The Viggo: Mason Read online

  The Viggo: Mason

  by

  A.K. Layton

  The Viggo: Mason

  Copyright © 2019, A.K. Layton

  ISBN: 9781949300383

  Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.

  Electronic Publication: May 2019

  Editor: Pamela Tyner

  Cover: Fantasia Frog Designs

  eBooks are not transferable. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  Back Cover Copy

  Can their love survive the judgment of others?

  Turning the big 4-0 has Jocelyn Nichols sitting at her favorite restaurant bar, alone, forgoing a night out with her girlfriends to reflect on her life. She’s a wealthy widow whose biggest regret is living a life void of adventure. The future is flooded with concerns: the what nows and where to even start?

  Mason Kopp, co-owner of the popular restaurant, The Viggo, has seen the alluring blonde several times, but he’s never had a chance to speak with her. But it’s a slow night, and the thoughtful woman calls to him. He’s both surprised and pleased when it doesn’t take much to convince her to join him for a night of adventure—after he promises to be on his best behavior.

  Jocelyn is captivated by her blooming friendship with the devilishly handsome, young, bar owner. Thirteen years younger to be exact. A fact that she reminds herself of often, and more so with Mason’s desire to make her his.

  She finds herself falling for the outgoing man who helps push her toward a life and career that she never believed she could have. But there is one little complication: thirteen years. Passive remarks from their friends start to plant seeds of doubt that the couple could have a real future together. The saying that age is just a number is proving to be just that—a saying.

  A determined Mason is ready to convince Jocelyn that they are meant for one another, the world be damned. But can he do it before she runs?

  Content Warning: contains sexual content and strong language

  Dedication

  To my charming, loveable, goofy husband; a man who takes great pleasure in reminding me that I’m six months older than he. Thank you for our exceptional life.

  Acknowledgements

  I’m eternally grateful to be able to do what I love, to write these stories, but none of this would be possible without a fantastic team by my side, and I want to thank them.

  As always, I cannot thank Beachwalk Press and Pamela Tyner enough for their continued support. You’ve helped me get my words into the hands of readers and grow as a writer; thank you doesn’t seem to be enough.

  I’m a lucky lady to have no shortage of love and support from friends and family, but there are a few people who’ve really stood out, even if they may not know it. Heather Carver, never leave me! Thank you for being my rock on those days of self-doubt and a sounding board when I get stuck, but most of all, thank you for being a friend. Alison Hecht, your enthusiasm and optimism is contagious and invigorating! Thank you for letting me pull you into this wild world.

  Last, but not least, thank you! Whoever you may be reading this now, thank you. I appreciate your support and truly hope you enjoy this book.

  Chapter 1

  It was the third time this month Mason Kopp had seen the attractive blonde in his bar, but today was different. While she normally came in roughly once a month and sat in the back, at the same table even, today she seated herself at the end of the bar. He mixed her drink each time—always the same order; a strawberry lemon drop—but he’d never waited on her. Mason worked the bar while the wait staff helped the seated customers.

  He’d purchased the restaurant slash bar with his best friend, Preston, three years ago. They’d agreed that Preston would run the restaurant side of The Viggo and Mason would run the bar. Business was exceptionally good, most of which they credited to the location. The Viggo was perfectly placed on the popular NW 23rd street in Portland, Oregon.

  Even though he didn’t have to, Mason liked to work the bar, working it a couple of nights a week. He liked to people-watch, and most who sat at the bar were usually forthcoming about their lives. The things he overheard were enough to make a reality show out of. Tonight, he wondered what her story was. There was something different about her. She always sat alone. Sometimes she brought a book, but mostly she sat with her own thoughts, from what he could tell.

  Tuesday nights were the slowest of the week, which was convenient tonight. It meant he had time to weasel a story out of the mysterious woman. After mixing her usual drink, he headed to where she was seated. She was unloading items from her bag; her cellphone and a book that she set on the bar top.

  “Strawberry lemon drop, right?” he asked, setting the glass on a napkin and sliding it over to her.

  She wasn’t startled, but she looked up with a sorrowful half-smile. “Yes, thank you.”

  He waited to see if she would say anything else, but she simply pulled out a credit card, holding it out for him.

  “Please keep my tab open.”

  Taking the card from her, he glanced down at the name. “Jocelyn Nichols, it’s nice to meet you.”

  Her upturned hazel eyes had just a hint of green, and he wondered if the color changed with her mood. Her eyes widened a fraction when their gazes locked. He was happy that he had the chance to see her this close. She was a looker from far away, but up close she was stunning. While he guessed she was in her late thirties, her face didn’t show any signs of a hard life, just some laugh lines and a little crease in her brow as she studied him. Her platinum blonde hair sat perfectly styled at her shoulders. He’d noticed her petite frame and lean body from the times she’d been in before, always wearing dresses and heels. Designer if he had to guess. Not that he was familiar with the designers, but he knew class when he saw it.

  “What’s your name?” she asked with a bland tone.

