Leaving him standing in the entrance like a gaping idiot, the two of them crossed the hallway to the kitchen, and Jude watched as Mason rummaged through the refrigerator, took out cheese and turkey slices, and cut up some tomatoes, chatting all the way, acting like he belonged there.
Even the dog gave Jude the cold shoulder, abandoning him for Mason and Edith.
Traitor. See if I ever give you another treat.
He advanced a few feet to where he could eavesdrop on their conversation.
“You’re the one who lived on a yacht.”
“Yes, I lived and worked on one for three years.”
“I spent a few summers myself in the Mediterranean, on the yacht of a wealthy businessman. It was all sex, sun, and fun.”
Was it a trick of the light, or did Mason’s eyes grow dark?
“Edith, you’re a character. Now how do you like this little platter I made for you?”
“Very nice. You’re like Jude. A real sweetheart.”
Mason met his eyes across the room. “The sweetest of sweethearts.” He picked up the plate. “Let’s sit down, and you can tell me all about the kissing picture.”
Embarrassment and anger bubbled beneath the surface, but Jude remained helpless, unable to do anything but watch. If he made too big a deal out of it, Mason and Edith would latch on to his annoyance and tease him even further.
Later, when he went home, he’d punch something.
Hard.
With Edith carefully seated and eating, Jude got her some ice water.
“Thank you, dear.” She ate half the plate and drank her water. Jude sighed with relief, knowing this might be the only meal she’d eaten that day. Maybe coming here during the day to walk the dog would be a good thing if it meant he could have her eat something for lunch as well.
Jude glanced up and caught Mason’s thoughtful gaze on him, and his stomach tightened instantly. Mason had been a total surprise—Jude had given him the job as a favor to Doug, never expecting him to not merely rise to the demands asked of him, but to exceed expectations. The fresh new ideas he brought, as well as his unwillingness to back down in the face of Pryce’s negativity, would’ve put him on Jude’s radar as someone to watch.
And yet Jude couldn’t forget the past and how Mason had used his winning smile and outrageous good looks to get whatever he wanted or to slip out of tricky situations he’d gotten himself embroiled in. Everything came easily to Mason Reiner.
Including Jude, who couldn’t stop thinking about him and their night together.
A grin spread over Mason’s face, and he told Edith, “Now that you’ve had your dinner, we can chat. I think you mentioned kissing pictures?”
Edith wiped her lips with a napkin and held out her hand. “Jude has it on his phone. Jude? Phone please.”
“There’s no need. It meant nothing.”
“If it meant nothing, then you shouldn’t care about anyone seeing it.”
Dammit. He could never win an argument with her. Why hadn’t he deleted the damn pictures when he had the chance?
“Come on, Jude. I’m sure you’re making a bigger deal out of it than needed.”
Was Mason taunting him? Jude opened his photos and slid the phone to Edith. “Go ahead. Have a party.”
Edith scrolled through his photos until she came to the group of pictures, then handed the phone to Mason. Again, Jude tensed, waiting for the barrage of jokes bordering on insults from Mason.
But it never came. Mason glanced through them, and aside from a momentary hesitation, had no reaction.
“Ah, well, weddings make strange bedfellows, don’t you think?”
Jude’s gaze snapped to Mason, but he’d returned to skimming through the photos and after several frustrating minutes, Jude put out his hand. He’d had enough. Last time he ever put his phone down unattended.
