by Peters, Liz
He was actually going to lose her.
“Thank you for doing that for Raine, Emily,” he said with a sigh.
Then, something Emily had said struck him. “Wait… your friend lives close to Raine?”
“Yes, across the city.” She frowned at him. “Raine and her parents moved there after…”
She trailed off, apparently not wanting to remind Mason of what she had done. But Mason didn’t care about that right now.
“Does that mean you know where Raine lives?” he demanded.
“Of course I do,” Emily said, rolling her eyes. “I told you I kept tabs on Raine, didn’t I?”
“I thought you would have forgotten about her after you took Oliver.”
Emily let out an exasperated sigh. “I had to make sure she didn’t suspect the truth. I watched her and her family until they moved, and then I left them alone. Dr. Monroe promised he would inform me if Raine ever got suspicious.”
A strange look crossed her face as she said that, and she opened her mouth to say something else before she shrugged and closed it. Mason wondered what that was about, but then he decided he didn’t care right now.
A way to find Raine had fallen right into his lap.
“I need you to tell me where Raine lives,” he said, leaning forward.
“Why? She left, remember? Do you really think she wants to see you?”
“She left without knowing the truth,” Mason said. “I need to tell her if I have any hope of winning her back.”
Sadness clouded Emily’s face before she wiped it away into a cold mask. He knew then that she really had come here to see if they could work things out. But that changed nothing. It had been too long, and there was too much baggage between them.
“Do you really think she’ll come back to you once she knows the truth?” Emily asked coldly. “You might not have done anything, but you represent everything she lost. She won’t be able to even look at you.”
Mason knew she was lashing out in pain. But, right then, he hated her just a little.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said, turning away. “All that matters is telling her the truth. She deserves to know about Oliver after everything we put her through. And she deserves to be happy.”
“Even if she isn’t happy with you?” Emily pressed.
“Even if she isn’t happy with me.”
For a long moment, they stood in silence.
“You love her,” Emily finally said.
Mason turned back to her. Emily stared at him in amazement, obviously wondering how much their five years apart had changed him. He thought to himself that he had probably changed too much for her to recognize him as the same person anymore.
He didn’t say anything, but she read the answer on his face. She gripped the strap of her bag and cleared her throat.
“I’ll message you the address. I hope you find happiness, Mason.”
He studied her face. Maybe, when everything settled, he could forgive Emily for what she’d done. But not today, not when he still had someone he loved to chase down.
“Thank you,” he said to her. “I hope you can find happiness, too.”
She nodded and turned away. She didn’t bother with a goodbye, and Mason didn’t offer one, either. He watched as she left the room, and listened as she walked out of the house, closing the front door softly behind her. He had the strangest feeling that she wasn’t gone for good this time.
Despite all the complicated feelings he had for his ex-wife, he found he didn’t mind that idea so much, especially when, moments later, his phone buzzed with a message containing the address he’d asked for.
Mason drew in a deep breath. It was too late to visit Raine tonight, and he couldn’t leave Oliver alone even if he was asleep. That meant he had all night to come up with a plan of action and figure out what to say to Raine.
Tomorrow, he would tell her the truth.
And then he would ask her to come home.
Chapter 18
Raine felt worse today than she had yesterday. Dealing with Emily had drained her, and she had spent most of the night thinking about the name and number the other woman had given her. When she woke up that morning after a night of tossing and turning, she’d decided to just call about the job. After all, she’d already quit working for Mason; there was no sense in waiting.
When she heard the knock on the door, she expected it to be the electrician her mother had told her was coming today. Phone pressed against her ear, listening to it ring, she trudged to the door.
When she swung open the door to see Mason standing there, she almost dropped the phone in shock.
There was a click from her phone as someone answered her call. “Hello?” came a woman’s voice.
Raine opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Mason frowned at the sight of the phone and the business card she was holding. Then, he reached out, plucked the phone out of her hand, and ended the call.
“Wait… what?” Raine couldn’t keep up with what was happening. “Why are you…?” She paused. She stared at the phone. “Hold on, did you just hang up my phone call?”
Mason shrugged, stepping inside. “It wasn’t important.”
“Wasn’t important?” Indignation overpowered her shock. “That phone call—”
“Was about a job you can’t take,” Mason interrupted, turning around. His eyes were dark, sending a shiver down Raine’s spine. “I’m glad I got here in time.”
She didn’t understand what was happening. They had parted, hadn’t they? Emily was back in the picture, wasn’t she? But then… why was Mason standing in her house, looking at her like that?
Raine frowned. “But—”
“Raine, please. I have a story I need to tell you,” Mason interrupted, holding up a hand. His gaze turned pleading. “Will you hear me out?”
She wasn’t sure that was such a good idea. It would be harder to walk away a second time. But she found she just couldn’t deny him, so Raine nodded, making no move to invite him further into the house.
