“Okay, calm down. Don’t get too excited,” she coached herself after a few minutes and started the car. Mason’s words could have just slipped out. They might not have been planned. But then again, maybe he did mean them. “Well, we’ll see. If he meant the words, it wouldn’t be the last time he used them.”
*
Ah damn, Mason thought as he shoved his cell phone into his pocket and blew out a ragged breath. He leaned against the wall in the back hallway of the club that led up to the offices. Had he really just said love you? Never had he ever slipped up like that with a woman. Not even in the heat of passion.
He turned to head up the stairs but stopped before he took the first step. Cursing under his breath, he dropped back against the wall when he saw his brother in the middle of the staircase, a stupid grin on his face.
“Did I just hear what I think I heard?” his brother asked, trotting down the stairs. Mason was surprised to see Cameron since he was rarely at the club these days. Spending so much time with Simone had lightened his mood and Mason couldn’t ever remember seeing his brother smile as much as he did lately. “Did you just tell a certain someone that you loved her?”
Mason said nothing. What could he say? That he was crazy in love with a woman who he’d known forever but never thought he would have such strong feelings for?
“Did you mean it? Are you in love with her?”
“Yes,” he answered simply. No sense in denying what he knew in his heart was true. He was in love with London Alexander. The reality didn’t freak him out as much as it probably should have. He wanted them to get better acquainted mainly to see if they got along well enough to have children together. Now, he wanted more. But how much more was the question.
“By the panicked look on your face, I take it that was the first time you’ve spoken the words to her.”
Heck, it was the first time Mason had spoken those words to any woman who wasn’t in his immediate family.
Cameron made it to the bottom step. “You do know that you’re going to have to tell her for real so that she doesn’t think the words were a slip up, don’t you?”
Mason’s brow’s drew together. “What do you mean? Why would she think it was a slip?”
“Because you haven’t told her how you feel. Yet, all of sudden, you throw out ‘love you’ in a telephone call and then hang up.”
Mason was way out of his element on the subject. He had never been in love with a woman before.
“If you love her, tell her. Let her know how you feel so that she doesn’t start acting weird, wondering if you really meant the words, but are afraid to bring up the subject.” Cameron pounded him on the shoulder and headed out of the building. “Good luck. I’m outta here.”
Mason continued up the stairs. His brother was probably right, but now Mason would be forced to talk about love.
Relationships. This was why he stayed clear of anything serious.
Chapter Eight
London watched from the bleachers inside the Boys & Girls Club as Mason ran up and down the basketball court with middle schoolers. He volunteered once a week and today he planned a summer pizza party for the kids. London’s heart swelled with how much she admired him for giving some of his time to children. Many of them were growing up without a positive male role model in their life and he felt he could make a difference.
London glanced at her watch and shifted on the bench. She had arrived a few minutes ago. While Mason’s visit was all about the children, she was there in a work capacity to do a piece about the club’s summer programming.
London looked up in time to see Mason dunk the basketball, hanging on the rim longer than necessary. She smiled as the kids went wild, cheering him on. He was in his element around them and they adored him. The girls hung onto his every word, while the boys tried to be cool like him, imitating his movements and expressions.
When the game ended, Mason grabbed a towel and wiped his face. Then he headed her way.
“I see you’re still a showboat on the basketball court.”
“Hey, what can I say? When you’re good, you’re good.”
Laughing, London rolled her eyes. The first two years of high school, he had played on the varsity basketball team. During that second year, he hurt his knee and was sidelined for the season, but that didn’t stop the girls from fawning over him. Mason ate up the attention.
“Come with me.” Mason reached for her hand and guided her down the three rickety bleacher stairs.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
“I don’t want to go too far because my cameraman will be here soon. I don’t want him to wonder if I’m here.”
“You worry too much. Come on.” They stepped out of the gym and into the main hallway where groups of children and volunteers were congregated. Saying hello as they went by, Mason ushered her down another hall which was empty.
“Mase, where are we going?” she asked again, her curiosity piqued.
He glanced over his shoulder without responding and then opened a door. “In here.”
Frowning, she stepped into the cramped space. “A broom closet? Really?”
He grinned and then pulled her close. “I didn’t get a chance to properly greet you when you strolled in.”
He lowered his head and his lips touched hers, sending heat rushing through her body down to the soles of her feet. Each time he kissed her, she fell deeper in love. A whimper rattled in her throat when he ended the kiss.
“Besides, it’s too noisy out there. I wanted someplace private for us to talk.” His tone was more serious than moments ago.
Brooms, dustpans, and mops hung neatly on the wall, and several empty buckets were on the floor of the small space. London didn’t see any cleaning products, but a hint of pine lingered in the air.
When Mason continued to study her without speaking, she asked, “Do the kids know about the pizza party that you have planned?” Her hands glided up his chest, his T-shirt damp against her palms. What she really wanted to ask was if he meant the words he had spoken to her the day before.
