Three days later on Friday morning, Mason got a call from his brother, Doug. Because it was unusual for him to be phoning him at work, Mason answered rather than let it go to his voice mail.
“Don’t worry, I’m still able to tell time,” Doug joked. “It’s ten in the morning and we’re both busy, so I’ll just keep you a minute. I wanted to see if you’d like to drive down and go to the Spurs game tonight. Shawn’s going, too. They’re playing the Grizzlies, so it should be good.”
Normally, Mason wouldn’t hesitate. Basketball and his brothers’ company would make for a great evening, even with the eighty mile drive down to San Antonio. But it wouldn’t be worth missing a chance to be with Sophie.
“Sounds good, Doug. But I think I’m going to be busy tonight.”
“You think? You mean you don’t know yet? Don’t tell me you’re working late. I’m the one who’s supposed to be chained to my desk. I shouldn’t keep the scales of justice waiting and all that. But if I can put off a case, then you can put off an app.”
Mason settled back in his chair. “It’s not work. It’s a woman.”
There was pause, then Doug said, “If that’s the case, then I can hardly blame you.”
Since the night of Valentine’s Day, Mason and Sophie had been together every night at his apartment. Normally, that much time with any woman, including Christa, would have cooled his ardor. But with Sophie the time together had only kindled his desire. If possible, the sex between them had grown even hotter. And as good as that was, Mason couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Tonight he wanted to take her out to a nice dinner, but he doubted she would agree to such a date. She’d be afraid the two of them would be seen together, he thought grimly. He could understand her wanting to keep their relationship a secret, up to a point. But the more he dwelt on the problem, the more he recalled how she’d seemed quite proud to be seen sitting with Thom in the break room. But Thom Nichols was Mr. Dreamboat, the marketing strategist. Being seen with him had been different than Mason, the computer geek.
“Mason? Are you still there? Can you hear me?”
Mason wiped a hand over his face. “Sorry, Doug. I was thinking.”
“Is that what you call it?”
His brother’s wry question caused Mason to groan. “Doug, do you remember me telling you a few days back about a woman? The wealthy one?”
“Vaguely,” he teased, then added in a more serious tone, “Yes, I remember. The boss’s daughter. Don’t tell me she’s the one who’d make you turn down a night of basketball.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Doug whistled. “Damn, brother, you’re playing with fire.”
“Yeah. I’m standing close to the flames all right. But she’s worth it.”
“Worth losing your job?”
These past years his work at Robinson Tech had been the most important achievements he’d made in his life. The thought of putting his job in jeopardy was unnerving, but not nearly as much as losing Sophie.
“If it came to that,” he said bluntly.
“Wow! Mason, you sound like you’ve fallen hard for this woman.”
Had he fallen in love with Sophie? The question sent uncertainty drifting through him like a cold, dark fog. Sophie was so out of his league it was ridiculous. She could have most any man she set her eyes on, a man far wealthier and accomplished than Thom Nichols or anyone working for Robinson Tech.
“It’s too early for that kind of thinking.”
Doug responded with an amused grunt. “What about all those people who fall in love at first sight? Or believe they do.”
Mason grimaced. “It doesn’t last.”
“Hmm. It takes work to make a relationship last, Mason. That’s why you don’t see me in one. I’m too lazy.”
“Hah! Why not just admit that you’re about as flexible as an iron rod? You really should be aiming for a judge position, my brother. You always did want to rule everybody.”
Doug laughed, but the happy sound quickly sobered. “Mason, being flexible and giving is good. I just hope you don’t end up doing all the bending and sacrificing. Okay?”
Mason let out a long breath. “I hear you.”
The two talked for another minute before both agreed they needed to get back to work.
Mason scrubbed his face with both hands and tried to refocus his attention on work, but his conversation with Doug continued to prod at him.
Where Sophie was concerned was he doing all the bending? True, they’d not been together as a couple long enough to really weigh the situation. But so far, Mason was the one who’d given in and gone along with her request to keep their relationship hidden. When would it be time for her to start giving in and showing her family and friends that she cared about him? Would she ever want them to know?
* * *
That afternoon, as soon as Sophie found a stopping point in her work, she made a beeline to Mason’s desk, only to find it empty.
