The Viggo: Mason Page 2

  “If we are friends, can I ask about your husband?”

  Jocelyn cleared her throat, and after a pause, she began to speak. “Cliff was a good man, honest and faithful. I was luckier than most women. He was older than me and passed away three years ago. We were married for seventeen years. It gets easier every day, but I still miss him.”

  Obviously uncomfortable, she changed the subject.

  “Should I be worried about a jealous wife or girlfriend? I have to warn you, not all women take kindly to their men having female friends,” she teased him with a nudge that he found familiarity in.

  “Nope. I haven’t had anything serious in the last year. I’m twenty-seven, so I’m not opposed to settling down. I’m just waiting for it to be right.”

  That was the truth. Mason had been successful in life—he had his bar, stability, and good friends. In the next couple of years, he would like to top it off with a someone special. He didn’t exactly think himself a sentimental man, but he wasn’t like his friends who were still enjoying the bachelor lifestyle. Not that he was proud of it exactly, nor ashamed, but over the years of working at the bar, he had indulged in the opportunities to sow his wild oats. He wasn’t on the hunt for the one; he would let it happen organically.

  “Look, we’re here.” He pointed up to the next block that they were coming up on.

  * * * *

  Jocelyn was in awe of the food cart pod as it was called per Mason. She’d heard that Portland was leading the trend on the food cart business, but she had never experienced it. The closest she got to something like this was a potluck or a bake sale. This, however, was a full square block of trucks equipped with kitchens that cooks and chefs sold food out of.

  She knew her late husband would have never tried something like this; he’d be concerned about the cleanliness of such a truck. This was clearly a downtown hot spot. If all these people eat here, it must be safe, she rationalized. With at least forty or more choices, it was truly a melting pot that she would have expected from the downtown scene. All she could do was smile at the fact that she was about to experience something unexpected.

  “Wow. This is intense.” She turned into Mason and put her hand on his forearm.

  “Just wait until you taste the food. It’s better than any fancy restaurant you’ve ever eaten in. How do you feel about Thai food?”

  “I love it. Lead the way, Yoda,” Jocelyn teased.

  She was enjoying the easiness of the evening. From their introduction at the bar, to the ease of the potentially awkward revelation of her late husband, and then her blind faith in Mason’s promise of an adventure. She’d had a moment of regret in the car ride over, but that had passed.

  “I think I’ve eaten something from each one of these carts, but this one is my favorite.”

  Jocelyn just nodded, accepting his gentle pull to the line.

  “I’m going to order for us, is that okay?”

  Jocelyn bit back a smile. He was polite, but masculine in a way that surprised her for his age. She expected cocky, but this was more of a self-aware confidence. Maybe most women wouldn’t be so agreeable to having a man order for them, but she found the chivalry of it sexy.

  “Of course, thank you.”

  “Two orders of drunken noodles, and two Thai iced teas.”

  “Oh, here.” Jocelyn reached for her bag to pull out some money for the dinner.

  Mason gave her a horrified, wide-eyed look. “Put that away. This is my treat.”

  “Thank you. Really,” Jocelyn conceded, and she was rewarded with a handsome smile.

  Mason released her arm, handing her an iced tea before he gathered the boxes containing their food. He nodded away from the crowd, and she followed him toward an empty park bench. They sat in silence, slurping down their noodles. Mason didn’t disappoint with his selection of drunken noodles.

  A thought hit Jocelyn, causing her to giggle a bit. “My friends are going to have a field day when I tell them about all of this. I’m supposed to be at the ‘Thunder Down Under’ show with them.”

  It had crossed her mind to not tell them about her outing, but she wanted to tell them about the food carts and the excitement of the center of downtown. Not the ritzy restaurants they visited, but the real essence.

  “Why would you pass on a wild night with the girls to hang out in a bar alone? It doesn’t seem like much of a trade-off.”

  “Something about a forty-year-old woman gawking over twenty-somethings getting naked made me feel old and kind of creepy.”