“Most of them know. I’ve been planning this for a while.” He ran the back of his hand down the side of her cheek, staring into her eyes. “What time is the news crew going to arrive?”
“Around three. Are you sure you’re okay with me infringing on your time here with the kids? I just thought that since I was going to meet you here anyway, that this might be a good opportunity to shed light on the club.”
“I’m fine with it.”
“I know I could have picked another day, but this was perfect timing since I’ve been working on the summer break series. This will give me a chance to highlight some of the programs and hopefully create more community involvement for them. Besides that, some parents might not have even thought about sending their bored children here for the summer. But I don’t have to capture the party or—”
“Hey,” Mason kissed her lips, “you don’t have to convince me. I think it’s a great idea. And no, I don’t feel as if you’re infringing on my time with the kids.”
There she went rambling again. London didn’t know why she was suddenly nervous. This would be the third segment of the Summertime in Atlanta series and the first two installments had great viewership. Even though they were deep into summer, the information could still be helpful to parents. Especially since the Boys & Girls Club offered activities for kids year-round. She’d been surprised when her boss asked her to host the short series. Once she had accepted the anchor position, she didn’t think she’d get an opportunity to go out on location again.
She took a few cleansing breaths and glanced away from Mason’s piercing gaze. Her anxiousness wasn’t just about the segment. She had tossed and turned all night, still unable to get over seeing Cory again. The sight of him had scared her, but he hadn’t seemed threatening like the other times.
“What’s on your mind?” Mason touched her chin with the tip of his finger, forcing her to look
at him. “London?” he said when she didn’t speak.
“Why do you ask?” What the heck? Was he reading minds now?
“Because you were quiet when you got to my place last night and you barely slept. This morning you seemed a little … I don’t know, distracted maybe.”
Was he trying to get her to start the conversation about his profession of love? Or what if he hadn’t even realized he said the words? Or did he sense that something had happened? Was she giving off some type of fear vibe?
“I’m okay.”
“I didn’t ask if you were okay. I asked if something happened yesterday.”
“Nah, not really. It was just a long day. I’m still trying to get acclimated at work. I’m hoping the segment will help to not only shed awareness on the Boys & Girls Club, as well as help me get some notoriety with the station. Their ratings have been staggering lately and they are trying different techniques to get them up.”
When Mason didn’t respond, London glanced at him. She could feel the tension seeping from his pores. No way was she telling him that she saw Cory. The guy barely gave her a second thought anyway. Maybe he really was in town on business.
“Would you tell me if something was going on?” Mason asked as if reading her mind again.
“With us? Of course. As far as I’m concerned, we’re fine.” Except that he’d tossed out ‘love you’ and she didn’t know if there was meaning behind the words or if it were a slip of the tongue.
London shook her head. Why was she tripping? Their relationship was new, and there were days that she still couldn’t believe that she and Mason Bennett were dating. Well, sort of. He was willing for them to get to know each other for the sole purpose of deciding whether or not to make a baby together, but still. She really believed that in time, he would fall madly in love with her and want her for more than just his baby’s momma. Maybe she was being naïve, but what she wanted more than anything was to have a family of her own.
“I’m not talking about just us, Tiny. If something is going on with you, I want you to tell me.” He cupped her cheek. “No matter what it is. Okay?”
She hesitated and leaned into his touch, a warmth spreading through her like sunshine after a rainy day. “Okay.”
*
Mason was convinced London was hiding something. Was she having second thoughts about them? Or had Cameron been right? His brother had never steered him wrong, though they rarely talked about matters of the heart.
After kissing London again, Mason reached for the doorknob, but stopped. “About what I said yesterday,” he started, unsure of the unchartered direction in which the conversation was going. Staring into her eyes gave him the encouragement he needed to proceed. “I love you. Granted the words came out yesterday without me really thinking about them, but I meant them.”
Her smile was wide and her eyes teary, but she didn’t cry. Thank God. If there was one thing he realized he couldn’t handle, it was seeing her cry. He didn’t care if they were happy tears. He didn’t want to see them.
“I love you, too.” She moved closer and looped her arms around his waist. “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember and hearing you tell me that …”
Instead of finishing, she stood on tiptoe and Mason met her the rest of the way. He would never get tired of kissing her sweet lips. Devouring their softness, he cupped her face between his hands, taking all that she was giving. Every day she captured more and more of his heart.
Lifting his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes. “Are you really okay?”
“I’m fine. Really. We’re fine.”
He said nothing. Their relationship started a little unconventional, but she meant more to him than he could ever express. But right now he hoped the ‘I’m fine’ meant exactly that and not code for ‘you better sleep with one eye open if you wait too much longer to put a ring on it’. He had every intention of moving forward in getting to know all there was to know about her. They were great together and right now, he couldn’t imagine himself with anyone else.
