“It took me calling you my boyfriend in public for you to consider us serious?” I tease. It’s Saturday morning, which means we don’t have to rush out the door and go our separate ways. Mason’s been so busy with work, and sometimes he doesn’t get home until after eight.
“Oh no, baby. We were serious long before either of us were willing to admit it.” Mason flashes me a wink, and even after all this time, it still gives me butterflies. We finish eating, then move to the couch but not without filling our mugs full.
“Okay, so this first date. What’d you have in mind?” I ask, setting the cup down on the coffee table.
“I’m thinking it has to be epic.” He smirks, inching closer to me. “Probably a long weekend.”
Arching a brow, my eyes widen. “Really? Aren’t you usually on call?”
Even though he got his big promotion, he has to be available if they need help. I hadn’t realized until Mason explained it that forensic investigators aren’t always fully staffed, which means if there are a lot of cases, they’ll need extra people to collect and process a crime scene. He’s been called in at three in the morning and then had to work an entire shift afterward.
“Not over Thanksgiving weekend. It’s my off holiday, which means I’ll be one hundred percent yours.” He leans into me until our lips touch. “So what do you say? Will you go on a date with me, Sophie?”
“Hmm…a holiday weekend. That sounds super serious.”
“We could have three full days. Just the two of us. No interruptions.” He waggles his brows, his implication clear as day. “I mean, unless you’re busy and have plans with another boyfriend during that time.”
“Well, if we’re rotating holidays, then I better check my schedule just to be safe.” I hold up my finger, then grab my phone. “Let me take a look…” I click on the calendar app and scroll through the months. “I think you’re in luck. I’m free that weekend.”
Before I can set my phone down, Mason lunges for me and towers over my body. “You’re quite sassy, you know that? I just might have to punish you.”
“Oh yeah?” I wiggle beneath him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “What kind of punishment?”
“Mmm…my sweet Sophie.” Mason hums in my ear, brushing his nose along my skin. “Always taunting me, aren’t you?”
My legs wrap around his waist, arching my hips to feel his erection. Our bodies move together, the friction building between us. “We better move this into the bedroom before Liam catches us,” I say, half-laughing, half-moaning when he sucks above my collarbone.
Before we can move, the doorbell rings.
“Motherfucker,” Mason hisses, causing me to chuckle. This isn’t the first time we’ve been interrupted by someone at the door. “Ignore it.”
Hard pounding on the door comes next. Then another ding.
“For fuck’s sake.” Mason growls, getting to his feet, then helps me up as I adjust my clothes.
“Might want to…” I point at his sweatpants that don’t hide a thing. That earns me a small smirk before he sighs, then leaves to answer the door.
“Father…”
My eyes widen at Mason’s booming tone, and I can only imagine the daggers he’s throwing right now.
“What do you want?”
“We need to talk. Can I come in?”
Before Mason responds, I hear shoes against the hardwood floor coming my way.
“Oh,” he says and freezes the minute he sees me. “Sophie, right?”
“Yes,” I say, forcing a smile. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Holt.”
“If you hadn’t barged inside, I could’ve told you my girlfriend lives here and that now wasn’t a good time.” Mason’s so annoyed, his tone could cut glass if his father even paid attention.
“Well, perhaps she wouldn’t mind giving us some privacy.” Mr. Holt shoots his gaze at me, and I’m appalled by his directness. I already had one man push me around and nearly kill me, and I’ll be damned if I allow him to control me.
Before Mason can respond, I straighten my spine and give him a straightforward smile. “With all due respect, this is my home too. If you wanted privacy, you should’ve called Mason ahead of time and let him know you needed to speak with him instead of coming here unannounced. It’s rude and inconsiderate.” I keep my hands folded in front of me, locking my gaze on him. “However, if you’d like to speak with him in my presence, feel free. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
I steal a glance at Mason who’s standing tall and proud with a wide grin on his handsome face. Mr. Holt turns to him, his jaw clenched with frustration as if he’s expecting Mason to defend him. When he doesn’t, Mr. Holt returns his gaze toward me.
“Sure, cream and sugar.”
“Of course. I’ll be right back.” I walk around him and into the kitchen, my body shaking with the reality that I just spoke that way to the district attorney. I don’t know where it came from, but enough is enough. He’s pushed Mason over and over again and then to come here and act like a total asshole was my limit.