“Mason and Nadine left on break a few minutes ago.”
Sophie turned to see a young woman with short black hair and a calculating smile. Sophie recognized her voice. She was one of the gossiping women from the bathroom. Although she’d not gotten a look at the two gossipmongers that morning, she hadn’t forgotten their pompous tone.
“Oh. I see. Well, I needed to speak with him about a work matter.”
The smile on the woman’s face grew even cattier and Sophie could only wonder what she’d ever done to deserve this kind of treatment. Being born a Fortune? Was that enough cause to be despised?
“Work. Yes. Maybe you should go upstairs and see Thom. I’m sure he’d love to talk about work.”
Sophie would’ve thoroughly enjoyed telling this woman to keep her warped tongue to herself and to mind her own business. But in the long run, lowering herself to such a demeaning level wouldn’t help her. No more than it would help this woman improve her behavior.
“Thanks,” Sophie told her sweetly. “You’ve been more than helpful.”
The woman lifted her nose, then turned on her heel and walked off. Sophie’s teeth ground together as she turned back to Mason’s desk and began to search for a scrap of paper to write a note.
“Hey, beautiful! Are you on a secret mission?”
The voice caused her to jump and she whirled around to see Mason entering the cubicle.
“Mason! I was writing you a note. Don’t you keep a pencil and paper around here?”
“I rarely use the things,” he said wittily. “We have these new gadgets now called cell phones that actually send text messages.”
She shot him a sardonic look. “Smarty. Sometimes a handwritten note is nicer.”
“Nicer,” he repeated in a voice somewhere between a growl and a whisper. “Finding you here is the highlight of my day.”
As he moved toward her, a sexy glow lit his brown eyes and, even though Sophie was a bit miffed with him, she couldn’t stop a wide smile from spreading across her face.
“Nadine and I have been in the breakroom.”
“Yes, I know. A little mockingbird told me.”
“What?”
She shook her head, then glanced around to make sure Miss Nosey had left the area. “Nothing. Did you forget that I told you I’d be by to talk about tonight?”
“No. I didn’t forget. But you didn’t say exactly when. If you knew I was in the breakroom, why didn’t you come down there to see me?”
She shot him an impatient look. “Mason! You know why,” she muttered in a hushed tone. “People are already starting to talk about us. I don’t want to add fuel to the fire.”
“How do you know they’re starting to talk? Have you been eavesdropping?”
Shaking her head, she let out a long breath. “I just had a nasty visitor drop by here. She suggested that I go upstairs and talk to Thom instead of you.”
He glanced around him as though the gossiper might still be lurking nearby. “Are you serious? Who was it?”
“I don’t know her name. I think she works in marketing. Which probably means that Thom and the whole marketing department know about us now.”
He frowned. “So what if they do? It’s none of their business. This need you have to hide everything doesn’t make sense, Sophie. Before, when we were just friends, you never worried about us being seen together.”
“That’s because—” She broke off as red heat swept up her face. “Well, it’s different now. We can’t be close together and keep our hands off each other. You know that!”
Grinning now, he stepped close enough to wrap his hand around her upper arm. “I’ll tell you what I know. Right now I’d like to kiss you and carry you off to the broom closet.”
The idea of being locked in any closet with Mason was enough to make her whole body tingle. But rather than admit it, she arched an innocent brow at him. “Broom closet?”
His head dipped close enough to whisper in her ear. “It’s dark and we could lock the door.”
Even though his rough, masculine voice sent shivers of desire over her skin, she forced herself to step away from him. “I hate to tell you this, but the janitors have keys. They can unlock the broom closets anytime they please.”
He feigned a look of disappointment. “Our luck and one of them would come along and want a push broom right when things were getting...delicious.”
She shot him a sexy, sidelong glance. “I need to get back to my desk. Are we still on for tonight? I can be at your place by seven.”
He cleared his throat. “Yes, we’re still on. But I thought I’d take you out to dinner tonight. To Pedro’s. I know how much you like Tex-Mex and he dishes up some of the best in Austin.”
