Page 139 of Finding Us
The night ends up being a huge success, and the auction raises over a half a million dollars.
Chapter40
Mason
Ilift my head off the pillow and place my lips on Red’s bare shoulder, peppering kisses along her skin until my face is buried in the crook of her neck. It’s the first time she’s stayed over this week, and I’ve missed waking up with her in my arms. Her and Grace have been at the house for the past five days, until late, putting all the final touches on Rebecca’s Place, ready for the grand opening today.
Jacinta’s taken the week off work, and Cassandra is teaching her classes in her absence. Since there was so much work to do at the safe house, she wanted to be there to help her mum. It still feels odd referring to it as that, because it was the furthest thing from safe when I lived there.
Connor and I were there last weekend, putting all the new beds and bunks together. There were painters in earlier this week to give the place a fresh coat, and the girls have been busy shopping for new linen and things of that nature, as well as cleaning the house from top to bottom.
I’m yet to see the finished product. To say I’m apprehensive about it all would be an understatement. This place is a good thing, I know that, but it still hurts that my mother never got the chance that these women will.
“Mm,” Jacinta hums. “Morning.” She rolls over and rests her cheek on my chest. “How did you sleep?’
“Okay,” I lie.
She lifts her head and her squinty eyes make contact with me. I love her sleepy face when she wakes. “Are you lying to me, Mason Bradley?”
“Maybe,” I say, chuckling.
“It’s going to be a success; Mum has a whole team of people ready to help these women get back on their feet.”
“I know, and I’m grateful for everything she has done. It’s just bittersweet. I wish my mum had that same opportunity.”
“Aww,” she says, reaching up to cup my face. “I know, I do too. Her memory will live on there, and I know she’d be so proud of you for doing this.”
“You think?”
“Absolutely. I’m proud of you too.”
“You are?”
“Of course! You have overcome so many things throughout your life, things that should have taken you out, but you continued to forge forward regardless. You could have easily taken a darker path, but you didn’t. Instead, you let the things you went through make you a better person. You go to work every day and bust your arse to provide a good life for your son, and spend your nights making sure the less fortunate are fed. You silently battle things in your head that nobody else knows about, and lay in bed at night wondering if things will get better. Despite that, you continue to get up every morning and kick life’s butt,” she says, making me choke up. “You are a good man, Mason Bradley … don’t ever forget that.”
I wrap my arms around her, squeezing her tight. How did I get so lucky? “Thank you.”
“I meant every word.”
When she leans up and places her lips on mine, my hand skims down her back and over her arse until my fingers are wrapped around her inner thigh, so I can drag her body over mine. “Do you know what would make my morning better?”
“What?” she asks as a smile curves her lips.
“If Sparkles took a ride on my pole.”
“Ugh,” she groans as I spread her legs to straddle my hips. “Am I ever going to live that night down?”
“No. The memory of you on stage that night is now sitting proudly at the top of my spank bank list.”
“Eww.”
I arch a brow. “Would you rather me imagine someone else when I’m—”
“No,” she objects, cutting me off.
“There’s no one else that could take your place, babe.” And that is the God’s honest truth. This woman does it for me on so many levels. “You are it for me.”
“I feel the same,” she says.
