by Sandi Lynn
“Good morning, Sara.” Corinne smiled.
“Morning. I wouldn’t say it was good.”
“What’s wrong? Late night?” She smirked.
“Yeah.” I sighed. “Not only did I get to bed late, but I didn’t sleep very well.” I took a sip of my coffee.
“Any particular reason you got to bed late? Like the reason being the sexy firefighter you live with?” Her brow raised.
“No, of course not.” I furrowed my brows.
“So what’s it like?”
“What is what like?”
“Living with the sexy Captain Mason Wolfe. You’re the talk among all the nurses, you know.”
“It’s all good. We barely see each other. So all of you can stop talking about me.” I smirked.
“But we’re jealous,” she whined as I walked away. “We want stories that involve juicy details. We all just want to live vicariously through you! By the way, we’re all going to Rudy’s after our shift. Are you up for a little drinking tonight?”
“Sure.” I turned my head with a smile as I walked into exam room three.
My shift ended at six p.m., but by the time I changed my clothes and freshened myself up, it was almost seven.
“Are you ready?” Corinne asked as she walked into the locker room.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I spoke as I smacked my lips together after applying a tinted gloss.
The four of us walked into Rudy’s and took a seat at an open table. We ordered our drinks and then the ladies started grilling me about Mason.
“So, Dr. Davis, tell us what it’s like living with Captain Mason Wolfe.” Audrey grinned.
I sighed as the waitress set our drinks in front of us.
“It’s not a big deal. We barely see each other.”
“Is he neat or messy?” Corinne asked.
“He’s neat. We have rules.”
I couldn’t believe I was having this conversation with them. They were behaving like teenage girls.
“Does he walk around in his underwear?” Riley asked with a grin.
“Not that I’ve seen. Like I said, we barely see each other.”
There was no way I would tell them we had dinner together or the fact that we played Mario Kart on my bed. We kicked back a few drinks, had some laughs, and then I headed home.
When I opened the door and stepped inside, I saw Mason wasn’t home. I knew he wasn’t working today, so he was probably out with his brothers or his buddies from the station. After taking a shower and climbing into bed, I fell asleep until I was woken up by the sound of the front door shutting and a lot of giggling. Climbing out of bed, I quietly opened my door a crack and saw Mason and some chick making out as they headed to his room. A feeling I didn’t like erupted inside me. Getting back into bed, I lay there and tossed and turned the rest of the night.
The next morning, after I showered and got dressed, I went to grab a cup of coffee when I saw that girl from last night making herself a cup.
“Oh hey.” She smiled as she stood there in one of Mason’s t-shirts. “You must be the roommate. I’m Candi with an i.”
“Hey.” I nodded as I reached up in the cabinet and grabbed a cup.
Mason emerged from his room in a pair of sweatpants and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw me.
“Hey,” he nervously spoke. “I thought you worked today.”
“I do. But not until noon.”
“Here you go, baby.” Candi grinned as she handed Mason a cup of coffee.
“Thanks. You should go get dressed. I have errands to run.”
“Sure. Okay.” She ran her hand down his bare chest.
After making myself a cup of coffee, I grabbed the bottle of aspirin and shook two pills in my hand.
“Headache?” Mason asked.
“I drank a little too much last night,” I replied as I chased the pills down with a glass of water.
“Oh. Where did you go?”
“Rudy’s.”
Candi walked back into the kitchen and handed Mason a piece of paper.
“I had a lot of fun last night. Call me.”
“Yeah, sure.” He gave her a small smile as he took the paper from her hand and I rolled my eyes.
She left and Mason walked over to the fridge and took out the carton of eggs, but not before throwing her number in the garbage.
“I bet you don’t even know her name,” I spoke.
“Yes, I do. It’s—It’s—Kathy.”
“It’s Candi with an i.” My brow arched.
“Yes. Right.” He nodded. “I hope this isn’t awkward for you.”
“Nope. Not awkward at all. I just hope the same goes for you when I bring a guy home.”
My phone rang, and it was the hospital calling.
“I’m on my way,” I spoke as I ended the call. “I have to go. The ER is getting slammed. There’s a twenty-car pileup on the expressway.”
Chapter 16
Mason
She flew out the door, and I sat there wondering if she had heard us last night. I couldn’t worry about it because this was my place too, and if I wanted to bring someone back for the night, I would with no guilt. This was the problem with having a roommate. Especially one that was a woman. I needed to stop worrying about it. Just as I got up to change in my running clothes, there was a knock at the door. Opening it, Nathan stood there with his head cocked.
“Why the hell aren’t you ready? I thought we were going for a run?”
“We are. Come on in. Let me go throw on some clothes,” I spoke as I rubbed the back of my neck.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit,” he shouted from the living room. “I’ve known you my entire life, and I know that look. What happened?”
After changing into my running shorts and t-shirt, I took my socks and shoes over to the couch.
“I brought a girl home last night and her and Sara saw each other this morning.”
“And?”
“And it was a little awkward.”
