and very sure 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 with him.
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, professional and appreciative. But I'd still declined, 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 I do mean 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 give me a 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 I hadn't appreciated it.
I didn't appreciate it now either, even if Livia was coming 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.
Our encounter hadn't been friendly.
With a giggle, Livia turned back to Mason and said, "I just love your act. I can't believe I didn't recognize you."
I could.
The so-called act was Mason's regular appearance on Blast, a weekly cable show on the Home Network, where the Blastoviak Brothers used their own tools to remodel older homes or sometimes build new ones.
Already, Blast was the network's number-one hit show of all time. With its massive ratings and subsequent publicity, it was already a cultural icon, with millions of rabid fans including yours truly, even if I'd never admit this to Mason.
On the show, Mason wore work clothes – T-shirts and flannel mostly, along with jeans that showed off his long legs and tight ass.
Yes, I'd noticed. So sue me, okay?
Just because he was a jerk, that didn't mean I was blind to his appeal. The funny thing was, he looked just as good in flannel as he did in the pricey business suit he was wearing now.
As I watched, Mason turned cold eyes on Livia and said, "An act?"
"Oh, you know," she giggled. "How you pretend to be such a hard-ass."
As the two of them locked gazes, my eyes dipped lower toward Mason's hips. I couldn’t see his ass now. But I'd seen enough of it on the TV screen to know that it was, in fact, quite firm. Or at least it sure looked that way.
As I eyed his pelvis, my fingers clenched with curiosity. If his ass looked firm, would it feel firm, too?
My pulse quickened. Oh yeah. It definitely would.
Horrified, I jerked my gaze upward. Why was I thinking of his ass? I didn't even like him. And I knew the feeling was mutual.
But apparently, Livia liked Mason enough for the both of us. With a playful hip bump, she told him, "But I can tell you're just a big ol' softie on the inside."
I couldn’t help it. I laughed long and hard.
Mason? Soft?
Oh, please. I'd seen bricks with softer edges.
Mason looked to me and said, "You wanna share the joke?"
Under his withering gaze, I stopped laughing. "Not particularly."
Next to him, Livia gave me an accusing look. "Why didn't you laugh like that earlier?"