Pedro’s was a quaint little café situated in the old part of town. It still had a real screen door on the front entrance and scrubbed plank floors. The round tables were just large enough to hold two plates, two drinks and a candle in between and the scents coming from the kitchen were enough to make a person’s mouth water. To be there with Mason would make the place even more special.
“I would love to go to Pedro’s, Mason. Really, I would. But I—I just don’t think it would be wise—yet. What if some of our friends or family saw us?”
“That’s right, what if? Would the sky actually fall in, Sophie? This is getting ridiculous, don’t you think? You’re a grown woman. You should be able to date whomever you choose without worrying about what people are going to say.”
Sophie looked away and swallowed the lump of pain in her throat. Although it had only been a few days since they’d started seeing each other, already Mason was getting weary of the subterfuge. And she could hardly blame him. It wasn’t his fault that things had played out so swiftly and unexpectedly. Nor was it his fault that she’d made a fool of herself over Thom Nichols.
“I understand you’re not exactly happy about this secrecy, Mason. But I’m not asking you to do it forever. I don’t want people saying I dumped Thom for you. Or that you got me on the rebound.”
His hand gently tugged her arm, prompting her to look at him.
“Sophie, no matter how much time passes, people are always going to talk. Especially because of who you are. You’re a Fortune Robinson. Everything you do is under a microscope. That isn’t going to change.”
“I realize that. But, oh, Mason, I admit I’m responsible for this...situation. If I hadn’t been so stupid about Thom none of this would be happening. I just don’t want to look like a two-timer or schemer! Especially after the things that have come out about Dad. Everyone is going to think our family is not to be trusted!”
His expression softened. “Sophie, I understand you’ve been having a rough time of it lately with your family. I just want—well, I just want us to be together. Out in the open. Like a real couple.”
“And we will be, Mason. I promise. Just give it a little longer. In the meantime, I’d still like to be with you tonight. Am I invited to your place or not?”
Slowly, the tension on his face began to ease and then he chuckled under his breath. “Just try to stay away and I’ll come after you.”
* * *
Late that evening, Mason was getting ready to shut down his computer for the day when from the corner of his eye, he saw someone enter his cubicle.
He was more than surprised to see Thom sauntering up to his desk.
“What’s wrong? Lost your way? Wes’s office is down the corridor,” Mason said with a heavy dose of sarcasm. He’d never liked the man in the first place and the feeling had only intensified. “You wouldn’t be down here to see anyone but the boss, would you?”
One corner of Thom’s mouth lifted in a sneer that assured Mason there was no love lost between them.
“Actually, I’m on my way out. I never did feel the need to work late just to try to impress anyone.”
Anyone as in Sophie? Or anyone like Gerald Robinson? The questions rolled through Mason’s thoughts as he studied the man that many women in the building had dubbed Mr. Dreamy. As far as Mason was concerned Thom Nichols was a walking nightmare.
Mason cast Thom a smug smile. “I’m not working late this evening. I happen to have a date. And I don’t want to be late,” he added pointedly.
The sneer on Thom’s lips grew more twisted. “With Sophie, no doubt.”
“I didn’t say anything about Sophie.”
Thom folded his arms against his chest. “Of course you didn’t. The rest of the building is saying it for you.”
So Sophie was right. The gossip had already started. Mason didn’t care what anyone said, especially this pompous jerk. But he didn’t want Sophie hurt. Not for any reason.
“Is there some reason for your visit, Nichols? If not, I’m out of here.”
“No reason. I just thought I’d stop by and give you a bit of friendly advice.”
“I don’t remember asking you for any.”
Thom shrugged and Mason thought how the guy was exactly like the taunting bully on the school playground. A fist to his mouth would definitely shut him up. But in the end Gerald Robinson would probably fire both of them. Especially because the fight revolved around his youngest daughter.
“Well, a man needs to know his limitations. I certainly learned that lesson the hard way. Think about it, Montgomery. I barely managed to hold on to Sophie for a few days and then her interest in me went south. What makes you think you can do better? The woman is a rich butterfly. She’s never going to stay in one place long.” With a short, mocking laugh, he started out of the cubicle. “All I can say is good luck. You’re going to need it.”
Biting back several choice curse words, Mason jerked on his jacket and flipped off the light. On his way out, he very nearly knocked Nadine off her feet.
