Taken Home (Lone Star Burn) Read Online Free PDF Page B

cake?”
    Slightly offended by how his friend had readily agreed that he should go, Mason gave Charles a long, dark look.
    Chelle walked back onto the balcony. She smiled at Charles. “Do you mind if I speak to Mason alone?”
    Despite how his heart started pounding at Chelle’s entrance, Mason gave Charles a pointed look, then said to Chelle, “Charles was just explaining that my presence is requested back inside.”
    Chelle laid a hand on Mason’s arm. The heat of that innocent touch shot through him, making it difficult to concentrate on her next words. “It’ll just take a minute. There’s something you need to know.”
    Mason’s imagination was running overtime. Was she back to offer herself to him again? If so, he didn’t think he could say no, regardless of what he’d promised Charles. With an inward groan, Mason said, “I shouldn’t.”
    Charles made a warning sound deep in his throat.
    Mason strengthened his refusal. “I won’t.” He looked at Chelle and silently implored her to understand. “I appreciate whatever you came to say, but I really have to go inside.”
    “Mason, darling, there you are,” a high-pitched female voice sang loudly from a few feet away.
    “Trish,” Mason said between gritted teeth. Fuck. This isn’t going to be pretty. He was still weighing his exit options in his head when, to his utter shock, Chelle tucked herself beneath one of his arms.
    “Mason? Is this one of your California friends?”
    “Oh, honey, I’m more than his friend.”
    Chelle gasped and brought a shaking hand to her mouth. The frantic look she gave him was Emmy worthy. “Tell me this isn’t the woman you cheated on me with.” She let out a tiny sob.
    The actor in Mason admired the emotion Chelle was bringing to the scene. He didn’t understand why she’d changed her mind about helping him, and if Charles’s expression was anything to go by, there would be hell to pay for this later, but for the moment playing along with her made sense. “It is, but it’s over, Chelle. I meant everything I said. She was a mistake, and one I’m sorry for.”
    Trish’s eyes narrowed, and she wrinkled her nose. “Mason, you can’t be seriously dating this . . . this . . .”
    Chelle leaned forward in mock sympathy for the other woman. “Don’t hold back on my account. I understand why you’re upset. You came all this way to see a man who is in love with someone else. So let it out if you have to. We’ve all been there.”
    Trish’s face went bright red beneath her thick makeup. “You bitch.”
    Mason straightened in anger. “I think it would be best if you left, Trish.”
    The blonde scoffed. “You’re threatening me?”
    Mason pulled Chelle closer to his side and returned to the improv Chelle had initiated. “No, I’m asking you to respect that I’ve found a woman I care deeply for.” He looked down at Chelle. “I know I have to win back her trust, but she is worth every hoop she has me jump through to make that happen.”
    “Oh please,” Trish said with disgust. “You would choose her over me?”
    Without looking away from Chelle’s eyes, Mason said, “Every day for the rest of my life.”
    Chelle raised a hand and gazed lovingly up into Mason’s eyes. “I’ve changed my mind. I accept your proposal, Mason Thorne. I do want to settle down with you and have those six children you keep talking about.”
    “Six children?” Trish repeated in disgust. “You can have him. No man is worth those stretch marks.” Trish snorted and flounced off.
    Mason was momentarily mesmerized by Chelle and the feelings her words had elicited in him. He knew it was all an act, and he’d always been able to keep that straight during his acting career, but this felt different. Words that should have terrified the confirmed bachelor in him lit a yearning in him he’d never felt before.
    He’d never met a woman he could imagine waking up to more than once. In fact, he preferred their time together end