Part 22 (2/2)
A knot formed in his chest. Mason chided himself for letting her go, for walking out without fighting back. In all his life, he'd never given up so easily. He'd been so angry that she hadn't trusted him enough to listen to him. The hurt in her eyes and the quiver in her voice had nearly brought him to his knees. He didn't want to be the cause of any more anguish for her. So he'd walked away, his anger and hurt dictating words he'd never meant. Not giving up, just to regroup and figure out how to win her back. He gripped the steering wheel tighter. Except, dummy, Kevan would look at it as desertion. Another user and abuser leaving her alone.
Time to fix this s.h.i.+t.
After hours of lying on his stomach, the buzz of the tattoo machine, combined with cla.s.sic rock playing over the speakers, had dulled the constant ache in his chest. The sharp piercings of the tiny needles had permanently etched away the past and drawn, literally, a new future on his back.
”Endorphins are something else, aren't they?” Tony asked, breaking Mason's almost meditative state. ”Numbs all kinds of pain.”
Mason grunted.
The older man chuckled and wiped something across Mason's back. ”But some aches can't be fixed with ink, my friend.”
”I know where you're going with this,” Mason said. ”And I'm not trying to fix anything with a tattoo, Tony. I just want her to see how serious I am.”
”How serious are you?”
”Have you ever been in love?” The buzzing stopped as he heard Tony clean the needles and switch colors.
”Yep.” The machine started humming again, and he felt the needles stab into his skin. ”Callie. The orneriest, bossiest ballbuster you ever met. Loved her from the day I met her, when I was a twenty-three-year-old h.e.l.l-raiser, until the day she died of breast cancer three years ago.”
”So you know, then,” Mason said quietly.
”Yeah. I know. I know Kevan is pretty f.u.c.king special, and she deserves to be treated like it. Life's not easy for women like her. Women like Callie. They've had to work hard to stay ahead, and they don't like to ask for help. Ever.”
Mason grunted. No s.h.i.+t.
”But you'll thank the universe every day you have her in your life. Every d.a.m.n day.” Mason could tell Tony was thinking about his deceased wife, the love of his life, as he lathered on the ointment and taped plastic wrap over his shoulder. ”You're all done, big guy.”
His muscles tight from lying on the ma.s.sage table for so long, Mason got up and stretched his arms and rolled his head from side to side. ”Thanks, Tony,” he said, catching the artist's gaze. ”For everything.”
Tony's laugh rang out in the empty shop. ”What's your plan?”
Mason paid him and smiled. ”Gonna go get my girl.”
Less than an hour later, Mason stood and watched Kevan come through the door to Joe's office. He could see her through the gla.s.s wall of Joe's conference room. She put her back to him as she stopped to hug and then chat with the receptionist. It gave him the opportunity to admire what a truly magnificent backside the woman had. When she glanced over her shoulder, their eyes connected, hers narrowed in question, then sadness. Today, she was even more stunning than when she'd almost landed in his lap two weeks ago. Mason was sure his fantasies of her glorious curvy body and full mouth had grown to imaginary proportions. Nope. Not even close. She was so f.u.c.king beautiful, striding into the room with her head held high, he could feel his c.o.c.k harden just looking at her. Suddenly, he wasn't the fierce businessman, he was a crus.h.i.+ng boy again.
And she was falling, again. This was starting to become a trend. Kevan falling. Mason catching. His hands grabbed her small waist and steadied her until she laid her hands flat against his chest and pushed back. Mason couldn't help smiling at her bravado. His girl, so f.u.c.king proud.
”You need to stop wearing those heels, darlin'. You're gonna hurt yourself.”
”I don't need you to keep catching me.” So defensive. Definitely not a good sign.
”But I will. Keep catching you, I mean.”
She tilted her head to look into his eyes, then swiftly turned to shake Joe's outstretched hand and exchange greetings before sitting at the table next to Mason and across from Joe.
”The band's not here, because they're still catching up on their sleep. The tour took it out of them.” He winked. Both Kevan and Mason nodded. Yep. Took it out of all of them.
”I'm gonna get to the point here. We, Manix Curse and their management”-he paused and smiled-”would like to thank both of you for being good sports and coming on the road with us with no notice. Your enthusiasm and professionalism is both noted and appreciated.” His tongue drew across his lower lip, and his hand fiddled with the pen on the table.
”First, it's important you know we have no intention of employing the services of Global Entertainment Marketing. They are too big for our band and don't have the right experience, or culture, to support and promote a heavy metal band.”
Kevan exhaled, and Mason tried to hold the smile threatening to transform his mouth. She should be feeling relief and hope right about now. Maybe waiting for the ”but...” And here it came.
”But-” Joe looked from Mason to Kevan. Mason could see her shoulders slump slightly. Poor Kevan, there was always a but for her. He looked directly at Mason. ”But, we were extremely impressed with your connections; the tour and sponsors.h.i.+p opportunities you presented were phenomenal.” He paused. Mason heard Kevan swallow but didn't dare turn toward her or pat her like he wanted to. No, he had to allow her to maintain her s.h.i.+eld. For now.
”And Kevan”-Joe turned toward her and glanced at a sheet of paper in front of him on the table-”your skills with social media, public relations, and building the band's fan base far exceeded any expectation we ever had. You are truly amazing. I mean, look at these numbers.” He pushed the sheet of data across the table between Mason and Kevan.
Mason knew Kevan's nature was biting at the bit to ask questions, push Joe to reveal his decision. Just wait, gorgeous. Patience. But she held her tongue and made the effort to peruse the sheet of numbers she was already very familiar with. Her face was a mask of interest, but her long neck was rigid, and her knee bounced under the table.
When she looked up, Joe continued, ”And now that Mason has left GEM”-Kevan's head whipped around to look at Mason, her eyes saucers and her full, pouty mouth open in an O-”we'd like you to consider joining forces, together, as our marketing and public relations team.” And there it was. The zinger.
Her head snapped back to Joe so quickly that Mason mused she might get whiplash.
”I don't understand. You want both of us to work for you?” She turned to Mason and whispered, ”And you left GEM?”
He blinked slowly but said nothing.
”What? Why?” she stuttered. G.o.d, she was so beautiful. ”Because of Steve?” He nodded. Still waiting. ”And Tina?”
He smiled.
”But you loved your job, Mason. It was everything.”
”No, Bettie, not anymore.”
Joe stood. ”I'm sure you have a lot to discuss. I'd like a call by tomorrow morning to let me know whether you're interested in my proposition. And we can get together later this week to discuss the details.”
Joe made excuses-something about needing to catch up on legal work-and ushered them from his office. Without saying a word, they walked to the parking lot.
Ah, I love walking behind this woman. Because right there was the coup de grace, the woman's a.s.s. She looked over her shoulder and caught him staring at her b.u.t.t, definitely not for the first time. She gave him no indication of her feelings. Her walls were up nice and tight.
As she stomped to her beat-up Volvo, Mason caught her arm and handed her the small stack of stapled papers he'd been holding.
”You have exactly one hour, Kevan, and then I'm coming for you.”
”We should talk first. I just...I mean...I'm...” she stuttered.
”We will. In one hour, I'll meet you at your apartment.”
”What does that mean, Mason?”
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