“Is there a problem?” Mason asks.
“No, no problem,” my dad assures him before delving into his pocket. “Your wife, girlfriend was asking for my business card.”
I am staring incredulously at his lies as he offers me his card and feel sad that my own father doesn’t even know if I am somebody’s wife or girlfriend. Why not defer to me, allow me to say that he’s my dad? Because of her, I reason. I know it has to be because of his other daughter.
“Please,” he pleads. “Take my card.”
Mason retrieves it and palms it into his pocket, already knowing this is bull. He knows I have no need for caterers, unlike my dad, and yet he doesn’t question it in front of them, he simply holds me closer, tighter.
“Baby, let’s dance.” He leads me away from the other woman, my sister? I have no clue how, but I appear to have a sister. I glance over my shoulder to see my dad still staring in my direction while the other woman throws her eyes to the heavens and strops off back to the kitchen.
“Mason.” I’m unsure what else to say but I don’t need to worry.
“Olivia, it’s fine. Whatever that was, we’ll talk later.” He guides me onto the dance floor where he holds me against him as we dance to a slow number and suddenly, I am okay. I’m safe. I’m with Mason.
Chapter 33
Mason
I have no idea why we, Olivia and I, are still dancing and socialising at a few minutes before midnight when we should be in bed. I should be in her, but here we are still in the hustle and bustle of the wedding reception. Olivia has just taken to the dance floor again, with Ridley this time, not that I have a problem with her dancing with him, so long as she doesn’t start with her sex on the dancefloor routine.
I know the reason we are not tucked up together in bed is because of the caterer who has spent most of the night peering at my girl, from the kitchen door, when he’s been carrying food out and when he’s been replenishing the buffet and now he is openly ogling her from his position near the exit. At least he has his coat on and the rest of the catering team appear to have gone but his presence is pissing me off, mainly because his presence is upsetting Olivia. Olivia who is now heading for the bar again.
I am torn between marching across to this man and putting him flat on his arse and going to get my girlfriend to take her to bed before she is totally pissed. I opt for the latter.
“Hey baby,” I whisper against her ear before she can order another drink. “Let’s go to bed, it’s late.”
“Mase, please, I’m having fun.” She turns and pouts.
“And you will have the mother of all hangovers if you don’t stop now and go to bed.”
“Are you trying to seduce me, babe?” she asks with a giggle that Ridley hears and turns to face me.
“Is she okay? Liv’s never been a real drinker.”
“She will be, once she’s in bed,” I reply to the other man.
He leans over and kisses Olivia’s cheek. “Night, Liv.”
“Ridley!” she cries and then turns on me. “What have you said to scare him off?”
“Nothing,” we both reply in stereo.
“My girlfriend is waiting to dance.” Ridley points to a very attractive woman I had no idea he was with.
“Oh,” Olivia cries with another pout. “Find Sarah, she’ll dance.”
“Sarah went about two hours ago,” I remind Olivia before deciding that I have no intention of becoming a side show here. “Baby, you are going to bed now, so you choose, walk with me or I will carry you, but one way or another we are leaving.”
Ridley has gone while Olivia is still pouting petulantly and has now turned her back on me to address the barman who looks amused as fuck by her.
“What would you recommend?”
Apart from the fact that I think he thinks she is coming on to him, which she isn’t, my girl is making me look a dick or she will be if I allow her to continue with this, which I’m not going to.
“Okay, carrying it is,” I say to myself as much as her as I pull Olivia to face me and then unceremoniously hoist her up until she is over my shoulder.
“Night, Liv,” Ridley repeats from the dance floor with a loud laugh. “Night, Mase, nice to have met you.” He gives me a wave I manage to return before we are through the door and in the hallway.
