“I feel awful shopping for a vehicle when Erica is going through all this. She helped me pick my last two cars. It’s our BFF thing. I let her pick what she loves, and then I pay for it.”
Mason stopped and stared. She continued walking a few steps until she realized he was no longer next to her.
“What?”
“You let Erica pick out your car?”
“Well, yeah. I hate car shopping, but with only one unreliable taxi service in this godforsaken town, I need one. Like STAT!”
“What about a rental until she’s back on her feet?” he suggested, peering in the window of the closest Nissan.
“No, I have to get this taken care of before Eva returns to town. Otherwise, she’ll try to convince me to get something flashy like a Porsche or Corvette. I don’t need that headache. When she doesn’t get her way, she makes my life a living hell.”
For the second time in as many minutes, Mason stopped and stared. He glanced around and wondered if he wasn’t dreaming. This had to be the most bizarre conversation they’d had to date.
“Shonda.”
She glanced up from the sticker she’d been studying.
“Not to sound indelicate or anything, but do you have the money for a Porsche or ‘Vette?”
The twinkle in her eye and the biting of her lip said she found his stunned disbelief amusing.
“Seriously? Then why the hell aren’t you getting a fully-loaded, new seven-eighteen Boxster?”
“It’s not practical for everyday life,” she said simply.
“How so? It’s not like you have kids.”
Until right that second, Mason would have said they were enjoying themselves. Which was odd, because he really hated vehicle shopping, too. However, the speed in which she shut down and put a blank mask in place, had his head spinning.
“What did I say?”
“Nothing,” Shonda said with a shrug. She gestured to a dark blue Maxima. “This one looks fine. I’ll get it.”
No, he’d definitely put his foot in his mouth. Her dull eyes were a dead giveaway. Christ, why couldn’t they go twenty-four hours without an argument? He dropped his chin to his chest and inhaled a deep breath.
“I’m sorry.” He had no clue what he was sorry for, but if they could go back to her happily kicking tires like she’d been ten minutes before, he’d say it again.
“Mason, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
Not a hint of guile could be found when he stepped close and tipped her chin up. Those beautiful moss-green eyes were clear and honest.
“Then what upset you? And before you tell me you weren’t, I’ll remind you, I don’t like liars.”
A wry smile twisted her lips. “I haven’t lied to you yet.”
He crowded her against the car and traced the line of her jaw with his fingertips. “Yeah, I’m going to have to call bullshit on that one.”
She gasped, and he could tell she was indignant at being called out.
“When did I lie?”
His ran his chilly fingers up under her coat and sweater. Her stomach contracted from the cold. “This morning, when you said we weren’t sleeping together anymore,” he whispered next to her ear, before capturing the lobe between his teeth for a light nip.
Her choked laughter made him smile. The sound brought lightness to his soul. Another sobering thought, but one he shoved away as fast as humanly possible, not wanting to mar this future memory for himself.
“Do you even like blue?” he asked. He occupied himself with nudging her head to the side and grazing his teeth along the column of her graceful neck.
“Hmm?”
He adored that she sounded distracted.
“Blue. Do you even like that color?” He’d noticed she had very little blue in her house or wardrobe.
“Depends on the shade,” she said on a groan. His hands had gotten to second base under her sweater.
“What shade do you prefer?” Damn, her skin was silky. He spared a thought for security cameras, and then decided he didn’t give a crap who might be observing them. For now, they were still fully clothed.
“I find I’m partial to icy blue.”
“What a coincidence,” he murmured against her lips. “I’ve been told my peepers match that description.”
Pretending to check, she pulled back and widened her eyes in faux surprise. “Why, so they are!”
He grinned and dipped his head to capture her mouth. The potential inferno didn’t get beyond a kindling before it was doused by a salesperson clearing her throat. With a hearty sigh of regret, he pulled back and stuffed his hands in his jean pockets, hoping to hide his budding erection.
“Mason? I thought that was you!” the perky blonde exclaimed. “Frank was up next on rotation, but when I saw it was you, I traded leads.”
He nodded politely and reached for Shonda as she tried to inch away to widen the gap between them.
“Good to see you again, uh…” He drew a blank. Not good. He was pretty sure he’d slept with her at some point. Carly? Candy? Brandy! That was it. “Uh, Brandy.”
“Mandy,” the woman whose name was in question ground out.
“Right. My bad.”
The gasp of outrage made him cringe. How the hell did he keep finding himself in these situations? He had to be quicker on his feet. Shonda’s amused snort brought an inappropriate desire to laugh in turn. He didn’t dare look her way.
“Mandy, I’m interested in this vehicle.” Shonda stepped between them and gestured toward the car they’d been making out against. “And while seeing Mason is always an experience,”—his injected “Hey” was ignored—“I would like to make this as fast and painless a purchase as possible. Can you help me with that, or should you see if Frank is available to make a sale?”
Mason had to give Shonda credit. She was brisk and no-nonsense when she wanted to be. Another admirable trait.
