Moments with Mason (A Red Maple Falls Novel, #3)

by Theresa Paolo

  A tiny moan sounded in her throat, and his dick jumped at the erotic noise. He wanted to take her right on the bar, listen as a million of those moans fell freely from her lips as he brought her over the edge.

  But he couldn’t, so he found the strength to tear his lips away from hers. He kissed the sprinkling of freckles across her nose and stepped back. “Go before I lose control,” he said his voice rough with desire.

  “Do you need anything?” she asked.

  “No, I’m good.”

  “Okay, I’ll be back then.” She kissed him on his cheek, lingering just long enough to get his dick excited again, but not long enough for him to grab her.

  He watched her ass sway in those tight jeans as she walked out the door. He rested against the bar, taking a deep breath and trying to get his hormones under control. For Christ’s sake, he wasn’t some high school kid. He was a man who could control his desires, and it was time he started acting like it.

  He grabbed the broom and got back to work, making a pretty decent dent in his to-do list. He was about to move onto the next task when Nick, Daisy’s ex-boyfriend, walked in, dressed in a button-down shirt that was tucked tightly into a pair of khakis and a tie. At one point in time he had been like a little brother to Mason. He had started dating Daisy when they were both fourteen and they stayed together up until Daisy took off to New York without telling anyone. Not even him—her high school sweetheart and best friend.

  Mason didn’t want to get involved, but it was hard not to know how devastated Nick was. He had their life planned out right down to the house he would buy when they both graduated college and how many kids they would have. Her leaving threw him for a loop, and Mason always felt horrible for how his sister had treated him.

  He kind of had a soft spot for the guy.

  “Mason, it’s good to see you,” he said, walking over to the bar and extending his hand.

  Mason took his hand and shook it. “You, too. What brings you in here? Looking to try some beer?”

  “I have a proposition for you, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

  “Go on.”

  “You’re going to hire me as your salesperson.”

  “No.”

  “Oh come on. Give me a chance. I went to school for sales and graduated with a 4.0. I was the youngest person to achieve a senior sales position at Hershel’s doubling my sales within the first quarter of my promotion.”

  “Then why’d you leave Hershel’s?”

  He shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. His shoulders slumping slightly forward as his smile fell. “My dad’s sick again.”

  Mason was surprised he didn’t already know especially with how word spread in their small town. It must’ve been a new development. “I’m sorry to hear that. Your dad’s a good man. He doesn’t deserve that.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it. All I’m asking is for a chance.”

  If Mason could he would, but he simply didn’t have the means at the moment. “I can’t afford you.”

  “Let me show you I’m worth it. You don’t have to pay me anything until I prove myself.”

  “You’re going to work for free?”

  “For now, but I have faith in this place. I mean look around. What you did here is amazing and your beer is quality. You just need someone to get your name out there and that someone is me. I am confident enough that I can make you huge.”

  “I just want to make beer.”

  “Which is exactly why you need me. You know I give a hundred and ten percent to everything I do. I won’t let you down.”

  “Fine.”

  “I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think… wait. Did you just say fine?”

  Mason nodded.

  “Seriously?”

  “Why not? If you’re willing to work for free until you can prove yourself, I’m willing to give you the chance to do so.”

  “You are not going to regret this.”

  “Do me a favor, Nick.”

  “Anything.”

  “Lose the tie.”

  “Done!” Nick loosened the noose around his neck and pulled it off. “No tie. You got it. I’ll be in touch,” he said as he moved to the door then stopped. He turned around and Mason knew that sad look in his dark eyes. It was the same look he carried for almost a year after Daisy left.

  “How is she?” he asked, his voice filled with concern and curiosity, but mainly heartache.

  “I don’t want to get involved.”

  Nick nodded because he knew Mason wasn’t one to discuss his siblings’ lives. He stayed far away from their personal lives unless they came to him, he didn’t ask.

  “I know,” Nick said. “I just want to know she’s okay.”

  Mason felt bad for the guy and wished he’d find the strength to move on. Daisy clearly had. But a part of Nick would always love Daisy. Always need to know that wherever she was in the world she was safe and as her brother Mason appreciated that. Respected it. “She’s okay,” he said.

  “Okay.”

  Mason had hoped the information would satisfy Nick, but instead it looked like it deflated him. The love of his life was doing just fine without him, and Mason could see how that would sting just a little.

  “I’ll see you later, man.”

  “Yeah, later.”

  Nick walked out and Mason grabbed a tasting glass, filling it halfway before taking a sip. The smooth taste of roasted malts, a hint of chocolate and coffee hit his tongue and instantly calmed him.

  The door opened, and Cassie walked in carrying a few shopping bags. “Rough morning?”

  “Complicated.”

  She placed the bags in one hand and hooked her finger over her shoulder. “Does it have anything to do with the guy in the parking lot who just informed me he works here now.”

  “That would be Nick. He’s our new sales guy.”

  “I didn’t know you were looking for someone.”

  “I wasn’t.”

  “Oh.”

  Mason took another sip from the tasting glass, and Cassie placed his keys on the bar, sliding them across to him.

