Chapter 12

 

It was no surprise to find the pub packed to the rafters when we arrived fashionably late that evening. Word had obviously spread that Mace White was in town and about to go on a very public date with another man. The place fell silent as I walked in, flanked by Alex and Stefan, so clearly there were some there who recognised me from earlier and knew that I was the one Mason was waiting for. The crowd parted like a biblical sea, and Mason appeared, his gaze unwavering as he walked toward me.

“Close your mouth,” Stefan whispered in my ear. “You’re drooling.”

I snapped my jaw shut, embarrassed. But, damn – Mason looked good enough to eat. He was dressed simply, in dark jeans and a tight, v-necked T-shirt that accentuated every ridge of his muscled torso. He smiled and my eyes were drawn to his full lips and even, white teeth. Fuck, the guy was perfect.

“Thank you for coming,” he said quietly. “I got us a table over there.”

He held out his hand and I took it without hesitation, feeling slightly overwhelmed by all the attention. Alex cleared his throat pointedly, and Mason finally dragged his eyes away from my face and acknowledged my friends.

“You must be Stefan.” Mason smiled warmly at Stefan, who nodded and blushed. “Which makes you Alex.”

Mason offered his free hand for Alex to shake which Alex ignored. I could practically smell the testosterone as they eyed each other up and down, the warmth and friendliness slipping from Mason’s stance.

“We’ll get drinks,” Stefan said brightly, grabbing hold of Alex’s arm. “Coke, Eric, or something stronger?”

“Coke’s fine,” I answered, determined to keep a clear head around Mason. The man was temptation enough without losing my inhibitions.

“I opened a tab,” Mason said. “Drinks are on me, guys.”

“Thanks, but I pay my own way,” Alex snapped back.

I began to wonder if bringing him was a good idea as he pushed his way through the crowd to the bar, Stefan close behind him. Alex would be great to have around if I needed protecting, but I hadn’t expected him to be quite so aggressive toward Mason from the outset.

“He likes me, I can tell,” Mason joked as we settled at the table he had reserved in the corner.

“I don’t think he likes anyone really, apart from Stefan.”

“There you go then. We have something in common. We both have a penchant for little, blond twinks.”

“I am not a twink!” I said hotly. “Nor is Stefan.”

“I didn’t mean any…”

“You judge him on his long, blond hair, tight jeans and pixie boots, and you have no idea how tough he is underneath or what he and Alex went through to be together.”

“Whoa!” Mason held up his hands defensively. “I’m sorry. You’re right. But it’s not those two getting together I want to know about. I’m more interested in how we can get together.”

“Well, you can start by not calling me a twink,” I grumbled, not willing to forgive him too easily.

Mason looked crestfallen, as though things were not going quite the way he had planned. “I got you your job back,” he said plaintively.

“You shouldn’t have lost it for me in the first place!”

Matron had called a couple of hours after I had seen Mason, to tell me the complaint had been withdrawn and I could return to work with immediate effect. I’d told her that I was away for a few days and she had agreed I could return the following Monday with no hard feelings. Not on her part maybe, but there were plenty on mine. How could I not be resentful of the fact they had been so quick to suspend me on a trumped up complaint? Rationally, I knew none of it was directly Mason’s fault, but everything that had happened was because of him. He had to take at least part of the blame.

“Listen, Eric…” Mason sighed, and rubbed a hand over his face wearily. “When you’re rich and famous, you get used to having everything handed to you on a plate. I’m not used to having to work for the things I want.”

“I’m not a thing any more than I’m a twink,” I snapped. “And if chasing me half way across the country is such an inconvenience, why are you even bothering?”

“Will you let me explain? Please?” He leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. “What I’m trying to say – badly, apparently – is that I don’t know how to do this courting thing. I’m going to get it wrong at times; say and do the wrong thing…” He stopped, as surprised as I was myself when I laughed. “What? Did I say something funny?”

“Courting?” I giggled. “Who the fuck says courting?”

“I do, obviously. Call it what you want – courting, wooing, romancing, dating. My point is, I’m not very good at it. But I want to be. I want to try. For you.”

Alex and Stefan chose that moment to arrive at the table, saving me from answering. Stefan put my drink in front of me and glanced between me and Mason nervously.

“Everything okay?”

“Everything is fine,” I said, as they sat down, Alex tugging Stefan’s chair closer to him. “Mason is wooing me.”

“He’s doing what?” Alex glared at Mason suspiciously, which caused me and Stefan to dissolve into fits of laughter.

It broke the ice, at least, and we all relaxed a little. As dates went, it had to be one of the strangest I had ever been on. There was a steady stream of people coming to the table to say hello to Mason, and he had a smile and a friendly word for all of them. I wondered how we must look to the other people in the pub; two huge, muscled, dark-haired guys and two short, skinny, blonds. Nobody batted an eyelash at the fact Mason and I were on a date or that Alex and Stefan were so obviously a couple. We didn’t get the chance to talk much, but every few minutes, Mason would look over and flash me the kind of devastating smile that had me weak at the knees.

