Chapter 37: Chapter 37

JAMIE

The beach house sprawled out before me, its open floor plan revealing the entirety of the downstairs from the front door. The air was heavy with a musty scent, a telltale sign of a home left unattended for a long time, maybe even years.

“I think a Yankee candle would do wonders in here,” I commented, scrunching my nose at the stale smell.

Mason let out a chuckle. “It’s been a while since anyone’s been here.”

He was right. The house was crying out for a good scrub and some tender loving care.

I scanned the room, mentally cataloging all the tasks that needed to be done before the party tomorrow. Everything was coated in dust, but I was confident I could turn it into a welcoming space.

As I meandered through the living area, I was drawn to the framed photographs hanging on the walls. They were mostly family photos, featuring a young Mason playing on the beach.

Seeing him so happy warmed my heart. I picked up a framed photo from the console table, brushing off the dust that had settled on the glass with my sweater sleeve.

The photo was of a woman, Mason’s mother, Penelope. We didn’t have any photos of her at our place, but I recognized her from the ones Harry had displayed in his living room.

“That’s my mom,” Mason said, his voice echoing from behind me.

I turned to face him, a smile playing on my lips. “She was beautiful. Penelope looks a lot like her, don’t you think?”

“It’s the eyes,” he replied, before heading into the kitchen.

I trailed behind him, admiring the wooden beams overhead as I entered the kitchen. I slid onto a wooden stool at the kitchen island.

A container of plump, purple grapes in the grocery bag caught my eye. I reached for them. A small smile tugged at my lips.

I twisted off the lid and popped a grape into my mouth, savoring the sweet taste as I watched Mason unpack our groceries.

“So, we’ve been here before?” I asked.

Mason nodded. “Once, a long time ago. We were trying to get to know each other better, so we decided to come up here for a weekend getaway.”

“I don’t remember,” I confessed, closing the grape container and pushing it aside. “Tell me what we did here, maybe it’ll jog my memory?”

A smirk spread across his face, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Apart from the obvious, we didn’t do much. We just relaxed and enjoyed each other’s company.”

I rolled my eyes, a playful smile dancing on my lips. “Oh, please. I know you can’t keep your hands off me, but surely that’s not all we did the entire weekend.”

Mason chuckled. “It was a pretty chill weekend. You were sick while we were here, though we didn’t know at the time that you were pregnant with Penelope.”

A warm smile spread across my face. “I hope you took good care of me.”

“Of course,” he replied, mirroring my smile. “So, what do you want for dinner—or should we go out?”

I hopped off my stool, a playful grin spreading across my face. “Surprise me,” I said, eyeing the dusty surfaces. “I’ve got a date with a dust rag.”

Mason set the tea towel down on the counter and walked around the island toward me. He placed his hands gently on my hips, pulling me closer until our bodies were pressed together.

“I thought we could…” He trailed off, anticipation hanging in the air.

I leaned into him. “We could what?” I teased, my voice soft and seductive.

“Spend the day in bed together,” he suggested, a smile creeping onto his face. “And if you’re up for it, there’s a hot tub out back.”

“A hot tub? That sounds perfect,” I said, pressing my lips against his. “But only after the cleaning is done.”

“What?” he exclaimed, feigning surprise. He placed his hands on his hips, a playful smirk spreading across his face. “I could always make you.”

I paused, a blush creeping up my cheeks. “Oh really? And how exactly are you planning to do that?” I teased, fluttering my eyelashes at him.

He grinned and moved closer. In one fluid motion, he lifted me into his arms, my legs instinctively coiling around him.

“Bedroom, then?” My voice was barely above a whisper.

“I knew you’d be game.” His smirk was infectious. He planted a kiss on my lips before carrying me toward the staircase, his steps steady and sure.

Later that night, I found myself by the stone fireplace, prodding at the small fire I’d managed to start. The flames danced and flickered, casting a warm, inviting glow throughout the room.

