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Gabi
“Don’t you think, Ms. Turner?”
Gabi blinked in confusion at Mrs. Finch. They were standing in the middle of the study and she hadn’t heard a single word she had just said. Her mind hadn’t been anywhere but on Mason Adams for the entire morning.
Kylie came to her rescue. “Oh, yes, we were just discussing widening the window yesterday,” she gave Gabi an urging look and a huge nod. “Remember how you were saying that it would really open up the space and let in more natural light?”
She was going to have to buy her dinner tonight for that save. “I do,” she recovered easily. “Also, if we push out the window, there would be enough room for a bench with a bit more storage. I’d add some vintage fabric for the seat, of course.”
“Oh I quite like that idea,” Mrs. Finch cooed, getting starry-eyed as she imagined the finished room.
Gabi sighed in relief and mouthed “thank you” to Kylie.
“Yes, I’ll send a message to the contractor so they can make changes to the plan.” She grinned. “I think the man might want to murder me as it is, but”—she fluttered her hands dramatically—“it’s my dream home. I want it like I want it.”
“Absolutely,” Kylie concurred.
“You deserve it,” Gabi added, drawing a smile from their client.
“You two are just lovely,” she remarked. “I’m so glad I took a chance on you.” She lowered her voice. “And that Mason Adams too ... mmm, that man.”
Kylie laughed and Gabi’s fingernails dug into her palms. The smile she offered could not have been a convincing one.
“Anyway, follow me,” Mrs. Finch said, changing the topic quickly as always. “I wanted you to walk me through the kitchen layout again, I’m having trouble envisioning the island.”
Gabi was just glad she changed the subject, and followed Mrs. Finch down the hall while she explained yet again that she needed a space for preparation and entertaining. Gabi didn’t think the woman had ever prepared anything in her life, but she refrained from saying as much.
By the time Mrs. Finch left the property, Gabi was dragging. The woman was exhausting and she hadn’t gotten the most restful night of her life. In fact, her entire body ached in a way that constantly reminded her of how Mason had filled her over and over again. It made her smile.
“Oh my God.” Kylie sighed, grabbing her arm. “We are going to lunch right now so you can tell me everything. I have never seen you look like this; you are glowing like a sex goddess.”
She couldn’t help but smile bigger. Maybe she was a sex goddess. Mason made her feel like one. “Okay, but only because you saved my ass back there.”
“That’s right I did,” she said and dragged her to the car.
In less than fifteen minutes they were at a random western-themed restaurant, being sat in a leather booth by a girl in a cowboy hat.
“What is this place?” Gabi asked, looking over the menu, which seemed to be mostly barbeque and steak.
Kylie shrugged. “I don’t know, it was the first place I saw, and I didn’t want to wait any longer to hear about your sex adventures.”
Gabi laughed. “Fine, but if the food is terrible, it’s your fault.”
“I won’t even notice,” she said, folding her menu and waiting impatiently for Gabi to do the same.
Once the waitress had taken their order and disappeared, Kylie pounced.
“Okay, tell me everything. How did you end up at Mason’s anyway?”
She grimaced a little. This was the hard part. She knew Kylie wouldn’t judge her for making up her mind to just go for it, but she still felt a little embarrassed that she had been the one to initiate. “I just texted him and asked if I could come over.”
Kylie stared at her. “No! Wait, really?”
“Really.” She began twisting her napkin into a sharp point. “I was lonely, and, Kylie, it’s been three years.”
“I know,” she soothed. “I know. I wouldn’t have lasted that long, especially with Mason coming on as strong as he has been. I’m proud of you.”
Gabi grinned. It would be a lie if she said it hadn’t made her feel a little powerful. It was definitely a new feeling for her.
Over the next half hour and surprisingly good barbeque, Gabi told her friend as much as she was comfortable telling about their night.
Kylie was speechless for a moment after she finished. Her brisket was practically untouched.
“You okay?” Gabi asked.
“I’m just so happy for you.” She sighed. “And a touch jealous, I’ll admit. When are you going to see him again?”
She shrugged. “I’ve no idea. We didn’t really make any plans, I had to rush out of there to get to the meeting in time.”
“Do you want to see him again?”
“Duh.”
She giggled. “I guess that was a stupid question.”
“Is it weird though, that I really just want to use him for sex?”
“Normally I’d say no,” she answered, “but I’m not sure if you’re capable of that, Gabs. You’re a relationship girl, the commitment type.”
That’s exactly what she was afraid of. She didn’t need that, didn’t want that. But if she had the opportunity to be in his bed again, she wasn’t going to pass it up.
She was fucked.
“On another note,” her friend interjected, “I have a date with Cruz on Saturday.”
“You do?” She perked up. “But I thought he lost that bet when the Cubs tanked it.”
Kylie smiled adorably. “He did, but he was so sad, I said I’d go out with him anyway.”
