As I craned my neck to stare up at him, I stammered, "What are you doing here?"
Mason frowned. "You declined my offer."
"Yeah, so?"
"So, I'm here to give you another shot." He flicked his head toward the main entrance. "And a ride if you need it."
"Wait, a ride where?"
"To Bayside," he said. "Where else?"
My jaw dropped. Bayside was where Mason lived,andwhere he worked, running a global tool company along with his two brothers.
Thanks to some seriously sexy publicity, Blast Tools had become a household name all over the globe, just like the company's three founders, who'd become obnoxiously famous for reasons unrelated to their business acumen.
They were hot, single, andverysure of themselves, as evidenced by Mason's rude assumption that I'd simply get into his car on a moment's notice.
Talk about arrogant.
Bayside was nearly three hours away. The time was almost midnight, and I hadn't packed a single thing. I wasn't planning to either.And why?It was because I wasn't going anywhere. Not withhim.
Just yesterday, he'd offered me a job, by email, no less. I'd submitted no application, which made the offer doubly surprising. As far as the job itself, heaven knows I needed one. But I'd seen the offer for what it was. It was a pity-job, plain and simple, which meant the only decent thing I could do was decline.
So that's what I'd done.
By email.
I'd been polite, professionalandappreciative. But I'dstilldeclined, because it had been the right thing to do – and yes, because Mason Blastoviak would be the worst kind of boss, especially in close quarters.
And Idomean close, considering that the job was a nanny position for his much younger sister.Her, I liked.Him, not so much.
After I'd declined his surprising offer, I'd received no response at all. Then again, I hadn't expected one, which made his sudden appearance here in Petoskey all the more unsettling.
I was still trying to process it all when Livia sidled closer to him and practically purred, "You can givemea ride any time."
Oh, for God's sake.
With barely a glance in her direction, Mason replied, "I know."
Livia blinked. "What?"
"I know," he repeated. "But I'm not interested. So beat it."
I felt my gaze narrow.Beat it? Seriously?
It was vintage Mason.
As millions of strangers already knew from watching him on the Home Network, he could be a real jerk sometimes. But me? I'd seen him be a jerk in person, and Ihadn'tappreciated it.
I didn't appreciate itnoweither, even if Liviawascoming on a little strong.
I was just about to tell him what he could do with his rudeness when Livia gave a happy shriek. "Oh, my God!" she squealed. "It's you!" Looking nearly orgasmic, she announced, "You're Mason Blast."
His jaw clenched. "I know," he said yet again.
Livia whirled to me and said, "You know him? Seriously?"
I did.But it wasn't something I liked to brag about. Until tonight, I'd met Mason exactly one time.
