In that annoying manner he had, Jude simultaneously rolled his eyes and raised a shoulder as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “I mean…it’s summer, and you’re not used to working in an office.”
“So once again, you’re thinking the worst of me.” Growing hot, Mason pushed away from the desk and stood, glaring at Jude. “I thought after I showed you all the work I did today, you’d get off my case. I had my meeting with Pryce, sat through the afternoon conferences until three, and have been working here since then.”
“Off your case?” Jude snorted. “You think I’ve been hard on you? That’s priceless.”
“I didn’t say you were hard on me. I said I was doing my work and you still give me shit. Now I’m going home, unless you have something else for me to do?”
In a perverse way, Mason wished Jude would ask him to stay. He had little desire to pick up dinner and go to his parents’ place. Whoever said you can’t go home again was right, and he made a mental note to get his ass in gear and set up some appointments to look at apartments.
“Nope. Nothing else. I’m leaving too.”
That earlier conversation he’d listened in on popped into his head. “Got a hot date?”
Jude shot him a quelling look, one Mason knew would make any other of Jude’s associates quake in their loafers, but Mason had been on the receiving end of worse from Jude.
“No,” Jude snapped at him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He walked away without another word, and Mason shook his head.
“Jerk,” he muttered to himself, packed up his stuff, and hurried after Jude, who walked with his usual strong, lengthy stride through the empty office.
They rode the elevator together, and he followed Jude down the block. When they reached the corner, Jude stopped abruptly, making Mason almost run into him.
They stood so close, Mason noticed little fiery specks of gold in Jude’s velvety brown eyes. His breath caught, and Jude’s gaze sharpened into something hard. Dark.
Sinful.
Mason licked his lips, and Jude followed the movement with his eyes. Watching the quick rise and fall of Jude’s chest, Mason reached out, his fingertips skimming Jude’s face. Pleasure washed over him as he grazed the man’s sharp jawline. He wanted Jude, and judging by the flush rising on Jude’s face and his glittering eyes, Jude wanted him as well.
And then his hand touched air.
“Are you following me?” Jude said roughly. A good six inches now separated them.
Mason found his voice. “What’re you talking about?”
“You don’t live around here, and the train’s at the corner.” Jude tipped his head and sidestepped him, putting even more distance between them.
“It’s a free country. I don’t have to go home right after work. Maybe I want to walk around a little. Check out the neighborhood in case I want to move here.”
“You? Live here?” Jude snorted. “You can’t afford it.” With a quick glance at his watch, Jude adjusted the strap of his laptop case. “I have to go.” And he walked away, leaving Mason fuming.
“Yeah, go on with your rude self.”
He spied a café with outdoor seating across the street from Jude’s apartment building. Hecouldafford to live in the area, although it would stretch his bank account. Warren had paid him extremely well, and Mason hadn’t spent any of the money while living and working on the yacht.
In other words, he had enough cash and could afford to live in typical New York City style—in a tiny apartment that would eat up most of his paycheck, but in the area he most desired. He didn’t have to like spending the money, but itwasNew York City, where you could spend well over a million dollars for an apartment and still have no place to park your car.
Remembering the phone call he’d overheard—okay, spied on—Mason found a seat in the corner of the outdoor area under the shade of the awning, ordered a coffee, and sat waiting. For what, he wasn’t sure.
Chapter Nine
Edith was cranky and out of sorts as she normally was after her physical-therapy visit, so Jude, wise to her moods, merely kissed her cheek and took Foxy’s leash off the wall peg. The dog matched the mood of her owner and was having a field day as he brought her downstairs, nipping at his ankles, growling and biting the braided leash, and generally making a nuisance of herself.
Her antics drew more than the usual number of amused glances and snickers from passersby, and Jude could only imagine what they looked like. Finally, after she nipped him one too many times and drew blood, he snapped.
“Knock it off, you little monster.” He picked her up and glared at her. She whined and licked his face. He smoothed the fluffy fur around her face. “Rough day too? I feel you. How about I get you a treat and me a drink and we call it a truce?”
Her inquisitive gaze met his, and she yipped.
“All right, then. Off we go.” With the dog tucked securely under his arm, he crossed the street and entered the coffee shop. He set Foxy down and ordered some doggieccino thing Edith said Foxy loved and an iced coffee for himself. When he took the cups in hand, he heard a voice calling his name.
