was my only smart choice, considering that my degree was in primary education, and the schoolyear had started nearly a month ago. This meant that my odds of getting a teaching job now were practically non-existent.
Barring some miracle, I'd be waiting almost a full year before any decent teaching jobs opened up again. Until then, I needed to find something else, if only to stem the tide of student debt.
And yet, none of this explained Mason's surprise arrival. Yesterday, he'd offered me a job. I'd declined. Surely this meant that his obligation had been met – meaning an obligation to my best friend who was almost certainly behind the sudden offer.
I gave him a perplexed look. "You didn't come all this way for that, did you?"
"For what?" he asked.
"To talk to me." Quickly, I clarified, "About the job, I mean."
"So what if I did?"
I made a point of looking around. Not only was Mason almost three hours away from home, he was standing in a small-town nightclub. Around us, everyone was staring, including Livia, who looked like she didn't know whether to jump his bones or pelt him with the empty drink glass.
I looked back to Mason. "I’m just saying, you could've called instead."
"Yeah. And you could've declined on the phone."
"You mean the job offer?" I said. "I could still decline. In fact, I already did. You received my email, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"So, like I said in the email, I can't take the job." I straightened to my full height, which barely reached his shoulders. "No. What I mean is, I won't take the job." I paused. "Even though I do appreciate the offer."
And I did, truly. I appreciated it more than words could express. But it wasn't Mason who received the bulk of my gratitude. It was my best friend, Arden, who was engaged to Mason's brother.
I wasn't quite sure how she'd managed it, but I just knew that Arden was the driving force behind the sudden opportunity.
And how did I know this?
Two reasons. Reason number-one – just three days ago, Arden had promised to help me find a job. And reason number-two? Mason disliked me just as much as I disliked him, which meant that he was only doing this as a favor to his brother.
In front of me, Mason said, "If you're so thankful, take it. You can start tomorrow."
I made a sound of frustration. "Just because I’m thankful, that doesn't mean I should take it."
"Alright. Then take it because it's a good offer."
Good? Actually, it was better than good – which was yet another reason I'd declined. The pay actually exceeded what I'd make as a first-year teacher. It included living expenses, too. And a vehicle. Not for keepsies, but to drive whenever I wanted.
When I'd received the offer, I'd been so tempted, I'd almost said yes without thinking. But just in time, I'd come to my senses.
It was a pity job, plain and simple.
Plus, there was the matter of the employer himself. Mason was a total nightmare.
Mentally, I ran through his least desirable traits.
He was condescending.
Rude.
Abrasive.
Arrogant.
And, on top of that, he was too darn sexy for his own good, which was a huge distraction.
Like now, I was utterly distracted by his amazing eyes – and how good he looked compared to anyone I'd seen in, well, forever, actually.
The lunk-blaster.
And, as awful as he was, I could only imagine how he'd treat an employee he'd hired only out of obligation.
Even so, I still might've accepted, if not for one sobering fact. Taking the job would be cruel, and I didn't mean to myself.
"Listen," I said, "I can't take it, because it wouldn't be fair to Willow."
Mason frowned. "Why not?"
"Because," I said, "don't you think she needs some stability in her life?"
His frown deepened. "You don't think she has that now?"
According to Arden, Mason was a surprisingly good dad to his little sister. Willow, who'd just turned eight, even called him "Dad" – not because Mason had asked for such a thing, but rather because Willow had apparently begged to call him that, after she'd been the only girl at her preschool to not have a dad of her own.
Both of Willow's parents were dead, which meant that she was technically an orphan, just like her three older brothers.
My heart went out to her. It went out to all of them, even Mason, whose own heart went out to no one, well for except his own family.
He was notoriously protective when it came to them.
But to strangers? Not