It finally clicked, and I realized why he was offering this place up. He knew how much I wanted to help Nora. This was his way of helping me with that. I was speechless. So instead of saying something that would never be adequate, I threw myself into his arms and kissed him. There was a lot of tongue, it was wet, it was messy, but it was one of the best kisses of my life. Which seemed to be the case with most kisses between Mason and me.
We eventually broke apart, breathing heavy. Mason put his forehead to mine and held me close. “I know how important she is to you and how much you were worrying about her and the kids. And those two sticky gremlins have kind of grown on me. It would be nice to see them settled and not having to worry about them losing their home.”
“You are the best person I know. I love you so much. Thank you for this; it means the world to me,” I said and kissed him again. He had just gotten rid of the last piece that tied me to David.
“Let’s go call the lawyer, so he can start getting me out of that contract.”
“Yes, let’s. And if you still have to leave the state for a while, then we’ll deal with it. Together,” Mason said and we went back outside.
I didn’t like the idea of having to be away from Mason, but if it bought me my freedom and meant we could finally be together, then I could deal with a few months being separated from him. He was my forever, and I loved him more than I ever thought one person could love another. He was my missing piece, my temptation that I would gladly give in to over and over again.
“I still don’t know what you did to get my mother to back off,” I said, tracing the tattoo on Mason’s bare chest. We were in Glendale Springs, North Carolina, staying at a cabin in the woods. It was pure heaven. The small cabin had one room that included a king size bed, small kitchenette, a couch, and an open fireplace.
We were three weeks into a four-month road trip across the US on Mason’s motorbike. I was no longer engaged and we decided to start our trip with the Blue Ridge Parkway. My ass was sore from riding every day, but my heart was full. Being with Mason like that, doing something we both loved, was everything. We only rode a few hours every day, frequently stopping along the way. It was a slow trip but we had a few months to kill, after all. Not even the shark of a lawyer I had could get me out of not having to leave the state.
Mason suggested a road trip, something he had always wanted to do. Jameson was more than happy to handle things at the garage, especially since he just employed another mechanic; he and Willa also offered to stay at Mason’s house to take care of the animals.
“Your mom didn’t tell you?” he asked, sounding surprised.
“I haven’t spoke to her since I left.”
He hugged me close and sighed. “So there is no chance of you ever forgiving her and going back?”
“None at all. I hope this doesn’t make me sound cold, but I don’t want to have anything to do with her.”
Mason kissed my head. “The day you officially ended your engagement to David was also the day I officially ended your connection to your mother.”
I was confused. I had heard nothing of him visiting my mother. I sat up on my elbow and looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“Just promise not to freak out when I tell you. And remember that you love me.”
“Nothing could ever change the way I feel about you. Just tell me what you did.”
I was starting to get worried. There wasn’t much that would stop my mother from interfering. I may have gotten out of the engagement to David, but that didn’t mean that I had gotten out of my obligations to my mother. At least in her eyes, a broken engagement meant she still owned me.
Mason studied my face and nodded. “Okay. But come back down here first.”
I complied and was now lying half on him, our legs tangled together.
“I figured the only way to get you out was to bend the truth a little.”
He took my hand and started playing with my fingers. “I really thought you already knew what I did. I hope you know I would never hide anything from you.”
I sat up again, deciding the next few words had to be said looking at him. “I know the person you are, and that’s a generous, kind, and loving man who would do anything for his family. A man who puts his life on hold just so he can travel around America with me on his motorbike. A man who makes me feel beautiful and cherished every minute of every day. A man I love more than anything. I know that whatever you did came from a good place.”
“Just remember this when I tell you what I said to her.”
He pulled me back down on his chest, rearranging me so I was now completely lying on top of him. “I told your mother that we got married, and that’s why you couldn’t marry David.”
My body went still and my eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head. “Did you just say that—“
“We got married. Correct.” His arms tightened around me. “We both know that was the only thing that would force her to let you go.”
I wheezed out
