"That's why your mom doesn't come here that often?"
He nodded as the doorman appeared again. Then he pulled his Escalade up to the door. When we both got out, the doorman broke out into a friendly grin. He wore a navy blue suit with a yellow tie. He looked older, possibly in his fifties, with graying hair. His smile lit up his face. The blue in his eyes turned warm, and the affection he felt for Mason was evident. He drew him in for a hug and clasped him on the shoulder with his black leather gloves. "It's good to see you, Master Kade! It's been so long."
Mason's own smile was ear to ear when he stepped back. "It has been."
The man still held onto his arms. He didn't drop them when his smile slipped a little bit. "And your mother? Is she here with you?"
"Nah, Stuart. I hope she won't find out that I'm here." Then he extended a hand towards me. "This is my girlfriend, Sam. We're on break from school so we're hiding out."
The warm eyes turned towards me, and they sparkled as he took me in. "I see." His hands fell away from Mason's arms. "She is a beauty, Mason. You have done well."
"I think so."
With both of their attention on me, I flushed and looked away. Beauty? What was he smoking?
"And Logan?"
"Nope. It's just me and Sam."
"Ah, I see. One of those vacations."
"Yeah and mum's the word, Stu."
"Of course, Master Kade."
A curse slipped out. "Come on, Stu. Mason. You're supposed to call me Mason."
"Of course, Master Kade." Then I looked back and he held out a hand to me. "And what shall I call this exquisite beautiful creature? I cannot call you by your personal name, Sam. Samantha? Mistress, hmmm? What is your last name?"
"You can call her Samantha."
I took his hand, and my eyes went wide when he lifted it for a kiss. His cool lips pressed a chaste kiss to the back of my hand, but the friendliness in his eyes overwhelmed me. He wasn't inappropriately friendly. I knew it was from the respect he held for Mason. It took my breath away for a moment.
"I cannot," he murmured as he let go of my hand. "I have not earned the right to use her first name. What is your last name?"
"Strattan."
"Mistress Strattan it is." His smile deepened an inch.
I wanted to groan as I realized that I would be called that from now on. Awkward. And if any of my friends heard him—no. I didn't have any friends. It didn't matter.
The front lobby wasn't big. There was a front desk, an elevator, and a small sitting area. As we went to the elevator and reached the 24th floor, I found myself staring at something I would've seen on a television show. The floor was modern and chic with white couches in front of a fireplace and a red table beside the kitchen. When Mason took my hand and led me to our bedroom, there was a plush white comforter on the bed with gold trim. The far wall was a floor to ceiling window, with a view that overlooked Los Angeles. It was spectacular.
"As promised," Mason drew my attention towards the closet. He toed it open for me. "You won't need clothes. My mom keeps clothes here for everyone. We have a few cousins your size and she loves to dote on them. When they come here, they know they don't have to pack."
"And you?"
He grinned and gestured towards the dresser that was painted white. It matched the comforter. "I keep clothes here, so does Logan. This is the place we use when we come to see her."
"You have cousins?" He'd never told me about them before.
"Yeah." A fond grin appeared. "They're crazy and spoiled, but I think you'd like them."
"From your mother's side?" Obviously.
"She has two brothers and a little sister. They all have kids. Logan and I stay with dad, but we try to see them every now and then. It's been awhile."
"How long?"
"Since the summer. We went on a cruise with our cousins. My mom was in heaven. She loved having us with her side of the family."
"Mason." My chest hurt. The question I was about to ask was one that I'd had for awhile. "Why do you live with your dad? Why is it so important for you to stay?"