I was clad in one of Mason’s T-shirts, which hung loosely on me, much more than any of my own. That was the point, though. I loved having his scent on my skin.

Mason emerged from the kitchen, his footsteps a soft echo on the hardwood floor. He held two wine glasses, each half-filled with a deep red liquid.

He handed me one, and I took a sip, relishing the smooth, slightly tart taste.

“Nothing good on TV?” His gaze swept over the blank screen.

I shook my head, my eyes still fixed on the fire. “I like the quiet. The crackling of the fire is soothing,” I replied.

Mason chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Yeah, it’s definitely quiet out here,” he agreed. “Not something we’re used to.”

“You’re not used to it,” I corrected him. “Home is usually quiet, especially when Penelope’s asleep and I’m alone.”

Mason let out a sigh, his gaze softening. “That’s on me,” he admitted, moving to sit in the armchair. “I’ve been working too much. You shouldn’t have to spend your evenings alone.”

“I don’t want you to feel guilty,” I said, my voice gentle. “Of course, I miss you when you’re not here, and Penelope does too, but I understand that your work is important.”

“It’s not more important than you…or Penelope,” he countered.

“I know,” I replied, setting my wine glass aside. I moved toward him, settling into his lap, my legs draped over the armrest.

“Penelope and I appreciate you…more than you realize.”

Mason’s lips curved into a smile, and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. “What did I do to deserve you?” he wondered aloud.

I smiled, a warmth spreading through me. “Hmm, maybe your good looks had something to do with it,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He gave my thigh a gentle squeeze, and I leaned into him. “I don’t think I need to tell you that you’re the whole package.”

“Well, it doesn’t mean anything unless it comes from you,” Mason replied, his voice soft and sincere. His words warmed my heart, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I was relieved that things were back to normal between us. The whole Adam debacle had put a strain on our relationship, but now it felt like we were stronger than ever.

We were getting along better than ever before, and I was happier than I’ve been in a long time.

My phone rang from its place on the mantel. “It’s probably my dad checking in,” I said, rising from the cozy warmth of Mason’s lap.

I walked over to the mantel and saw my dad’s name flashing on the screen. I answered the call with a smile. “Hi, Dad!” I greeted.

I held up a finger to Mason, signaling that I’d be back shortly. I ascended the stairs slowly, chatting with my dad about Penelope.

I couldn’t help but smile at the stories he shared about their day’s adventures. He told me about their dinner at a restaurant, how well-behaved she was in public, which didn’t surprise me—Penelope is always good for her age.

Then he told me about the dessert they made when they got home, one of my mom’s favorites that Penelope adored.

Penelope was so exhausted after their fun-filled day that my dad had to carry her to bed after she dozed off on the couch.

We chatted for a bit before hanging up. I was glad to know that Penelope was enjoying her time with my dad, but I was already looking forward to seeing her again in two days.

I spun around to find Mason leaning casually against the bedroom doorframe, his tall, lean figure a comforting sight. His lips curved into a gentle smile as he watched me unpack my tiny suitcase.

“Penelope’s doing fine,” I began, rummaging through my neatly folded clothes for my pajamas. “Dad kept her busy all day, so she was out like a light by eight.”

A warm chuckle escaped Mason, his smile broadening. “Sounds like a solid plan,” he responded.

“Well, he’s already brought up two kids, so he’s got it down,” I retorted, a hint of amusement in my voice. “I think he’s having just as much fun as she is.”

Mason stepped forward, his hands finding a gentle resting place on my hips, pulling me toward him. I let out a soft chuckle. ~This man knows no boundaries~, I thought to myself.

I swiveled around to face him, my arms winding around his neck as he took a seat on the bed. He nestled his head against my stomach, his hands comfortably resting on my back.

After a moment, he lifted his gaze to meet mine, his eyes brimming with a profound love that seemed to engulf him. The room fell into a peaceful silence, punctuated only by the soft ticking of the clock.

