Page 11 of Beautiful Disaster

I stand at their table and smile graciously. “Good evening, gentlemen.”

Chapter 4

Jinx

A thrill of excitement and fear races through me as soon as Mason approaches our table. Weirdly, my hands get clammy, too. We hadn’t planned to go out to eat tonight, but I insisted, so Julien made us reservations. I may have left out the part about what happened earlier today, not in the mood for lectures. I also made sure I looked my best. Why do I even care? My mind is trying to resist, but my soul is tugging me toward him.

Fuck, he looks hot in a suit. His wavy hair is perfect, and I imagine running my fingers through it, but I shut the visual down. I need to put it out of my head. It’s curiosity that’s driving me. It has to be. I want nothing to do with men.

Before I can say anything, he and Julien start chatting it up.

“I’m Mason Vitali,” he says, spreading his arms with a proud smile. “This place is mine, and I welcome you. Are you new to Durango?”

“Julien Kendrick. Actually, we’ve eaten here before.”

“Indeed? Well, welcome back then.”

“Thanks. Yeah, we moved here two and a half years ago. I just opened up my ranch for horse training. We’ve hired an amazing trainer out of Dallas, Texas.”

Mason’s brows rise to his hairline. “You do? Interesting because I’ve lost my trainer, and I have a filly coming in the spring.”

Julien pulls out his wallet and hands him a business card. “Sugar-Sweet Ranch,” Mason reads. “I’ve heard about you. I hope you don’t mind me saying that you seem… awfully young.”

Julien smiles at that. “Yeah, we get that a lot. But I’m pretty smart. I’ve been working on my education as well, but I won’t be doing the training myself. I also have the financial backing to hire the best.” He takes Aleks’s hand and kisses the top. “This is my fiancé, Aleks. We’re getting married in January. It’ll be an intimate wedding in Siena, Italy, in the Tuscan region. He also helps out with the horses while he gets his vet tech degree.”

Mason nods politely. “It’s a pleasure, Aleks.”

“Thanks, nice meeting you.”

Julien waves at me. “This is Jinx. He’s also taking classes online, but he’s amazing at helping with the horses.”

Mason’s hazel eyes land on me, his smile never leaving his face. “Yes, Jinx and I met today, actually. It’s nice to see you again. Did you get your phone fixed?”

“You broke your phone?” Aleks asks me.

“Mr. Vitali did,” I say, turning my attention back to Mason. “Ah, yeah. Got it done in a couple of hours.”

“Excellent. I assure you, it was an accident.”

It wasn’t an accident when you cornered, controlled, and propositioned me. It wasn’t an accident that I gave in so easily.

“And these two are Foxy and Tink. They moved here this summer. Everyone here helps with the ranch, but we’re all family,” Julien continues.

Mason greets my old friends, and then his eyes land on me again. I’m struggling not to fidget, and I’m getting fucking sweaty, which is super uncomfortable when wearing a suit and tie. I wasn’t sure what I’d accomplish by coming here. Maybe this wasn’t such a hot idea. I feel like he can see right through me, and I’m desperately trying not to squirm.

Before we can talk further, our server steps up to the table to take our order.

Mason nods his head in a slight bow. “Gentlemen, please enjoy your dinner,” he says before addressing the server. “Their meals are on me, Henry.”

“Yessir.”

Everyone thanks him, but me.

With one more glance my way, Mason walks away.

I’m not sure what I expected when I came here, but this wasn’t it. Hell, I didn’t even expect him to be working tonight, only hoped. I should let him walk away. I should never talk to him again. Instead, I remove my napkin from my lap and place it on the table. “I need to use the restroom. Order me the ragù napoletano,” I tell them and chase after Mason, who’s heading toward the back.

I quickly reach him and slip my hand into the crook of his elbow. “Can we talk?”