Where We Left Off Read Online Free Page B

I honestly want to say to you.” 
    “Mason––”
    He cut her off, “I’m going to respect the notion of Jackson inviting you and walk away without telling you how I really feel.  But just so you know,” he shook his head, “him getting married doesn’t change one thing.  And in no way should it have given you the idea that it would.  Like I said, I have nothing to say to you.” He forced a smile. “But please, enjoy yourself, and don’t look so upset … people are watching.”
    He turned around and made his way to the bar.
    “That looked like a pretty heated conversation…”
    “You think?” He responded, still somewhat irritated.
    He hadn’t recognized the voice and didn’t care to, until he looked up and noticed it was the woman who was sitting next to Reign at the ceremony.  Suddenly his mood shifted, and finally the day was looking up again.  It took only a few short moments and smiles and he was right back to his normal self, as if the conversation with his mother had never happened. 
    “What can I get you?” the bartender asked.
    “Let me have a glass of Moscato,” he requested.
    She laughed, easily forcing a smile to Masons face.
    “Interesting choice…I wouldn’t pick you as a Moscato man.”
    “I’m not.  The drink is for you,” he said, sliding the glass towards her.  “I’m Mason, by the way.”
    He put his hand out to greet her, but she was hesitant to respond.  He couldn’t tell if her reluctance was due to a lack of interest in him, or if it was just her way of flirting with him.  She appeared to be weighing her options, doing so with a smile.  Only a few seconds later she returned the gesture and shook his hand. 
    “I gathered that much,” she said without giving her name.  “That was a very nice speech you gave earlier.”
    “Thank you,” he said, leaning against the bar.
    He signaled the bartender again to request a drink.
    “So I haven’t seen you at any of our functions or get-togethers before.  Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?” he asked.
    “What makes you think I’m a friend of either?”
    “Well, you’re here, for starters,” he mentioned, intrigued by her response.  “Unless you’re just some extremely beautiful wedding crasher.” 
    She laughed.
    “Besides,” he continued, “in our line of work, there aren’t too many of Jacksons friends I haven’t had the privilege of meeting.  And you I would have definitely remembered, which means you must be a friend of the bride.”
    “You don’t sound too enthused about that,” she laughed in wonder.
    “To be honest I don’t much care for her but my brother does, which means I have to, and thus” he throws his hands up in front of him, “here I am, the best man.”
    “Wow,” she said, shortening her sip of her drink.  “Either you are extremely rude or blatantly honest.”
    “I see no reason to lie,” he confidently responded.
    She didn’t seem too bothered by that which, in a way, shocked him a little.  Perhaps she was more interested than he thought.  Perhaps this was about to go exactly as he was hoping.  He nursed his drink, leaning next her, waiting for the right moment to seal the deal.  He’d done this many times before and he knew exactly how to play the game.  Talk them up at the bar, buy them a drink or two, and what follows from there.  Their house or mine, he thought. 
    “So, you mentioned your line of work. What is it that you do, Mr. Mason?  Or do you spend all of your time attempting to charm women back to your hotel room?”
    He almost didn’t know how to respond.
    Clearing his throat, he said, “I am actually the Executive Vice President of J.D. Everett and Associates.” 
    “And I’m assuming you expect me to know who that is?”
    “We” he laughed, “are a real-estate development firm. We specialize in commercial real estate and land development.”
    “So you don’t build residential homes?”
    “No, not really.  Mostly