to fix my family.
I can do this.
The doors ping open, and Mason is standing right there, waiting.
He’s wearing a fitted navy button-down shirt and suit pants. His sleeves are rolled up at the arms, but the man is anything but casual. I don’t know if the sight of him puts me at ease or sends me further up the anxiety ladder.
“Hi,” he says, flashing me with that killer smile.
I dip my head. “Hi.”
“You look lovely this evening. I appreciate the change of attire from last night.”
My head lifts at that, a smile playing on my lips. “Better than my work clothes?”
“Hmm, just a very different kind of perfect tonight.” He eyes his son who sits in my arms, hugging me tight.
My wide grin seems to encourage Mason’s, and the tension is momentarily gone.
“You two coming in?” he asks, flicking his head behind him.
Stepping out of the elevator, I’m instantly immersed in everything Mason. The penthouse is big—bigger than a man and his child could ever need, but it’s every bit of the home I’ve always wanted. I don’t know if that’s because of the way it feels being here, or because of the fact that it’s where I fell in love with Mason—the home we started to build our family in.
“Do you want a drink?”
He asked me that on my first night here. The night he brought me home. The first night I slept in his bed. He wouldn’t touch me. I remember the need I felt to have his hands on me.
“A drink would be good, thank you.” I let the air caught up in my lungs whoosh out of me as I will myself to calm down.
Without paying much attention to my surroundings, I follow him into the kitchen. Everything is the same in here, and Ellis instantly tries to get out of my arms.
“Do you want to put him in his chair?” Mason tips his head to the high chair at the end of the island. I place Ellisinto the seat and strap him in. I can’t help but notice that it’s top of the range and branded. I turn and stop short, coming face-to-face with a bouquet of roses.
“I got you these.” He hands me the arrangement awkwardly and I stare at them in surprise. He got me flowers. “Is wine okay?”
“Yeah. Wine’s fine.” The knot in my stomach seems to bound up tighter again. “Thank you so much, Mason. This is so thoughtful.”
He watches me as I place the flowers on the counter and lower myself to the chair at the island. My hands twist in my lap. I wish I suggested we eat out, or maybe even at mine again. The conversation seemed to flow between us better at mine.
I wonder how long it will be before I call Vinny.
“Why are you so nervous?” he asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I’m not.” I bring my hand up to pinch along my collarbone, his eyes trailing my movements.
Rounding the counter, he places my wine in front of me letting his chest brush my back. “You have no reason to be nervous, Nina.”
I lift my chin, looking at him over my shoulder. “I don’t?”
His eyes seem to darken, and I can’t help but want him to tell me to be afraid. That I should be nervous. His tongue darts out, wetting his bottom lip. “Can you feel that?”
“What?” I frown, flicking my gaze to Ellis who watches us from his high chair.
