Page 30 of Coastal Rewind

“And a mean right hook.”

Mason barked out a laugh and my insides were molten. I needed to stop this. I needed to get off the phone and stop fantasizing about what my boss and housemate was wearing beneath the camera angle.

“I think I’m going to head to bed. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Mason’s eyes flared a little as I tucked a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “Good night, Superstar.”

“Good night, beautiful,” he whispered before ending the call.

I threw myself back onto the bed and covered my face with my hands before letting out a little squeal.

I think I was very casually, maybe, possibly, just a little, developing a tiny crush on Mason Saxley.

thirteen

Mason

Nolan dropped me off at the house and I practically jogged up to the door. I couldn’t wait to get inside and hug MJ. Ever since Ryleigh told me he was having trouble at school, I had been counting the minutes until I could hold him in my arms to protect him. I didn’t know if he was still upset, but I needed to find out what the fuck happened.

Right fucking now.

I opened the front door and was immediately startled by the sounds of giggles coming from the kitchen. I dropped my bag and walked into the room, freezing when I saw MJ standing on a step stool stirring a frying pan full of eggs.

Ryleigh was standing next to him in nothing but a string bikini top and a pair of flowy cotton shorts.

Fuck, is she hot.

She had a vine tattoo that wound up her forearm, around her elbow, and looped over her shoulder to her collarbone. She also had a few butterflies up her side and a lotus flower on her sternum that I rarely had the luxury to see.

She peeked her head up from supervising MJ and smiled as soon as her gaze found mine.

“What do we have here?” I asked, walking closer.

“Ryleigh is teaching me how to cook!”

If MJ had a bad day yesterday, I wouldn’t have known from his enthusiasm now. Ryleigh must have worked her magic because he was acting like his normal, cheery self.

“Oh, yeah? You going to school me in the kitchen?”

“Yep. I’m almost seven, Dad. It’s time I learned.”

“Ugh, you’re right. Seven is basically an adult. How dare I have not let you whip up a meal or two by now.”

Ryleigh was covering her mouth to hide her laugh as her eyes sparkled. All I wanted to do was reach out and pull her into my side, but I held my composure and kept my hands at my sides.

“Let’s let Dad put his swimsuit on while we get breakfast on the table,” she said, turning back to MJ.

“Go change. We’re having a pool day,” MJ ordered.

I put my hand up in a salute and said, “Yes, sir,” before turning and marching to my room to change.

“So, what’s on your agenda this weekend?” I asked Ryleigh as we sat on the patio a half hour later.

“I was going to just hang out and read, but Maeve and Maggie bullied me into getting drinks tonight.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You’re going out?”

She glanced over at me with a confused look. “I plan to…but if you need me I can cancel.”

“No. No,” I said quickly. “Go have fun.”