ROMANCE: Mason (Bad Boy Alpha Male Stepbrother Romance Boxset) (New Adult Contemporary Stepbrother Romance Collection) (86 page)

“I care about you,” Sarah said, “And I know that you’ve been lonely. I’m not trying to force a mate on you, obviously you had the power to reject his offer; I just thought it would help to get you out and playing the field.”

“Playing the field?” Jessica laughed, “Did you actually just say that?”

Sarah chuckled. “I did and I’m entirely unashamed. Now, tell me about this coffee date.”

“It was just coffee,” Jessica murmured, jumping up to sit on the counter, feet swinging back and forth.

‘Yes, but you were out for a while; the coffee must have been really good.”

“It was, I had a cappuccino, just the right combination of coffee and foam, you should go sometime; I think you’d like it.”

“Must you make things so hard?” Sarah sighed, putting a second batch of cookies in the oven.

“I don’t have to, but it sure is fun,” Jessica smirked, smiling at Sarah’s exasperated huff.

“Remind me why I took you in again?”

“Because you love me and I make a mean red velvet cake.”

“Not frequently enough,” Sarah muttered, setting the oven’s timer. “So, was this just coffee, as you said this morning, or was this a date?”

“It was a coffee date.”

“You realize that tells me nothing.” Sarah sighed, leaning up against the counter beside Jessica.

“Yep.”

“You know what I think,” Sarah said, a smile creeping on to her face, “I think that you like this guy. If you didn’t, you would have just outright told me and been done with the whole conversation, and if it had gone poorly you probably would have come in here ranting to me. So, I can only conclude that it went well and you like this guy. Which means, if that’s the case, there’s only one question left to ask, and that’s whether or not you plan on seeing him again. So, do you?”

Jessica shrugged, turning away to hide the flush in her cheeks. “I don’t know, maybe,” she muttered, wanting to sound indifferent and nonchalant.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Jessica rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine, yes I had fun and yes I’m going to see him again, and, before you ask, yes it will be a date.”

“Where are you two going?”

“I’m not sure yet. I told him that I wanted to plan it, I just haven’t decided what we’re going to be doing.”

“You know, I can always give you a few ideas if you need some.” Sarah smirked. “I can even help you pick out an outfit and paint your nails while listening to Cindy Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

“Okay, the teasing is totally unnecessary.”

Sarah laughed. “I’m just giving you a hard time, just desserts if you ask me since getting any information from you is like pulling teeth.”

“Fine, we’re even,” Jessica said, “now, can I go to my room or do you want to pull any more teeth?”

“Go on, go upstairs,” Sarah said, waving her off. “We can revisit this conversation later.”

“Oh boy, can’t wait,” Jessica groaned, shaking her head as she headed for her room, grabbing another cookie off of the table as she went.

-x-x-x-

Ethan glanced at his phone as he entered his bedroom after his shower, something he was prone to doing every few minutes since he’d spoken to Jessica at the coffee shop.

This time, however, he was pleased to note that while he had been showering he’d received a message from Jessica.

He frowned as he realized that he still hadn’t found out her last name.

So, I’ve decided on what we’ll be doing, the message read, making Ethan eagerly type back.

And what will that be?

It’s a secret, you’ll find out when we meet

Do I at least get to know where I’m meeting you at?

I’m not sure, I’ve been debating on whether I should pick you up and blindfold you for the journey or if I should have you meet me there.

Think fast, I’m dying from anticipation, Ethan typed back quickly, grinning at the immediate response he received.

Well, that sounds like an intensely personal problem

Ethan moved to type back but there was another text.

I’ll send the address in a minute, just be there, tomorrow, five o clock sharp.

I’ll be there, Ethan typed back, heart pounding in his chest, can’t wait

:)

It was just a tiny, emoticon smile, but Ethan felt his face flush and a wide smile split his lips in response to it. Then, expectantly, a sudden rush of panic. It was a surprise: he had no idea where they’d be going. What would he wear?!

-x-x-x-

“You look sharp boss,” Josh said, eyeing him sideways over the book he was reading at the kitchen table, “big plans?”

Ethan made a conscious effort to prevent a blush from coming across his tanned cheeks as was prone to happen at the mere thought of Jessica lately. Instead, he gave a half-shrug. “Just headed out, not quite sure what I’ll do yet, so I dress for any event.”

“Smart thinking,” Josh hummed, “and perhaps just a bit mysterious,” he added, grinning.

“That’s the goal,” Ethan said, “Do you think you can hold down the fort for me for the day? Austin’s watching a Star Wars marathon so, unless the house is burning, and maybe not even then, there’s no hope of drawing him from his room.”

Josh chuckled. “Aye, aye captain,” he said, placing a hand over his left eye in imitation of a pirate. “Have fun, but not too much fun.”

Ethan snorted. “Right, I’ll try my best,” he said, waving goodbye as he walked out the door, jogging up to his car with an anxious buzz running through his veins at his fast approaching date.

Jessica had sent him an address, and he had, of course, googled the location in the hope of gleaning some sort of idea about what they would be doing, only to come up with nothing.

He couldn’t help laughing at the time, knowing that Jessica had likely done that intentionally. But now, as he was heading to the address, he couldn’t quite help the nervous tapping of his fingers on the steering wheel as his mind raced through all the possibilities.

Was he overdressed? Was he underdressed? He wore a simple pair of tan corduroy pants and a pastel-colored plaid shirt that may have shown off his biceps just a little bit. But still, was that the appropriate attire for the evening? What if it was some secret underground ballroom dancing club, or a paintball party? If it was the latter, he didn’t know how thrilled he would be about it; he really liked his shirt.

Should he have used that new shampoo that smelled like strawberries that Austin had recommended? Was he wearing too much cologne?