London turned to leave. “Okay, let’s get out of here before I jump your bones.”
Laughing, Mason caught her by the waist and lifted her off the floor. Despite her surprise, her legs went around him automatically and he backed her up against the wall.
“You cannot say stuff like that and think I can let you out of here without doing a little somethin’ somethin’.”
London giggled and wiggled against him while he nuzzled her neck and squeezed her butt, which fit perfectly in his palms. “We can’t. Not here. Not with all of those kids out there and probably my cameraman. Now stop. Let me down. We can pick this up later.”
“In a broom closet?”
London laughed again and shook her head. “If you can find one where there are no kids around, then maybe. Now put me down. I have work to do.”
She groaned as Mason slid her slowly down his body, wanting her to feel the effect she had on him. He was like a horny teenager whenever he was within an inch of her, his body responding immediately. Yeah, they were definitely going to pick this up later. Now all he had to do was find a secluded broom closet.
Chapter Nine
The next day, London drove around the block one more time before she finally noticed a parking spot on the street, several doors down from the café. She was meeting Harper for an early lunch not too far from the television station.
London pulled up to the side of a car to parallel park, hoping she could fit her BMW into the tight space. After two attempts, she finally parked and hurried out of the vehicle.
“Here, let me get that for you,” an older gentleman with a short afro and graying near his temples said, opening the door to the café. “I love holding the door for lovely women.”
London graced him with a smile. “Thank you.” As she walked into the eclectic café, her gaze immediately took in the dark walls, laden with abstract art. The burnt red, polished, concrete floors could barely be seen since there were small tables and chairs covering almost every square inch.
London spotted Harper in a far corner and headed her way.
“Hey, girl.” Harper stood and hugged her. “Did you find the place okay?”
“I did. Although for a minute there, I didn’t think I would find a parking spot.”
“Yeah, I should have warned you about the parking around here. I thought with us meeting early, there wouldn’t be a problem, but I had to park almost a block away.”
For the next few minutes, while glancing at the menu, they chatted about the neighborhood—a revitalization area—as well as their morning.
“Today must be my lucky day,” the server stated when he stepped next to their table. The Don Cheadle look alike, with a diamond stud in his left ear and a huge toothy smile, pulled out his note pad. “I get not one, but two gorgeous women at my table. Clearly I have died and gone to heaven.”
“Don’t start with the flirting, Todd. We’re both spoken for,” Harper said before taking a sip from her water glass.
He grabbed his chest. “Harper, you wound me. Why do you insist on ruining my day?” He teased with them for a while before taking their order and then headed to the next table.
“Considering we live in the same house, I rarely see you,” Harper said after Todd walked away.
“That’s because you spend all of your free time with the Hunt man,” London cracked. Harper and Hunter were still going strong and London couldn’t be happier for her friend.
“Me? What about you? I can’t get any time with my girl because my brother is hogging up all of your free time.”
“I know.” London grinned, unable to help herself. She definitely missed her girl time with Harper. Yet, the last few months with Mason had been some of the best months of her life.
“I have to admit, at first I was afraid that Mase was sticking close to you because of Cory, but that’s definitely not the case anymore. Seems like he’s found a much better reason.”
London shrugg
ed off the comment, feeling guilty for not telling Harper about running into Cory near the gym the other day. If she told Harper, then Harper would tell Mason and they both knew him well enough to know he’d overreact. Technically, Cory hadn’t done anything to her except make her uncomfortable. London hadn’t seen or heard anything else from him, but Mason wouldn’t look at it like that. He would not only insist on driving her everywhere, he would go after Cory. Which wouldn’t help anyone.
He was a trained killer with a short fuse when it came to anyone bothering his family or his woman.
The last thought made her smile. Deep down she loved his protective nature. With him, she not only felt safe, but she felt loved.
“I guess that huge smile lighting up your face means that you and Mase are getting along well,” Harper said just before Todd came back with their meals.
“Okay, ladies. I have the strawberry spinach salad for you,” he placed a large bowl of mixed greens and fruit in front of Harper, “and for you, my new favorite customer, I—”
“Wait. I thought I was your favorite.” Harper feigned offense. “You don’t even know her and already she’s your favorite?”
“Look at her,” Todd pointed at London with his free hand, “she’s absolutely stunning. Not saying that you’re not, but now that you’re taken …”
“She’s taken, too, and her man is the jealous type.”
“Duly noted.” Todd set London’s plate in front of her and winked before leaving the table.
“So do you two carry on like that all the time?” London cut into her pecan crusted chicken.
“Girl, yes. He’s a sweetheart and harmless. But let’s get back to you.”
“Mase used the ‘L’ word the other day.”
“Whaaat?” Harper’s mouth remained opened, but she quickly recovered and squealed. “I knew it! But, I don’t know why I’m acting so surprised. He’s always had feelings for you even if he didn’t know it. So tell me everything.”
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