It was too much. Too overwhelming for someone perfectly prepared to stick her head in the sand and ignore what was happening around her. It was why I’d made and cancelled an appointment with my doctor. Twice. It was also why two boxes of untested pregnancy kits sat in my purse with the protective plastic still wrapped around them. I was in full on avoidance mode and the more Mason pushed, the deeper I buried my head.
“I think this delivery is meant specifically for you, Trish. Wouldn’t want to give any of my girls the wrong idea, would I?” More dimples were revealed as he slid the vase closer to the other side of the counter. Closer to me. “Go on. Read the card.”
The card. Oh god, the card. I couldn’t take a card, not right now. Instead of inching closer to the bouquet, I took a step back. And another. And another until I was squarely back inside the kitchen. On the other side of the door. Yep, Mason was right. I was a coward.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Molly appeared in the doorway holding the gargantuan vase filled with beautiful flowers. “Mason sent these for you because he wanted you to have them. Why are you running?”
“Why is he even doing all this, Molly?” I wanted to scream and pull my hair out because none of this made sense and I spilled my guts to Molly. Young, idealistic and romantic Molly who stared at me with wide, shocked eyes.
“Damn,” she said and I felt some sense of vindication. Then she ruined it. “This is amazing, Trish! Don’t you get it, this is Mason’s grand gesture! He’s going all out to show you that he really does care.” The way her shoulders fell was more like a swoon and I knew I was in trouble. “This is just the most incredibly romantic thing ever!”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and I held in the groan dying to escape at the wistfulness shining in her eyes. “It can’t be. He can’t…,” I let the thought trail off but not for dramatic effect, just because I couldn’t think of another thing to say except to deny what Molly was telling me.
The bell chimed again and Molly, like the perfectly trained employee she was, rushed to the front of the store to handle another customer. And I sank against the cold wall, enjoying the reprieve.
My heart raced like I’d just run a marathon and the nausea that had been plaguing me all morning and most of the afternoon had suddenly subsided, leaving me feeling lighter. Hungry. And more terrified than ever. “Back to work,” I ordered myself because if this nausea was what I thought it was, what I refused to consider, then I needed my business to be as successful as possible.
“Another delivery and I signed for it because looking at Kyle up close is even better than your Irish cream filled croissants.” Molly’s face flushed bright pink and I wondered if she had more than a passing appreciation of the resident flirt.
I stared at the envelope she held out to me as though it were a venomous snake. After a full week of Mason’s attempts at, what exactly, forgiveness or reconciliation, I wasn’t sure, I was on edge. I was wary as hell of everything I had to sign for whether it was for the shop or from Mason. “What is it?”
“It appears to be an envelope, Trish. It’s customary to open it and reveal the contents.”
I glared at her. “Smart ass.”
“The smartest, don’tcha know.” With a wink she left the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
And my envelope. After staring at the thing for so long I thought it might grow legs and just walk away from me, taking the matter out of my hands altogether, I slid my finger under the flap and tore it open. For some reason I held my breath as I opened the envelope and pulled out the sheet of paper. I don’t know what I was expecting, maybe a long-winded explanation for his behavior this past week, including holding me all night but never making a damn move. But instead it was just one little line. One totally unsatisfying, vague, incomplete line.
You asked me why I was doing all this, and the answer is simple. I’m doing this because,
And that was it. That word again. Because. It was seven letters I never wanted to see again. “What. The. Hell?”
A knock sounded on the swinging kitchen door. “Ready for me, Boss?”
I frowned at the door, realizing Molly couldn’t see me even as I nodded my agreement. “Didn’t know I had to be ready.”
A loud thud sounded when Molly kicked the door open and she sidled in with a wide, flat-ish box in her hands. “This is for you.”
I eyed the red box warily, walking toward it like it was a worrisome sound in a horror movie, slowly and deliberately. “What do you think it is?”
“A wedding dress,” she deadpanned.
