Page 3 of Mason: His to Convince

Deciding the best defense was a good offense she proceeded to come up with a reasonable plan. Unconsciously twisting the beautiful emerald ring he’d given her for her eighteenth birthday she started inching around to the opposite side of the table.

“I don’t know how you could bring her here,” she blurted out. “Especially after all the lectures about suitable dates and being careful of my reputation. She doesn’t have one left,” she continued. Warming to her subject now she began to advance on him, remembering her previous anger. Why she was so angry about his choice of women she didn’t examine too closely. Kathy had been a few years ahead of her in school and she’d made quite a name for herself in the locker room. While Rebecca didn’t particularly care what the woman did, Mason should have.

“Are you so desperate that you have to pick someone like…?”

“That will be enough,” he shot back unfolding his length from the relaxed position he’d assumed. Slamming the spoon down on the table with enough force to crack it he reached her side in three long strides.

“Whom I choose to date and where I go on that date is none of your damn business.”

“Then where do you get off telling me exactly the same thing?’ she demanded, almost stomping her foot in frustration.

Her shining hair floated around her like a living thing and for a moment Mason lost his train of thought. Tearing his eyes away from that golden glory he tried to marshal his thoughts into some type of reasonable response. Truthfully he didn’t have anything against young Jacob Brenner. He’d always seemed a well-mannered boy, but last night when he caught them clenched in an embrace on her front porch he’d been overcome with jealousy. It appalled him to realize he’d been ready to punch out a mere boy and he’d taken it out on Rebecca, accusingher of being too free with her affections. The truth was, he’d asked Kathy out and deliberately taken her where Rebecca was working to prove to himself that the attraction he felt was only in his imagination.

Standing next to her now, with her lovely face flushed with anger, her feminine little body only inches from his he was damn close to saying the hell with it and pulling her into his arms, showing her just why she couldn’t date anyone, for he knew in his heart that no one would ever be acceptable as far as he was concerned.

Pull yourself together man he thought. Basically you’re the only family she has; she thinks you’re like a big brother. The last thing she needs now is you grabbing her and scaring the daylights out of her.

Rebecca stood quietly, watching the play of emotions across his handsome face. Feeling the inexplicable pull between them, but not understanding the cause, she was almost disappointed when he backed off and turned to leave the room.

“You’re right, honey”, he said softly. “You too are free to date anyone you choose. Just be careful you don’t make the mistake of falling in love with the wrong man.” Laying his big hand gently on her cheek he smiled sadly. “You don’t need any more unhappiness in your life.”

Confused, she nestled her cheek into his large warm palm, feeling the loss when he dropped his hand and walked out of the room. Oddly, what seemed so terribly funny a few minutes ago somehow made her feel like crying.

Of course, that had been years ago. Rebecca found herself sitting in her car in the driveway, caught up in memories. Maybe going to Mama Rosa’s tonight wasn’t such a good idea. Looking at her watch she snapped out of her reverie and realized she’d have to hurry if she was going to be ready by seven.

Chapter Two

Rebecca was just about ready when the doorbell rang. Spritzing on her favorite perfume she twirled once in front of her mirror, making sure she looked as good as possible. She loved the way the short, black skirt flared and fluttered with her movements. Black stockings and black four inch heels helped her look taller and that was always a good thing as far as she was concerned. The ivory silk blouse felt wonderful against her skin and shimmered in the light. A gold metal belt accentuated her slim waist. Tendrils of soft blond curls artfully escaped her upswept hair at her temples and nape. Green eye shadow, pink lip gloss, and a soft blush gave a glow to her delicate features and brought out the green in her eyes. A gold locket dangled from her neck, drawing attention to the low cut blouse and hinting at the curves below. Delicate diamond studs sparkled on her ears. Pleased with her efforts she grabbed her short black jacket and hurried to the front door. Last night Mason had finally treated her like a woman and she wasn’t about to let him forget it.

Mason’s heart skipped several beats when she opened the door. Standing there in his leather boots, faded jeans and bluechecked flannel shirt he realized they had gotten their wires crossed.

Rebecca couldn’t help being affected by the sheer masculine presence of the man. Long legs encased in tight fitting jeans, still damp hair and broad shoulders that blocked the sky. Even his aftershave was intoxicating. Towering almost a foot over her despite her heels he took her breath away. Reaching quickly for her hand Mason started toward the blue pickup truck at the curb.

“Let’s go,” he said.

She closed the door and followed. Halfway to the truck the difference in their clothes suddenly registered and digging in her heels she managed to bring him to a stop.

“Look, maybe I misunderstood, but I thought you were taking me out to dinner?”

Grinning down at her stubborn expression he slid an arm around her waist and continued propelling her on, opening the truck door and just about lifting her onto the seat. Realizing this had the makings of a king-sized argument; Mason quickly buckled her seat belt and hurried to the driver’s side, buckling his belt into place before answering.

“Actually, I said I was taking you to get something to eat,” he finally responded, starting the powerful engine and pulling away from the curb, his eyes twinkling and wonderful little lines appearing at the corners. “I haven’t been shopping in some time but I still think you’re a little overdressed,” he continued, openly showing his amusement now.

“Shopping?’ she asked, her mouth dropping open incredulously. “Grocery shopping?”

“That’s what I had in mind.”

“Turn this truck around and take me home right now,” she demanded hotly. “I can do my own grocery shopping and I think it was damn sneaky of you not to make it clear what you meant.”

“Not a chance,” he responded not in the least intimated by her temper. “Clearly, it has to be done.”

Crossing her arms over her chest to glare at him, Rebecca continued. “I don’t need your help. I was going shopping tomorrow anyway so just butt out and take me home.”

Still being incredibly reasonable he answered. “If you’re shopping tomorrow anyway it won’t matter if it gets done tonight. You’ll have time to get some rest. Or here’s an idea, maybe you could actually open your Economics book, and since you assumed we were going out you obviously have no other plans for the evening. End of discussion.”

‘It is not the ‘end of discussion’. We’ll look like a couple of fools.”

“Since when have you been averse to making a fool out of yourself, or me?” he laughed back at her as he pulled into the parking lot of the Super Duper.