“All right Mel, but don’t think you can win every argument this way.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, sweetie. But seriously, you deserve a break.” Oh my.
They walked into the kitchen and deposited their pans of food, and found the DeLucas hard at work.
“I love this kitchen, Sophia. Your young man has done a great job on his renovation,” Frannie praised.
“Where are we going to eat? The dining room isn’t finished,” Tony asked.
“We’ll be eating out back. He has a huge picnic table and I asked Drake to bring an extra table and chairs.”
“So you have a co-conspirator.” Margie winked. “I like that boy.”
“I hope not too much,” Mel said, as he patted a stool for Margie to sit down.
“I was going to help Frannie and Tony.”
“You’re going to sit and visit. Sophia and I will bring in the rest of the food and get to know one another.”
“Margie, you can ice the cakes now that they’ve cooled.” Mel gave Sophia a winning smile. It took them four more trips to bring in everything from the DeLuca’s car and Mel’s Mercedes. There were pitchers of lemonade and sangria waiting for them by the time they were done.
“I’ll take lemonade for now,” Sophia said when Tony offered her a choice. She checked the clock over the stove and realized Drake would be over soon. He knew she’d invited some of her friends over, but he didn’t realize she’d arranged for the SEAL team to be fed. He thought it was the normal barbeque and beer.
Just then she heard Drake’s souped-up truck pull up into the carport. She rushed outside, not wanting him to see all the activity in the kitchen.
“Hey gorgeous, I brought some hired help to move this mother.” She giggled at the mound of table and chairs tied down in the back of the truck. There was no way she would have been able to figure out how to have fit everything, but it was all tied down neat and orderly. When she said as much, Drake grinned.
“Hell, they teach this damn the near the first day in the Navy. You can’t have things falling off the ship.” Clint was already carrying three chairs to the backyard.
“So what kind of surprise do you have planned for us? Does it have anything to do with the heavenly scents coming from the kitchen?” Drake asked.
“You’re just the hired help today. You get the table set up and I’ll bring out a couple of appetizers and some beer.”
“That sounds good to me. We did some physical training and I’m starved,” Clint said as he grabbed the last of the chairs. When she went back into the kitchen she found a plate of antipasto, and bruschetta waiting.
“Here’s the tablecloths, Sophia,” Frannie said as she handed them over.
“I need to get a couple of beers.” Sophia opened the refrigerator.
“Take the sangria and lemonade. We also brought some nice wines. The boys can have beer of course. But let them know that they have other options.”
“Beer will go great with my brisket,” Margie chimed in.
“She’s right about that,” Mel agreed.
Sophia grabbed the beers, took the table cloths, and made her escape while her friends argued the merits of different foods and beverages.
“Tablecloths? Just what are you feeding us?” Drake asked.
“Just shut up and help the woman. I get the feeling we’re in for a treat,” Clint said as he set the two beers down on the grass and helped Sophia spread out the material on the tables. She turned around as she heard two cars and a truck show up.
“Looks like everyone is on time. Do we get our food now?” Drake asked with a hopeful look.
“I fooled him!” Billy said as he bounded up towards Sophia. She looked at her brother who was once again acting like the boy she was used to. She looked up at Mason who was approaching at a slower pace. He was looking around with a warm smile.
“It looks like you’ve been busy.”
“I won at poker while you were away. Today I’m collecting my winnings.” The other men walked up and said hello.
“Hi guys, why don’t you have a seat and enjoy the appetizers. We’ll bring out the food and drinks. You don’t have to do a thing.”
“Oh hell no,” Drake said. “We’re going to help.”
“’You’ll do as the lady says,” Tony DeLuca said as he carried a huge pan of eggplant parmigiana to the table. “My name is Tony, and it is our honor to serve you. But all bets are off once the food hits the table.”
Frannie, Margie and Mel came next with more food. All of the men stood up as the ladies brought out plates of food. Tony introduced them. Then Mason introduced his SEAL team.
“I want to know more about this poker game Sophia said she won,” Mason asked.
“Never saw anything like it. Turns out Sophia doesn’t know how to bluff. She only bet when she had the cards to back herself up. By the time we all figured it out she had won.”
“So how is it we ended up with this great food?” Darius wanted to know.
“We play for food. Whoever loses has to make the other one dinner. Usually I win so Margie and Frannie make me their specialties. Because Sophia won, we all owed her a dinner. It was her idea to come down here and cook for all of you.”
Everyone was looking at her and she hated it. Mason realized it and took her hand underneath the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Some of the tension eased.
“Must have been beginner’s luck,” Finn said as he took a bite of brisket. He wiped his mouth and stared over at Margie. “Ma’am, this is to die for. I used to go to my grandmother’s house in Texas and she would serve brisket every Sunday, but it was nothing compared to this. Are you from Texas?”
“No, but my Mama was. She taught me. It’s all a matter of seasoning and slow cooking this on a low enough temperature so the meat falls off the bone. Now try some of my cornbread.” Sophia watched as each man gravitated to a different type of food, which pleased each of the cooks.
“Your team is nice.”