  “Mason.”

  “Nice to meet you too, Mason.”

  He must have made her uncomfortable, because she looked down and started to twist the martini glass in a nervous manner.

  “I guess you knowing my drink makes me a regular?”

  “Nothing bad about that. It saves you time from having to order.” He gave her a cheeky grin.

  “Time. Huh…” She gave a heavy sigh, lifting her glass in a pitiful toast before taking a drink.

  Her mood was bringing him down, and for some reason he felt it was his duty to pull a smile out of that solemn face of hers. He hoped he was as charming as he had been told he was.

  “As a bartender, I can read people pretty well, and I’m a great listener. The bar’s pretty dead tonight. Why don’t you tell me why such a beautiful woman is sitting alone, looking so sad?”

  * * * *

  Sad? Jocelyn wasn’t sure if she was sad; maybe contemplative, reflective, and a whole lot of confused. Today was her birthday, and not just any birthday, the big four-O. It was kind of a big deal, and it was difficult to not look back to see what her life had been up until this point. What did she have now, what had she accomplished? A wealthy widow, how cliché and depressing. The future was what had her concerned, the what nows and where to even start?

  “No, I’m not sad,” she said, deciding that today was not supposed to be a pity party. “Today’s my birthday.”

  The grin on the young bartender’s face was uplifting. Mason was especially nice to look at—that’s probably why they hired him in the first place—and he was easy to talk to. Excellent qualities to have in the service industry. His head was shaved short, paired with deep blue eyes and a kind smile. He was tall and lean and couldn’t have been a day over twenty-five. The word cougar flashed in Jocelyn’s mind. Not that she was looking to get tangled up with anyone. In fact, she had been off men for the last three years, since the passing of her husband.

  “What? Why didn’t you say so? Happy birthday!” His over-the-top cheerfulness made her smile, the first real smile she’d had all day. “Tell me why you aren’t out with your friends celebrating?”

  “Oh, they wanted to, I’m just not into it. I want this day to myself.”

  “Excuse me.” Mason nodded at a patron who came into the bar, seating himself at the far side. Mason set down Jocelyn’s credit card, sliding it back over to her. “This drink is on the house.”

  He tossed her a wink before heading down to the other customer. She was unable to stop her eyes from wandering over his cute butt as he walked away. That man could wear a pair of jeans and a black tee like no other. His ensemble wasn’t unique by any means, but she was sure it caught the attention of plenty of girls.

  Jocelyn had no intention of spilling the beans about her birthday and blamed it on Mason’s charisma. She’d chosen to sit at the bar so she could quickly order drinks without having to wait. A couple of drinks in her made her giggly. That’s what she was looking for tonight—a nice little buzz then to bed to sleep off the long day.

  When Mason dropped off a shot of Patrón with all the fixings of salt and lime, she decided that he was unquestionably a good bartender and he had a knack for reading people. She felt his gaze on her as she licked her hand before sprinkling salt on it, only to lick the salt off before tossing back the clear liquid. The burn as it went down was softened by the following lime, which made her lips puc
ker. A wide grin split across her face. The action made her think of one thing: her twenty-third birthday. It was a Patrón-filled night. Sushi was not a good idea before a night of binge drinking, she recalled, with a shiver and a lump in her throat.

  “That must have done the trick,” Mason said after a gruff clearing of his throat, which pulled her from her thoughts.

  “Just remembering some wild times I had with Mr. Patrón. Thank you.” She meant it too. Jocelyn might not have ordered that, but it was exactly what she needed.

  “What’s this?” he asked as he picked up the book sitting next to her. “Travels in Portland: A Photo Tour,” he read aloud.

  “Yes. I love photography. And I’ve lived here my whole life and haven’t seen half of the things in this book. It’s part of my birthday resolution to see more of these sights. Maybe even take my own pictures.” Jocelyn blushed as she made her confession. Her lips were already loosening, thanks to the cocktails.

  She found herself caught in the trance of Mason’s blue eyes outlined by thick eyelashes that would make any woman jealous, but the silence became awkward. Thankfully, it was interrupted by another customer. Mason took her empty glasses and walked off without another word.

  Jocelyn flipped the book open, hoping the pages could distract her from the slow passing of minutes: ten, eleven, twelve. Why Mason hadn’t been over to talk to her again had her at a loss. The bar hadn’t gotten busy. He’d delivered another strawberry lemon drop but didn’t stay. She decided to push the thoughts away as she mindlessly flipped through the book.

  The pictures made her think of her late husband, Cliff. He was a good man and treated her well; she was luckier than most. But he wasn’t an adventurous man. He’d taken her on many business trips to foreign countries but never wanted to leave the safety of the hotels unless he was dining out with a client, and Jocelyn didn’t care to venture out alone. She wanted someone to share the experiences with, though she never resented him for that, but she scolded herself for not being braver.

  “All right,” Mason’s deep voice said, startling her. “All of your drinks are on the house tonight.”

  When Jocelyn went to protest he held up his hand, effectively silencing her.