  Mason chuckled, giving her a sheepish look, and panic hit her. Had she offended him? Here she was avoiding the young, sexy strippers, only to go out with a young, sexy bartender.

  “It’s not that…you know… I mean, I’m not so old that I don’t appreciate an attractive, naked man.” Jocelyn felt a mortified blush hit her cheeks as her eyes connected with Mason’s.

  Chapter 3

  It was Mason’s turn to blush. Not that she didn’t appreciate a naked man. He wanted to tease Jocelyn about the comment, but the blush on her cheeks was replaced by a pale look of dread, so he decided to let it go. He didn’t want to scare her off.

  “So, are you almost ready to go see some more sights?” he asked.

  “I think I’d like that.”

  “All right, let’s go.” Mason held his hand out for her food box, then disposed of both empty cartons.

  It was the most bizarre thing, but he was enjoying how much Jocelyn was letting him take the lead. Maybe she had an opinion, but he liked that he was the one taking charge, that she was letting him be the man. Taking care of her. Women he’d gone out with in the past, even first dates that went nowhere, the women were more…dominate was the only way to explain it. But tonight, he was the man, even if he wasn’t her man.

  “Let’s go to the square. You’ve been there, right?”

  “Yes, actually.” Jocelyn stood a little taller, with obvious pride. “One year for Christmas we came to see the tree. It was magnificent.”

  “Good. They always have something neat going on, especially this time of year.”

  Mason locked arms with Jocelyn once again as they made their way down the city blocks. Occasionally, she would stop them to admire the architecture of historical buildings. It opened his eyes to a whole new light of the city. They were little things that he expected most people took for granted, but it didn’t change the fact that they were spectacular sights.

  “What’s that?” Jocelyn asked.

  Mason too noticed the large projection screen erected in the middle of the spacious, open, brick, square block, airing a black-and-white film.

  “Oh yeah, I forgot. They do Movies at the Square. Once a month they show a classic movie for free. It’s pretty neat.”

  “That’s so cool!” she exclaimed, “And I love this movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, what a classic!” She turned to him with a big smile. “Would you mind if we stayed a while?”

  Mason studied the screen, trying to figure out if he’d seen it before, but it wasn’t ringing any bells. Chick flick?

  “It’s your birthday, we can do whatever you want. Let’s find a seat and I’ll go grab us some coffees.” He motioned to the cement steps that created a half-circle around the screen, doubling as bleacher type seats.

  * * * *

  It was pushing midnight as Jocelyn pulled up to Mason’s place. He’d promised to have her home by midnight, but in all honesty, he hadn’t expected them to stay out as late as they had. He’d made assumptions about her that she had corrected at every turn. It was enlightening.

  Jocelyn cleared her throat, and Mason realized he’d been silent too long, reflecting on the night. He’d enjoyed the evening, and he already knew that he’d like to see her again. She was one of those women that was easy to be around. Or maybe it was the absence of pressure from the non-date date. It was a nice change. Maybe a perk of hanging out with an older woman? Not that age ever mattered to him, but this was a first.

  “Thanks for sharing your birthday with me. I had a lot of fun. We should do it again.”

  When Jocelyn didn’t respond with anything other than a smile he knew she was going to need some convincing. In all fairness, she’d told him that she wasn’t the adventurous type, and taking a chance on a random guy might have been all the excitement she was up for.

  “Come on, don’t overthink it. I just think since we are friends and all…you know, friends hang out.”

  “Mason…” She paused. “Thank you for tonight. I really had a great time. Probably one of the best birthdays I’ve had in a long time. But this,” she said, gesturing between the two of them, “isn’t a good idea.”

  “Why?” he asked, needing to understand her hesitation. Was it because they hardly knew each other, or had he offended her on their outing? Did she think he was a creep?

  “I just don’t think it would be right. I’m thirteen years older than you.”

  Mason couldn’t help but smile when she turned away from him, looking out the window, hiding the blush on her cheeks. As much as Jocelyn talked about wanting adventure in her life, she was timid and shy at times. And he assumed that was exactly what had stopped her in the past. He’d enjoyed the challenge of pulling her out of her bubble tonight and watching her experience new things.

