Page 2 of Mason: His to Convince

Backing her up to the counter, Mason released his grip on her bottom and sat her down. Struggling for control he pulled her arms from around his neck and gathered her firmly against his chest controlling her efforts to fight him. Whether to get away orcloser neither knew as he held her securely. Rocking gently from side to side, Mason whispered soft words into her hair.

“Shh Baby, don’t.”

Taking deep breaths, Rebecca finally relaxed enough to stop struggling and Mason loosened his hold to look down into her eyes. They were blazing green fire and when she opened her mouth to speak, he laid a finger to her lips.

“I won’t apologize,” he told her, his voice still raspy with desire, “either for startingorstopping.”

Rebecca stared at him. Much as she wanted to, she couldn’t utter a single word. If she tried to talk she’d start crying, her body aching in ways she hadn’t experienced before. She alternately wanted to kill him, or demand that he satisfy the need that consumed her.

“Our relationship has been changing for some time and neither of us knows where it’s going. I won’t do something we may both be sorry for later.”

The tone of his voice left her no room to argue. It was obvious he meant what he said.

“I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night and take you to get something to eat. Be ready,” he stated walking across the kitchen and almost as an after-thought he turned back.

Seeing her sitting on the counter exactly as he’d left her changed his mind. She looked like a dejected little girl in her faded jeans and soft rose sweater, legs dangling more than a foot from the floor. Walking back to her he lifted her down and bending over softly kissed her cheek. Squaring his shoulders he then proceeded to the door.

“By the way, the ‘D’ stands,” he stated blandly. “Next time try studying.”

He was gone before she stuck out her tongue.

* * *

Last night’s rain had given way to a mellow autumn day. Rebecca was tired in the way that comes from having spent a taxing but satisfying day. Her job at Silver Shore, a small adult day care facility and community center in upstate New York, was another thing she owed to Mason. While it galled her that she’d gotten the position because of his business contacts, she knew that wasn’t why she’d kept it. The genuine care she had for her seniors shone through in every aspect of her work, from helping them with exercises that kept them as active as possible, to listening to their stories of days gone by.

Beyond being a way to support herself, they were her special friends and each had a place in her heart. She smiled now as she drove home thinking of the late fall bouquet Mary Havens brought today and secretly left on her desk. Yes, it had been a good day and her rumbling stomach reminded her it was going to be an even better night.

Her spirits lifted thinking about going out with Mason and she managed to convince herself it was because she hadn’t had a good meal in quite a while, always seeming to be in a rush and grabbing a sandwich from one fast food place or another. Maybe he would take her to Mama Rosa’s, a Mexican restaurant on the outskirts of the city. Rebecca had waited tables there in the summer during high school and had acquired a taste for the spicy, filling food. Memory brought a smile to her lips as she recalled the time she had made Mama’s Chili quite a bit hotter for one particular customer. Actually, about as hot as her temper that day…

It has been the summer she turned eighteen and she and Mason had argued heavily about a boy she was dating. While she was still smarting from his criticism and high handed mannerhe’d had the nerve to bring that bimbo, Kathy Mosley, intoherrestaurant.

Furious and filled with righteous indignation she’d added a generous amount of cayenne pepper to his Chili before serving their meal. Watching from behind a large potted plant it was all she could do not to burst out laughing when he took a spoonful. Sweat broke out on his brow and upper lip as he reached for his glass of water, knocking it over in his haste. Reaching frantically for Kathy’s drink he knocked that over into her lap while Kathy squealed in outrage.

It was all too much for Rebecca and she doubled over in laughter, wiping the tears from her eyes. That was when she saw him stand and throw down his napkin. Her hand slapped over her mouth as she tried to smother the giggles and the fact that Mason frequently ordered chili and always found it good sealed her fate. Guilt was written all over her and as he stalked toward her Rebecca backed away, still unable to control her laughter.

“Now Mason,” she began, holding out her hand in phony supplication. “When you brought her in here I was sure you were interested in something a little a…shall we say hotter tonight.”

The look on his face promised retribution as he advanced on her with a steady stride. His strong jaw was clenched as if he was having extreme difficulty keeping it shut and expecting him to roar any minute she fled into the sanctuary of the kitchen, where no man dared to go at Mama’s.

When he swept in after her she began experiencing her first real twinge of remorse. Not because of what she’d done, no he deserved that, but because she might end up unemployed over this.

Dancing around behind Rosa’s bulk Rebecca searched for an avenue of escape and ran to the storage area. When Mason didn’t immediately follow she assumed he’d given up the chase or gotten thrown out of the kitchen and breathed a sigh ofrelief. Leaning against a large table she smiled again as she tried to slow the rapid beating of her heart. Her surprise was apparent in the widening of her green eyes when he appeared in the doorway, Mama Rosa right behind him brandishing a large wooden spoon.

“I’m ashamed of you,” she scolded Rebecca, “Trying to poison one of my best customers.”

Ironically it was Mason who turned to her and tried to soothe her ruffled feathers.

“It’s all right, Mama. I know your food is the best in town. I just have a few things to settle with this little witch here and I’ll come back out and enjoy a real bowl of your chili.” Turning back to Rebecca, fire in his eyes, he kept his hands to himself with difficulty. “There’s a certain part of her anatomy I’d like to make as hot as that chili,” he growled down at her, now close enough to tower over her.

“Here Señor Kord,” Mama offered obligingly, “You may use my spoon.”

Rebecca gasped, looked at Mama accusingly and then back at Mason with wary eyes, not quite sure he wasn’t serious.

“Thank you Rosa,” he smiled for the first time, “I may decide to take you up on that if I don’t hear a damn good explanation in the next five seconds.”

Mama then gave Mason a look that clearly doubted there was one and laying the spoon on the work table, left mumbling something in Spanish that Rebecca was glad she couldn’t understand. She suspected Mason did though as he nodded his head in agreement.

Six foot plus of angry male leaned against the table, legs crossed and calmly turning the spoon over and over in his large hands as though examining it for flaws. Rebecca stood almost frozen. When his rich voice growled “I’m waiting”, she jumped,her throat so dry and her face so hot she almost felt as thoughshehad eaten the chili.