  “The owner insisted.” He tisked. “Are you ready to go see some of these sights? I’m off now. You up for a little birthday adventure?”

  Who was this guy thinking that she would just leave the bar with him? But if she were being honest with herself, she was only slightly appalled.

  “Listen, I’m going to stop you right there. I’m not a desperate housewife, or into that whole cougar thing.”

  “Well, that’s good to know. Just because I have this pretty face and work at a bar doesn’t mean I’m a manwhore. I don’t have any plans tonight, and I thought it’d be fun to go do something,” he countered back. “Come on, Joss, let’s have a little birthday adventure. It’s still early. I promise to have you home by midnight.”

  His bold words were like a bucket of cold water. Weren’t you just beating yourself up about not being brave? Here’s your chance. She contemplated his unexpected offer. The cocktails had given her the push she needed tonight.

  “Sure. Why not? But I’m driving, and you have to be on your best behavior.”

  “Deal.”

  What? Why? Shit. What have you gotten yourself into? Jocelyn’s heart pounded as she realized that she’d agreed to leave a bar with a complete stranger. But a part of her—the crazy part, or maybe desperate part—wanted to trust this guy.

  She pressed her lips together hard, trying to keep the look of worry off her face as an optimistic Mason came around the bar, leading her out the doors.

  Chapter 2

  Mason was pleased that it hadn’t taken much convincing to get Jocelyn to come out with him. After all, as far as she knew he was just some bartender who may or may not be trying to get her in the sack. He’d promised to be on his best behavior, which was easy because he hadn’t considered making a real move on her. Jocelyn was beautiful, but tonight was more about making a pretty lady smile and laugh. Besides, he really didn’t have any other plans for the night.

  “So, where do I go from here?” Jocelyn’s timid voice asked, pulling him from his thoughts.

  “Just up this next block. That building,” Mason said as he pointed. “That’s the parking garage. We’ll park there and walk the rest of the way.”

  “I could just drive us?”

  “Joss, it’s downtown. It loses the ambiance if you drive past all of it.”

  “I guess you’re right.” She gave him a half-smile as she turned into the parking lot.

  This might be more difficult than I thought. The short car ride had been quiet, apart from directions he gave. It was starting to become clear that he was going to have to step up his charm game to loosen her up. If this backfired, he might ruin her sense of adventure, and her birthday. Why he cared so much was something he didn’t quite understand himself, but the thrill of an adventure was too much to pass up.

  It was a miracle that she was able to find parking on the first level of the ten-story high garage. Mason hoped getting Jocelyn out into the fresh air would help her relax, or at least ease the tension of the car ride.

  “This way.” Mason nodded toward the street level exit as they got out of the car, shutting the doors behind them.

  The structure was empty, and with the exception of the quick beep from the car locking, and then the soft echo of her heels on the cement floors, it was silent. Mason’s cocksure attitude was starting to falter. He hadn’t thought his plan through more than getting her here.

  Fuck it. Just be yourself. He agreed with his internal pep talk as they made it down the short block. He maneuvered himself between the busy road and Jocelyn as they fell in step together, making their way to the intersection.

  As they stood at the crosswalk, waiting for the signal to change, Mason could feel a nervousness radiating off Jocelyn. He took hold of her hand to calm her and was surprised when a little zing ran through him. He was even more taken aback when a hint of first-date jitters hit him, even though he knew well enough this wasn’t a date. Being with a beautiful woman in downtown with the sun setting would do that to any man, he convinced himself.

  “All right. First things first. You had all those cocktails and no food. There’s a food cart pod just a few blocks up the street. Are you good to walk in those heels?”

  Mason smirked at her stunned expression before she nodded. He wondered if such a classy lady had ever eaten at a food truck. He was sure tonight was going to be something else.

  Pulling her hand closer to his body, he intertwined their arms as they walked side by side down the thriving streets. With their bodies so close together, a thought hit him that hadn’t dawned on him before. “I hope you don’t have an insanely jealous husband or boyfriend at home.”

  He felt her body tense, and she stumbled a bit over her own feet, quickly steadying herself.

  “No. I’m a widow.”

  This time Mason stopped, pulling her off to the side to allow traffic to move through. An angry boyfriend, sure; a divorcée, okay; a widow, what do you say to that?

  “Joss, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

  “Please don’t. How could you know? We’ve only been friends for like a minute.”

  “So, we’re friends, are we?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

  The blush that reached Jocelyn’s cheeks was endearing. Each new emotion on her face was fun and exciting for him to watch. He was discovering something new about her at every turn, even if all of it wasn’t lighthearted. Why he was getting such pleasure out of it wasn’t something he wanted to explore; he just brushed it off as the thrill of winning a challenge.

  “I’m not sure what else we would call it. We aren’t exactly strangers, now are we?” she bantered back.

  Mason nodded, relieved at her words. She was already relaxing, and he saw an entertaining evening ahead of them. Wrapping her arm back into his, he gently led the way down the street.