Chapter 28: Chapter 28

MASON

Ezra had given me a heads up. He texted me during his drive home, letting me know that he was bringing Jamie along. I hadn’t anticipated her showing up here tonight, but her fiery attitude didn’t surprise me.

Jamie’s blonde waves and her usually warm, inviting brown eyes were now narrowed with a fiery anger that seemed to ignite the room. Her lips, a soft nude color, were full and perfect. The anger on her face was oddly becoming.

It was actually kind of a turn-on. It was a side of her I wasn’t accustomed to seeing.

“Why was Ezra tailing me?” she demanded.

“I was concerned about you,” I responded, striving to keep my voice steady. “You’ve made it clear you don’t want me around, so I asked him to watch out for you, to ensure your safety. Especially when you’re out alone at night. Which, by the way, is risky.”

I was trying to be rational. It’s my responsibility to keep her safe, to shield her. But my words seemed to fall on deaf ears, and she remained furious.

She continued to glare at me, her face a mask of anger. “Well, that’s my call to make,” Jamie retorted, her eyes narrowing as she stepped closer. “I feel like I’m being stalked.” She dramatically removed her jacket and tossed it over a stool.

I leaned against the counter, my arms crossed over my chest. “Are you intoxicated?” I asked, because she wasn’t acting like herself. Stalking, the term was almost comical.

Jamie furrowed her brows, annoyance etched on her face. “I had like three drinks, Mason. I may be a bit tipsy, but I’m not drunk.”

Her response was amusing considering two drinks were usually her limit. I knew she had been at a bar earlier tonight. Ezra had told me. I wasn’t thrilled about it, not that I could voice my disapproval.

I watched her as she fetched a bottle of water from the fridge. The black dress she wore, her go-to color, highlighted her petite waist. The hem of her dress was shorter than I preferred when she was out without me.

Jamie wore sheer black tights, her tanned and toned legs still visible underneath. The dress fit her like a glove, accentuating her curves perfectly. It was a simple dress, but she made it look incredibly sexy.

“Who were you out with tonight?” I asked.

Jamie hesitated for a moment, her eyes avoiding mine. “It was a coworker’s birthday party,” she finally said. “Carmen insisted I come along.”

She took a sip from her bottle and replaced the cap, setting it back on the countertop.

“Anyone else?” I asked again, my voice firm.

She seemed to ponder for a moment before finally responding. “Um, Adam was there too,” she admitted, her voice wavering slightly. “Carmen invited him.”

“Adam.” I let out a sigh of frustration. “That’s not unprofessional at all,” I replied sarcastically. “I hired him to be your physiotherapist, not to drink with you at bars.”

“I don’t see why that would prevent us from being friends… He’s a nice guy,” she defended.

I scoffed. It was obvious why Adam was playing the nice guy. Damn it! It wasn’t rocket science.

“Anyway…,” Jamie said, brushing past me. “It wasn’t my idea to invite him, it was Carmen’s.”

She moved into the living area, noticing the laptop and files scattered on the coffee table. A bottle of scotch and a half-empty glass sat beside them. The dim light from the overhead lamps cast long, dancing shadows across the room, creating a cozy ambiance.

“Working?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Always,” I replied, watching her from the archway. “Besides, I have nothing better to do when you’re not here. Penelope’s been in bed since seven. I’ve been…bored.”

“God, I’ve missed her,” Jamie confessed, her voice thick with emotion. She turned to face me.

“It’s been tough, not being near her…and you,” she added. “I wasn’t sure if I could be around you without feeling angry.”

I moved toward the living room, my hands buried deep in my shorts pockets. “But you’re here now,” I said, trying to infuse my voice with optimism. “Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”

“I’m trying to,” Jamie admitted. She shrugged, her face a mix of resignation and uncertainty. “You lied to me, Mason. I don’t know if I can trust you again.”

The stab of guilt was overwhelming. “I messed up,” I said. “I thought I was doing what was best for you, but I was clearly wrong.”

I moved to the couch and sank into it, running my hand over my stubbled face in frustration. Jamie stood still, her gaze fixed on the floor.

“It’s hard to trust someone who’s lied to you, but I know you meant well. I just wish you had told me sooner,” she said.

