When I looked over at Mason, his expression softened as he considered what I said. “You’re one of the best men I know, Thomas. You deserve love and happiness, and I hope you find them.”
“You do too, Champ,” I murmured. “You deserve someone to love you with every fiber of their being.”
His sad eyes swept over my face, making my pulse pick up as I observed his jaw tense and the cords in his neck tighten. He opened his mouth to speak again, but stopped himself. Iwanted to reach out and comfort him, but I wasn’t one to start something I couldn’t finish. I regretted not responding more encouragingly last night when he told me about his sexuality. I should have said something, because I couldn’t deny my heart did a little something in my chest that it hadn’t done since Vanessa. But the guilt I felt over her kept my mouth closed.
I broke our stare, then stood from mystool.I needed to move us in a professional direction before I embarrassed both of us. “Did you make our reservations?”
Mason looked up as I carried my dishes to the sink. “Yeah, tomorrow morning. We should arrive about five p.m.” He stood and brought his plate and cup to me. When I took it from him, he stepped away and changed the conversation. “I should go,” he said. “I’ve got to pack.” I nodded as he walked to the door. “Thanks for breakfast.”
Why was this so difficult?“Anytime.”
He glanced at the dogs stretched out on the floor. “Who’s going to take care of them?”
“Erin and Hudson.”
He didn’t look at me.“They’re not going on a honeymoon?”
“Hudson said they’ll go somewhere before training camp.”
Mason smiled and noddedas he rubbed them. “They’ll be in good hands.”
When he stood and looked at me, I spoke from the heart. “So will you.I promise.”
Chapter 8
Mason
“Ladies and gentlemen, as we make our final approach into Laguardia…”
The New York skyline loomed outside the window as our flight approached Manhattan. My anxiety was at an all-time high since boarding the plane five hours ago. I couldn’t jog up and down the aisle to get rid of it, so I concentrated all of it into my bouncing leg and tried to breathe through it.
I was still working out what I was going to say to my father when Thomas’s warm hand landed on my knee, stopping the bouncing. I glanced down to where hepalmed my kneecap.I wished I could permanently attach his hand to me.Leaning in, he spoke softly. “You’re making me nervous, and I don’t get nervous.Ev-er. So kindly cut it out and relax.”
Startled, a nervous snort bubbled up as he enunciatedeverwith enough conviction to imply his statement was a forgone conclusion and a matter of fact. Tilting my head, I found his usual smirk and raised brows.God, I wanted him.“What makes you think I’m not relaxed?”
He rolled his eyes like I was clueless. I could hear the sarcasm before he said it. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybeit’sthe way your big thighis shakingmy seat. I didn’t take you for a nervous flyer.”
Shifting toward him, I frowned. “I’m not. I’m fine.”
He raised one brow, but maintained his death grip on my thigh. “Uh-huh. Whatever has you worked up can wait until later. The only thing you should be thinking about is where we’re going for dinner. I don’t eat street food.”
I grinned at him.“Are you an aficionado of fine dining, Agent Kingsley?” I was tempted tocontinuebouncing my knee, just to see how long he’d try to hold it down. But Thomas removed his hand to tuck his book intohis bag. I don’t know what it was about his touch that had a calming effect on me, but it was like an electric shock that reset my nervous system.
“No, but I appreciate quality. And this town is known for it.”
I raised my brows. “So you’re familiar with New York.”
“I know my way around,” he said. “My uncle John was a fireman in lower Manhattan. We used to come up and visit him. He took me to Coney Island and my first Yankees game. On rainy days, we would spendhours at Ellis Island, going through the exhibits. The stories and the things left behind fascinated me. We shared a love of history. He’s why I joined the Marines.” I was caught up in his story when he glanced down at my leg. “Are you okay now?”
Nodding, I shifted, wanting more information. “Does he still live here?”
“No,” he breathed out heavily. “He diedon 9/11. He was in Tower Two. Didn’t make it out in time.”
For a moment, I saw his pain before it disappeared. “I’m so sorry, Thomas. I can’t imagine…” I trailed off. “Do you regret your decision to come with me? This can’t be easy for you.”
He sat back and tried to reassure me. “To quote you, I’m fine.” His familiar smirk returned. “I made my peace with the city a long time ago. I wanted tobe here. Otherwise,I wouldn’t have insisted on coming with you. Right now, I just neednervous Nedto stop trying to loosen the bolts holding down my seat.”
I grinned at his accusation. “Sorry. I’ll make it up to you with anultra-nice dinner. How about that?”