“Why? You and Sara aren’t having sex. You’re not a couple. You’re roommates. Did she have a problem with it?”
“I don’t think so.” I got up from the couch. “I told her I hoped it wasn’t awkward for her and she said it wasn’t and that she hopes I would feel the same when she brought a guy home.”
“There you have it.” He patted my shoulder. “She didn’t feel awkward, you won’t feel awkward, everything will be dandy and now we can go for our run.” He grinned.
I rolled my eyes as I grabbed my phone and we headed out the door.
“Do you think Mom will tell us everything tonight?” Nathan asked as we ran through Central Park.
“She better. Maybe we should force her to get some counseling.”
“Seriously? You don’t force Mom to do anything. She forces us to do the things we don’t want to.”
“True.” I smiled. “Well, whatever happened between her and Tommy, we’ll find out tonight.”
I stepped into the townhouse and found Elijah and Nathan in the living room kicking back a scotch.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked.
“She’ll be down in a second. Scotch?” Elijah asked.
“Sure. Thanks.”
“How is the living situation going?” he asked.
“It’s—”
“Our little brother brought a girl home last night and her and Sara ran into each other this morning and now he’s feeling guilty about it.” Nathan smirked.
“I am not, douchebag.”
“You two aren’t sleeping together or dating, so why would you feel guilty?” Elijah asked.
“I don’t feel guilty. It was just a little awkward. I don’t know,” I spoke as Elijah handed me my scotch.
“Good, you’re all here,” My mother said as she walked into the living room. “The three of you may sit down, and I’ll explain everything.”
The three of us took our seats. To be honest, I’d never s
een my mother this nervous.
“I broke up with Tommy because he asked me to marry him.”
“Wouldn’t a simple ‘no’ have sufficed?” Nathan asked.
“I said no and then I broke up with him.”
“Mom, you love Tommy. At least that’s what we all thought,” I said.
“I do love him, and I miss him terribly.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Elijah asked.
“I was married once, and it destroyed me. I am not about to let that happen again in my lifetime. Plus, he’s younger than me and as I grow old, he’ll decide one day to seek someone either his own age or younger.”
“You don’t know that, Mom,” I said.
“Listen,” Elijah spoke as he got up from the couch and hooked his arm around her. “Isn’t ‘not’ being with him destroying you? We have never seen you like this before. Tommy is a good man, and he deserves you in his life. And you deserve a man like him. Don’t let your fears stop you from being happy. No one can predict what will happen in the future, so isn’t being happy in the now more important than worrying about what might happen?”
“I’m saving myself from the pain and heartache.”
“And you’re doing such a good job at it,” Nathan spoke, and I smacked his arm.
“Mom, Tommy makes you happy. You have never been with a guy as long as you have with him. That has to mean something,” I said as I got up and took hold of her hand.
“Yeah, Mom. You love him, he loves you, and it’s time you grow up and let yourself be happy,” Nathan said. “Stop worrying so much about what could happen and love where you’re at right now. I mean, when you were with Tommy. We like the guy. He’s good for you and he’s good for us.”
“Good for me how, Nathan?” My mother asked as she raised her brow.
“He keeps you occupied so you don’t have time to interfere in our lives.” He grinned.
“I will always interfere in your lives. It’s my job and duty as a mother, so get used to it.”
“Here,” Elijah said as he picked up her phone from the coffee table and handed it to her. “Call, invite him over, and tell him all your fears. Don’t shut him out. He doesn’t deserve that.”
“I’m scared. What if he never wants to see me again?”
“He does. He’s just as broken up as you are,” Elijah spoke.
The three of us left the room and let her make the call.
“Damn. I never thought we’d be having a conversation like that with her,” I said.
“That’s because she never truly cared for someone after dad,” Elijah chimed in.
“Do you think they’ll get back together?” Nathan asked.
“I think so. If not, the three of us will be ready to go to his house and smack some sense into him.” Elijah smirked.
“Well?” I asked my mother as she walked into the kitchen.
“He’s on his way over. You boys better get going.”
“See, Mom. No worries.” Nathan smiled as he kissed her cheek.
“I’m happy for you, Mom. You’re doing the right thing.” I gave her a hug.
Chapter 17
Sara
By the time I got off work and headed home, it was after ten o’clock. When I walked through the door of the apartment, I saw Mason in the kitchen grabbing a beer from the fridge.
“Hey,” I said as I set down my purse and bag.
“Hey. You look like you could use a beer.” He smiled.
“Sounds good. I’m exhausted.”
“Tough day in the ER?”
“Yes. Between that accident this morning and everybody in the city thinking they’re dying, it was really busy,” I said as I kicked off my shoes and sat on the couch.
He let out a chuckle as he twisted off the cap and handed me my beer.
“How was your day?” I asked as he sat down next to me and put his feet up on the coffee table.
“It was good. I just got back from my mother’s house. She told us why she broke up with Tommy.”
“Good. Hopefully after letting it all out to you boys, she’ll start to feel better.”