  “Find everything okay?” he asked, motioning toward the bags.

  “I had to go to three different stores, but I got everything on the list.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to send you on a wild goose chase.”

  “I didn’t mind. I actually enjoyed smelling all the different hand soaps.”

  He arched his eyebrow at her in curiosity. “Hand soaps?”

  “Nobody wants to touch a bar of soap that’s been touched by a million other people. That’s gross.”

  He smirked. “I guess you have a point there. I didn’t think about that.” It was soap. To him it did its job just as well as any other soap would, but she was right.

  “Stick with me and I’ll teach you,” she said with a smile.

  “I plan on it,” he said as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.

  He kissed her, knowing the rest of his to-do list was just going to have to wait.

  Chapter 14

  Kate had volunteered to swing by and pick Cassie up for the self-defense class on the way to pick up Hadley. Cassie hadn’t thought about how she’d get there so when Kate offered it was a total relief.

  Both Kate and Hadley were easy to get along with and instantly made Cassie feel like she had known them for years. The three of them walked into the high school gym, laughing at something Kate had said when Matt’s steely stare caught them from across the way.

  Cassie stopped laughing, but Hadley and Kate didn’t even hesitate. If anything, it only made them laugh louder.

  Matt approached them, and while he still had a domineering presence, he didn’t seem as uptight in a pair of gym shorts and a black t-shirt.

  “Can you try to control yourselves,” he said, his eyes swinging between his two sisters. “I’m going to have enough trouble with Terry, I don’t need you adding to it.”

  “Where’s the fun in
that?” Hadley asked.

  “This isn’t meant to be fun. It’s meant to teach women how to defend themselves against an attacker.”

  “So serious,” Kate said.

  “It is,” he deadpanned. “And I’d appreciate it if you treated it as such.”

  Kate let out an exaggerated breath. “Fine.”

  “Hey girls,” Shay said from behind them, sitting on the bleachers with a bag of popcorn.

  “What are you doing here?” Hadley asked.

  “Your brother refuses to let me participate but he said I could watch as long as I behave myself.”

  “Remember that last part,” Matt said.

  Shay rolled her eyes and tossed a piece of popcorn in her mouth. “Yeah. Yeah. Go teach something,” she said and Cassie found it funny how Shay never succumbed to Matt’s rigidness. She admired that about her.

  Cassie heard Terry before she saw her. She came into the gym dressed like a leopard print wearing Jane Fonda complete with black slouch socks. Her red hair pushed back with a red sweatband and teased up around it. She was talking loudly to another older woman as she spotted Cassie and waved enthusiastically.

  The bangles Cassie remembered clacking together were replaced with matching red wristbands. Terry clapped her hands together. “I’m here and I’m ready to learn how to kick some booty!”

  Cassie looked to Matt who pressed his hand to his head. “I think everyone is here, so why don’t we get started.”

  All the women moved to stand in front of Matt who pointed to a young guy with a buzzcut to his left. “This is my partner, Scott.”

  “Of course we know Scotty,” Terry called out. “How’s your mama?”

  “She’s good,” Scott answered.

  “You send her my love.”

  “Are we done?” Matt asked.

  “Sorry, continue,” Terry said.

  “Thank you. As I was saying, this is my deputy Scott. He’s going to pass around a sign in sheet. Please add your name then pass it to the next person. Once everyone is signed in we’ll have a short introduction that goes over the basics. Scott and I will demonstrate a few moves and then we’ll partner you off to give it a shot yourselves. If you have any questions feel free to ask.” Terry’s hand went up and Matt held his hand up. “Only if they pertain to the lesson.”

  Terry’s hand fell back to her side and Cassie stifled a laugh.

  Hadley passed the clipboard with the sign-in sheet attached to Cassie. She didn’t like signing things and putting her name out there just in case someone recognized her and it got back to Dylan. But the chances of someone knowing Dylan in this small town were slim to none so for the first time, without a single feel she wrote her full name, Cassie Alan, and didn’t think twice about it before passing it on to Kate.

  Once everyone was signed in and Matt gave an overview, he got Scott into position and began demonstrating different moves that he found would be helpful in case they were ever attacked.

  “First is the wrist sweep,” he said. “If anyone grabs you by the wrist this move is guaranteed to break their grip. You need to bring your elbow into the center line, flatten your hand, come right up, pinky around the wrist joint, and break their hold by snaking around.” Matt demonstrated on Scott and no matter how tight Scott appeared to be holding on, Matt broke his grip every time.

  “What if someone goes for your shoulders or your throat?” Terry asked.

  “Great question,” Matt said and Cassie was starting to think he was actually enjoying himself. “If someone grabs you from the front either your neck, your shoulders or both arms, you are going to chop them.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Terry called out.

  Matt shook his head and turned to Scott. “Scott, put your arms around my neck.” Scott got into position, causing horrible memories to flash in Cassie’s mind.

  She took a deep breath, forcing them back, refusing to get lost in the past. There was nothing she could do about what was done, but she’d be damned if she ever let that happen to her again.