She laughed. “Doesn’t hurt that he is hella beautiful.”
“No, it does not,” she agreed.
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Mason
Concentrating on anything at work that day was not only difficult, it was impossible. Mason had ruined two pieces of wood before he gave up and went into his office to stare blankly at paperwork.
It was Gabi. He just couldn’t get her out of his mind. He could smell her, feel her, taste her. It was likely he was losing his mind.
He avoided Cruz because he didn’t want to have to talk about her. There wasn’t really any good way to put it into words anyway. Luckily, his friend chalked it up to a bad mood and went on his way, out-producing Mason by a thousand.
When his phone buzzed early that afternoon, he grabbed for it and swiped the screen, shocked to find his heart pounding.
The level of disappointment he felt when he saw Dom’s name was astounding. Why didn’t she want to talk to him? Most women he slept with sent some sort of “Thanks for last night, we should do it again” text. But not Gabi. With her it was a brick wall of disappointment.
DOM: Hey man, meeting Seb after work later to discuss the bachelor party, you in?
MASON: Sure man, where and when?
He didn’t want to, but it sure beat sitting at home alone waiting for a text that wouldn’t come. Jesus, when had he turned into a sixteen-year-old girl?
DOM: Oscar’s, 8:00.
MASON: I’ll be there.
He set the phone down with a sigh and bit out a “fuck” when he realized he had promised Dom he’d do research on venues for the party. He’d done exactly none.
It was now or never. At least he had some time.
Before he got to researching, he picked up the phone and sent a quick text to Gabi. He told himself it was the chivalrous thing to do and had nothing to do with the fact that he wanted to hear from her.
MASON: Hey Gorgeous, how’s your day?
With that, he turned his phone all the way off so he could focus fully on his homework without waiting for that fucking text notification to come through.
An hour of research and a few phone calls later, he had the list narrowed down to three choices he felt Dom would like. They were all nerdy with an extensive beer list and historical flair. Right up his alley.
Still ignoring his phone, he emerged from his office and found Cruz measuring and marking a piece of maple.
“Ah, the beast,” his friend remarked. “He emerges from his cave.”
“Long night,” he explained.
Cruz grinned. “I figured as much. Should I assume it was Strawberry Shortcake?”
“Her name is Gabi, and yes.”
“Nice,” he said, landing an attaboy on his shoulder. “That only took you what, one hundred tries?”
“Fuck off,” he said. “How’s it going with Kylie?”
“Actually,” he said with a self-satisfied smirk, “Kylie and I have a date on Saturday.”
Mason laughed at the way his friend puffed out his chest as he said it. “Don’t tell me, pity date?”
“Probably,” he answered honestly, “but I’ll take it. I’ll make her fall for me, you’ll see.”
“I’m sure you will, man,” he told him. He actually had little doubt. When Cruz wanted to charm a woman, he pulled out all the stops. It was likely that Kylie wouldn’t even see it coming. “Where are you taking her?”
“Sullivan’s,” he answered.
“Jesus, how’d you get a reservation?”
“It was Veronica’s idea, actually. She called and pretended she was my secretary, dropped the name of that article that featured us from a few months back, and ended up sweet-talking them into a late reservation.”
“Veronica did that?”
“Yeah.” He was clearly just as amazed. “She’s incredible when she’s focused on something.”
“Wow, that’s awesome,” he said, giving his friend a pat on the back. He was happy for him, really happy, but something else too. Jealous? He shook it off. “I’ll cross my fingers for you.”
“Won’t need it,” he said confidently, and went back to work.
When he felt he couldn’t avoid it any longer, he went back to his office and fired his phone back up.
Something shifted in him when he saw Gabi’s name appear in his notifications.
GABI: Good, thank you. Maybe a little sore ;) How’s your day?
His heart thumped comically hard in his chest. She was flirting with him. Happily, he decided to go all in.
MASON: My day has been good. I’m sorry you’re sore. If you come over later, I’ll work out all those aches and pains for you.
GABI: Is that so?
That was fucking so.
MASON: Gorgeous, I’ll make sure you feel so good, you’ll never want to leave.
GABI: That’s a very tempting offer, Mr. Adams.
Fuck, she was making his dick hard.
MASON: I was hoping it would be.
GABI: Hypothetically, what time are your services available?
MASON: 10:00 pm - 8:00 am
GABI: That long, huh?
MASON: I’ll make it longer if you want.
Please just say yes. He held his breath.
GABI: I really should get some sleep.
MASON: That can be worked into the schedule.
It was a few moments before she responded. He felt like he could hear her hold her breath across town.
GABI: I’ll take your offer into consideration.
MASON: And I’ll see you at 10.
GABI: Maybe. I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.
He put his phone down with a smile and kicked back in his chair. He was going to have that gorgeous woman in his arms again tonight. He would have bet a million dollars on it.
Now he just had to figure out a way to get through the rest of the day without his cock at attention.