He sighed in relief as he realized that he wasn’t wearing any cologne. His eyes widened. Should he be wearing cologne? Did he smell?

He sniffed the air, noting that nothing smelled bad, but still worried. He lifted up his arm, giving his underarm a good whiff and only coming up with the woodsy scent of his deodorant.

But still, what was the term all those candle and air freshener commercials used? Nose blind? Had he gone nose blind to his own scent?

Ethan shook his head, hard, forcing himself to relax. He rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. He was being silly. At the very least, if he smelled foul, someone in his pack would have likely made a passing comment on him needing a shower before he’d left. And, even if he did smell, he was a man. He would have the manly smell of the woods and sweat from hard work.

He sat up straighter in his seat, nodding to himself, a smirk in place. He could do this; he was an Alpha for goodness’ sake. He’d fought and conquered far bigger challenges than a mere date of all things. And this was just that, a challenge. And he would take it on with his head held high.

Twenty minutes later he pulled up to what looked like an abandoned factory or warehouse. Just like the picture of it when he’d looked up the address, it had no signs or other indicators that would clue him into what was inside.

He parked in the small parking lot, noting a small smattering of other cars in the lot before turning his car off and getting out.

As soon as he had shut the door behind him, Jessica’s car came pulling up beside him. He blinked, taking it in. For some reason, he found it fitting that she drove a tall, yellow Jeep.

After a minute she hopped out of the car, coming to stand beside Ethan with a small smile lighting up her face. Ethan’s eyes scanned over her, hoping to glean some information from her outfit. Much to his disappointment, she looked fairly ready for anything in a green romper and black canvas shoes, sunglasses propped atop her head, her long dark hair tousled and flowing without a care down her shoulders. Well, at least he wasn’t overdressed, he thought to himself.

“Right on time,” she smiled, eyes scanning him briefly, so brief, in fact, that if he hadn’t been a werewolf he wouldn’t have caught it. He smirked, apparently she liked what she saw.

Jessica rolled her eyes at his smirk, motioning over to the plain looking metal building that appeared to be rusting. “Come on, I think you’re going to have some fun here.”

“Still not planning on telling me what we’re doing here?” Ethan asked, smiling as Jessica unconsciously took his hand and began leading him towards the building.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” she said lightly, opening the heavy metal door to the front of the building and motioning for Ethan to go in ahead of her, curtseying jauntily as she did so.

“Well,” Ethan said skeptically as they walked inside, taking a look at the empty concrete floor and the flickering luminescent lights above him. The room was completely devoid of people, devoid of any life really, as was made evident from what appeared to be months’ worth of piling dust that clung to the corners of the room and coated the floor, puffing up in little floating colonies with each step they took. “This place looks fun.”

“Oh, don’t be so boring; of course this isn’t it,” Jessica said, shaking her head. “We need to go up.”

Ethan looked to her curiously before she rolled her eyes, pointing across the room at a small, innocuous looking elevator across the room.

Curiosity now even further peaked, Ethan followed her over to it. Their feet sent what sounded like loud echoes in the quiet, still room as they walked.

“This is all rather cryptic,” Ethan said quietly, as if fearing that they would be overheard. “An empty building, no one in sight; rather a bit reminiscent of American Psycho, isn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Jessica said, pushing the only button on the panel beside the elevator door and waiting patiently. “I’m not really one for horror movies; I don’t understand why anyone would electively choose to scare themselves or potentially give themselves nightmares.”

“Really, you don’t like horror movies?” Ethan said, surprised.

“Why do you sound so shocked?” Jessica chuckled.

“I dunno,” Ethan murmured, “You just strike me as the horror movie-viewing type for some reason.”

“It’s the dark hair, isn’t it?” Jessica laughed. “It’s natural you know? But, yeah, I just don’t have the desire to scare myself.”

“Well, it’s your loss. I’ll hold your hand if you ever decide to give them a chance.”

Jessica smiled, looking down but unable to hide the light dusting of pink that came to her cheeks as the blood rushed there.

“Thank you,” she said, the elevator dinging as it finally arrived on their floor, “I’ll be sure to take that in consideration. But you know, you hardly need the ruse of a horror movie to hold my hand.” She grinned, walking into the elevator with a smiling Ethan following her.

The elevator felt rickety, loud squeaks issuing from the metal container as they stepped into it and Ethan pursed his lips in a moment of nervousness.

“Oh, don’t worry, I come here every week; it's never broken down on me before.”

“Every week huh?” Ethan asked, “You must really enjoy, well, whatever we’re going to do. Do you take all your dates here?”

“You’re actually the first,” Jessica said, “my friend actually suggested I bring you.”

“So, do you have a lot of dates then, and I’m just special?”

Jessica chuckled at his very obvious attempt to find out about her dating habits.

“Very subtle,” she chuckled, “And, for your information, I haven’t been on a date in about a year.”

“A year, that’s a bit of a gap, a bad experience?” Ethan asked, watching the needle on the top of the elevator move through the numbers, slowly approaching twenty.

“Not exactly,” Jessica laughed, “I was tired of dating boys.”

“Oh?” Ethan raised an eyebrow in interest.

Jessica rolled her eyes, staring at him. “I was tired of dating boys; I want to date men. Think you’re up to the challenge?”

“I sure hope so,” Ethan said, now feeling a certain amount of pressure that hadn’t been there moments earlier.

The elevator door dinged as they reached their floor. “Don’t disappoint me,” Jessica said, smirking at him.

As soon as the door opened fully, Ethan’s olfactory sense was hit with an onslaught of spices and sweet scents. The room was filled with the sounds of people chatting and Ethan heard the sound of an over timer going off.

“Are we at, a restaurant?”