Where Would I Be Without You - By CJ Hawk Page 0,59

just shut down." He let out an awkward laugh, so I joked.

"Again, you are a man, and you suck at communication." We both laughed.

Then he continued on. "I guess what I am trying to say is I won't be as distant as I seemed. Next time, I will not let you go away mad. I will do my best to make you smile." He waggled his eyebrows and I knew what that meant. Which to me, it meant a lot. Not that he wanted to please me in a physical sense, but also in a mental sense.

He looked at me with eyes that were begging for forgiveness. "Don't worry. I'll let you practice on your forgiving. It might take a lot of practice." Just as I teased, Marion walked through the curtain.

"There is an awful lot of giggling going on behind this curtain. Hey, I talked with the doctor. You've got a minor concussion. I talked with the Crawly receptionist and got the short version of which I am sure Mason filled you in on a bit." She winked at him and he smiled back, while squeezing my hand. She continued on. "So, you are one lucky little girl. Wally found out that the car you hit was actually a rental replacement from the dealership, because the president's Range Rover had some engine noise this morning. You hit the dealership car, which will probably be covered by their insurance. In any case, your rates might go up. That said, you two look cozy. Did you kiss and make up?"

Mason spoke up first. "Not fully but I will be her doctor for the next few days until she is better."

Marion chimed in with some good news. " As soon as the doctor can get in here to look you over and sign your release, one of us needs to drive you home for bed rest."

"That would be me." Mason chuckled as he nudged Marion.

Then Marion had some even better news. "Look. I think everything at work will be fine. Turns out the city auditor can't make it in for two more weeks. So that will give you time. Take a few days off."

"That is all I felt like I have been doing." I frowned at my own behavior.

Mason answered so quickly that my heart did a pitter-patter. "Everybody has a little off time at work. This is your time. Things will get back on track, and I will help anyway I can."

"Me too." Marion chimed in. "And don't worry about pleasing everyone else. Take care of yourself first."

Then Mason burst out with an admittance I think he wanted to state all along and now felt like a good time. "I wasn't going to give up that easy, you know. I had plans to get you back. I just wanted you to cool down a bit. The apartment residences talk way too much and I got the brunt end of conversations." Then he reached up and kissed me on the lips but puckering my lips caused a little pain in my head, and I moaned.

"Sorry." Mason quickly apologized with sincerity.

"I guess there are other places you could kiss to make me feel better." I teased.

"And that is a sign that I need to go. Listen you two; enjoy your doctor-patient thing. Spoil her Mason. She deserves it. I'm going to run. Mums the word with the family I suppose?" Marion winked.

"Yes. Please. Let's keep this quiet if we can. I don't think I can deal with my mom on this one."

Marion patted my foot under the hospital issued blanket and smiled. "Mums the word. Call me if you need me." Then she was gone.

Mason and I sat there quietly for a second as I felt him squeeze my hand then he finally spoke up. "It's not a big deal you know. You dating a guy who lied about being married. I guess what I am trying to say, is we have all done some stupid things. I guess that is why my dad thinks I can't pick a good woman, but this time I think I did."

"If you are referring to me, then I guess you might be in for a surprise now and then. It just seems to happen to me that way. Luck is not always in my favor. However, I guess when it comes to meeting you, I would have to say it is, because if you are willing to overlook my, uhm, flaws, then I can try to