Gigi was afraid her friend was right about that.
* * *
Jordan left the McCarthys’ hotel in North Harbor and drove to the public safety building in town, hoping to catch Mason in his office between emergency calls. He was so busy this time of year that he came home exhausted after twelve-hour shifts that had him running straight out. They were counting the days until Labor Day, when things would calm down for both of them.
She’d been looking forward to finishing the show and had expected it to end with the final episode of this current season. The massive offer for three more seasons had thrown a wrench in her plans to nest with Mason and their baby on Gansett for the foreseeable future.
Her sister was there and about to marry Riley McCarthy. Jordan had made fantastic new friends, like Chloe and Finn, Kevin and Chelsea and too many others to name. Every day, there was something fun to do with people she genuinely loved to be around, including the seniors she worked with a few hours a week.
In addition, Evelyn had extended her stay into the fall, and Jordan was thrilled to have her grandmother nearby at this exciting time in her life.
Jordan didn’t want to be anywhere but right here.
Except, Matilda was right. The offer from the network behind the show was the kind of money that would provide financial security for the rest of their lives. They’d be crazy to turn it down, especially since filming the show with Gigi was so much fun. All they had to do was be themselves in front of the camera. People seemed to love the two of them being themselves together, thus the network’s offer. The offer also meant they were liking what they were seeing of the season they had just about finished filming on Gansett.
Jordan had wondered how that would go when she’d suggested filming there so she could be with Mason for the summer. Apparently, the magic had transferred from LA to a tiny, remote island off the coast of Rhode Island, or there wouldn’t have been an offer for more.
Mason’s department SUV was parked in his spot outside the public safety building, which was a relief. She needed to have this conversation with him before she lost the nerve to make such an audacious suggestion to him. Part of her still wondered if she had the right to even ask him such a thing. But he’d made her feel confident in their relationship, and she carried that confidence with her when she went inside and asked the officer at the reception desk if she could see the fire chief.
After making a call to Mason’s office, the young man said, “He said to go right in, Ms. Stokes.”
“It’s Jordan.”
The young man blushed. “Oh, well, I love your show.”
“Thanks so much for watching.”
Mason stood in the doorway to his office, watching her come toward him with the greedy look of love that still took her by surprise after months together. He was so tall and muscular that he nearly filled the doorway completely. “This is a nice surprise.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
Mason sent her in ahead of him and shut the door. “Young Officer Quigley will never forget Jordan Stokes smiling at him.”
“Oh hush.”
“My girl has that effect on most mortal men.” He took her by the hand and brought her down on his lap after he sat in one of his visitor chairs. “What brings you by?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your workday.”
“You can interrupt my workday any time you want. That’s the benefit of being the boss.” He placed a big hand over her abdomen and kissed her as if he hadn’t seen her in months, when he’d woken her with sublime morning lovemaking that’d made her late for her meeting with Matilda. “How’s my baby mama doing?”
“Better now that she’s back with her baby daddy.”
“It was a long two hours apart.”
Jordan smiled at his silliness. “We’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous never felt so good. What did Matilda want?”
“She wanted to go over the last episode of the season and to know if this is the end of a season or the show.”
“What’d you tell her?”
“Well, she complicated the decision with a massive offer for three more seasons from the network.”
“Wow. That’s amazing, sweetheart. Congratulations.”
“We didn’t take it.”
His brows furrowed adorably. “Why not?”
She gave him a you know why look. “Our life is here. The show was supposed to end after this season. That was always the plan.”
“But now you have this offer, and you shouldn’t say no to it, especially because of me.”
“Why else would I say no to it? I want to be with you, and your job is here.”
“Jordan, we should at least talk about this before you turn down an amazing opportunity.”
“We are talking about it.” She looked at the gorgeous face that had become the center of her life in a few short months. “Gigi had an idea.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask.”
Jordan laughed at how he said that. Mason had learned to be wary of the hijinks she and Gigi got up to together.
“What’s this idea of hers?”
“This is a huge what-if scenario, and I want you to say no if it’s preposterous. Will you promise me you’ll tell me the truth?”
“Always. Lay it on me.”
“What if you were to take a leave of absence from work in the winter so we could film the show on location and still be together?” Her heart beat erratically as she waited to hear what he would say.
“I’m not entirely sure I could, but if I can, I’d do it in a second.”
“You would? Really?”
“To spend the winter somewhere with you and the baby and get a huge break from work at the same time? Hell yes, I would.”
“In case I haven’t told you yet today, I love you.”
“I love you, too, and I want you to have everything you want. If you want to keep filming the show, then that’s what you’ll do. We’ll figure out the rest.”
“I can’t be away from you for months, Mason. That won’t work.”
“Let me talk to the mayor and see what he says. I could leave Dermott in charge for the winter. He’d love the responsibility, and it would be good for him to learn the ropes of being in charge.”
“Thank you for even considering this. I know how much your work means to you.”
“Nothing in this world means more to me than you and our little peanut.”
Thankful for the love of such an incredible man, she kissed him and leaned her forehead against his. “Matilda wants an answer later today.”
“Of course she does,” Mason said with his usual disdain for Matilda’s unreasonable requests.
“How we end this season is contingent upon whether there’ll be more of the show, so that’s the reason for the urgency.”
“I get it, sweetheart. I’ll talk to the mayor and let you know what he says.”
“I know how much you enjoy talking to him.”
Mason laughed at that. Mayor Upton annoyed the living shit out of Mason and Blaine. “I’ll take one for the team for you.”
Chapter 27