I threaded my fingers through his hair, enjoying the feel of the soft strands. He flashed me a smile, his eyes twinkling with a playful glint.

“Marry me, Jamie,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, his warm breath tickling my ear.

My heart hammered in my chest as I locked eyes with him, my mind racing. I hadn’t expected him to propose so soon, despite Carmen’s predictions.

“You’re serious?” I finally managed to stammer out.

Mason nodded, his face serious. “Very serious,” he confirmed lowly. “I love you, Jamie. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I nodded. “Yes,” I responded. “Yes, I will marry you.”

Mason’s face lit up with a contagious grin at my answer. He pulled me into his arms, his strong embrace providing a comforting warmth. His lips met mine in a kiss that was both passionate and tender.

Suddenly, Mason stood and walked over to his suitcase. He unzipped an inner pocket, reaching in and pulling out a small object. He returned to me, a small, black velvet box in his hand.

My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the box. It was the same one I had found in his drawer just days before. Anticipation washed over me as he carefully opened the lid, revealing a sight that took my breath away.

Inside the soft velvet lining was a massive diamond ring. I gasped and my eyes widened, my hands flying to my mouth as I took in the stunning beauty of the gem.

Mason reached out, gently taking my hand in his. A warmth spread through me as he slid the ring onto my finger. The diamond sparkled brilliantly, catching the light, and I couldn’t help but smile. It felt like a dream, a fairytale brought to life.

My eyes fluttered open and I turned around, reaching out to snuggle into Mason, but my hand met only empty space. I opened my eyes fully, realizing he wasn’t there. ~Maybe he’s in the bathroom~, I thought.

I reached for my phone on the nightstand, lighting up the screen to see it was just past three in the morning.

I rose from the bed, my legs still sore from a full day of cleaning. It was a task I had struggled with a few months ago, so I was proud of my progress, even if it still came with a bit of pain.

“Mason…,” I called out softly.

I made my way to the en-suite bathroom, pushing open the door to look for him. He wasn’t there.

Perhaps he went to the kitchen for a drink or a snack. I descended the stairs to the ground floor, straining my ears for any sound that might indicate his presence. But all was silent.

As I scanned the open kitchen space, my eyes landed on the front door. It was slightly ajar, a sliver of light peeking through from outside.

My heart skipped a beat. Why was the door open? Where was Mason? With a sense of trepidation, I approached the front door, a chill running up my spine as the cold night air seeped into the house.

My hand clenched around the doorknob, the chill of the metal seeping into my fingers. I tugged the door open wider, and the night swallowed me whole. The only noise was the rhythmic lullaby of the waves crashing against the shore.

“Mason…,” I called out quietly.

I ventured onto the porch, my eyes scanning the vacant space around me. He was nowhere in sight.

I moved toward the wooden fence, peering into the inky blackness. “Mason,” I breathed out, my voice so soft it was almost lost in the wind.

Then, I heard it—footsteps, faint but unmistakable. My heart hammered in my chest as I spun around, straining to see in the direction of the sound. A figure materialized from the darkness, growing more distinct with each step.

As it came closer, I recognized it as Mason. Relief flooded through me, and I exhaled a shaky breath.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“I heard something,” he answered, wrapping his arm around me and guiding me back into the house.

Once we were safely inside, he secured the front door and turned to face me.

Curiosity got the better of me. “What did you hear?”

“There was someone on the porch,” he explained, his breaths coming in quick, shallow bursts. “He took off when he saw me. Ezra and I gave chase, but he slipped away. It was too dark to make out anything.”

“So, you didn’t see his face?” I asked fearfully.

Mason shook his head, his gaze drifting back to the window. It was then that I noticed the gun he was clutching.

“Mason, why do you have a gun?” My voice rose in alarm.

He turned to look at me, then set the gun down on the side table. “I have it to keep you safe,” he said gently.

Mason moved toward me, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “You’re safe, okay?”

I nodded, but the unease refused to dissipate. I knew Mason would do anything to protect me, but the incident had rattled me.