“Can you give us a second, Mandy?” When she didn’t move, he tugged Shonda a few feet away. “So you’re sold on that blue?”
“What do you have against the blue?” She asked, adorably confused.
“It’s just a bland blue. I think the red or black would suit you better.”
“Oh, how cute. Next you’ll be picking out china patterns together.” Mandy stated it sweetly, but Mason recognized snark when he heard it.
“You know what, I think I’ll take my business elsewhere. And you can rest assured, I will be calling Stuart and letting him know how catty his employee is.” Shonda said, clearly ticked off by the snide behavior.
Mandy dropped her folded arms. “You know Stuart?”
“Yes, we go way back. I had dinner with him and his wife, April, just two weeks ago. Lovely couple.”
Dropping the dealer’s name made Mandy blanch. If asked, Mason couldn’t say he was too upset. He appreciated that Shonda gave as good as she got. In fact, he was damned proud of her. Instead of letting the situation get ugly, she reined it in. With a few well-phrased sentences, she guaranteed the other woman would put professionalism above personal feelings.
Knowing when she was beat, Mandy apologized. “There’s no excuse for my behavior. If you’d prefer I introduce you to a different sales associate, I will.”
The embarrassment staining her cheeks bothered him. The longer he stood on the lot, the more he recalled from their lone date. She was a single mom with two kids to support. How many cars could she possibly sell in such a tiny town?
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” he cut in. “You’re a highly trained staff member or you wouldn’t be here.”
The intensity of Shonda’s stare caused him to shift uncomfortably in place. When he drummed up enough courage to meet her eyes, his heart pinged. He could tell she knew of Mandy’s circumstances, too. Small town gossip he imagined. Now she looked as if he hung the moon. In the past, it would have made him uncomfortable. That he didn’t feel that way presently concerned him.
Shonda’s smile bloomed wide. “I’ve changed my mind. I’ll take the red one.”
It didn’t come as a total surprise to Shonda when Mason disappeared a few hours later and Dane showed up in his place.
“I brought Chinese.”
“Shopping for a sedan freaked your brother out that bad?” she asked as she swung the door wide for him to enter.
“Pretty much.”
“Pfft. If it wasn’t so pathetic, it would be funny.”
“True,” he agreed. “I got crab rangoon. Erica said it was your favorite.”
Shit! If Dane had told Erica he was coming here, she’d know something was up. “How much does she know?”
Dane froze in place, confusion written all over him.
“Was she not to know I was bringing you dinner because you’re lonely?”
“Wait, what? Who said I was lonely?”
“My brother.”
“In case you forgot, you have two.”
“In case you forgot, only one has been hanging out with you,” he countered with a laugh. “But if he’s so forgettable, then maybe he is doing it all wrong.”
“I’m pretty sure I adore you.”
“Don’t tell me you said those words to Mason. He might be on the next plane to anywhere.”
“I hope you don’t take me for an idiot,” she said.
“Nah. I can already tell you have a higher IQ than his last three conquests combined.”
Shonda laughed and removed two plates from the cabinet. “Does he know you talk about him like this?”
He shrugged. “If he doesn’t, he needs to get his IQ tested.”
They continued to bond over orange chicken and verbal digs at Mason’s expense.
“Do you mind if I use your phone to text your brother?” she asked some time later.
“Please don’t tell me he never gave you his number.”
Compressed lips, wide eyes and raised brows told the tale.
“Do you suppose my brother knows he’s an asshole?”
“I imagine he does. I tell him all the time, and you don’t seem shy.”
Dane’s hearty laughter warmed her cold, tired soul.
“I tell you what, let’s really get back at him. Let’s run away and get married.”
“I ask you to keep her company for dinner, and before the plates are even cleared, you’re planning an elopement?” The deep, not-so-amused voice of Mason startled them both.
Hand on her chest, Shonda waited until her heart resumed some semblance of normal before she spoke. “How did you get in here?”
“It seems you were so wrapped up in each other, you forgot to lock the front door. Think that’s the wisest course of action?” Mason dropped the duffle bag in his hand next to the sofa.
“I vote her marrying me if we’re picking courses of action,” Dane volunteered, hand raised as if he actually had a vote.
Both Mason and Shonda ignored him.
“No,” she agreed. “I should have double checked and locked it behind him.”
Astonishment unhinged Mason’s jaw. “Are you agreeing with me for a change? Should I mark this date down?”
“Hardy-har-har.”
His booming laugh startled her, as did his sweeping her up from the chair and laying one on her right in front of his brother.
“Say goodbye, Dane,” he commanded.
“Goodbye, Dane,” she complied.
Mason lifted as she jumped and wrapped her long legs around him. He went in for a deeper, more mind-drugging kiss. She was toast and a damned pushover. But Mason was like a bad habit she couldn’t seem to shake.
“Seriously? You’re tossing me over for tall, dark and brooding?” Dane demanded. “I’ll just clean up here and put the food away. Don’t mind me.”
“Oh, we won’t,” Mason informed him and carried her to bed.
“Way to play hard to get, Shonda,” Dane called after them.