Her son nodded glumly. “Yeah, but we both know he expects me to come running and beg for it back. I’ll call him later today.”
“If it gets too bad, tell him to call me. I’ll talk him down.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome.”
Robyn excused herself and went in search of Mason. In the middle of the morning, he could usually be found in his office.
Sure enough he was seated there, typing earnestly, his focus on the screen in front of him.
He didn’t notice her at first, so she had a second to study his face. She knew his moods now, could read when he was happy, annoyed or about to lose control in a vortex of pleasure that was thrilling to watch. She recognized his scent and his voice. She knew that while he was polite and restrained in public, he was more than willing to let go in private.
He was a good man, she thought, knowing that was a more rare characteristic than she would like to admit.
He looked up and caught sight of her. His mouth immediately curled into a slow, sexy smile. He was halfway across the room before she stopped him with a raised hand.
“Not so fast, mister.”
One eyebrow rose.
“Austin’s back,” she said, putting her hands on her hips. “You didn’t want to tell me he was interested in the navy ROTC program? You didn’t think that was information I should have?”
“I didn’t talk him into anything.”
“I know that. He’s not a kid who’s easily influenced, but he came to you with questions, and you knew where he was going.”
Mason’s dark gaze was steady. “I told him I wouldn’t keep secrets. That he had to tell you what he was doing or I would tell you myself. He said he wanted to visit the ROTC office first, to make sure it was what he wanted, and if it was, he would tell you as soon as he got home.” His expression softened. “He didn’t want you worrying until he’d made a decision.”
All of which made sense, but still... “You should have told me.”
“I respected his request to stay quiet for a few days.”
“But he’s my kid.”
“Yes, he is.” His tone was cautious, as if he wasn’t sure how this was going to go.
Robyn wasn’t actually angry—she was more interested in finding out how things had happened between Austin and Mason. While she liked him a lot, he still had to earn her trust.
“It was a judgment call,” he said. “I did what I thought was best. If you don’t agree, we should talk about it.”
“He wants to join the navy. I don’t know how I feel about that.”
“The kid has potential. He’s smart, he makes decisions with his head, and he’s steady. He’ll be a good officer. He wants to command a destroyer.”
“So he’ll be gone six months at a time.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. “Not everything is about you.”
She closed the distance between them and felt him wrap his arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder. “I like having my kids close. He’s going away.”
“They grow up. It’s God’s way of saying go find a hobby.”
She found herself laughing and crying at the same time. She grabbed his hand, then pulled him along behind her. She walked to the bookcase-lined wall, fumbled under a shelf until she found a lever, then eased it back and slid the bookcase to the side.
“Holy shit!” Mason stared at the man-sized opening. “Another secret passage? Where does this one go?”
“To the master bedroom. Lillian’s still downstairs with Austin, so we can go from her room to mine.”
She flipped the light switch. Mason followed, then pulled the bookcase back into the place. Together they went upstairs and came out, as she’d promised, in Lillian’s sitting room. From there it was an easy walk to her room.
Once they were inside, she locked the door and turned to him.
“I need you,” she said simply.
“You have me, body and soul. You should know that by now.”
“Oh, Mason.”
She had more she wanted to say—including the fact that he was the most unexpected, wonderful surprise. But once he started kissing her and touching her, talking seemed very, very overrated.
twenty-six
HARLOW ABSENTLY STROKED the cat on her desk. Queen Mary, a stunning gray cat, had draped herself around Harlow’s laptop, making it nearly impossible to type. Under normal circumstances, that would be annoying, but this morning Harlow was grateful for the impediment. Without it, she would be forced to answer the email on her screen, and she wasn’t ready.
I’m going to have an opening the first of September. The charters vary. Fishing, sightseeing. We do a regular circumnavigation of the Keys. We also do a three day trip up and down the Keys, but you’d have to work your way into handling that.
I’d be happy to talk to you if you’re interested. I’m starting interviews in two weeks, so I’d need to know something by the end of the month. I know you’re in California so we could talk via Zoom.
And there it was. A job offer. Sort of. Or at least an interview. She would be working in a different part of Florida, with another company. She wouldn’t be her father’s daughter—she would just be another captain, the newest hire, so the one getting all the undesirable assignments.
She continued to pet Queen Mary, wondering what to say. It was one thing to talk about leaving her dad’s company, but it was another to actually do it. Her father would be pissed, maybe enough to say she could never come back. There was also the reality of relocating to Key West.
Kip couldn’t come with her—not and keep his job. He was making good money where he was and had an established clientele. Would he want to start over somewhere else? And shouldn’t she talk to him before even considering the interview?
Overhead the rhythmic banging of a headboard hitting a wall began again, slow at first, then faster and faster. Harlow groaned.
“It started last night,” she told the cat. “About midnight. This is the third time. It’s a little gross to think about.”
She didn’t care that Mindy and Payne were having sex, she just wished they wouldn’t do it right above her head.
She saved her email as new, then closed her laptop and left her room. She made her way to the breakfast room, where Lillian and Austin were sitting at the table.
“Darling!” Lillian held out her hand. “I’m so happy to see you.”