“And he cooks the best chili con carne,” Thea adds. “As the only cook in the house, I really appreciate that.”
“Oh, great. So you all have been eating like queens and having fun withmyfriend without me?”
“Hey, don’t hate.” Penny shrugs. “You’re the one who abandoned us.”
“I didn’t have much choice in that.” I make a face, then blowon my manicured nails once the technician adds the oils to my cuticles.
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re miserable with your hot boyfriend.” Penny rolls her eyes. “Speaking of whom…” She glances over Thea and my shoulders.
Both of us turn our heads, following her gaze to the glass wall of the salon behind us. A familiar black Jeep is parked across the street.
“Is that Kane?” Thea gasps, her voice sharp with alarm. “You didn’t say he was coming.”
“I didn’t know,” I whisper, looking from Thea’s strained face to Kane’s Jeep, confused. “Why?”
“No reason,” Thea murmurs and snaps her hand back from the nail technician, making the varnish run all over her finger. “Excuse me, I need the washroom.”
Penny and I stare after her as Thea picks up her bag and dashes for the toilets.
“What the hell was that about?” Penny frowns.
I shrug, my eyes dragging back to Kane’s Jeep as Mason steps out of the passenger side and crosses the street without looking either way. The door pings when he enters the salon. James rises from his seat, exchanges a quick word with Mason, then leaves with Kane.
“Hey, Mason,” Penny sings as Mason walks up to me in a freshly pressed black shirt and jeans.
“Reid.” Mason nods in her direction. “Still talking in your sleep?”
Penny’s jaw drops, her eyes flash to me. “You told him,” she mouths.
I shake my head and mouth back, “ignore him.”
“You done?” Mason asks me, his hands sliding on either side of my armrests from behind.
“Actually, I was just telling Penny, I’m not feeling very well.”
Penny, the most loyal friend in the world, nods along with my lies without hesitation.
“Really?” Mason smirks. “Well, Beth is going to be there. I’ll make sure she gives you a thorough examination.”
“But…” I start, then gasp when he tilts my chair back, front legs lifted off the floor. I fall into Mason, my freshly varnished nails digging into his arm.
“You can come nicely, or I can take you with the chair,” he warns.
“Always with the threats,” I complain with a pout.
“It’s only threats if I don’t follow through on them.” He smiles, then whispers close to my ear. “Come with me now, and it will be my mouth. Delay any longer, and it will be yours.”
I flush red and lean forward, jumping off the chair in an instant.
An hour later, Mason walks me into Grant Manor, an extravagant estate the size of a country club, set overlooking beautiful scenic hills. From the number of cars parked outside, this lunch seems bigger than I thought. Suddenly, I’m glad I chose a royal blue skater dress that has a subtle sweetheart neckline and ends just above my knees—classy enough for a formal gathering, not too much for an informal one.
Mason chuckles at my expression as I take in the white stone pillars and wide hallways, my fingers nervously raking the long strands of my hair, feet dragging in my kitten heels.
“Can you relax?” he whispers, side-eyeing me. “The staff are going to think you are here to raid the house.”
“I don’t plan to steal much. All I need is keys to one of those cars.” I motion toward the porch.
“I wouldn’t, little dove. Those cars belong to the Councilfamilies. They would love to have an excuse to get revenge on an Etheridge.”
