Chapter 17: First Date

JAMIE

I stood in front of my closet, pushing hanger after hanger along the steel bar and to the side.

Blue dress. No.

White jumpsuit. Definitely not.

Mini with a cute shirt. Not for a first date.

Hopeless.

Mason Knight was taking me on a date, and I wanted to be sure I looked the part.

There’s been a lot of chaos in my apartment since he came by the other night, mostly on Carmen’s end.

I was getting another night with him, which meant she was thinking marriage and babies.

I figured I’d take advantage of my being the exception to his rule and have him take me out to dinner.

Yet another exception for me—and he reluctantly agreed, although he was very frustrated in having to wait a couple of days.

Here I am on a Friday night getting ready for a date instead of going out for drinks with the gang.

Carmen had forgiven me immediately given who I was ditching for, and Ethan was getting tipsy on the bottle of wine from my fridge.

“I have a red one,” Carmen offered as she walked by.

“Red again? Really?”

“He likes you in red, right? You want that man down on his knees, begging for more.”

I chuckled. “It’s just one more time!”

“Please, he’s had you once and now he wants you again. Mason Knight is coming back for more. Trust me on that.”

She’s getting ahead of herself, thinking this is going to turn into something it isn’t.

I love that she’s there for me though, even though she likes him herself.

I think it was enough for Carmen just having him showing up at our front door, where at least she could get a good look at him then.

“I don’t know about that. But I think I’ll take you up on that dress.”

She quickly retrieved it for me, and I walked into the bathroom with the dress in hand. I slipped the dress on over my underwear set.

Yes, I went all out and bought a new set that I thought he might like.

I hadn’t been ready to sleep with Mason the other night. But tonight I was.

“Your phone just vibrated, love,” Carmen shouted. “It’s a text. Two actually.”

“Um, will you read them out to me?”

Carmen and I were like sisters; there wasn’t anything I needed to hide from her.

“Mason says he’ll have a driver pick you up outside at seven and don’t be late.”

Late. I’m walking down a few flights of stairs, how late could I possibly be?

I wonder where he’s even taking me. He’s been rather quiet on the details.

“Okay,” I shouted, “what’s the other?”

“It’s from Ryan. He says, ‘What are your plans tonight? It’s been two days and I’d like to see you. A quiet night at my apartment. Are you up for it?’”

Crap.

I opened the bathroom door, walked out, and looked at Carmen, feeling the guilt after hearing the text aloud.

“Don’t.” She pointed her finger at me. “Don’t give in to the guilt. Don’t talk yourself out of this.”

“I’m not.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know that look. You don’t need to feel that way. He hasn’t asked you to be a thing. You’re effectively single—there’s no reason not to act like it.”

“Make sure to clear your schedule tomorrow,” Ethan commented from the island. “I’m sure he’s going to wear and tear ya.”

“Jesus Christ.” I pulled the ankle straps of my black heels. “Should I bring a coat?”

“What a stupid question, it’s bloody snowing out. Hat, coat, maybe your boots instead of those heels.” Ethan took another swig.

“No time for boots.” Carmen looked down at her watch. “It’s getting late.”

I crossed the room toward the window and looked out. It had snowed a lot more since I got in from work.

Boots would look silly, but at the same time I’m pretty sure if I wore a heel I’d sink.

“I’m wearing the boots.” I turned and walked to my closet to grab boots. My Doc Martens looked like a good choice.

“Safety before style.” Ethan looked me up and down. “If you want my opinion, those boots look even better than the heels did.”

“Let’s hope he thinks so too.” I buttoned my coat. “Right, I should go.”

I pulled on a ribbed black bobble hat with a faux-fur pom-pom.

I was prepared for the weather.

“Many layers for him to get through. Good luck to him.” Carmen pulled me in, fixing the scarf around my neck. “Now, I want to give you a bit of advice for tonight.”

“Go on, then.”

“When he’s putting it in your butt, use lots of lube. Trust me. You don’t want to make the mistake I did.”

She winced just thinking about it.

“He won’t be going near that area, but thanks for the advice.” I pressed a kiss to her cheek. “See you later.”