  Matt lifted both his hands, bringing them down into Scott’s arms. “When you do this, you will divert the attacker’s attention. Take this as your opportunity and kick or knee him in the groin as hard as you can. Fight dirty.”

  “Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Terry said with a wink and Matt let out an exaggerated sigh.

  “This is important,” he said, looking at Terry who pretended to zip her lips. “If he has his hands around your neck that gives you an advantage because your hands and your legs are free. If the chop doesn’t work, poke his eyes, push into his throat, punch him in the face. Knee and kick as much as you can.” Matt held his hand up and ticked off on his finger. “Your best targets are groin, throat, feet, eyes and stomach. If you have an opening with the eyes always and I repeat always go for the eyes. When you hit someone in the eye their natural reaction is to reach for it which will give you the upper hand and the opportunity to run.”

  Cassie listened to every word Matt said, committing them to memory. Groin, throat, feet, eyes and stomach, she said over and over in her head until she knew she’d never forget them.

  Matt continued, having Scott grab his neck from behind and showing them all of the best moves they could do to free themselves. It all seemed so easy and Cassie wondered if it really was. Though she hoped with all that she had that she would never have to find out.

  But with Dylan still out there she wasn’t taking any chances.

  Chapter 15

  Cassie couldn’t remember the last time she was this happy. She kept waiting for something to happen—expecting it, even—though she tried not to think about it. The old Cassie had always focused on the negative, and now she wanted to embrace the positive.

  She smiled warmly at all the people dressed in biking gear coming in and out of the tasting room. Mason and Caleb’s event, as far as she could tell, was a total success. The brewery had been filled with people since the doors opened and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

  Shay’s cupcake table was a huge hit for not only the children, but for the adults as well, each indulging after a morning of bike riding. Kate’s custom handblown growlers had been admired and flying off the shelves at record speed. She still didn’t know about the one that Cassie broke, and even though Cassie saw Mason slip the cost of it in an envelope, she vowed to herself to pay him back as soon as she could. After all, she was the one who broke it, and she didn’t want him to have to clean up her messes.

  It was nice to have someone to take care of her, but she didn’t want to become reliant on him or take advantage of his kindness. With Dylan, she allowed him to be the one in charge of everything, making her nothing more than a child who he took the liberty to punish on a daily basis. She had no say in anything, not the clothes she wore or the people she associated with. He was the reason she had no friends. Why she had nothing to her name except for a backpack filled with a few changes of clothes and some toiletries. She relinquished control of her own life and lost everything. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  If she and Mason were going to be together, she needed them to be on an equal playing field. She needed a partner not a keeper. She needed someone who would let her clean up her own messes, make her own decisions, and someone who would trust that she was capable of doing so.

  She didn’t doubt that Mason was that guy, but he was also insanely protective of the ones he loved and wouldn’t think twice about doing everything he could to help them. She just wanted him to know that whatever burden she carried was hers, and while she wouldn’t mind a little help to shoulder the weight, she didn’t want him to try and carry it all.

  She caught his gaze across the tasting room, his dark green eyes that made her knees weak, and she smiled. He patted whoever he was talking to on the back and made his way toward her, all muscle and devastatingly good looks.

  “Hey,” he said as he approached, resting his hands on the bar.

  God, she wanted to lean
across the bar top, press her lips to his, and let him lace his fingers through her hair as he held her close.

  Not yet having the nerve to be so brazen in front of so many people, she settled for saying hey back.

  “You’ve been going all morning. Why don’t you take a break? Go have a cupcake or ride a bike.”

  “I don’t know how,” she admitted.

  Mason’s eyes widened. “You don’t know how to ride a bike?”

  She shook her head, letting her eyes fall down to her hands as embarrassment sent heat across her cheeks. Living in and out of foster care, no one cared enough to teach her. She used to watch other kids in the neighborhood riding by, their hair whipping behind them, huge smiles on their faces while they passed. By the time Francine had adopted her, she was too old and too proud to admit she didn’t know how to ride a bike, so she said she didn’t like them and preferred to walk.

  She had always used that as her response, but for some reason with Mason, the truth fell effortlessly from her lips.

  It dawned on her then, like a fire igniting in her brain.

  She was falling in love with Mason.

  “That’s unacceptable,” Mason said then turned from her, scanning the room. “Cooper,” he called and waved his brother over.

  Cooper flashed Cassie that Hayes charm before nodding to his brother. “What’s up?”

  “Man the bar for a few minutes for me.”

  “Sure. Everything all right?”

  “Yup, just have to teach my girl how to ride a bike.”

  His girl. She thought she wouldn’t like the possessive reference, but coming from him it didn’t sound possessive at all. It sounded like he was proud to have her, ecstatic that he got to share the information with other people. Instead of scaring her, it made her heart leap with joy.

  Wait… he was going to teach her to do what?

  “Oh no,” she said, waving her hands in front of her.

  Mason came around the bar, wrapping his hand around her waist and urging her forward. “Oh yes,” he said with a stupid grin that at her strongest she wouldn’t have been able to resist.