I pulled back and looked aghast. “What are you insinuating? I was just testing your shirt buttons. But if you’d like to be naked with me, Daisy, that’s something we could discuss.”
She bit her lip again in that way that made me absolutely crazy. “I would like to be naked with you, Mason,” she said, a smile playing on her lips.
With that, I swept her off the counter into a fireman’s carry, making her giggle. “This is all I’ve thought about for two days,” I said as I crossed into the guest room.
“Me too,” she said quietly.
I lowered her onto the bed, hoping to all that was holy that we wouldn’t be interrupted again. Her hair fanned out behind her, and I took a moment to look at her. She raised herself up on her elbows, kissing me again. “What?” she asked.
“I have to ask you something really serious,” I said, my face stoic.
She raised her eyebrows. “Now?”
I nodded.
“All right then.”
“I haven’t asked anyone this in like maybe twenty years.”
Her face clouded. “Mason, is this some weird sex thing? Because I’m, like, pretty normal.”
I laughed. “You’re killing my vibe here.”
She flopped back down. “What?”
I climbed on top of her, lowering my face toward hers. “Daisy Stevens, will you be my girlfriend?”
She laughed and put her arms around my neck and kissed me again. “Only if you’ll take me to the prom.”
“It’s a date,” I whispered, finally letting myself get lost in the scent of her, the feel of her. I had used a lot of lines on a lot of women and, in that moment, I wasn’t proud of that one little bit. But this time, right now, I didn’t need any of those. I felt more for her than I would ever be able to say. As I allowed myself to get lost in the moment, I knew that I would stay all night. In fact, right now, I felt like where Daisy was was the only place I would ever want to be again.
DAISYThe Sweetest Sight
I felt it as soon as I woke up. This feeling I couldn’t quite recognize, a warmth low in my belly that spread all the way through me. “Happiness” didn’t seem like the right word. “Glee,” maybe. As my mind pieced together that I was in Amelia and Parker’s house, I realized another body was wrapped around mine. And then I remembered why I felt so happy.Mason. I’d had plenty of boyfriends throughout the years, but never one who had made me feel like this.
I yawned quietly, not wanting to wake him. “Hi,” he whispered sleepily, pulling me closer.
“Hi,” I whispered back.
He nuzzled his face into my neck, kissing that place behind my ear lazily like it had always been this way. Then he rolled me over and kissed my mouth, morning breath and all. He grinned at me and said, “So, uh, last night was pretty great.”
“Pretty great” was the understatement of the century. I understood now why all these poor women got totally hooked on Mason Thaysden and couldn’t break the habit. The man had a talent. “Well, for you,” I said. “For me…” I made a so-so motion with my hand.
“Oh yeah? Just so-so. Well, I need to rectify that immediately.” As he disappeared under the covers, I protested, “Mason! You have to get to work.”
He popped his head out from the sheet and said, “That’s what I’m doing.”
Before I could argue, a voice outside the door called, “Aunt Daisy!”
Oh shit.Greer. Mason popped his head out again, and I whisper-hissed, “Hide!”
“Why?” he whispered back. “She’s three.”
“Do you want her to tell Mommy and Daddy that Uncle Mason spent the night with Aunt Daisy?”
He grimaced. “I do not.”
“Thenhide!”