I walked over to Ethan and hugged him.

“There’s another bottle of wine in the fridge if she gets to be too much.”

He chuckled. “Thanks for that. Have a good night with the boss.”

Ugh, I hate him being referred to as my boss.

I hate that I’m going to my boss’s house just to sleep with him. It makes me feel dirty.

Then again…

***

The driver pulled up outside Mason’s building and even escorted me up to his unit.

The elevator was one of those that needed a special key to go up to the penthouse.

I figured he would be dropping me off at some fancy restaurant where Mason was waiting, but instead he’d taken me here.

I wondered if he was trying to break the rules and have me before the dinner we agreed upon.

The elevator doors opened, not into a hallway but into a huge open space.

“Mr. Knight said you could go ahead in.” The driver held open the door for me.

“Thank you.” I walked out into the massive, drafty room. Honestly, I was feeling a bit nervous now that the moment was here.

I looked around as I walked toward the living/kitchen area.

The decor was modern, with glass tables and fancy leather chairs.

There was an electric fire lighting up the living room, as well as candles lighting the dining room table.

Mason himself was stationed between the island and the stove, looking incredibly handsome in his fitted wine-colored shirt as he cooked our meal.

My heart started to beat faster.

Damn it, why does he have to look so good?

“There you are.” Mason looked me up and down. “I take it it's cold out?”

I smiled. “It’s snowing. I apologize that I don’t look the part for our date tonight, I chose to be warm instead.”

He walked around the island, toward me. “You look fine to me. Let’s remove some of this so I can see you.”

Instead of allowing me to undress myself, he did the honors, starting with my hat, which he placed on the island before removing my scarf from my neck and doing the same.

Mason undid the buttons of my coat and slipped it from my shoulders.

“Since you like me in red…”

I stood waiting to see what his opinion was. His eyes wandered over every part of my body.

“Gorgeous. Come sit, I’ll get you a drink.”

I sat down on a stool and he sat next to me, turned in my direction, looking at me, making me feel intimidated as usual.

“Let’s get these off and get you comfortable.”

Mason lifted one of my legs onto his lap and started to undo the laces of my boots.

“You’re trying to get me out of my clothes before dinner. That isn’t the agreement, is it?”

“Just the boots for now. I would like to see you barefoot.”

He winked at me and removed the boot and the fluffy sock from my foot before moving to the other one.

“Perhaps later you can wear the boots. Just the boots.”

If he’s lucky.

I guess the boots were a hit after all—now I’m barefoot and comfortable in his apartment.

This was not at all how I imagined a date with Mason Knight.

Mason opened the door to a fully stocked fridge. “Beer or wine?”

“Wine, please.” I crossed one leg over the other and watched as he poured a glass and placed it in front of me. “Thank you, Mr. Knight.”

He chuckled. “I think you can call me Mason now. You know, given the circumstances.”

“Well, I didn’t want to get into trouble.”

I was flirting. I wasn’t even like this with Ryan.

Maybe it’s because everything is on the table. I’ve seen his body and he’s seen mine. We both know tonight involves sex.

“I’ll call you Mason, just for tonight.”

“All right, just for tonight.”

He continued on with the preparations for dinner.

I didn’t want to get in the habit of calling him Mason. I didn’t want anyone at the office thinking anything of it.

“Mason…just so you know, I don’t want anyone to find out about this. Sleeping with someone casually, especially a superior, is not something I do.”

He brought the beer bottle to his lips and took a gulp.

“Doesn’t your boyfriend know?”

“Ryan and I…we’re just dating.”

“But it’s going to turn into more than just dating. Am I correct in saying so?”

He braced his palms flat on the countertop between us when I didn’t answer.

“He doesn’t know you’re here with me tonight, does he?”

I shook my head.

“He’s probably not dating anyone else besides you either. It’s obvious he’s making more out of this thing than you are.”

I had no idea what this “thing” with Ryan would turn into.

We were casual and getting to know each other, but I was sleeping with my boss on the side (for the last time).

I would have been happy with Ryan. I was happy with him.

Up until Mason Knight set his sights on me and confused me anyway.