As I started walking toward the exit, the alcohol hit me right in the face, and I almost stumbled. My God, could I get a grip?
“Easy, darlin’.” He smiled a little and cupped my elbow. “You okay?”
Nope, not at all. “Peachy!” I managed a weak grin and continued my Bambi walk. I passed the coat check and said I’d wait right outside while Mason got his jacket. Or whatever he wore.
The clock near the entrance told me we had another half hour till Sharon’s husband arrived to take us home, so I’d go back for my coat later. And possibly another drink once Mason had left and was a safe distance from me. Brooklyn Gin, I’d have to remember that.
I stepped out into the crisp fall air and took a deep breath as soon as I’d gotten past the group of smokers outside the club.
Oh, that was much better.
Perhaps not as sobering as I’d wanted it to be, but it felt good on my skin.
The cobblestone streets of Cedar Valley were lit up with lampposts that belonged in another era, and shop windows had Halloween decorations in them.
I inhaled deeply and hugged myself.
I loved this part of town; the Valley bustled with activity and was called Little Seattle. My district, Downtown, was just north of here and only came to life in the summers when the boardwalk by the marina attracted tourists in droves.
After William had asked me to marry him and shown me his hometown, Downtown had been the best neighborhood for families. At the time, Cedar Valley hadn’t really existed. It’d been a bunch of factories and the location of the old lumberyard. Then over the years, the factories had turned into trendy lofts and expensive brownstones.
I remembered suggesting once to William that we could move here. Brady was about to start school, and the community college had recently opened in the Valley. But William had wanted our picket fence and two cars in the driveway.
Ironically, he lived here in the Valley now, and I’d grown to love my picket fence in Downtown.
“There you are.”
I spun around and saw Mason coming toward me, and just like that, the heat made a swift return. Goddammit, what was the man doing to me? I’d never been blind to his looks before, yet he hadn’t had this effect on me until now. I hadn’t let it. I’d always known the risks about him on some level, so I hadn’t allowed any reactions.
Now you’re both suddenly divorced, and this isn’t a boring Christmas party.
“How come we’ve never done this before?” I asked. “Gone out, I mean. Instead of just sticking to stilted conversation during holiday dinners.”
His mouth twitched with humor. “I can think of a couple reasons.” He stopped a foot or two away from me and tilted his head. “That confirms my suspicion, though. I knew you were bored out of your mind at those things.”
“Heh.” I averted my gaze to the ground.
He stepped closer and gripped my arms loosely. “You’re cold.” Yeah, it was getting a bit chilly, even though my heart felt like it was hammering its way through a lava field.
A shudder ripped through me as he started rubbing my arms unhurriedly, his touch warm and firm. So firm. All of Mason was firm. Solid. I brushed some invisible lint off his chest. Yep, definitely solid. I couldn’t quite remove my hand either. I let it drop to his toned stomach, and I felt him tense up under my palm.
What was I doing? I was nuts.
“I should get back inside.” I hated saying that. Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I managed to say one more thing. “It’s so good to see you again, Mason.”
I could tell he was affected by the alcohol, probably about as much as I was, but it didn’t make the intensity in his eyes any less real.
“How are you getting home?” One of his hands slid up my shoulder, back to my neck, under my hair.
I swallowed dryly. “Sharon’s husband…”
He nodded minutely and dipped down, placing a lingering kiss to my cheek. My God, he made my head spin more than the drinks ever could. Before I knew it was happening, my hands were gliding up the hard planes of his chest again, and I was completely at his mercy.
Jesus Christ, this was Mason.
“Mason,” I exhaled.
He whispered a low curse, and then his mouth covered mine. An overwhelming rush of desire crashed down on me, eliciting goose bumps and shivers. I locked my arms around his neck and threw myself into the kiss. We pushed past the tentativeness within seconds, and as soon as our tongues touched, I was gone.
He squeezed me to his perfect body as I wove my fingers into his hair.
Thank goodness I wore heels, because he was ridiculously tall. At least a foot taller than me.