CHAPTER 4: Mason

I was talking business with Mark as we made our way to the elevators, but I was thinking about dark green eyes. Something about Isabelle struck me from the moment that we made contact and I wondered if I could break my own rules. If things worked out, she could transfer within the company or even to another one altogether. I blinked as I stepped inside and laughed at something Mark said.

I didn’t date women. I met them and usually didn’t see them again. I was approaching thirty and my mom wanted me to settle down but I was busy working. My uncle ran the company, and I loved it there along with the travel that was included for some events. I had met a lot of great authors in the last seven years while I was moving up in the company.

I made a mental note to ask Isabelle if she could make some trips with me. We went to the bigger signings to represent our authors if they chose to go that route and attended many private ones all over the United States.

I told him that I’d see him Friday night for our traditional dinner and headed to my office, grinning as I approached the door. Isabelle would be back and I could approach the subject of travel. I glanced over to see her desk still empty and frowned as I walked through the door to my office and turned to look through the window. I stood at an angle where I wouldn’t be seen and noted Isabelle walking towards me. She was wearing a loose, black skirt that moved around her thighs, displaying tight calves along with some great curves in the fray blouse that clung to her. She was a gorgeous woman, and I noted the small stain on her shirt, more than likely from the incident this morning.

I was irritated by that but when I looked into her face, I was caught off guard. She looked mortified, but I was only thinking about the heat of her skin and those mesmerizing eyes. I hadn’t been affected by a woman like this in quite some time. I moved as she stepped behind her desk, setting her can down and pulling up the book with a smile on her face.

Isabelle loved to read.

I moved to my desk to get started on the novel that we were supposed to release next month. It was a little difficult to focus on it as I kept thinking about my new assistant but I turned on some classical music to get me into the book. It needed to be perfect since this was going to be a profitable release for everyone involved.

I worked through until five and saved my progress. I was supposed to meet my family for dinner tonight and I closed down the computer, pulling on a light jacket as I stood up. I looked through the window to see Isabelle still lost in the book and I grabbed my keys as I walked out, closing my door. “Are you planning on leaving tonight?” I asked her as she pushed back and looked at me.

“It’s five. Oh, God. I have to go.” She saved her work quickly and licked her fill lips as she forced a smile. “I finished the book. I think it will be a hit.”

“Finished it?” I asked dubiously as she nodded proudly. “Do you remember what you read?”

“Completely. I was blessed with the skill of speed reading.” She gathered her things and stood up to leave, making me wonder why she was in such a hurry.

“I see.” We walked to the elevators and joined the crowd, pressing together as she flushed a deep pink. I was getting to her and smiled at the idea. We left the building together, and she told me to have a good night as she headed to the parking lot with rapid steps.

I watched as I moved with the slower crowd since I had an hour before dinner. I just liked to allow myself time to do things, and I wondered again if working late would be an issue for Isabelle. She didn’t say so during the orientation so I hoped not. It happened once a month or so depending on releases.

I was first at the restaurant and ordered a drink at the bar to settle down. My small family made their way through the door and I waved at them as Mom spoke to the hostess. She and my sister headed to the table and Dad walked over to order a drink, giving me a curious look. “Was it that hard of a day?”

“I just got here early,” I replied as he clapped me on the back. Lance was nowhere in sight, but he’d been like that since hooking up with my girlfriend. They lived in another part of Washington now and he only spoke to my parents every so often.

“Come to the table. Your mom has been missing you.” I was without an assistant for a few weeks and did all the work myself, so I’d been missing in action. We headed over and I hugged Mom and Reanna before sitting down with them. Mom asked me all about work and whether I hired someone new as my sister rolled her eyes. She knew the real reason I went through assistants so fast and teased me that I’d meet one that I couldn’t resist. Reanna was just a couple of years younger than me but we were close. She wanted me happy with a woman again and she didn’t know how close she was to her prediction.

“I hired someone. She started today and finished a book before leaving for the night. I am wondering how the notes will be but this girl might be a dream come true.” I admitted as Mom smiled.

“That’s great. You need to have more time to relax,” Mom told me as I laughed. I didn’t do a lot of that between work, the gym, and social time. I might not be dating but I wasn’t home feeling lonely.

“Nah. I have time for that.” I told her as she shook her head and picked up the menu. We ordered appetizers and dinner before settling in to talk about the upcoming holidays. They always had the family over at their big house without my brother over the last three years. I felt bad about that but he made the choice to sleep with my girlfriend. I listened as Mom talked about the menu and who would be staying at the house opposed to who would get a hotel. My family couldn’t be together for long periods of time and I smirked as she mentioned my aunt. Noel had a way of alienating herself from everyone in her life and I sipped my drink as Dad laughed.

I walked the few blocks to my condo after dinner, thinking about Isabelle. I wondered where she lived as I walked through the lobby and greeted the doorman before taking the elevator to my place on the seventeenth floor. I could have easily hit a bar and found a woman to take home tonight, but I wasn’t in the mood. I might actually go to sleep at a reasonable time tonight.

I went to bed with the TV on, trying to shut my mind down as I idly listened to the guest on the late night show. I always got up early if at all possible to hit the gym before work and I closed my eyes as I took in a slow breath.

I imagined Lana’s face in my mind for a fleeting moment and tensed. I wasn’t ready to marry her, but I was more serious about her than anyone else. It hurt when she cheated on me and I hadn’t been with anyone more than casually since that night. Why did the woman that brought me back to life have to be my assistant?

I woke up early for a morning run and made it a long one. I needed the exercise, and I felt my feet hit the pavement steadily as I stared forward with the music blaring into one ear. I knew that I could get Isabelle with a little work and something inside of me sparked to life at the idea of it. I was going to try to deal with the consequences later.