basket and pulled out two burritos. “I’m not going to take that bet.” He lay back on his elbows and they all lounged about, watching the surfers, the water, and the colors of the sky. By the time they got up to leave the basket was empty.
****
The next morning at the diner Sophia was still marveling over the fact that not only had Mason gone with her to the Bard’s, he had followed her back to the diner to make sure she made it home safely. What kind of man did that? For God’s sake, she was twenty-two, she drove all over by herself she didn’t need a keeper. But he hadn’t made her feel weak instead he made her feel cared for.
After the breakfast rush, Margie insisted she take a break and they sat at one of the tables near the back. Frannie DeLuca came over from the food pantry as well.
“Spill,” Frannie said as soon as the food was on the table.
Sophia knew she was going to get the third degree, so she’d been considering exactly what she would, and wouldn’t, disclose. Kisses, she would admit to kisses. She wouldn’t admit to having him sleep in the same bed with her. That was just too intimate.
She explained how Mason and his friend Drake helped at the mission.
“You’ll love this,” her voice filled with glee. “Drake bought enough groceries for at least one day’s worth of meals for the entire mission, it was unbelievable.”
“You mean the man with the sexy southern drawl?” Margie asked, her eyes wide, as she reached over for the jelly packets.
“I don’t know who he is but I say he’s the man you should be with,” Frannie said emphatically. Sophia blushed.
“Oh no, you should see the sparks fly between her and Mason, Fran. He’s the one who rescued her. He’s an honest to God knight in shining armor.” Margie put her elbow on the table and sighed.
“Sophia, it’s about time you caught a break.”
“I don’t know, part of me is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I keep pinching myself like it’s too good to be true, you know?”
“How’s the sex?” Frannie asked, as she bit into her egg white omelet.
“Frannie!” Sophia’s cheeks burned at the question. She was immediately reminded of how he comforted her after her nightmare. Part of her wished they’d made love but most of her was thankful they hadn’t. It would have been too much, too soon.
“All right I’ll give you a pass. But Margie explained the level of hotness and I’m not sure I could have held out.”
Margie snorted. “You know damn well you were a virgin on your wedding night, Francesca DeLuca.”
“It was a different time,” Frannie defended herself.
“I think it’s sweet. I wish I would have waited for the right man.” Sophia sighed.
“Is Mason the right man?” Margie asked, motioning for Sophia to eat.
“I’m beginning to think so and it scares the hell out of me because God knows I’m not the right woman.”
“That fink Lewis sure did a number on your self-esteem. I wish I could meet him in a dark alley.” Sophia visibly shuddered.
“Fran, what are you thinking bringing that up?” Margie admonished. “Child are you sleeping at all?”
“I slept okay over at Mason’s house. I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight. I’ve been having nightmares. I felt safe knowing he was there, you know?” The two ladies looked at one another.
“What?” Sophia asked, the fork midway to her mouth.
“Maybe you should keep sleeping over at his house,” Margie suggested.
“No way, I’ve inconvenienced him enough. I’ll see him on Friday and then we’re going on a date on Saturday.”
“Why are you seeing him on Friday?” Frannie asked.
“We have to go give statements to the D.A.” She put down her fork knowing she would have to force herself to eat after thinking about Friday’s meeting.
“You let us know if you need anything. I want to know if you have nightmares, all right.” Frannie gave her a hard stare. Sophia laughed. Frannie’s bossiness no
****
The next morning at the diner Sophia was still marveling over the fact that not only had Mason gone with her to the Bard’s, he had followed her back to the diner to make sure she made it home safely. What kind of man did that? For God’s sake, she was twenty-two, she drove all over by herself she didn’t need a keeper. But he hadn’t made her feel weak instead he made her feel cared for.
After the breakfast rush, Margie insisted she take a break and they sat at one of the tables near the back. Frannie DeLuca came over from the food pantry as well.
“Spill,” Frannie said as soon as the food was on the table.
Sophia knew she was going to get the third degree, so she’d been considering exactly what she would, and wouldn’t, disclose. Kisses, she would admit to kisses. She wouldn’t admit to having him sleep in the same bed with her. That was just too intimate.
She explained how Mason and his friend Drake helped at the mission.
“You’ll love this,” her voice filled with glee. “Drake bought enough groceries for at least one day’s worth of meals for the entire mission, it was unbelievable.”
“You mean the man with the sexy southern drawl?” Margie asked, her eyes wide, as she reached over for the jelly packets.
“I don’t know who he is but I say he’s the man you should be with,” Frannie said emphatically. Sophia blushed.
“Oh no, you should see the sparks fly between her and Mason, Fran. He’s the one who rescued her. He’s an honest to God knight in shining armor.” Margie put her elbow on the table and sighed.
“Sophia, it’s about time you caught a break.”
“I don’t know, part of me is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I keep pinching myself like it’s too good to be true, you know?”
“How’s the sex?” Frannie asked, as she bit into her egg white omelet.
“Frannie!” Sophia’s cheeks burned at the question. She was immediately reminded of how he comforted her after her nightmare. Part of her wished they’d made love but most of her was thankful they hadn’t. It would have been too much, too soon.
“All right I’ll give you a pass. But Margie explained the level of hotness and I’m not sure I could have held out.”
Margie snorted. “You know damn well you were a virgin on your wedding night, Francesca DeLuca.”
“It was a different time,” Frannie defended herself.
“I think it’s sweet. I wish I would have waited for the right man.” Sophia sighed.
“Is Mason the right man?” Margie asked, motioning for Sophia to eat.
“I’m beginning to think so and it scares the hell out of me because God knows I’m not the right woman.”
“That fink Lewis sure did a number on your self-esteem. I wish I could meet him in a dark alley.” Sophia visibly shuddered.
“Fran, what are you thinking bringing that up?” Margie admonished. “Child are you sleeping at all?”
“I slept okay over at Mason’s house. I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight. I’ve been having nightmares. I felt safe knowing he was there, you know?” The two ladies looked at one another.
“What?” Sophia asked, the fork midway to her mouth.
“Maybe you should keep sleeping over at his house,” Margie suggested.
“No way, I’ve inconvenienced him enough. I’ll see him on Friday and then we’re going on a date on Saturday.”
“Why are you seeing him on Friday?” Frannie asked.
“We have to go give statements to the D.A.” She put down her fork knowing she would have to force herself to eat after thinking about Friday’s meeting.
“You let us know if you need anything. I want to know if you have nightmares, all right.” Frannie gave her a hard stare. Sophia laughed. Frannie’s bossiness no
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