I glared at her but Molly’s response was to shove the box into my arms, leaving me no choice but to deal with it. Somehow. She watched as I carefully lifted the lid and pulled back the paper to reveal a beautiful sapphire blue negligee that was more of a shorty bodysuit than nightgown but it was gorgeous. Sexy and scandalous. A little silver card fell to the floor when I lifted the lacy confection completely from the box. Because you are special. That was all it said. “Okay, now I’m even more confused.”
“I’d better go check on the front,” Molly said and left. Quickly.
Something weird was going on with her and I knew it had everything to do with whatever Mason was up to now. There was still work to be done so I put the negligee back in the box and set it aside, wiping down the table, again, and set out racks for the bread baking in the oven. Special. Mason called me special. What the hell does that even mean? Special as in special needs or special as in beautiful and cherished? I didn’t know and worrying about it only pissed me off.
“Here we go,” Molly said as she reentered the kitchen with a much smaller but taller box of…something. “Another delivery for you.” She flashed a much too innocent smile and pushed the box into my hands. “Another wedding dress,” she said flatly and then flashed a big excited grin before hurrying out of the kitchen. Again.
I recognized that gleam in her eye. It was the same one she had when she’d ordered a stripper to celebrate getting the job with me and when she signed Vivi up for a two year subscription to a porno magazine made for women. It was a gleam of trouble. But I now knew that I just had to let this play out, whatever it was. Mason clearly had something he wanted to prove to me and I was feeling silly or hormonal, emotional and curious as hell if I’m being honest to see if that little spark of hope would be allowed to bloom. Or if it would be stamped out mercilessly. Again.
Box number two contained candy molds. Another gift that proved how well Mason listened. Remembered. It was a heady thing to know the guy you were sort of married to and up until recently banging on every possible surface, wasn’t just waiting to stick it in you while you bared your soul. I wanted to try my hand at candies but I’d been hesitant to pull the trigger. Mason had done it for me. I wanted to pull them out and look at each one but I felt that telltale stinging behind my eyes and then I felt the moisture trek down my cheeks.
And then I spotted the next card. Because you are sweet.
“Sweet.” That’s exactly what a guy calls the girl he thinks of as his sister, maybe his best friend. Definitely not his wife or his super hot sex buddy.
The rest of the day continued much in the same way. Ten minutes later Molly came back with a box that was big enough to contain a poufy dress. Not a wedding dress. Not any dress as a matter of fact. It was a box filled with colorful, delicate, naughty lingerie. Bras galore and panties of all colors and cuts. The note was equally simple too. Because you are mine.
Shortly after the lunch rush another basket arrived decorated with tea towels and aprons with the shop’s logo and colors on them. Inside was colorful baking aids. Whisks, spatulas, blades, rolling pins, molds, frames and rings. All made from high quality materials that were perfect for a professional kitchen. And another note. Because I can’t resist you.
Okay so that was a bit clearer than the other notes and I felt that tiny spark grown into full blown hope. The man I had accidentally married and recently realized I’d fallen f
or, might actually feel the same way. That thought got my feet moving underneath me, pulling a mixing bowl from the shelf and gathering ingredients for cake as a plan slowly started to form in my head.
A plan that could end disastrously and very well might, but as the plan formed I felt myself getting excited. Growing downright giddy at the thought that Mason might feel how I felt. Not that I thought this was a good way to start a marriage but I couldn’t help but think of Vivi and Maddie, who’d gotten accidentally hitched but were now—still—happily married. I wondered if we could have that or if this was all because Mason thought I was pregnant.
I probably was. Very likely was and I didn’t want to know. Not yet.
“Another delivery, Boss.” Molly’s smile was still bright and mischievous. “Note how I’m not asking for any details. Tomorrow will be different,” she said cryptically and left the kitchen.