She closed my laptop and put it aside before sitting on the large oak coffee table in front of me. Her eyes met mine, a blend of understanding and hurt.

“I know you were just trying to protect me,” she said.

“Come here,” I said, my voice rough with emotion. I extended my hand toward her, hoping she would take it.

She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took my hand. I gently pulled her up, her body leaning into mine.

I looked up at her, her big brown eyes fixed on me. I placed my hands on her hips, pulling her closer. She responded by wrapping her arms around my neck.

With a soft gasp, she straddled me. I adjusted my position, ensuring she was comfortable. Our bodies pressed together, warmth spreading through me.

“You smell amazing,” I whispered, my breath warm against her ear. I ran my fingers through her blonde hair, her skin soft beneath my touch. She leaned into my hand, closing her eyes.

Jamie’s lips were soft and inviting, and I couldn’t resist leaning in. Our lips met in a soft, tender kiss, a wave of warmth washing over me. I deepened the kiss, my hands exploring her body over her dress.

She responded with equal fervor, her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer.

“Do you want to take this upstairs?” I whispered.

A mischievous grin spread across her face. “Only if you carry me,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

I stood at the foot of the bed, looking down at her as she lay on silk sheets, her beauty taking my breath away. Desire surged through me as I took in the sight of her. My cock was throbbing against my shorts. She noticed it, teasing it with her bare feet.

“What are you going to do to me?” she asked, her voice dripping with seduction.

I smirked, tugging at the hem of my T-shirt. I tossed it to the floor. It landed in a crumpled heap.

I moved onto the bed, spreading her legs and positioning myself between them.

I leaned in close, my lips brushing against her ear. “I’m going to make you beg for more,” I said in a low, seductive tone.

Afterward, we lay in bed, the silk sheet pooled around our naked bodies. Jamie’s head nestled comfortably in the crook of my arm. The only sound in the room was the gentle rise and fall of our chests, a testament to the intensity of our encounter.

I turned to her, my gaze softening as I took in the sight of her. Her eyes were closed, her face serene. A gentle smile played on her lips.

“I told you I would make you beg,” I whispered huskily.

A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she opened them. “And you did,” she whispered back.

I leaned in and kissed her softly. Jamie’s stomach rumbled, causing her to pull away with a chuckle.

“I guess I’m hungry.”

I chuckled. “I’ll make you something,” I replied, kissing her forehead. I stood from the bed, picking my boxers up from the floor and slipping them on.

I left the bedroom and headed down to the kitchen.

I whipped up a quick snack and grabbed some bottled water from the fridge to rehydrate. I made my way back upstairs, checking in on Penelope before returning to our bedroom.

“I picked up something light to eat…,” I started to say, but my words faded when I saw she was already asleep. I set the plate and the bottle on the nightstand, then sat down on the bed next to her. She was sound asleep, her body curled up under the sheet.

I reached out and gently moved a lock of hair from her face. Her skin was soft and warm, and I leaned in to kiss her forehead. “I love you, Jamie,” I whispered softly.

***

The morning sun poured through the kitchen windows, bathing the room in a warm glow. Penelope was standing next to me, her small hands digging into a bowl of chocolate chips. I couldn’t help but grin as she quickly grabbed a handful and stuffed them into her mouth.

“Hey, leave some for the pancakes,” I teased her lightly.

“They’re too good,” she responded, popping another one into her mouth.

She tugged on my shirt sleeve, her patience clearly wearing thin. “Can I pour them in now, Dad?”

“Sure,” I agreed, handing her the bowl of chocolate chips.

She beamed and carefully poured them into the batter.

“Want to stir it?” I asked, and she nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with excitement.

As she mixed the batter, I heard footsteps descending the stairs. I walked toward the living room, just in time to see Jamie, gripping the railing as she took her last step.

“You made it down on your own,” I said, a proud smile spreading across my face.

“Finally,” Jamie returned the smile, a playful glint in her eyes. “Guess you won’t have to carry me anymore…unless you want to,” she added with a smirk.

Penelope, who had been watching from the kitchen, ran over to her mother, her arms wide open. She hugged Jamie, her chocolate-covered face pressing against Jamie’s white wrap top, completely unaware of the mess she was making. Jamie, however, didn’t seem to mind.

