Surprised I was jealous? Absolutely.
“How did it go?” he asked. “I know you were excited to have him here today.”
I didn’t answer right away because if anyone could see through me, it would be Mason. “He was very professional, just like I expected him to be.”
“Now you sound like a politician. How about a truthful answer?” He took a bite from the apple and narrowed his eyes at me.
Folding my arms over my chest, I leaned back in my chair to look up at him. “Drake was extremely charismatic and very kind.”
“So, it’s Drake, is it?” He gave me a bemused smile. “You’re on a first-name basis with the senator. What aren’t you telling me, Ms. Washburn?” He pursed his lips, his laugh lines deepening around his eyes as he waited for me to reply.
“Don’t you have a team to coach or something?” I picked up a student’s paper and pretended to read it.
“No, I coach soccer, remember? It’s a fall sport and this is spring, in case you’ve forgotten.” He snatched the paper I wasn’t reading from my hand. “Spill it, Luce.”
“He wants to have dinner with me. But I don’t know.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, hoping to keep the smile in check that was itching to burst free. If Mason thought I was considering going out with Drake, he wouldn’t let up. My best friend had told me on more than one occasion that he thought I needed to date and get out more.
“I think we need to discuss this over drinks.” Mason slid off my desk and tossed his half-eaten apple in my wastebasket. “Come on. Grab your things and let’s get out of here.”
He grabbed my tote bag and held it open as if he were trick-or-treating, grinning at me expectantly.
Knowing he wouldn’t give up, I placed the papers inside and grabbed my purse. “Where to?”
“Let’s just head over to Juno’s. It’s close to the highway and the Metro.” He slung the bag over his shoulder and we left my classroom.
? ? ?
Juno’s was filled with businesspeople, which was the norm for a weekday happy hour. Mason found us an open table in the noisy room, sandwiched between a large table of female coworkers loudly exchanging tales about their day, and a two-top with a couple who, based on the sultry looks they were giving each other, looked like they might be having an affair.
A waitress stopped by our table and took one look at Mason before practically fawning over him. And who could blame her? Mason was adorable, with longish brown hair that glinted with natural copper highlights. It constantly fell into his eyes, which made every woman want to reach out and brush it back.
“What’s your pleasure?” she said to him, her voice dripping with innuendo.
“Heineken for me.” Mason smiled and shot me a sly wink.
She reluctantly turned her attention to me. “And for you?”
“I’ll have a cranberry and vodka, please.”
The waitress gave Mason one more glance before she sashayed away. He chuckled as he turned away from her and looked at me.
“What? Why is your nose all scrunched up like you smelled a skunk?”
“Could she be more obvious?”
His eyebrow shot up. “Probably, but she’s not my type.”
“Tall, blond, and stacked isn’t your type? Since when?”
I laughed as Malibu Barbie came back to our table. She placed my drink down and gracefully slid a green bottle in front of Mason. Turning her back to me, she cocked her hip and focused on him.
“Anything else I can get you?”
Mason’s lips twisted into a small smile. “Not for me.” Barely glancing at her, he turned a tender gaze on me. “Honey? Did you need anything else?”
I tried to stifle my snicker. “No, but thank you for asking, sweetheart.”