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dark
eyes had heavy brows slashing over them, parted by an angular nose
that had been broken at some point and never set exactly right. She
wanted to reach out and run her finger over the little bump it had
left, ending on the firm, full lips below it. Her breathing
quickened as she thought about him sucking her finger between his
lips, just like she wanted him to suck the nipples that now
tightened under her thin blouse.
    “ I know this party’s for
me, but I really don’t feel like all the noise tonight. Want to go
back to your place?” Mason said lowly near her ear.
    Cassie trembled slightly as her body
reacted to his warm breath against her. Lust seemed to swell in his
gaze again, and she fought to control her raging body. Mason
squeezed her hand gently and rubbed his thumb along her
palm.
    Getting control of herself, she
smiled. She was letting her imagination run away with her. But he’d
read her mind. She’d wanted him all to herself and it looked like
she was going to get her wish. “Sure,” she said, trying not to
sound too eager. Realizing she’d been the one to plan the party,
she paused. “But everyone came out to see you. Are you sure you
want to go?”
    Mason smiled. “I’ve talked to everyone
here I wanted to. I’m ready to say goodbye,” he said as he stood
and pulled out her chair.
    “ If you need some quiet,
I’m sure everyone will understand,” Cassie said, trying to sound
logical when she felt anything but. She rose and glanced up at his
towering form. Cassie always felt petite next to his six plus foot
height and broad shoulders, especially since he made her five foot
three feel even tinier. It made her want to cuddle against him. She
fought the urge to do just that as they said their
goodbyes.

Chapter Four
     
    Mason put the car in gear, his hands
sweating slightly on the wheel. He rubbed his palms along his
thighs, trying to calm himself. The clamminess wasn’t from the
summer heat, but from his apprehension. He glanced over at Cassie
as they pulled up to the first red light, and smiled. She gave him
a wobbly smile back.
    All night, she’d been quiet and her
mood made him nervous. Did she sense how wound up he was
inside?
    Feeling like this wasn’t anything he
was accustomed to. Years of good ‘ole Southern charm had been bred
into him from an early age. Mason had no problem coaxing a woman
into doing just about anything he asked when he turned that
on.
    But Cassie was different.
    She was a friend, a really good friend. A
friend he’d fallen for and that raised the stakes all around. With
Cassie, there was no coaxing. She’d already wrapped him around her
little finger without even knowing she’d done so. At first, her
magnetic pull had felt odd, but now he couldn’t imagine being
anywhere but by her side.
    Over the course of the two years she’d
dated Dave, Mason had slowly become ensnared by the woman. He
enjoyed her friendship and her company, and he couldn’t recall ever
having a real female friend without a sexual relationship, in his
entire life. It wasn’t until Dave had skipped out that Mason had
realized just how much he felt for her.
    Cassie had been too good for her ex.
Way too good.
    Maybe the guy had realized that fact.
If Dave knew he wasn’t man enough, perhaps he’d self-destructed
unconsciously and he’d screwed everything up on purpose. Either
way, Cassie was better off without him. Mason just hoped better
would include him.
    “ There’s a question I’ve
wanted to ask you,” Mason said as he pulled onto the
interstate.
    “ What’s that?” she asked
as she pressed buttons on the radio, searching between stations.
She was fiddling—which meant she was nervous. Why was she
nervous?
    “ Why did you stay with
Dave so long? You were together two years. I’d say that was twenty
three and a half months too long.”
    Cassie sat up straighter, frowning.
She looked deep in thought when he glanced her way.
    “ I’m not really sure. It
was … comfortable,