Snatching a steadying hand on her shoulder, he quickly apologized, “Nadine, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”
She answered his question with a scoffing laugh. “It takes more than a little bump to knock this woman off her feet. Now, a kiss might do it. If only you were fifteen years older you’d be the perfect man for me.”
Laughing with her, he gave her a little hug. “Ready to go? I’ll walk with you to your car.”
“I’ll be ready as soon as I get my purse. Right now, I want to know what Mr. Phony was doing here. And yes, I’m being nosey. But I just happened to glance over here a minute ago and it looked like you had murder on your mind. Do I need to start saving money for your bail bond?”
Mason let out a weary sigh. “Thom thought he should come by and give me fair warning. Sophie will dump me just like she dumped him—swiftly and painfully.”
Nadine scowled at him. “Don’t listen to the man. He’s obviously jealous.”
“And he could be very right,” Mason mumbled. “Think about it, Nadine. I’m just a regular Joe. I can’t give Sophie what she’s used to having.”
Nadine patted his cheek. “You can give her the very thing her daddy can’t buy her. Love. So there. Think about that while I fetch my purse.”
Love. Yes, Sophie talked about love. About how very much she wanted her marriage to be full of warmth and love instead of the cold arrangement between her parents. But she’d never so much as hinted that she was falling in love with Mason. She’d never brought up their relationship in a long term context. She was living day to day, enjoying their time together. But that wasn’t enough for Mason. Not nearly enough. And deep down, he was afraid Thom was right. Neither of them were good enough for Sophie Fortune Robinson.
* * *
By Sunday morning, the weather had turned spring-like and after much persuasion, Mason was able to talk Sophie into driving down to San Antonio to spend a day on the Riverwalk. With the sun shining brightly and the birds chattering in the trees, the day couldn’t have been more beautiful. And having Sophie stroll alongside him made it even more heavenly.
Sophie had called on her inner cowgirl and donned a blue chambray shirt with a pink skirt and a pair of fancy cowboy boots. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail and the casual style made her look very young and very adorable. Mason found himself looking at her instead of the Riverwalk.
“Do your parents live downtown?” she asked, as the two of them meandered along the narrow river’s edge.
“No. They live on the west side, in the same little stucco house they lived in when we boys were born. If you offered them a mansion right on the river, they’d just laugh and say they’re happy where they are.”
She looked at him with a faintly wistful expression and Mason wondered if she’d been expecting him to take her to meet his family today. Since she was still on this quest to keep their relationship a secret, he figured she would hardly want to announce it to his family. And to be honest, he wasn’t yet ready to take Sophie to meet his parents. For a long time now, the Montgomerys had wanted to see their sons settle down and start producing grandbabies. Mason didn’t want his parents, especially his mother, getting the idea that he and Sophie were getting serious about each other. Not when there was the very real possibility that in the next few weeks she’d be giving him the cold shoulder.
“Sophie, you didn’t think you were here to meet my family, did you?”
The awkward question caused her cheeks to turn pink and she swiftly diverted her gaze to a passing tourist boat. “No. I don’t expect that sort of... commitment from you. Meeting your parents would be a serious step. And you and I—well, we’re just getting started with this dating thing.”
She looked at him through lowered lashes and gave him a wobbly smile. Mason took her by the arm and led her over to a park bench which was partially shaded by a live oak.
Once they were seated, he took her hand and folded it between his. “Sophie, are you getting tired of me?”
“Tired? That’s a silly question, Mason. We’ve been together every night since our Valentine’s date. Why would you think such a thing?”
Not about to reveal the doubts he’d been feeling, he simply shrugged. “I don’t know. You just seem a little withdrawn. Especially when we started talking about my parents.”
Sighing, she said, “I’m not hurt about that, Mason. It just made me think of my parents and all that’s going on with them. I wish to heck Ben would just leave it all alone! At least, that’s what I think some of the time. Other times, I believe he’s doing the right thing. If we have other siblings out there, we should probably know about them.” She looked at him, her brown eyes swirling with dark shadows. “But then I think about Mother and what must be going through her mind. It’s all so hard to deal with, Mason. And now something else has come up.”