Mason cleared his throat. He looked nervous. “I wanted to let you know that… that Oliver is your son.”
The world felt as if it shifted beneath her. Raine just stared at him.
“I know it’s shocking and sudden,” Mason said, misinterpreting her expression. “Emily told me the entire story the other day. Apparently, she paid your doctor off, and he helped her pretend your son had died so she could take him and pretend she was his mother so no one would realize I had cheated on her.”
Raine blinked. None of this made sense. She had just accepted that her son had died. She had just admitted to herself that her theories about Oliver being her son were crazy.
But… he was? It was true?
Mason took a deep breath. “I swear I didn’t know. Emily told me she made a deal with you, and that you wanted to give up your son. I didn’t even realize that it was you I had slept with all those years ago.”
Raine hadn’t realized, either, but it explained that strange familiarity she’d noticed about him.
“Anyway, you deserved to know the truth,” Mason continued. He looked unnerved by her silence. “Oliver is your son, too, and… and that means we need to discuss what happens next.”
Raine stared at him. She felt curiously calm. Then, something rose in her, and, before she could stop it, she was laughing.
Mason opened and closed his mouth a few times, staring at her in confusion. That just made her laugh harder.
“What?” he demanded. “What’s so funny?”
“I…” She tried to pull herself together. “The entire reason I answered your advertisement, the reason I came to work with you… it was because I suspected Oliver was my son!”
“You what?” he yelped.
“I ran into the two of you in the park, remember?” She laughed again, and tears began to stream down her face. “Oliver looked so much like me as a child, so I formed this theory that he was actually my son and that you’d stolen him.
”
“Is that why you were so cold toward me sometimes?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I tried to find evidence, but I could never prove it. That night I burst into your room, I planned to demand answers from you. I was so angry and frustrated, but…” She shrugged, finally feeling the hysteria fade away. “Anyway, I met with Dr. Monroe, and he had an explanation for every one of my theories. I came away believing I was going insane. And then I realized… without the suspicion, I just really wanted to be with you.”
“Wow,” Mason said, running a hand through his hair. He looked as stunned as she felt. “I just… how could we have been so stupid?” He shook his head. “If only I’d explained about Oliver, told you Emily wasn’t really his mother, then maybe we would have been able to sort this out. But I was so embarrassed by it all.”
“I thought you were despicable at first,” Raine admitted. “Then, I didn’t want to admit I wanted to be with you. It was all very confusing.”
“I bet,” Mason said wryly. He paused. “Raine… I thought you’d hate me forever. I thought I’d ruined any chance of us ever being together. But I know I want you in my life. Please say you’ll come back. Please say you’ll come home. And not as my nanny. As my partner.”
Before she could reply, he tugged her forward and kissed her. It was deep and full of emotion, and it took her breath away. When he pulled back, she could only stare at him, overwhelmed by the happiness bubbling up inside her.
“I love you,” he admitted.
Before, Raine wouldn’t have even considered expressing her feelings for him. First, she’d been so conflicted because of her suspicions. And then, she’d thought he wanted to be with Emily. But now…
She smiled up at him. “I love you, too. And I want to stay with you. For as long as you’ll have me.”
“Forever, then,” he murmured, kissing her again.
Raine pulled away from him, gasping for breath. Sheer want coursed through her veins, but she was still aware enough to know they needed to get out of the hall. She took his hand, smiling when he entwined their fingers, and led him up the stairs.
“In case my parents come home,” she said with a wink.
There was no chance of that; they were both away at a luncheon and wouldn’t be back for hours. Which meant she had Mason all to herself. Mason just laughed at her words and followed her, allowing her to lead him into her room.
Mason kicked the door closed behind him and looked her up and down with dark, desire-filled eyes. Raine felt strangely nervous to have him in her room, feeling more exposed than she had ever been even though they had yet to take off their clothes. Mason didn’t seem interested in her room, however. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her. With a sinful smirk, he stepped toward her so he could cup her face in his hands and kissed her again.
Raine wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his short hair, then trailing them down his neck and along the collar of his shirt. She fumbled for a moment until she found the first button and worked it free. She worked her way down the buttons on his shirt, teasingly brushing against his chest as she went.
By the time Mason broke the kiss, she had unbuttoned his shirt, and he was breathing heavily, his eyes dark. Raine slid his shirt off his shoulders, letting him drop it to the floor. Then, his hands were on her, gripping the hem of her shirt and tugging it up and over her head.
His eyes trailed over her. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, making her blush.
This was nothing like those times they’d been together before. This time they were gentle, handling each other tenderly, relishing in the ability to touch once more. Their entire world narrowed to the small circle of warmth around them as Mason lowered her to the bed and leaned over her.
Mason ran his hand up her leg, tracing gentle circles on her skin with his fingertips, and under her skirt. Gasping, she found the zipper of his jeans and tugged it down, pressing the palm of her hand to his hardness. He jerked in surprise, thrusting forward into her touch, and she grinned up at him.