“They’re not being nice, they’re being real. This is amazing. Only you would think to do something like this. Billy never gave anything away either, I’m amazed.”
Sophia warmed under his praise. She looked around and saw how Margie and Mel were seated at one table with some of Mason’s friends, and the DeLuca’s were over here with Mason and the rest of the team. She loved that everybody was mingling.
“Can I get you something to drink or do you just want more lemonade?”
“Have some Chianti,” Tony suggested as he poured a glass. “Here, it helps with digestion. You’ve hardly eaten anything.” He turned to Mason. “You need to watch her, when she gets nervous she doesn’t eat.”
Frannie pulled Sophia’s plate and gestured to all of the dishes around the table. “What do you want sweetie, because you’re going to eat something.” Sophia knew she was out gunned. Only Darius and Tony had come back for seconds of Frannie’s Hungarian goulash, so it was an easy choice.
“You’re right Frannie, I did get nervous, but I’ve been really wanting more goulash and sour cream and some of your homemade bread.” Frannie beamed. She got a bowl and dished out a huge helping that Sophia wouldn’t be able to eat even if she had gone without food for three days.
“Save room for Tony’s cannoli,” Frannie warned her.
“I will.”
“I can’t believe you organized all of this, honey,” Mason whispered in her ear. Sophia looked at him.
“What makes you think I couldn’t organize something like this?” She’d been taking care of her mom for over two years. She was more than capable of throwing together a party.
“Honey, I’m not talking about putting it together and the surprise part. I’m talking about how much this really means to me and the guys. Having Tony, Margie and Frannie cook us a home cooked meal means a lot.”
Sophia looked around the tables and saw the pleasure on the other men’s faces and saw Mason was right
. It was what she’d hoped for. What’s more, she could see the contentment the older people were exuding at having contributed.
“Mason, as long as you and I are dating let’s continue to do this,” she said with an excited smile.
Mason gave her a long look, and then finally nodded.
“I agree, this should become a tradition for us,” he said as he put his arm around her shoulder.
****
Mason realized she hadn’t even heard what she had said. As far as Sophia was concerned there was going to come a time when they wouldn’t be together. She was positive he would abandon her much like her father left her mother. Mason was having a hard time figuring out how to convince her otherwise. He sure as hell didn’t want to be on his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with his wife still wondering when he was going to leave.
Sophia was taking small bites of her goulash, determined to eat as much as she could to please Frannie.
“Honey, you’re not going to hog all of that, are you?” Mason said as he picked up his spoon. He took a big bite of the succulent dish, and immediately went in for more. Soon his and Sophia’s spoons were clicking as they both fought over the drops at the bottom of the bowl.
Sophia then picked up a piece of homemade bread, broke off half, swiped up some of the soup and held it out to Mason’s lips.
“Here, try this.”
He took the offered bite, making sure to taste the tips of her fingers.
“It’s delicious.” He loved watching the blush bloom under her golden skin. It made her freckles stand out even more and made her even more beautiful. Sophia glanced across the table to see if anyone was looking at them, but he didn’t care, he continued to keep his eyes on her.
“I have to go get the desserts,” she whispered.
“I’ll help.”
“Don’t help too much. We want the desserts to eventually arrive,” Drake teased good-naturedly. Sophia’s blush turned neon as she scurried into the house. Mason just shook his head, realizing she was going to have to get used to being around his friends.
“You shouldn’t do that to her, Drake,” he heard Margie chiding his friend as he followed Sophia into the door.
Sophia was pulling out a tray of cannoli from the fridge. He took it from her and put it on the counter.
“Look, chocolate cream. I know you always order it at the diner.”
“Hmmm. You’re taking care of me again.”
“It’s becoming one of my favorite things in the world to do.”
Why the fuck were there so many people at his house? He needed Sophia. Shoving his fingers into the silk of her hair, he positioned her head and swooped in for a kiss. She opened up, and he was lost in the warmth, taste, and texture of Sophia. His thumbs traced her cheekbones and he was once again awed at the soft feel of her skin. She slid her tongue against his and pressed her body closer.
His heart was beating so loud he thought he must be having a heart attack.
“Mase, desserts? Remember?” Drake. How could he have been so caught up in Sophia he hadn’t realized Drake was pounding on the kitchen door? He brushed back Sophia’s hair and gave her one last kiss.
“No,” she protested as he broke away.
“Drake’s here, honey,” he whispered against her temple.
“Don’t care.” He stared into her passion glazed eyes and swept in for another kiss. He didn’t care either. She slid her tongue along his bottom lip, and then thrust inside his mouth. He felt claimed by the small dynamo in his arms. She pushed her breasts hard against his chest and then grabbed his hand and pulled it away from her waist and up to her chest.
“You have company here in the kitchen…” Fuck. He cupped her cheeks and pulled away so that he could rest his forehead on hers.
“Tonight, honey. We’ll get rid of the riffraff tonight.”
“I resemble that comment,” Drake said as he bit into a cannoli.
Sophie turned in his arms and stared at Drake. “Those are for everyone. How many have you had?”
“You were kissing for a long time. You were in front of the silverware drawer, and I couldn’t cut into the pies so I had to make due.”