He cast her a questioning glance. “Oh. What now?”
“This coming Thursday night, we’ve all been invited to the Fortune Ranch for a family dinner. Kate Fortune wants to get to know the Fortune Robinsons better. Which I suppose is a nice thing. But I’m not sure I’m ready to mix and mingle with that side of the family. After all, they treated Dad so badly he faked his own death to get away from them. If that isn’t an awkward setting, then I don’t know what is.”
Mason shook his head. “But that happened years ago. From what you’ve told me, Kate is trying her best to make amends for the brutal way your father was treated by his parents. You shouldn’t feel awkward. If anything you should feel grateful that she’s being so welcoming.”
“Yes, I suppose so. And she’s kindly encouraged each of us to bring along a guest. But I—I’m planning on going alone. I just want to get the whole evening over with.”
In spite of the warm sun filtering through the tree limbs, Mason felt chilled. She could have invited him to the family dinner, but she was going alone. That proved just how much she thought Mason would fit into her highbrow family.
What are you carrying on about, Mason? You’re less than twenty minutes away from your parents’ house and you have no intention of taking Sophie to meet them. Is that because you don’t think she’d fit in? Because you think she’s too good to ever be a Montgomery?
Yes! He wanted to scream the word at the accusing voice in his head. Sophie was too good for him. That was the whole crux of the matter. And the sooner he realized it, the better off they’d both be.
The gentle pressure of her fingers on his claimed his attention. She was studying him with a faint frown and Mason only hoped she couldn’t read his thoughts.
“Mason, a few minutes ago you were asking me if something was wrong, but I’m thinking it’s you who has a problem. You seem preoccupied. Has something happened to upset you?”
Only that you’ve made it clear that your family and I don’t mix.
Giving her his best smile, he said, “Not at all. It’s a warm, gorgeous day. I have a beautiful woman to enjoy it with. What could possibly be wrong?”
Leaning forward, she kissed his cheek and in that moment, Mason realized his heart was lying right in the palm of her hand. No matter how hopeless it all seemed, he had to stick it out to the bitter end.
“You don’t want fried chicken for lunch. That’s it, isn’t it?” she teased.
He grunted with amusement. “Fried chicken? Who said anything about that?”
She snuggled closer and Mason’s gaze focused on her soft lips. If the two of them weren’t sitting on a public bench, he’d kiss her until his mind was blank of worries. Until nothing mattered except making love to her.
She said, “I did. It’s my favorite meal. Do you think we could find any around here?”
On this perfect Sunday the heiress wanted fried chicken. Maybe there was still hope for a future with her, he thought wryly. Could it be that deep down she was just a regular girl looking for a regular guy? For today he was going to let himself believe just that.
* * *
“This is the best news I’ve heard since my daughter and her husband decided to call off the divorce.” Dennis grinned happily at Sophie, who was standing in front of his desk. “And this is all your doing, Sophie. I’m proud of you.”
Any other time Sophie would’ve felt like dancing around her boss’s office. But not today. The satisfaction she felt over her worthy accomplishment was dimmed by the reality that she’d be going to the Fortune Ranch tonight instead of spending it making love to Mason.
“I really didn’t do anything special, Dennis. Once I pointed out all the gaps in the new insurance coverage, Ben was in agreement to come up with an improved plan. That’s why he’s a sharp businessman. He realizes happy employees are much more productive.”
“Well, I only hope that your family and everyone in this building can see what a conscientious person you are. How hard you work for everyone’s benefit, not just your own.”
Yes, Dennis would praise her. As for her family, she wasn’t sure any of them took that much notice of her work or what she hoped to do with her life. Her mother considered her flighty and Olivia thought she was foolish. No telling what the others were thinking, especially now that gossip about her ditching Thom and picking up Mason was circulating around the building.
“Thanks, Dennis. Coming from you that means a lot.”
He started to say something else when the phone on his desk rang. “Excuse me, Sophie. I’d better get this. It’s a call I’ve been waiting on.”
Once she left Dennis’s office, she spotted Olivia waving an arm to catch her attention.