The smile faded when he leaned down and blew over her ear, sending an electric pulse throughout her body. She gasped, arching off the bed when he lowered his head further and latched onto the juncture between her neck and shoulder, nipping softly. She shoved his jeans down his hips, and he pulled away and stood so he could step out of them.
As soon as he rejoined her on the bed, Raine slipped her hand into his boxers and gripped him tightly. He dropped his head against her neck, breathing heavily as she used her free hand to work her skirt down her hips before kicking it off.
Now both clad only in underwear, they stared at each other. Then, they both surged forward, passion rising between them as they kissed. Raine pushed his boxers down at the same time Mason slipped his hands around her to unhook her bra, fumbling a little with the unfamiliar clasp. Growing impatient, she undid her bra for him, then took her panties off within seconds. Before he knew it, she reached over and yanked his boxers off as well.
Seeing her naked body before him, he shot her a wicked grin and lowered himself on top of her. As their heated skin met, she pressed nipping kisses to his jaw. He ground his hips against hers, and he pulled back to cup her breasts in his hands, squeezing and teasing the nipples into hard nubs. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, biting her lip at the sensation.
He let out a low chuckle at her response. “Too much?”
“Not enough,” she gasped, shaking her head.
He continued, and she raked her nails down his back, wondering if she was leaving marks. The thought that he might bear the evidence of their encounter sent a thrill of desire through her. Mason pressed open-mouthed kissed down her throat and across her collarbone.
“Is that better?” he teased.
She grinned, hooked her leg around his, and used the leverage to roll them over, leaving him flat against the bed with her hovering over him.
“Now it is,” she laughed.
She reached down and wrapped her hand around him once more, stroking him slowly. He groaned and tried to buck his hips up, but she used her free hand to hold them down, not allowing him to move.
“Sadist,” he gasped.
She smiled down at him. “Are you saying you want me to let go?”
“No,” he groaned.
She leaned down, biting and kissing and licking across his sweaty skin while her hand moved faster, making him writhe on the bed below her. Raine felt a rush of power at having so much control over him, at being able to take him apart like this.
Then, Mason’s hands shot to her hips, his fingers digging into the skin. One of his hands trailed across her hip and then between her legs. She gasped as she felt one of his fingers enter her, and he grinned up at her.
“You’re so beautiful, so amazing,” he murmured to her. “I want you so much, Raine.”
She let go of him and allowed him to switch their positions just as she’d done before. He teased her with his fingers as he loomed over her, watching her face as she moaned and squirmed against him. Her entire body shook with need.
“I want you,” she gasped. “Now. Mason, please.”
When he entered her, it almost felt like time stood still. That strange, intense connection between them snapped into place once more. Raine recognized it now as the subconscious knowledge that they had known each other intimately so long ago, and she wondered if it was fate that had brought them together again.
Then, Mason began to move, and all thoughts fled from Raine’s mind. She wrapped her arms around his neck and met his hips with hers. The air sparked between them as their bodies picked up the pace. She looked up and saw her desire matched in his eyes. She knew at that moment she would want this forever.
He seemed to feel it, too, which urged him on until she felt the waves building within her. Her body responded as if it was no longer within her control. She gripped him tighter to her and his body trembled with sheer power. As they rode out the waves of their ecstasy, they came together, and
then, exhausted, Mason crashed down beside her.
Quietly, they gathered up the blankets and slipped beneath them. It was the middle of the day, but that didn’t matter. Mason wrapped his arms around Raine, and she snuggled into his embrace as her eyes slowly closed.
After all she’d gone through, she finally felt safe and happy and warm.
* * *
When Raine’s breathing evened out into sleep, Mason pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. He could barely believe how perfectly everything had worked out.
“I never want to let you go, Raine,” he whispered to her, brushing her hair away from her face. “I love you so much.”
She shifted and smiled in her sleep. Mason smiled, too, and closed his eyes in contentment. He had Raine in his arms once more, and this time, he knew she wasn’t going anywhere.
Epilogue
One and a half years later
Returning to this park was always so nostalgic, Raine mused as she stood beneath a tree and watched Oliver race toward the swings. The other children, seeing him approach, opened up a gap for him in their games, and soon they were all shrieking as they ran across the grass.
“Looks like fun,” Mason commented beside her, reaching out to take her hand.
“In that case, I’m sure they’d love it if you got out there and played, too,” Raine teased.
They both paused, taking a moment to imagine Mason, in his incredibly expensive suit, running around after the children. Raine laughed at the image.
“The other parents might have a heart attack,” Mason said.
“I think your dry cleaner might have a heart attack,” she corrected. “You saw how she reacted when you brought in that suit with spaghetti sauce on it.”
Mason winced. He’d suffered through a half-hour long rant about looking after his clothes from his dry cleaner after that incident.
“I remember,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I also remember who threw the sauce at me.”
