Struck By You: Players Read Online Free PDF Page B

Just then the waiter came and took our order.
    Once he left, Mason began the staring game again.
         “So,” I said, “you seemed to have enjoyed yourself last night.”
         “It’s a classy place. That building belongs to my stepdad.”
         “Good for him,” I replied, not sure why he felt the need to tell me that. Was he trying to impress me?
         “Carl and your boss, I think his name is Paul? They came up with the concept,” he continued.
         “Yeah, my sister’s husband helped finance it,” I replied giving it right back to him. The truth was that Eric owned 15% of it.
         “You mean your brother-in-law is Eric Hudgens?”
         “That’s the one.”
         “My dad is his lawyer. Hayes Associates, you may have heard of them,” he said proudly.
         He was making me sick. I drank whatever was left over in my wine glass and excused myself to go to the bathroom.
         When I came back our food was served. He had poured me another glass of wine and I drank about half of it in one shot. I grabbed my fork and started eating.
         “Was it something I said?” he asked but I continued eating and drinking. “Riley, what’s up?” he asked.
         I calmed myself down a bit and smiled. “I’m fine,” “So whereabouts do you live, Mason?”
         “About five minutes from the spa. Carl owns most of that block, and I have a penthouse condo in one of the newer buildings,” he began. “In fact, he owns that building where the spa is located.”
         “So what do you do for fun aside from yoga and expensive strip bars?” I asked, trying to change the subject yet again.
         “Carl owns a villa in Spain, so we go there for a few weeks every year. He sends Tanner and me to Cuba and Mexico every winter and earlier this year he got us a trip to Amsterdam, which was my graduation present.”
         My phone rang just then. The name Steve J. was on call display, so I smiled and showed it to Mason. Then I picked up the call and took the phone with me outside so I could speak to him.
         When I returned to the table, our dishes had been cleared and a little dessert menu was in its place.
         Mason was sitting back with his arms crossed, staring at me as I sat down.
         “What?” I asked.
         “That was by far the rudest thing anyone has ever done to me,” he remarked, opening his dessert menu.
         “Somehow I doubt that,” I retorted, looking at mine. “You owe me a hundred dollars,” I said softly.
         He sighed. “So what did he say?” he asked.
         “I’m meeting him later tonight,” I said casually, not looking up at him.
         “Excuse me?” he asked.
         I looked at him. He was visibly angry and I smiled. “What, did you think I was going home with you?”
         He ran his fingers through his hair and bit his lower lip. “Why not?” he asked despondently.
         “Do you ever hear yourself speak Mason? Everything you do and everything you are is your stepdad or your dad. I’m not sure if you’re trying to impress me or throw it in my face that you come from money, and the truth is I really don’t care. I asked you what you do for fun, what did you say? ‘My stepdad owns a villa and he pays for my vacations.’ Do you really think that’s going to impress me enough to get me up to your penthouse your stepdad gave you?” “How about being real with me? Don’t treat me like your usual pickups because we are way passed that. I know what you are and you certainly know what I am. So tell me Mason, give me a good reason why I should blow Steve off for you tonight,” I said.
    He sat there staring at me, but didn’t say a word. Instead he grabbed his wallet and pulled out his Gold card.
    I laughed slightly. “Yeah, that’s what I thought,” I said.
    “I already called a cab. I just need to grab my bags from your car,” I said putting the phone back