“I was never in love with him. I know the difference. Now.” Twin red spots popped up on Jude’s cheeks at the implication of his words, and Mason took the opportunity to grab hold of Jude’s hand. “He’ll always be special to me, but he’s not the most important man in my life. He isn’t you.”
“You told me one thing, and then Hollister told me something completely different. I couldn’t believe you kept it from me. But then I thought,thatMason wasn’t the man I fell in love with. Does it really make a difference to us now who you used to be?”
Mason remained silent, allowing Jude to work through his tangled thoughts. He didn’t think Jude had ever been given the opportunity to speak from his heart.
Finally, Jude said, “I’ve always done what I’ve been told or what I believed was the right thing. I followed a straight line. I wasn’t allowed the luxury of going off course. But this afternoon, I realized I have a choice.”
“So…what are you choosing?” His hands curled into fists at his sides to keep from shaking. “Or who?”
“Myself. Happiness.”
“With me?” His heart pounded so hard, he could barely hear Jude’s voice.
A pulse jumped in Jude’s throat. “You and I…nothing was supposed to happen after the wedding. I thought it was because we’d both gotten so drunk.”
“Just so you know?” Mason leaned forward and whispered, “I wasn’t really that drunk. I saw an opening, and I ran with it.”
“So you took advantage of me in my weakened state.”
“If that was weak, I’m scared to see you at full strength. My bruises lasted for days.” Mason drew the tip of his finger down Jude’s cheek. “You didn’t fight me that hard.”
Jude placed a hand over Mason’s, holding it fast. “From the bits and pieces I remember of that night, I didn’t fight you at all. I gave myself to you willingly. And even when we continued, it wasn’t supposed to be anything more than us having fun. I figured it would burn out after a while, and hopefully we could remain if not friends, then at least friendly, since we’re related by marriage.”
“Can I say something?”
Jude’s eyes twinkled. “I’m shocked you’ve kept as quiet as you have so far. I didn’t think you were capable.”
Mason shoved Jude’s shoulder. “Bastard. I’ll ignore that. Answer me this. Why does what happened with Warren bother you so much? I sense there’s more to it than the sex. Were you worried I was using you to get ahead in The Company?”
Jude met his stare, unflinching. “I won’t lie. It did cross my mind, but only for a moment. The more time we spent together, the more I believed your feelings were real.”
“I don’t need to pretend around you.” Everything was on the line, so he might as well throw it all out there and see what stuck. He was tired of hiding. His past revealed, it stayed behind him not to be forgotten, but as a lesson learned. Now was the time to look forward to building a possible future.
He continued, “One thing I discovered living away from home all these years was that I had to take responsibility for my decisions. Both the good and the bad. All of us are pieces of the people who’ve touched our lives, whether they lifted us up or broke us apart. I can’t change what happened with Warren—and most of it I wouldn’t—but he’s a part of my past that shaped me into the person I am today.”
“Yeah?” Jude teased his fingers up and down Mason’s leg. “And what part of your life did I touch?”
“My heart,” he said without hesitation.
“You already have mine.” Jude held his hand palm up, and when Mason took it, Jude lifted their entwined fingers and kissed them.
Jude laying bare his emotions snuffed out the last of Mason’s self-doubt. This was where and with whom he belonged.
“We should be good, don’t you think? The old Mason you knew is gone.”
“Not totally, I hope.” Jude smiled against his cheek. “I like the wild and free Mason. That’s who I always wished I could be.”
“Now you can.” Mason kissed Jude’s mouth. “Come be wild and free with me.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Could he? It would be so tempting to walk away from the structured, ordered life he’d built and live on the edge.
“I don’t know if I can.”
Understanding kindled in Mason’s eyes. “I get it. Some things are too momentous to jump into. You’re the man who needs to prepare for what happens if you don’t land on your feet, while I’m the one ready to roll with it, consequences be damned.”
“Well…yeah. I’m glad you see that.”