“Dammit Drake, after all the food you guys just consumed you’re going to eat this much dessert too?” Mason grinned. She sure had come a long way in her dealings with Drake since they’d first met.
“Only if everything tastes this good,” Drake said reaching for another treat. Sophia sped over to him and slapped his hand.
“You’ve had more than enough. Take the tray out to the others. Mason, you take the pies. I’ve got to rustle up a few more things.”
Mason watched as she looked around the kitchen. He waited until Drake left and then looked at her.
“Sophia, this will be more than enough. You don’t need to stress about anything.”
“I’m not stressed. I made a few other things for Billy to take home to the Bards, and for you to have next week while I’m working at the diner.” He watched as she opened the breadbox and pulled out a stash of cookies and then went to the pantry and pulled out the rest of the strudel. He wondered if there had been more. He waited, hoping. She then pulled out a tin of brownies. Score!
“I see that look. That was supposed to be the big surprise.”
“Pecans?”
“Yes, they have pecans.”
“Please put them back in the pantry, I’m begging you,” Mason said as he snagged two of the treats out of the tin.
“Nope, they are going to the hungry horde out in the yard.”
He loved it when she got that bossy, pissy voice. It was such a turn on.
The kitchen door opened. “Since you’re not kissing what’s taking the food so long?”
“Carry this, asshole.” Mason shoved the two pies at Drake, but made sure to keep the tin of brownies in one of his hands as he carried the strudel in the other. Sophia followed with the cookies. Boy did this woman know how to spoil the people she cared about.
Chapter Seventeen
The party couldn’t have been more of a success. The seniors and the SEALs were thrilled and they all seemed to think it was her doing. But she had done very little. Before her face turned permanently red from the compliments, she took the opportunity to drive Billy home.
“I can do it,” Drake offered.
“No, I want to spend as much time as possible with him,” Sophia said with all sincerity. Drake smiled and nodded.
“We’ll do it together,” Mason said, giving her hand a squeeze as she stood to wave Billy over to her. “Drake, can you handle clean-up?”
“Yep.”
Mason, Sophia, and Billy said their thanks and goodbyes to everyone. Billy was on cloud nine. He talked about surfing and the great dinner all during the drive back to his foster parents.
“When can we go surfing again?” Billy asked.
“How about next weekend. As long as I’m in town that should work.”
“That would be great! Don’t worry, Soph, I’ve been mowing yards. I’ve saved up enough money to rent my wetsuit this next time.” God, she loved her little brother.
“That’s great, but why don’t you keep your money? I’ve got it covered. Margie gave me a raise since I’m now supervising employees.”
“That’s awesome but I’m still paying,” Billy insisted.
Sophia opened her mouth to disagree again but Mason reached over and squeezed her thigh. She looked up and he gave a quick shake of his head. She thought it over and realized he was right. It would be good for Billy to take responsibility.
“Thanks, I really appreciate you chipping in.”
Billy beamed.
By the time they dropped him off he’d wound down a little, and Sophia hoped he could sleep.
When they got back to Mason’s house everyone was gone, and there was no sign a party had ever taken place.
“What the hell? How is this even possible?” Sophia said as she looke
d around the kitchen.
“You put a Navy man in charge things get done,” Mason said. “Do you know how great today was? I haven’t seen the team this happy in ages. It was especially meaningful to Finn.”
“Why?”
“He’s really missing his grandfather, and I could see him soaking up the time with Tony.”
Now Mason mentioned it, Sophia had noticed Finn and Tony talking a lot.
“You Sophia Anderson are one special lady.” Where the praise had been embarrassing earlier from the others, from Mason it just warmed her.
“I was pretty sure it would be a success but part of me was nervous. I didn’t want to screw up in front of your friends.”
“My friends love you.” She was beginning to feel settled in this new belief system and it really felt good. Mason’s eyes shone, and he seemed to understand exactly what she was thinking.
“Come here.” She walked into his arms. “I think we got interrupted earlier when we were in the kitchen.” She burst out laughing.
“We did not get interrupted. We were in the middle of a party doing inappropriate things.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Nothing we do is inappropriate.” He drew her even closer, lifting her up so she was nestled against the ridge of his cock. She wiggled and he groaned. Reaching up, she touched those shoulders that beckoned, reveling in the hot strength. The man felt so good.
“I love the sounds you make when you get aroused.” He was right, she was humming, but who wouldn’t be? He had her in his arms and down the hall in record time.
He set her down beside the bed and she had her hands underneath his T-Shirt in a nano-second. “Lift up your arms.” He did, but she soon saw it didn’t help. He was too tall. “Take it off.” He huffed out a laugh. As soon as the shirt was off it was like she had her own personal playground. The man was gorgeous.
“Now you.”
“No, I want you naked and me dressed for a change.”
He gave her a considering glance and nodded. He undressed and she grinned, pushing him down on to the bed. Of course it only worked because he allowed it. The man was covered in muscles and Sophia was determined to touch, lick, and kiss every one of them. Finally she’d touched everything but his cock and he was straining upwards, a fine sheen of sweat covering his body.
Her Vigilant Seal Page 17
