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Mason

Ireally didn’t needhis help, but I would’ve been lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his company. And it still freaked me out how much I enjoyed it. Christophe came from a world that I despised, but spending time around him and getting to know him was starting to make me see things a little differently. Sure, he was snobby and a bit stuck up, but he was also kind and caring, and I could see how much he prided hishonor.

He’d chosento take a chance on me, to trust me and see the best in me. It was more than I probably would’ve done for myself, if I were in hisposition.

The attractionI had for him had grown beyond just physical. There’d always been something about him. He carried an intensity about him, a primal and sensual energy buried deep beneath his serious, prim mask that I’d noticed the moment I’d laid eyes on him. Now I was starting to enjoy getting to know him. Not that I’d ever admit that tohim.

“What are you doing?”he growled. “If you put that there, then the system won’tarm.”

“Oh, you’re an expert, now?”I snapped back. “I read the damn instruction manual, the same as you. It says you need to ground the coupling to the electrical system first, otherwise the door won’tlock.”

“Let me see that.Give that to me.” He reached out to grab the piece of the door’s security system I held in my hand, and I jerked itaway.

“Why don’tyou go balance your check book, or something,” Isaid.

It wasthe second day of working on repairing the broken door, and surprisingly, despite arguing about everything, the two of us working together had actually been really helpful. There would’ve been no way I could’ve done it by myself, not with my hand the way it was. Christophe could’ve brought in someone else to help me, but it did make a difference to me that he’d chosen to do it himself, not that he owed me any proof of hisintegrity.

“Why didI think this would be a good idea,” he muttered. “I could do this myself and I’d already bedone.”

“Hey,you were the one who almost wanted to screw the door on backwards. I don’t think you’ve done a day of labor in yourlife.”

Ishoulderedhim out of the way and lodged the piece into the bracket inside the wall. “There, it’s in.” Isaid.

“What doyou want to bet that it’s not going towork.”

“It is going to work.”

“Ibet you it won’t.”

“Alright,”I said. “If it works, then you have to treat me out to dinner at the fanciest, most exclusive place youknow.

“And what ifit doesn’t? What do Iget?”

“Hell if I know.What would you want fromme?”

Ididn’t knowif it was just my imagination, but for the briefest moment the look in Christophe’s eyes changed. It was a mixture of that look of longing I’d seen him with before, and something else, something that turned my knees weak. It was a dangerous look. A hungry look. Had I just imagined it? Had I only seen what I wanted tosee?

“If it doesn’t,then… you need to cook dinner for me. At yourhouse.”

Icringed.Christophe sitting down and eating dinner with Mom and Jennifer? How embarrassing would that be? The questions I imagined Mom asking Christophe were enough to make me want to shrivelaway.

“Cook dinner, okay, sure.”

“Shallwe turn this thing on? You can change yourmind.”

“No way. Do it.”

Christophe reachedfor the control panel on the wall, and I held my breath as he touched it. The panel lit up blue, then green, and the word “ARM” appeared on the screen. He tapped it with his finger. There was a whirring sound. Then a click from inside the door. The screen went blank… and then “ARMED” began to flash onit.

“Fuck yeah!”I shouted, elbowing his arm. “I told you it would work. Told you, toldyou.”

“Alright, alright,”he said, shaking his head. “Don’t getexcited.”

Iputmy hands on my hips. “So. What am I gonna be eating for dinner? Steak covered ingold?”

Icouldn’t tellif he was just pretending to look annoyed. I could’ve sworn I saw him betray a little smile as he looked away from me. “I’ll figure it out. Tomorrow night. I hope you don’t have any otherplans.”

“Nope.And it better be the fanciest, most exclusive place,” I said. “I’ve got discerning taste, youknow.”