Page 176 of Stolen Moments

“You can definitely call it that.” He grins at me, and my chest flutters. His eyes are bright, the gold electricity in them sparking, warming me from the inside out.

“I love you. Now, show me your new house.” I climb back into the passenger seat and wait for Mason to open my door—at his bossy directive, of course—before hopping out.

I won’t tell him yet, but I missed the commanding tone he likes to use on me to get his way in and out of the bedroom. It’s so freaking hot how he has my body trained to respond to his gritty voice. I’ll tell him later, when I feel like being his brat.

“Tell me about the place.”

Mason sighs and places his hand on the small of my back, leading me up the path to the front door.

“It’s four bedrooms, two bathrooms. The master bedroom has a great walk-in closet but no ensuite, so the contractor is creating plans to add that, as well as a laundry room and a lanai that leads to a new deck.”

“That sounds like a lot of work.”

He pulls the keys from his pocket and unlocks the door. “It will be, but I’m paying extra for a shorter timeline.”

The door swings open, and I let Mason lead. He turns on the light, and my jaw hits the floor.

“Mason,” I murmur, shocked.

“It’s fine. It will only be for a couple of months.”

I look around, and the rising anxiety in my chest makes my stomach ache.

The living room has been stripped to the studs, as have the floors. In the middle of the room is a half-demolished wall with exposed electrical hanging free, and rubble sitting in wheelbarrows and on the floor. If I look carefully through the half wall, I can see it leads to the kitchen. No doubt, this place will be beautiful when it’s done, but …

“This is a disaster.” I shake my head.

Mason chuckles. “It’s not so bad. My stuff will be out of the way in the master bedroom while they work on the living room and dining room first. Then the bathrooms, extra bedrooms, and finish with the master bedroom and bath,” he says like it’s fine for him to be living in a home with no way to store food, let alone have constant running water and heat.

“You’re not staying here.”

“I can’t stay with Jace and Rylann forever, baby doll. You have no idea the horrors that take place in that home. I don’t even know if it’s safe to sit anywhere,” he says with a mock shiver.

I involuntarily bark a laugh at his ridiculousness. He might be making light of this, but I’m not. There is no way in hell I am letting him stay here. It’s a tetanus shot waiting to happen. I guess our timeline just moved up because more is happening now.

“I’ve had enough. Let’s go home.” I grab his wrist and pull him out the door.

I know he said he was paying extra for a shorter timeline, but there are so many variables when it comes to remodeling your home. How on earth does he think he can work here while construction chaos surrounds him?

“And don’t bother moving your stuff in here when Jace and Rylann return home. If you think for one second I am going to let you live here while the house is getting remodeled, you’re out of your mind. You’re moving in with me.”

Mason freezes. “Emery.”

I swing around and hold up my finger to him. “No. Just no. Now, let’s go.”

Mason covers his mouth with his fist, trying to hide his smile, and for once in our entire relationship, he doesn’t say a word—bossy or otherwise. He flicks off the lights and locks the front door while I wait on the porch. I march to the car, throw open the door, slide into my seat, and slam it shut. I can hear Mason laughing as he makes his way to the driver’s side and slips into his seat.

The drive back to my place is tense. Sensing I’m in a mood, Mason stays silent.

Good. Let him think I’m mad. It’s probably for the best that he thinks I’m upset about the house, and while I am—a little—I’m ready to move onto the next part of our date. I’ve had enough surprises for the night.

Now, I want to show this sexy, sweet, thoughtful man, just how happy he has made me and how much I love him. By riding him until tomorrow.

Chapter fifty-six

Mason

Emery is stewing inthe passenger seat like a sexy little angry kitten while I drive back to her house.

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