Page 100 of City of Sin (Men of Manhattan 1)

"For the ad agency? Or for the..."

"The ad agency."

"Please, Mason. I want to understand."

He frowned. "Do you trust me?"

I searched his face. Do I? "I mean...do you still send people to them? For money?"

"I'm going to stop. Bee, you have to understand..."

"I need to see it. I need to see what Patrick wanted instead of me. I need to see why you don't do relationships. I need to see what's so great about this thing that I know nothing about." I need to know why I'm never enough.

"You're not going to let this go, are you?"

I shook my head.

"Fine."

"You'll take me?"

"If that's what you want." He looked pissed. But the expression on his face was fleeting. His frown faded and he gave me a playful smile. "Now make me my breakfast, woman." He lightly slapped my ass.

I laughed and pushed on his chest. "You're the worst."

"A man can dream. How about I make you waffles then?" He kissed my cheek.

"Really? You know how to make waffles?"

"Don't sound so surprised." He rolled out of bed and pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms.

I propped my head up on my hand. "Well, after you burned dinner the other night..."

"If I recall, you distracted me. Honestly, though, don't get too excited. They're Eggo Waffles. I'm good at using the toaster."

"I knew it."

Chapter 53

Mason

"Fuck." I walked into the kitchen and opened up the freezer. I grabbed the box of waffles, pulled two out, and slammed the door. What the hell had I just agreed to? I placed the waffles in the toaster and pressed the button.

My friends had gotten in my head last night. Or maybe I just had too much to drink. But I told Bee that I loved her. And she didn't react. She pretended that she didn't hear. Or maybe she hadn't heard me.

Damn it. I sat down on one of the stools in the kitchen and ran my hand through my hair. She definitely heard me. She just didn't feel the same way. Which I already knew. Why would she love me? How could she?

I looked down at my hands. I was serious when I told her she was all I needed. But she didn't believe me. If she had, she wouldn't be insisting on seeing one of those places. And the way she said Patrick's name. It had looked like she was about to cry. She wanted to know why he was bored in their relationship. She wanted to see why she wasn't enough for him. And she had already seemed to have her mind made up that she'd never be enough for anyone. But that wasn't true. All I wanted was her.

And now I had to take her to one of those fucking clubs. That would be the icing on the cake. She was clearly looking for a reason to leave. And what did it matter? I didn't actually love her. I barely knew her. I said it by mistake. I didn't love anyone. My rationalization wasn't helping. Because what was really bothering me was that she didn't feel the same about me.

"Shit." My chest hurt again. This was why I didn't do relationships. I didn't like not having control. I rubbed my chest with my hand. She deserved better than me. She wasn't the one that didn't have enough to offer...I was.

I looked up as she walked into the kitchen. She was dressed in jeans and a tight, long sleeved shirt. Was she already leaving? I didn't really know what love was. But this might be the closest I'd ever been to it.

"I thought maybe you could take me after breakfast?" she said. She looked nervous.

"I'm not going to get bored with you." I wasn't ready for her to go yet. And after I took her, it would be over.

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