Letting out a sigh, I noticed we were making our way around the corner back to the museum. He pulled over to the side, in front of the building, and that was when I saw Mason standing there.
He had his phone in his hand and a pissed-off look on his face. Either something had happened or that was just his natural expression, because every time I was around him he was wearing it.
Mason opened the door, not waiting for Carlos to get out and open it for him, and slid into the seat next to me. He slammed the door closed and I immediately became uneasy.
“Is everything all right?” I asked, trying to gauge his mood.
He was staring out the side window and I could see his jaw clench before he finally turned to look at me.
“Everything is fine,” he said with a small smile. “Are you hungry?”
I nodded and glanced over his face. “I’m starved actually,” I stated. I hadn’t eaten much during the day; I was too excited to go to the event.
“Me, too.” He smiled down at me. “Carlos, take us to The Deli Shop.”
“The Deli Shop?” I asked, never hearing of it before.
He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his mouth, giving it a soft kiss before dropping it back to my lap with his hand still in mine. “Yes, it’s a favorite of mine. I go whenever I can.” He smiled again. “You said you wanted to get to know me better, so that’s where we’ll start.”
I matched his smile and turned to look out the window, giddy with excitement. I was starting to feel like this might actually go somewhere, like we had potential, but only time would tell.
*
The rest of the ride was filled with silence. He kept his hand in mine the whole way to The Deli Shop and I didn’t move my hand an inch, too afraid he would realize it was still there and move it. I took it as a sign that maybe good things were to come. Maybe finally voicing my opinion would solidify what we had. He’d never held my hand before, so it gave me hope.
We pulled up to The Deli Shop a little after nine and I waited to exit the car until Carlos opened the door for me. I gave him a small smile and watched as Mason walked onto the sidewalk and headed for the door.
Making my way toward him, he opened the door for me to enter and my senses were immediately overwhelmed with the smells of fresh-baked bread. I stayed where I was in the doorway and took a deep breath, savoring the smell.
“Tony makes the best bread in town,” he stated as he placed his hand on my lower back, guiding me into the building.
It looked somewhat run-down: cracked tile flooring, old wooden countertops, and some of the tables and chairs had rusted metal. But the bread smelled so good.
I looked up to Mason to see him smiling down at me.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
I shook my head and shrugged. “I’m just surprised is all,” I replied as I glanced around again. There were only a few people in the place.
“Of what?”
I looked back at him to meet his gaze. “This doesn’t seem like a place you would eat. You seem more like a… fancy restaurant kind of guy.” I smiled.
He chuckled and looked around himself. “I used to come here when I was little with my mom,” he said, seeming lost in thought. “We’d come on the weekends when we were downtown. She’d always stop here to eat, so I always try to do the same.”
“Do you get to see her at all?” I asked. I had been introduced to Mr. Cline’s fiancée, so I knew they weren’t together.
He looked at me with a frown and shook his head before looking away. “She died when I was seven.”
Sadness flowed through me at his words. I felt like an ass for even asking, but I had no idea she’d died.
“Mason, is that you?”
I looked up to see an older man walking around the counter, heading in our direction.
Mason smiled at him and opened his arms to give the man a hug, not caring the man was wearing an apron covered in flour that would get all over his tux.
“It’s good to see you, Tony,” Mason said as he embraced the man, patting him on the back.
Tony pulled away from him and smiled. “It’s been a long time. You must not stay away for so long. Martha has missed your face.”
“How is Martha?”
“She’s good, but will be disappointed she missed seeing you,” Tony answered as his focus turned to me. “And who is this lovely lady?” He beamed.
I smiled at Tony as Mason pulled me closer to him. “This is Emma. I wanted to treat her to one of your famous club sandwiches.”
“Of course, of course. Go get a seat and I’ll get you both fixed up with your usual.”
Mason smiled at Tony. “That sounds great. Thank you,” he said as he turned and guided me to a seat.
“I take it you’ve known him for a long time?”
He laughed. “Ever since I was little.”
We took a seat and I watched him as I sat back, getting comfortable. I should’ve felt strange sitting in a run-down deli wearing the dress I was, but Mason looked so relaxed, it put me at ease.
“What were you like when you were little?” I blurted.
He tapped his fingers on the table and grinned. “Going into the questions already?”