“He asked her to marry him.”
“What?” I cocked my head. “She broke up with him because he wants to marry her?”
“Yep. She never got over my father leaving. It’s always been one short term guy after the other over the years. It’s what we expected from her. It’s just how it’s always been. And I think my mom thought the same. But each time we saw them together, we knew he was something special to her, and she did too. But we talked some sense into her, and she called him. He was on his way over when we left.”
“You know, I’ve never seen brothers as close as the three of you are. You’re all very protective of one another and of your mother and I think it’s amazing. Now hopefully, I won’t be seeing your mom in my ER anymore.”
“Hopefully not.” He held up his beer bottle and I tipped mine to his.
“I envy your family.”
“Believe me, we have plenty of issues. It’s not always perfect.”
“Can I ask you a personal question. If I’m overstepping, just tell me.”
“What do you want to ask me?”
“I know you’re a captain and you make decent money—”
“But how would I have afforded this place on my own?” He smirked.
“Yes.” I pointed at him.
“After we were born, my grandparents, who were extremely wealthy, set up trust funds and made investments in our name. I’m pretty much set for life. The money I make from the fire department is spending money.” He winked.
“Ah, how nice.”
“And you?” His brow arched. “I know you’ll make good money in time, but you just finished your residency.”
“I don’t have any student loans and I lived at home. So, I really don’t have any debt except a couple of credit cards. Don’t get me wrong. I really didn’t want to pay this much for rent, but it felt like home and it was convenient.”
“Does it still feel like home?” he asked as our eyes locked onto each other’s.
“Yeah. It does.” A soft smile crossed my lips.
I swallowed hard as I stared into his mesmerizing eyes. I was horny and he was here, sitting right next to me looking sexy as fuck, like he always did.
“I’m going to head to bed,” I said as I got up from the couch and set my empty beer bottle on the counter.
“Me too. I have to be at the station early tomorrow morning. I’m starting a thirty-six-hour shift, so I won’t be home.”
“Okay. Maybe I’ll see you at the hospital.”
“Yeah. Maybe. Goodnight, Sara. I hope you sleep well,” he said as he headed towards his room.
“Goodnight, Mason.”
For one split second, I contemplated smashing my mouth against his. But the fleeting thought left as quickly as it came. Sex can do either one of two things: it can strengthen a relationship, or it can ruin one. We hadn’t lived together very long, and we were just starting a friendship. But damn if I didn’t get turned on every time he looked at me.
I hadn’t seen or talked to Mason in three days. As much as I craved and loved living alone, I missed his company. Even if it was little bits and pieces at a time. I had just ended my shift at the hospital, and by time I got home it was seven p.m. When I walked through the door, I saw Nathan and Mason sitting at the table drinking beer and eating pizza.
“Hey.” I smiled as I walked in and set my purse down.
“Hey, Sara,” both of them spoke at the same time.
“There’s plenty of pizza here if you’re hungry,” Mason said.
“Thanks. I’m starving.”
I opened the refrigerator, grabbed a beer and took it over to the table.
“I got a text from your mom today. She asked me if I worked tomorrow and when I told her it was my day off, she invited me to your family dinner.”
“Really?” Mason asked.
“Wow,” Nathan spoke as he took
a bite of his pizza. “She must consider you a part of the family now. The more the merrier.” He grinned.
“Are you going?” Mason asked.
“You better come. Nobody turns down an invite from Caitlin Wolfe,” Nathan said. “Trust me, you don’t want to get on her bad side.”
“I guess I could go. If that’s okay with you, Mason.”
“Yeah. Sure.” He took a sip of his beer.
“I better get going, bro. Thanks for the beer and pizza. I’ll see you tomorrow night. And I’ll see you there as well.” Nathan smiled as he pointed at me.
Mason collected the beer bottles and took them over to the sink.
“Are you sure you don’t mind me joining your family for dinner tomorrow? I can always tell your mom I already have other plans.”
“It’s fine. Like Nathan said, you don’t want to get on her bad side.”
“You seem bothered she invited me,” I spoke as I got up from the table and grabbed the pizza box.
“I’m not bothered. I just find it a little strange because family dinner has always been just for family. It makes me wonder what she’s up to.”
“You’re right. I’m not family and I shouldn’t be there. Just tell her I couldn’t make it.” I turned away and started walking to my room.
Suddenly, I felt his hand grip my arm.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Sara.” His eyes stared into mine. “I want you to come tomorrow.”
“Okay. Goodnight, Mason.”
“Goodnight.”
I went to my room, shut the door and leaned against it as I took in a deep breath.
Chapter 18
Mason
What the hell was my mother thinking by inviting Sara to our family dinner? It was bad enough we lived together, and I had to control the strong sexual attraction I felt towards her. I was sitting at the island drinking my coffee when she walked over to the cabinet in her short nightshirt that barely covered her ass as she reached up to grab a cup. My cock twitched, and if I didn’t do something quick, I’d be hard in a matter of seconds.
