Page 82 of Off Plan

“Excuse you.Downton Abbeyisnotstupid. YouloveDownton Abbeynights!”

“You’re right,” I agreed, though I was pretty sure I’d never seen an entire episode and didn’t care to. “I do loveDownton Abbeynights.”

His answering grin held a tinge of relief that made me shake my head and press a soft kiss to his lips. How the guy could doubt I loved our time together was beyond me. Little known, seriously disgusting, and highly scary fact? I would have incentivizedhimfor the privilege of being there.

“Heya, boys!” Big Rafe called from down on the dock and my head turned in his direction. He was sporting yet anotherMAYORshirt. This one, a vision in highlighter pink.

Mason straightened and took half a step back, like he’d forgotten we were in public. His hand didn’t move from my chest, though, and he didn’t pull away.

I wasn’t sure why I kept expecting him to.

Mason hadn’t spoken to his family about his sexuality yet, since he wanted to do that in person, but he was “out” on Whispering Key, and he was sure as fuck out in his bedroom late at night. After the evening on the beach and the next day in his office, he hadn’t hesitated to embrace this thing between us in privateorin public. Not once. All of which was so very,verydifferent from anything that had ever happened with Thad Chambers back in Texas, it didn’t bear comparison.

So why the fuck did I keep comparing them?

“Heya, Mr. Goodman!” Mason called to Big Rafe.

“It’sRafe, son. Did you get that message I left with Taffy? About the places that called me for references?”

Oh,right. I kept comparing them because Thad had hurt me and Mason…

Mason was gonna fucking crush me when he left. It was inevitable.

And I’d known the score from the start—this was only ever meant to be short-term, fun while it lasted, so I had no one to blame but myself for letting things go further than that, for letting him burrow deeper into my chest than that.

Mason nodded stiffly. “Ah, yeah. Got it. Thanks.”

“I told ’em you were the second coming of Jesus, more or less, so I’d be shocked if you don’t get a call back—”

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Mason interrupted hurriedly, closing that half step between us again. “Thank you.”

Rafe looked back and forth between Mason and me curiously. “Boy oh boy, you applied for a lot of jobs, huh? Something’s bound to come through for you soon!”

Mason smiled tightly. “Maybe. I’ll let you know.”

“I mean, with so many great opportunities—”

“Rafe, did you just stop by to chat about this? I’ve gotta get the boat ready and see where Beale is.”

“Ah. About that. Good news and bad news!” Big Rafe tapped his fingers against the dock railing. “Tour group canceled. I guess one of the ladies got heatstroke. So I told Beale he’s not needed here. But, the group paid their cancellation fee, so you might as well take Mason out anyway.”

“Nah, we could—” I began.

“A private tour,” Mason said, low enough so only I could hear. “Would inspire muchincentivization.”

“—we could definitely go out,” I agreed. “Good call.”

“Good! Good, good,” Rafe said. He patted the top rail of the dock again and darted a look at Mason. “So. Shame about that tour group. I guess the heat can be real bad for ladies of a certain age?”

“Heat can be dangerous to lots of people,” Mason agreed.

“Like, Gloria,” Big Rafe said. “She’s been struggling with this an awful lot. She’s gone to see you a few times, right?”

Mason’s fingers flexed slightly against my chest, but his smile never faltered. “You know I can’t tell you that, Rafe. You’ll need to ask her.”

Rafe scratched at his nose. “Already done that, but the woman won’t tell me a damn thing.” He shook his head. “Don’t tell me anything personal about her, just tell me… is she okay?”

Mason shook his head. “Ask her.”