This time it was just an envelope. Dark blue with Mason’s familiar handwriting scrawled in silver. On the front it simply said ‘Cupcake’ and yeah, I teared up a little. Just a little. Okay maybe more than a little. I didn’t have to tear the envelope, simply lift the flap to find a gift certificate. Yep, a gift certificate for a tattoo. At Mason’s shop, his tattoo shop.
I didn’t get it, but luckily I knew there had to be a note. I hoped there was a note. Where was the note? “There you are!” stuck to the back of the certificate was the note. The Note, as I was starting to think of it as I flipped it over with shaky hands, taking in the slant of Mason’s handwriting, sharp, sure strokes. Just like the man.
Since you don’t wear much jewelry I figured I’d just ink a ring on your finger. As big as you want, Cupcake. Because I love you. Below the words, which I couldn’t stop thinking about, was a drawing. An elaborate sketch of an engagement ring with diamonds, rubies and sapphires surrounding the big diamond, which was actually a giant cupcake.
Because I love you. Those words were the ones that did it, turning my spark into a raging inferno of hope. I finished the cake, layering and frosting it so that I could take it with me when I went home. To get my man because that’s what he was.
Wasn’t he?
“Was that a good gasp or a bad one?”
A laugh broke through my tears at Molly’s nosy question. “A good one.”
“Oh good.” She pushed the door open and stuck her head through. “Everything all right?” Molly was a lot of things but subtle she was not, scanning the kitchen in search of some clue about the other gifts.
“Everything is good. Really good, Molly. Really, really good.”
Her smile bloomed prettily. “Then what the hell are you still doing here?”
Good question. “Put the cake in a holder for me, will ya? I have to grab my bag from the office.” And I had to grab Molly’s pay-check, which I knew she’d be happy to have a day early. “Don’t spend it all in one place.”
“Damn, Boss, thanks. I can’t wait to see what I get tomorrow!” With a wink she snapped the lid on the cake holder and left me alone in the kitchen, where I slipped out the back door.
And headed towards my future.
Mason
Waiting was the worst. I should have gone into my shop and sketched or maybe put some ink on a few arms and backs, but I didn’t. In my infinite wisdom, which turned out to be as deep as a puddle, I’d decided to wait at home all day for Trish. Thinking, for some reason, that she would get the first gift and then come running.
Then I thought maybe the second. Or the third. But now it was going on five and Trish was nowhere to be seen. I still had a small shred of hope since Nash, Zeke and the gossips in town hadn’t stopped by to give me the bad news. That was the thing about this town, it pulled you in and made you one of them before you were even aware it was happening. Sure they were nosy as hell and thought they were entitled to every aspect of your life, but as I was learning, there was pretty much nothing they wouldn’t do to help a guy get his girl.
The pizza arrived, which I thought I’d timed perfectly but leave it up to Trish to throw a wrench in my plans. I sat it on the table and waited.
And waited.
I was pretty sure that a few days had passed while I waited for her to come home but the clock said it was only thirty minutes. Who can be sure which is right? I sat on the sofa as she unlocked the door and tossed her keys into the little plate on the three legged stand beside the door, kicked off her shoes and padded into the living room. Stopping right in the doorway. “Mason.”
Was that a good or a bad ‘Mason’? I didn’t know. “Hey, Cupcake. Good day?”
Her shoulders fell with what I thought might be exhaustion but those rosy lips quirked upward at the corners into the most beautiful sight ever. A smile. “Pretty good. You?”
“Interminable.”
She laughed with her head thrown back and her throat on display. “I’ll bet. So.”
“So.” This wasn’t going well, was it? It was awkward and things weren’t awkward between us.
Her stomach growled loudly and I worked hard to suppress my smile. “Is that pizza?”
Were the pizza or love gods looking down on me with favor today? “It is. Veggie with a hint of meat and extra cheese.”
With a growl she dropped down onto the sofa and flipped open the box and popped up once more. Without looking at the pizza. “Oh I almost forgot.” She padded back to the door and came back immediately. “I made you a cake.”
That had to be good. “What kind?”