The two women met near the alcove where Mason had comforted her the day she’d overheard the nasty talk in the restroom. He’d made her feel special and given her the extra strength she’d needed to keep her chin up. Had she been falling in love with him then? Or had the love she felt for him as a friend suddenly blossomed like a seed in springtime? She didn’t know. She only knew that her feelings for Mason were growing so big they were scaring her.
“What’s up?” Sophie asked her sister.
“I wanted to see what you’re wearing to the dinner party tonight. I went out on my lunch hour today and bought a new gown. I hope it’ll be okay.”
Sophie shrugged. “I haven’t thought about it. I’m sure I can find something in my closet to impress the Fortunes.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Sophie, we are the Fortunes, too.”
“How could I forget?” Sophie asked sardonically. “We’re getting new Fortune relatives every day.”
Olivia regarded her skeptically. “Is that what’s eating at you? You’re afraid Ben is going to use the setting tonight to announce another one of Dad’s illegitimate children? Forget it. He wouldn’t do anything that crass. Not in front of Mother.”
Sophie hoped not.
Sighing, she said, “I really don’t want to go to this party tonight.”
Olivia frowned at her. “Why? It will be fun to go to the Fortune Ranch. Maybe Kate will give us some of her fabulous cosmetics. Especially her famous Youth Serum. And it will give you an opportunity to show Mason our side of the family. You have invited him, haven’t you?”
Olivia’s question caught her by complete surprise. “No. I haven’t invited him. I’m going alone.”
Olivia’s big brown eyes grew even wider. “Alone! But why? I understand that things ended rather quickly with Thom and developed even faster with Mason, but that’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m just happy that you came to your senses and latched on to a nice man. And tonight would give you a chance to show Mother and Dad that you’re serious about Mason. You are, aren’t you?”
Sophie’s mind was suddenly whirling. Not only with thoughts of Mason, but also about Olivia, and how her sister appeared to know so much about Sophie’s personal life. She hadn’t told anyone in her family about Mason yet. She’d been waiting for the right time. And waiting, too, for Mason to show some sign that he wanted their relationship to be the permanent kind. But so far he hadn’t mentioned anything about love, much less forever.
“How did you know about Mason?”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Sophie, I’m not blind. I’ve seen the two of you at Bernie’s with your heads together. And Mother tells me you’ve been staying out late every night. It’s not hard to put two and two together.”
Sophie felt her cheeks turning red. “Mother has noticed me being gone? That’s surprising. She hasn’t mentioned it to me. I wonder why she said something about it to you.”
Olivia shrugged. “Who knows? She probably thinks you’ll get defensive and clam up.”
The same way that she did? The suspicious thought raced through Sophie’s mind, but she kept it to herself. Just as she’d kept to herself the image of Charlotte sitting at Gerald’s desk in the wee hours of the morning.
“Maybe so,” Sophie murmured. “And considering everything, she does have a lot on her mind.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Olivia said. “Well, I need to get back to my desk. I’ll see you tonight. Since you’re not taking Mason, are you riding out to the ranch with Mother and Dad?”
Cooped up for miles in the frozen atmosphere of her parents’ car would be more than Sophie could endure for one evening. “No. I’ll be taking my car. Why don’t you ride with me?”
“Thanks, Sophie. I’ll come out early. We’ll get ready together and make it a real sister night.” Olivia dropped a swift kiss on her cheek, then walked away.
Tonight would give you a chance to show Mother and Dad that you’re serious about Mason.
Olivia’s words continued to nag at Sophie and by the time she passed the entrance to R&D, she was very nearly ready to walk straight to his desk and beg him to go with her to the Fortune bash.
But then she remembered how forward she’d been with Thom and how quickly it had all blown up in her face. No, she wasn’t going to press Mason into attending the family outing with her. If he ever decided he was ready to take that serious step, she wanted him to do it on his own. Not because she was pushing and prodding him toward a proposal of marriage.
But would he ever want to take such a step with her?
Her throat aching with raw emotions, she hurried down the corridor and wondered why love had to surround itself with so much pain and worry.
Love? Is that the reason she felt so melancholy? Because she was finally and truly in love?
She was going to have to answer that question and soon. Because something was telling her that Mason was about to demand the truth of her feelings. About him and her, and what she wanted for the future.