Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men, #1)(35)

Mason glanced at the back door. Then he turned to me, his eyes squinting with suspicion. “You’re staying above the Mercers’ garage?”

“Yep, and I know what you’re thinking, but trust me. The place is super cool. It’s honestly like a mini apartment up there with a kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom, and living room. And the privacy is…awesome.” I had to sing the word awesome. “Eva is so jealous. She had no idea what kind of gem was on her property until I moved in. I swear, she’d probably kick me out and move in herself if her closet wasn’t twice the size of my entire bedroom.”

“Hmm.” He looked utterly confounded. “Wow. I could tell you and Eva were close, but I had no idea her parents would let you move in.”

“Oh! I’m sorry; I guess you didn’t realize Eva’s my cousin. Her mom, Aunt Mads, is my mom’s little sister.”

Mason paled. “Yeah,” he drew out the word. “I didn’t know that.”

“Okay, seriously,” I growled, suddenly dead sober. “Is there more to this thing between you and E. than you two are letting on?”

“No.” He shook his head. “No, I just…no. Not at all. I was only worried the contention between her and me would bother you. I mean, you’re not going to stop talking to me now in loyalty to your cousin, are you?”

I arched a suspicious eyebrow. “If I haven’t stopped by now because of her, then I’m probably not going to stop later either because of her.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Okay, good. It’s just…I know she doesn’t consider me to be from her…ilk. It’d be a shame if you jumped over that cliff with her.”

Eva might’ve coaxed me into going all sandal. She might’ve talked me into getting a diamond jammed into my nose. But no one could talk me out of being friends with Mason Lowe, except maybe Mason Lowe.

I sighed. “I may love my cousin to pieces and go all fashion crazy with her on occasion, but trust me, I do know how to be my own person. If I ever become as condescending as Eva Mercer, please shoot me, okay?”

Mason’s expression was a little stiff, as if he didn’t believe me. But he nodded. “Okay.”

I grinned. “Great. Now that we have that settled, wait right here. I’ll be back in a jiffy with your next book.”





CHAPTER ELEVEN




I had intended to dash up to my apartment by myself and return to Mason with the book, but when I glanced back and saw him following me out the back door and into the warm night, I gulped.

“Or…you could just, you know, come with me,” I revised, pretty sure I didn’t want him to come with me at all.

Mason. Alone with me in my apartment. The two together threw my breathing all out of whack and made Eva’s warning—don’t do it, don’t do it—whirl through my brain.

He snorted. “Hey, you’re not leaving me in there by myself with fifty other Eva Mercers lurking about. I might be molested before you returned.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, my God. Drama much?” But really, I wasn’t all that certain he was joking.

Did every drunk girl throw herself at him?

Okay, that was a stupid question. If I were drunk right now and all my inhibitions went bye-bye into alcohol land, I’d be throwing myself at him.

“Well, just don’t expect me to jump in front of you like some kind of human shield if any frisky females come flying out the shadows to ambush you for a freebie.”

He chuckled as we started up the steps to my apartment. “I’ll be sure to toss you in front of me against your will, then.”

“Ha, real funny, smart ass.” I paused to fiddle with my keys in the dark.

To be perfectly honest, I was kind of glad to have him with me. There wasn’t a nightlight outside the doorway to my loft, and standing in the dark alone during one of Eva’s keggers didn’t sound appealing. What if some drunk Jeremy-wannabe stumbled across me and tried to get frisky?

Mason was quiet as I fumbled, and I relished the sturdy, protective feel of his presence.

“Here we go.” Finding the right key, I unlocked the door and pushed my way inside.

I hadn’t thought to clean before leaving for the party. My place wasn’t a disaster by any means, but it looked well lived in. My Brit Lit book hung open on the coffee table. Yes, I was still in Dr. Janison’s class, and passing—whew. A throw blanket lay wadded on the couch. A handful of dishes were piled in the sink, and I’d yet to toss the empty latte cup I’d run out to get this morning for breakfast.

Mason seemed to take everything in as he slowly wandered around the living room and kitchen space.

Nodding, he murmured, “Yeah, I have to say, you were right. This is pretty awesome. I could live here with no problem.” He strolled toward the table in front of the window unit and snagged an apple from my fruit basket.

I shook my head. “You just couldn’t resist, could you?”

His eyes glittered with amusement as he sank his teeth in the apple’s pulp. “What? Resist your forbidden fruit? Hell no.” Then he winked as he chewed. “What do you think of them apples?”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “I think your pun is corny and pathetic.” And completely adorable.

He laughed and took another massive bite. “So, where’s this book?”