“I’m making you chocolate pancakes,” Penelope announced with excitement.

“Amazing,” Jamie responded, her eyes lighting up. “I’m starving.”

Breakfast was devoured quickly. Penelope, her face smeared with chocolate, wolfed down her pancakes and returned to her toys. Jamie sipped her coffee at the kitchen island, watching Penelope play with her mini kitchen in the dining room.

“She has a spot for everything, doesn’t she?” Jamie noted, observing as Penelope arranged her toy pots and pans.

“I wonder who she gets that from,” I responded, a knowing smile on my face.

“I’d say her dad, but by the look on your face, you obviously disagree,” Jamie said, laughing. She took a sip of her coffee, savoring the taste and closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she smiled.

“I’ve missed this. Carmen didn’t have a coffee machine at her place.”

“Hmm, so that’s why you came back?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.

“That…and your body, of course,” she teased back, her eyes twinkling. “I was so tired last night, the last thing I remember was asking you for a snack.”

“You did, but you were asleep when I brought it up,” I said, laughing, and she joined in. I glanced at my phone, seeing a reminder from Eoin about my meetings today. Everything was scheduled back-to-back. Eoin’s doing, not mine. It looked like I was going to be swamped today.

“Can we talk?” Jamie asked, her voice soft but firm. “We didn’t get a chance to talk last night, and I still have questions. You said there’s more to this, so I want to know.”

I hesitated, seeing Eoin’s name flashing on my screen. I silenced my phone and put it in my pocket.

“Can we talk about it tonight? I have a meeting in thirty minutes.”

“Sure, I guess so,” she replied.

Seeing Jamie’s expression, I knew I had already made a mistake by postponing. But I was already late for my meeting, and it wasn’t the right time to have a serious conversation with Penelope around.

“Tonight,” I promised, trying to reassure her. “I’ll bring dinner.”

I grabbed my suit jacket from the dining chair and kissed Penelope goodbye.

“I’ll see you later,” I said, and she kissed me back before returning to her play.

“What time will you be home?” she asked. “We might go see Carmen.”

I wasn’t thrilled about them venturing out alone, but that was nothing new. I had every right to be overly cautious with them.

“Ezra will accompany you if you’re heading out,” I directed. “I don’t want you going anywhere without him.”

“Sure,” she responded, a mischievous smile dancing on her lips.

Jamie was perched on the kitchen stool when I wrapped my arms around her, drawing her into a kiss. Just as our lips touched, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled back a bit, reaching into my pocket to quiet the persistent vibration.

“I should leave before he sends out a search party,” I murmured, pressing another lingering kiss to her lips, relishing her taste. “I’ll ring you later.”

I moved toward the front door, extracting my phone. I heard Penelope’s voice echo, “Bye, Dad,” in the background.

“Bye, love you both,” I called back, exiting the house.

It wasn’t until I reached my car that I fully processed what I had just said. I had been so preoccupied with the ringing phone and Penelope’s call that I hadn’t thought about my words.

Damn it!!

I reentered the house, a knot of anxiety coiling in my stomach. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say; I wasn’t typically a man of affectionate words.

Jamie was perched at the kitchen island, her legs crossed and a teasing smirk on her face. She had obviously picked up on my unease, and she was reveling in it.

“Everything all right?” she inquired, her voice oozing with mock innocence.

The knot in my stomach tightened as I neared the kitchen. I was hit with a wave of nervousness, a fear I couldn’t control.

I’ve been wanting to tell her I love her, but I didn’t want to rush things. Now I’ve said it…and there’s no taking it back. Maybe she hadn’t caught what I said, or perhaps she’ll forget about it.

“I left my charger,” I stated, attempting to sound nonchalant. I snatched my charger from the countertop and pivoted to leave.

What a coward!!

“See you later. Love you!” she called after me, her voice brimming with warmth.

So, she did hear me. I paused at the door, a smile pulling at my lips.

“Love you,” I echoed, turning to face her. For a moment, we stood there, our eyes locked in a silent exchange.

Then, with a nod of understanding, I turned and left.