She smiled and did that little head tilt thing girls did when they were having a romantic moment. Like this one. “Black forest.”
“Aw, Cupcake, thanks babe.”
Her eyes never left mine as she dropped down again in front of the pizza. “You’re welcome. Mason, your gifts today were, well they were pretty damn amazing,” she laughed. “But your notes-,”
“Maybe you should eat first.” She frowned and I hated that flicker of doubt that flashed in her eyes but I knew it would vanish soon.
“Oh. Okay.” As much as I wanted to tear into that black forest cake animal style—no hands—I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her head slowly swiveled to the pizza and she reached for a slice and froze. “What the-?”
My heart raced as I watched her lips move while reading the message inside the box. In case you didn’t get that, I said I LOVE YOU, TRISH. Got it?
A laugh exploded out of her, equal parts shock and happiness. “Who knew bad boys were so cheesy?”
My eyebrows frowned even as my lips spread into an uncontainable smile. “Who knew good girls were so bad?”
Her smile dimmed a little. “Did you mean all the stuff you said in those notes?” I knew the answer was important to her so I took my time, making sure our gazes were locked when I answered.
“Every last one of them.” That tiny little gasp went straight to my heart.
“Because I don’t want you to say…what you did out of pity or some misguided sense of obligation or loyalty or whatever.”
Or whatever. That was typical Trish. “You need proof?” I wasn’t upset that she didn’t believe me. I’d done a crap job of making her see, really see how I felt about her. I have to admit I was kind of amused at her hesitation. It was adorable and it gave me something I desperately needed right now. Hope.
“I’m not saying that, but, oh my god,” she moaned one second after biting into the pizza which was her favorite. “That’s good pizza.” Then, seeming to remember the conversation we were having, she sat up taller. “You have to admit that it’s a little convenient that you think I’m pregnant and then suddenly you love me and want to marry me.”
I stood and went in search of the final envelope. The one I was hoping I wouldn’t need, but seeing how distraught she was made me feel better about grabbing it. If Trish didn’t want me, didn’t want us to happen, she wouldn’t care why I was declaring my love, right? That’s how I chose to think of it anyway.
“Don’t walk away from me, Mason!”
“Set
tle down, Cupcake!” It wasn’t wise to tease her when she was so emotionally fragile but I just couldn’t help it.
“Get back here, I’m trying to talk to you.”
My lips twitched to contain the smile I knew she would hear. “Keep talking, I’m just grabbing something. I can hear you.”
“Unbelievable,” she growled to herself. Then all I heard was chewing for a few moments before she spoke again. “Fine. I guess this is how I’ll tell you that I love you too for the very first time! But hey, that’s okay because you have to get something, right?”
Her frustration was mounting and even though my mouth was smiling, my hands were pressed against the wall to keep my heart from jumping right out of my chest at her words. I love you too. She loved me.
“You know I was gonna say all these great things about how you look so hot and tough on the outside but inside you have the heart of the very best man. I thought about telling you that I’ve never had sex or made love as intensely as I do with you, that I think we could have a really amazing life together if we gave this thing a chance.”
My legs moved to carry me down the stairs and back to the living room. “You were gonna say all that?” She nodded. “Would’ve been a beautiful speech.”
Her lips twitched. “Yeah it would’ve been amazing. You would have been in tears by now.”
I couldn’t let her see just how close I actually was so I flashed a smile. The one that never failed to get her all hot and bothered. “So you think I’m a stud in the bedroom?”
Trish tried to hang on to her serious face but she couldn’t. Two seconds she lasted before her head fell back and she laughed, loud and husky and happy. “No dummy, well I mean yes but not, that’s not what I’m saying.”
I stared at her, waiting while she took the world’s longest breath for her to tell me the words I wanted to hear. I needed to hear so I could stop this wicked racing heart. “Well, woman, are you going to leave me in suspense?”
“Oh sorry, I got lost in that pizza.”
Accidentally On Purpose: An Accidental Marriage Boxset Page 47