  With a heavy sigh, she continued. “What will people think? You’re an incredibly handsome man, but I’m not looking for anything like that. People will assume we’re lovers, or worse…that I’m your mom.” She paused before speaking again with a smile. “Thank you for tonight. I had a great time. I’ll see you at the bar from time to time.” She gave a hopeful nod.

  Mason nodded with a flat smile. The concerns she had weren’t anything he was worried about; they hadn’t even crossed his mind. H
e didn’t hate the idea of people thinking they were lovers—she was stunning—and he couldn’t imagine anyone thinking she was his mom.

  Jocelyn took a deep breath and let it out, and Mason couldn’t help but notice the rise and fall of her breasts. Though her cleavage wasn’t visible, the dress was tight enough around the bodice that he would have to be blind not to notice. Too bad lovers is off the table. But settling for friends didn’t seem like settling at all. The idea of not seeing her again other than at the bar bothered him, and he wasn’t about to give up.

  “Okay, Joss,” he politely conceded and turned to get out of the car. “Shit,” Mason swore as he patted his pockets. “I think my cellphone slipped out of my pocket. I had it when I got in the car. It must be around here somewhere. Can I use your phone to call it?”

  “Oh, sure, of course.”

  He accepted her cellphone, using it to call his own. Mason tried to hold back the grin spreading across his face when he heard the ringing in his pocket, knowing the phone had been there the whole time. He hit end on her phone, adding his contact info to it before handing it back to a confused Jocelyn. He had picked up a few tricks in his years of dating, and this was worth a shot.

  “So now you have my number, and I have yours,” he announced, flashing his phone toward her. Her eyes widened with what might be considered horror, and that had him worried. “Shit. That came out a little creepy. I promise, I’m not a stalker. I just think we should give a friendship a shot. Text me sometime and we can hang out, but expect a text from me. If you don’t reply, I’ll take the hint.”

  He leaned across the center console, staring into her nervous, green eyes before swiftly planting a kiss on her cheek.

  “All right, Joss, take it easy.” With that, he hopped out of the car, not taking a second look as he jogged up to his apartment.

  Mason didn’t know what had compelled him to give her the simple kiss on the cheek. Thinking back now, he had enjoyed spending time with her more than he had expected to, almost regretting that their evening wasn’t considered a date. And a part of him wondered if he should be offended that she couldn’t wrap her head around the idea of being lovers. Regardless, he had a chance to be friends with her, and he wouldn’t pass that up.

  Chapter 4

  Jocelyn paced the grand living room of her luxurious home in Kingston Heights in the west hills of Portland. It had been three days since her birthday, three days since she had enjoyed an adventure with a strange man, and three days since Mason had kissed her. On the cheek, she reminded herself. The cheek was a platonic place…wasn’t it? She’d been to many formal events where she had been greeted by a hug and light kiss on the cheek.

  Jocelyn had been able to ignore the memory, until now. She re-read the text message for the fifth time.

  Mason: Hey Joss. I’m working tonight and it’s dead. Come see me. Plz!

  Jocelyn was on unfamiliar territory. She’d told her best friend, Taylin, about the whole night, and she was no help.

  “You did what!” Taylin’s voice screeched over the phone.

  “He was nice. And I was game for a little adventure,” Jocelyn defended. “It was nothing really. I just wanted to tell you about what I saw downtown. You and I should really go sometime. I think you’d like it.”

  “Umm. I think I’ll pass on that. But I am glad you had a good time,” she said softer now. “But tell me, just how good of a time did you have?”

  “What?” Jocelyn asked, taken aback by the bold question.

  Out of everyone, Taylin knew her the best. They’d been friends for ten years. She’d been Jocelyn’s rock when Cliff passed away. And while Taylin wasn’t always the voice of reason, she was a comforting voice…most of the time.

  “You know… Did you get laid?”

  “Taylin! Of course not!”

