Page 115 of Kiss and Tell

“Girlfriend?” Mason’s brows lifted high on his forehead, eyeing the two of us.

Connor tugged me against his side with an arm around my waist.

“Never thought I’d settle down, hm?” Connor asked.

“Well…” Mason looked at a loss for words. “Yeah.”

“Next we’ve got to find you a girl,” Connor said.

Mason blanched, as if turned off by the thought.

“Nah, I’m good,” he said. “No offense,” he continued, turning to me.

Even if he wasn’t a musician, being in the music industry had clearly shaped Mason’s thoughts on relationships.

“So how’s work?” Connor asked him.

“It sucks without you,” Mason said bluntly. “The only reason I joined the music industry was so I could manage you, to make sure you kept me around when you went off and started living your dreams. Working with other artists when you’re not there isn’t the same.” Mason shrugged. “My heart’s not in it anymore, I guess.”

A spark lit up in Connor’s eyes.

“So, what you’re saying is, you’re looking for a new gig?” Connor asked.

“It’d be nice to do something other than manage musical acts, yeah,” he replied.

“Hm.” Connor pursed his lips, looking thoughtful. He turned to me.

“What do you think?” he asked.

I knew immediately what he was talking about. I examined Mason with a shrewd eye, thinking hard. I nodded.

“I’m all for it,” I said.

“For what?” Mason asked, looking back and forth between the two of us.

“What do you think about coming on board to manage the bar?” Connor asked.

Mason opened and closed his mouth a few times.

“Are you serious?” he finally asked.

“I am,” Connor confirmed. “You’ve always been brilliant with the business side of things. I’m going to be busy working on other reno projects. And there’s no one else in the world I trust more than you.” Connor held his hand out for Mason to take. “What do you say?”

Mason looked at Connor’s outstretched hand. He blinked a few times, as if in disbelief. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.

He took Connor’s hand in his with a firm grip, squeezing.

“I’m in,” he said.

“Awesome,” Connor grinned. “Let me introduce you to our bartender, Grant.”

Connor waved down the bartender and left the two of them to chat. He took my hand, leading me away.

“This place is packed,” he said as we wove through the bodies. “We should get a drink and do the rounds.”

But there was still one more thing.

Connor hadn’t noticed the stage yet.