“Well, she needs a rock on her finger too, but I can be patient.”
I snickered.
He knew I was going to say yes, the confident bastard.
My phone buzzed in my hand, and I read Brady’s reply.
No, not at all. I was just collecting points for the next time I screw up. I’m smart, you see.
You sure are something, son.
“It’s still strange, you know,” William murmured. “I’ll get used to it, of course, but part of me wants to ask why her. Why the mother of my children? I’m not looking for an answer,” he added quickly. “I’m not actually asking. You won’t find a better woman to share your life with—or a woman more loyal and caring. I’m just…never mind.”
“I get it,” Mason replied. “But you answered the question you didn’t ask. She’s everything. There’s only her. And I apologize for how crass and inappropriate this might sound, but as soon you told me you were getting divorced, I knew I was done staying in the shadows. I’ve had this feeling about her for many years.”
I sighed softly and closed my eyes.
“That’s not to say I feel like I’ve wasted half my life,” Mason went on. “You of all people know how career-driven I always was. And until Lis, I was happy with that. I was happy making a name for myself in my industry, and I was, unfortunately for a few women, content to be a subpar partner. As long as I had my son and my career.”
“But that’s changed now…?”
“Irrevocably. Which I’ve told her. And now she’s hearing it again, since she’s probably listening in.”
Shit!
My eyes flashed open, and just as William chuckled and said I wasn’t the eavesdropping type of person, Mason opened the door, and…heh.
William did a double take at the sight of me.
Oh, I had no doubt I looked like Aurora would look when I asked her if she’d borrowed condoms from her brother.
“Hi.” I straightened and smoothed down my hair.
Mason smirked. “Hi, darlin’. Can I help you?”
Think quick!
“I, uh…” My phone! I held up my phone. “I just wanted to very quickly, very briefly, while I was simply passing by, let you know that Tristan and Katie will be here soon.”
William snorted. “And I thought I was a bad liar…”
“You are,” I told him.
“You’re both shitty liars,” Mason stated. “And all this talk has made me hungry. Can we get back to our breakfast now?”
“We definitely can,” William answered, meeting me in the doorway. “One last thing. I’m very happy for you both.”
“Thank you, hon.” I hopped up and kissed his cheek before he went back to the kitchen.
Then there were two.
I beamed at Mason and threw my arms around his shoulders, and it was perfect when he still had both his feet in the garage. It made me taller, and I could reach him better.
“I love you.” I peppered his face with kisses and made him grin. “That went well, didn’t it?”
“It did.” He squeezed my ass and bit my nose. “My beautiful little dork.”
“My nose!” I rubbed the spot.
He chuckled and kissed my forehead instead. “You know what I’m gonna do next week?”
I shook my head, curious.
“I’m gonna build you a coffee table.”
Fucking finally! I rested my forehead against his and did my best not to PMS-cry all over him. “So, you think I can handle a Mason Calvert Original now?”
He smirked and gave me one of those tongue-teasing kisses that drove me mad. “I’m pretty confident you can, yes.”
So was I.EpilogueFour years later“Oh God. Home. At last. I feel like we’ve been flying for two days straight.” I blinked sleepily and followed Mason and the herd off the plane.
He chuckled through a yawn and draped an arm around me. “We kinda have, darlin’.”
True. Two weeks in the Greek islands, then a weekend in London to wrap up an amazing anniversary before making our way home.
Layovers and delays sucked; although this time, it had created a small opportunity too. We made our way over to the Starbucks before the exit to baggage claim where Mason and William had decided we could meet up for a quick coffee. Or a shot of espresso straight into my veins, whichever.
Mason checked his phone as soon as we’d found seats, and he set our carry-on down on the table. “They’re going through security now. I’ll order.” He threaded his fingers through my hair and smiled at the obvious exhaustion on my face. “What can I get you, baby?”
“Double shot of something strong right here.” I held out the underside of my arm.
He chuckled and said he had me covered.
I envied him so much. I was pretty sure he’d fallen asleep before we’d even left the ground in New York, and he’d slept the whole way. And though I felt that was a waste of business class—I mean, it was meant to be enjoyed and used properly—a nap wouldn’t hurt. Alas, I’d been wide awake the entire time.