“Sorry,” Stefan whispered, leaning over so only I could hear him. “It’s not turning out to be much of a date, is it?”

“It’s fine.” I glanced over the table to where Mason and Alex were discussing music between fans. “It’s nice, actually. I like that I can sit back and watch, and find out what kind of person he is.”

“Yeah, I really think he’s one of the good guys, Eric.” Stefan’s eyes shone with happiness as he gazed at Alex. “The way he is with Alex…most people don’t give him a chance.”

As if they sensed we were talking about them, Mason and Alex turned to look at us.

“Alex’s favourite Arcadia album is Rise of the Warlord.” Mason arched an eyebrow. “Which is your favourite, Eric?”

“Oh, I…um…” Shit, was he serious? Did he really expect me to have rushed home and listened to his entire back catalogue the moment I found out who he was? “I didn’t…I mean, I haven’t…”

“See?” Mason grinned, turning his attention back to Alex. “This is why I like him. He doesn’t give a shit how famous I am or how much money I have.”

“Yeah,” Alex said grudgingly, not realising he was echoing Stefan’s words from a few minutes before. “He’s one of the good guys.”

Mason signalled to the barman for another round of drinks, and this time Alex accepted graciously, without arguing over who paid. Another little flurry of people dropped by the table to say hi to Mason and get his autograph. Mason willingly signed all manner of objects put in front of him, and joked about it all being on eBay by midnight, with the exception of one’s woman’s left breast. Stefan and I, being pure, twenty-four carat gays, had both looked away in horror when she flopped one huge, milky-white boob out in Mason’s face. Maybe Mason was used to it, but it didn’t seem to bother him.

“Is it always like this?” I asked, when there was a lull between fans.

“Pretty much.” Mason pulled his chair closer to mine. “I’m sorry, Eric. I guess asking you out so publicly wasn’t one of my better ideas.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “But I think I’m ready to call it a night, Mason.”

“Please don’t.” He reached over to grab my hand, his brow furrowing into a frown. “Look, I know I’ve messed this up, but please don’t give up on me just yet. Come back to my hotel, Alex and Stefan too,” he added quickly, seeing I was about to refuse. “It’s private. We won’t be bothered by anyone. Please, Eric, give me one more chance to make this right.”

“I’m not sure…” I looked to Stefan and Alex, seeking their opinion. They shrugged in unison, non-committal. Fat lot of help they were! “One drink,” I said, with a resigned sigh. “And in the bar, not your room.”

“I have a suite actually.” Mason flashed me his best shit-eating grin. “But your wish is my command, oh-gorgeous-one.” He pulled an expensive looking phone from his pocket. “I’ll get the guys to bring the car around.”

What guys? What car? I thought he’d travelled down to Weymouth on his bike. Stefan and Alex looked as equally puzzled as I was feeling right at that moment. A few moments after Mason made his call, Stefan paled and shrank into Alex’s side. I turned to find the cause of his concern and saw two huge men walking toward us. With their matching close-cropped hair styles, t-shirts and jeans, they reminded me of Alex’s former friends and gang members. No wonder Stefan was disturbed at the sight of them. He and Alex had both nearly died at the hands of Alex’s gang.

“The car is outside, Mr White.”

Mason thanked them and got to his feet before realising there was a problem.

“You don’t have to worry about them,” he said, waving a hand at the two man-mountains standing between us and the door. “My management flipped when they found out I’d taken off on my own and they sent the Goon Squad here to watch my back. No offence,” he added to his security detail.

“None taken, Mr White,” Goon One answered stoically.

“Alex, I want to go home.” Stefan looked at me apologetically. “Sorry, Eric.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Was I relieved or disappointed not to be going back to Mason’s hotel with him? At that precise moment, I wasn’t entirely sure which was the uppermost feeling.

“You can still go if you want,” Stefan added.

“Oh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea…”

“Please, Eric. One drink and then I’ll have the guys drive you home,” Mason pleaded.

Alex answered for me, one arm wrapped tightly around Stefan. “One drink,” he growled. “You lay a finger on him without his permission and I will come looking for you.”

The two goons bristled at the threat to their boss, but Mason waved them away, seemingly unperturbed by Alex’s threat. “I give you my word, you’ll get him back in one piece.”

Mason held out his hand and this time Alex condescended to shake. I felt like they were making some kind of deal over me and thought I should probably be offended. I wasn’t though. It was nice that Alex was so protective over me considering I never thought he liked me much. It was nice, too, that Mason still wanted to spend time with me, even though I had been far from enthusiastic about the idea so far. One drink, I promised myself, and an opportunity to talk to each other; get to know each other a little without the attentive audience.

We followed the goons…bodyguards, whatever…from the bar to find a sleek, black Jaguar parked at the kerb. Stefan and Alex said goodnight and walked off, hand in hand, to where Alex had parked his own car. Mason opened the car door and smiled at me hopefully. I took a deep breath and climbed into the back seat, hoping to God I had made the right decision.