  “Why the hell not? It sounds like he’s into you. What guy does something like that just to be nice? And it might just be what you need to get out of your funk.”

  Jocelyn’s feelings were hurt by the comment about being in a funk. She hadn’t been with a man since Cliff, but it was out of respect. And the fact that she didn’t really know how to go about dating. Besides, the idea of dating hadn’t held the same appeal as it might have once. Jocelyn was at a crossroads; she couldn’t go back, but she didn’t know how to move forward, so she chose to ignore the comment.

  “Are you saying that he was expecting to get laid?”

  “Well…”

  “Well nothing. It wasn’t like that. He was bored, and I needed a distraction.” Jocelyn defended the innocent encounter.

  “You’re out with a hot guy, a gentleman even, and you don’t consider going home with him? I guess you can lie to me if you want, but lying to yourself is just dumb.”

  She wasn’t lying to herself. He was attractive, but the idea of going home with him hadn’t crossed her mind. The soft kiss on her cheek, however, had caused her to press her thighs together to extinguish a warmth in her core. It had been so long since she’d felt a man’s touch that her body couldn’t help but react.

  “You’re no help,” Jocelyn said. “I just called to tell you about the scene in Portland.”

  “Fine. Fine. I’ll consider going down there with you sometime. But if he calls you, I think you should take advantage of the opportunity for a nice…evening.”

  “Stop it!”

  “I need to live vicariously through someone. I haven’t had sex in months.”

  That was news to Jocelyn. Taylin had been married for years, decades, to a man who was good friends with her late husband.

  “Wanna talk about it?”

  “No. It’s fine.”

  “Really?” Jocelyn pushed.

  “I wanna know the minute he calls you again!” Taylin changed the subject.

  “Sure. We’ll talk soon, maybe lunch this week?”

  “Sounds great. Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Jocelyn hung up the phone more confused than she had been before the call. But then again, she might have gotten different advice had she told Taylin about Mason’s age.

  Pacing the room as the conversation faded from her mind, she stopped to look at the time on her cellphone—5:30. She shook her head, scoffing at herself, at her life. She knew what this night held: reality TV, wine, and bed by ten PM. This was not the life Jocelyn wanted or had expected for herself. She wanted adventure and excitement but had no clue how to go about obtaining either. At this rate, she might as well buy some cats and submit to a life as a sad recluse. Plopping down on the sofa, she covered her face at the thought.

  Taking a deep breath and exhaling loudly, Jocelyn sat up straight. I can’t stay here anymore. A step forward, even in the wrong direction, is still a step forward! What the hell. Mason, here I come!

  * * * *

  An hour and a half later Jocelyn stood outside the bar entrance of The Viggo, trying to control the rapid beating of her heart, feeling foolish for being so nervous. She was essentially meeting a friend for a drink. That was nothing out of the norm, or so she tried to convince herself.

  What was really making her nervous was Mason. Jocelyn had met friends for drinks, but never male friends, not without her husband. Meeting a man for a drink gave the impression of a date, at least to onlookers.

  She might not be interested in pursuing him, but there was no denying that Mason was handsome, charming, and gentle. She enjoyed the attention he had given her, but she didn’t know how to act around him. They’d thrown the word friend around, but she didn’t really know much about him. That’s the adventurous part, she reminded herself.

  Jocelyn took a deep breath, trying to compose herself before walking into the bar. She considered letting Mason serve her another shot of tequila, hoping it might calm her nerves. Looking around the bar, she relaxed a bit. Mason wasn’t kidding when he said it was a slow night. A few couples sat in booths, but other than that, the place was dead.

  Quietly taking a seat at the bar, she watched Mason talking at the far end with a fair-haired man. Waiting patiently, she unloaded her bag onto the bar. She’d brought the photography book again, thinking it might be fun to look through and give them something to talk about.

  Really, what can you have in common with a twenty-seven-year-old? Taylin had ideas about what Jocelyn could have in common with him, and that scared the hell out of her. And it was something that couldn’t be farther from her mind.