Page 199 of Between Regrets and Promises

SOPHIE

“So now thatyour fall concert is finished and you’re not stressing about rehearsal, you think I can take you on that official first date?” Mason asks me over breakfast. “I mean, it’s only about three months overdue. Plus, you did introduce me as your boyfriend to your director, which is pretty serious if you ask me.” He’s being playful and is in high spirits this morning, which I adore.

I smirk, taking a sip of my coffee. After the performance last weekend, Mason surprised me with a gorgeous bouquet of roses and looked so damn handsome in his suit and tie. I kissed him, and of course, we weren’t alone, so I introduced him to the other violinists and our director. Now Mason looks as though he’s won the lottery, but I’m clearly the lucky one.

“It took me calling you my boyfriend in public for you to consider us serious?” I tease. It’s Saturday morning, which means we don’t have to rush out the door and go our separate ways. Mason’s been so busy with work, and sometimes he doesn’t get home until after eight.

“Oh no, baby. We were serious long before either of us were willing to admit it.” Mason winks, and even after all this time,it still gives me butterflies. We finish eating, then move to the couch but not without filling our mugs full.

“Okay, so this first date. What’d you have in mind?” I ask, setting the cup down on the coffee table.

“I’m thinking it has to be epic.” He smirks, inching closer to me. “Probably a long weekend.”

Arching a brow, my eyes widen. “Aren’t you usually on call?”

Although he got his big promotion, he has to be available if they need help. I hadn’t realized until Mason explained it that forensic investigators aren’t always fully staffed, which means if there are a lot of cases, they’ll need extra people to collect and process a crime scene. He’s been called in at three in the morning and then had to work an entire shift afterward.

“Not over Thanksgiving weekend. It’s my off holiday, which means I’ll be one hundred percentyours.” He leans into me until our lips touch. “So what do you say? Will you go on a date with me, Sophie?”

“Hmm…a holiday weekend. That soundssuperserious.”

“We could have three full days of just the two of us. No interruptions.” He waggles his brows, his implication clear as day. “I mean, unless you’re busy and have plans with another boyfriend during that time.”

“Well, if we’re rotating holidays, then I better check my schedule to be safe.” I hold up my finger, then grab my phone. “Let me take a look.” I click on the calendar app and scroll through the months. “I think you’re in luck. I’m free that weekend.”

Before I can set my phone down, Mason lunges for me and towers over my body. “You’re quite sassy, you know that? I might have to punish you.”

“Oh yeah?” I wiggle beneath him, wrapping my arms around his neck. “What kind of punishment?”

“Mmm…my sweet Sophie.” Mason hums in my ear, brushing his nose along my skin. “Always taunting me, aren’t you?”

My legs wrap around his waist, arching my hips to feel his erection. Our bodies move together, the friction building between us. “We better move this into the bedroom before Liam catches us,” I say, half-laughing, half-moaning when he sucks above my collarbone.

Before we can move, the doorbell rings.

“Motherfucker,” Mason hisses, causing me to chuckle. This isn’t the first time we’ve been interrupted by someone at the door. “Ignore it.”

Hard pounding on the door comes next. Then another ding.

“For fuck’s sake.” Mason growls, getting to his feet, then helps me up as I adjust my clothes.

“Might want to…” I point at his sweatpants that don’t hide a thing. That earns me a small smirk before he sighs, then leaves to answer the door.

“Father…”

My eyes widen at Mason’s booming tone, and I can only imagine the daggers he’s throwing right now.

“What do you want?”

“We need to talk. Can I come in?”

Before Mason responds, I hear shoes against the hardwood floor coming my way.

“Oh,” he says and freezes the minute he sees me. “Sophie, right?”

“Yes,” I say, forcing a smile. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Holt.”

“If you hadn’t barged inside, I could’ve told you my girlfriend lives here and that now wasn’t a good time.”

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