Incineration (Heart of Stone) (3 page)

He nodded and smiled and I turned to leave but I quickly
spun back round “Did you need me to fix anything for your dinner before I go?”
I asked and he shook his head “No, I have an engagement tonight so I’ll be
eating out but thank you” his face seemed to cloud over as he said it and I
knew he had finished talking to me.

Nodding, I left the room, wondering if his ‘engagement’ was
with a woman but quickly banished that idea from my head, it was nothing to do
with me but I couldn’t help feel the stab of something resembling jealousy
again.
Absurd Ava!!

Mason shouted that he was leaving but didn’t look in on me.
I decided to bake him some cookies and brownies because he had told me he had a
sweet tooth.

I enjoyed cooking as it helped to relax me and George has
often been experimented on, sometimes turning green in my trial periods but he
ate whatever I made in earnest, often we had both ended up in hysterics at the
faces he pulled but wouldn’t tell me how awful it was. I had persevered and now
my culinary skills were a lot better, my love of cooking reflecting in some
perfect dishes I created. My friends were always insisting that I cook for them
and it gave me a secret proudness of myself, knowing I could create something
that people enjoyed. I placed the baked treats on a plate and placed them in
the fridge, and at 6pm I made my way home.

Pulling up in front of my cottage I noticed my friend, Courtney
sat on my doorstep. Her face was tear-streaked and when she spotted me she
shrugged and gave me a nervous laugh. I cocked my head at her sympathetically
“Not again” I sighed to her as I pulled her up and embraced her.

She sobbed in to my shoulder as I hugged her “Come on, let’s
go in and open some wine” she smiled and followed me in, slumping onto my couch
as I got the wine and glasses from the kitchen.

As I returned to her she took one look at me then the tears
flowed again and I quickly pulled her against me “Courtney, why do you keep
doing this to yourself?” I asked and I felt her shrug “I dunno Ava, I love him”
she sobbed and I shook my head “But how many times is he going to cheat on you?
This is the third time and while I can understand you taking him back after the
first, why let it keep happening? I don’t want to hurt you Hun, but he
obviously doesn’t care about you in the same way otherwise he wouldn’t do this
to you” she sobbed and shrugged again and I stroked her hair “Courtney, you are
worth so much more than this” I told her, meaning every word.

We had met at the business and finance course we had both
done at night school. George had insisted that I get some qualifications as a
backup if anything happened to him and I had made some loyal, great friends; Courtney
being my closest as we had hit it off straight away, having lots in common as
we had discovered we had both grown up in foster care and she was the only one
I could open up to about my childhood. Her experiences of foster care had been
exceptionally better than mine but she still had the same sense of not
belonging anywhere.

She pulled away from me and reached over for her wine,
taking a large mouthful she turned to me, her pale face even pastier “I walked
in on them this time” she gulped down the tears and my heart broke for her “Oh
No! Courtney” I immediately grabbed her hand but she pulled it away, her brow
furrowing as though she didn’t quite know how to say the next part “It
was…it…it was Tracey” she whispered the name as though it stabbed her.

I shot off the couch, staring at her in astonishment “What
the Fuck!!! I’ll fucking kill her” I was so angry. Tracey was supposedly one of
our circle of friends, but obviously not. Courtney shook her head vehemently
and pulled on my hand “NO! Ava, I know what you’re like, you’ll kill her!” she
argued “Too damn fucking right I will. The conniving bitch! How longs it been
going on? Did he tell you?” I know I was barraging her with questions but my
rage had taken over. She shook her head again “I don’t know, I just stared at
his arse pounding away at her then just walked out the door and closed it
quietly. I heard him shout my name but I just came over here. I needed to be
with you” she shrugged again and I sat back beside her, taking her hand in mine
again “Courtney, please, for me…don’t take him back this time. This is the
worst betrayal ever” I pleaded and she nodded “I know” she said quietly “I
don’t know which one of them has hurt me the most?” she added and then reached
into her bag and pulled out a bottle of vodka “Let’s get wasted” she grinned at
me and I laughed as my phone beeped a text message:

Ava, the cakes and cookies are orgasmic

Thank you

Mason

 I grinned at the pleasure curling through me, and then
chastised myself. He was just saying thank you that’s all, nothing more. I
quickly replied after saving his number into my contacts:

You are very welcome Mr Fox…enjoy

Ava

“What are you grinning at?” Courtney asked, narrowing her
eyes on me. I shrugged at her, feigning nonchalance “I baked some cakes for my
new boss and he was just saying thank you” I said, not looking at her, my
little finger between my teeth. She tapped my arm “Out with it Girl” she probed
and I sighed, knowing it was a waste of time trying to hide my feelings from Courtney,
she knew me better than I knew myself “He’s just nice, that’s all” I said
simply. “Nice as in nice or nice as in hot?” she inquired and I decided to be
honest with her “I dunno what it is, but he really gets to me. Like physically.
But I also find him unnerving, he’s very mercurial. One minute he’s checking me
out and flirting and then the next he’s closed off and intimidating”

Courtney cocked her head at me, a gleam in her eyes “Well
holy hell! You’re finally attracted to a man” she said it as though it was a
miracle “Courtney, It’s not that” I lied but she raised her eyebrows “Don’t lie
Ava. I know you and in the four years we have been friends you have pushed
every man away. You’ve had plenty of male attention but you have never been
attracted to any of them and now this…it’s great you feel like this. I was
actually starting to wonder if you were gay after all” she laughed and I
slapped her arm “Well it doesn’t matter. Nothing will come of it. For one he’s
my boss, Two he’s a player and three, I won’t let anyone in, no matter what”
she wrapped her arm around my shoulder “Ava, you can’t live the rest of your
life around your past. You deserve happiness and you need to grab it while you
feel it. I’m not saying you should jump straight into bed with the guy but just
play it by ear and then face it again if it gets any heavier between you both.
Even if he is a player, maybe that’s what you need, a one night stand, no
emotions involved. Enjoy the way it feels, enjoy the attention and the
flirting. You never know you might actually enjoy it” she grinned and poured us
both a large glass of alcohol and gave me mine.

She clinked glasses with me “To best friends, who pull each
other through” she saluted. I loved this girl so much, how she coped with
everything “Best friends” I returned “But I’m still flooring Tracey” I said,
indignantly as I took a long drink and ignored her stern look.

I woke the next morning with a hangover from the pits of hell,
not good for my second day at work. After quickly showering and dressing in my brown
skirt and soft pink, cashmere sweater and pulling on my knee-high brown boots I
phoned for a taxi.

There was no way I was driving, probably still over the
limit. Pulling my long hair in to a loose French plait and trying to hide my
deathly appearance in the mirror I worried what Mason would make of my pale
face and red eyes, I didn’t look very professional and it looked obvious that I
had a hangover.

All the way to his house, I chewed on my finger in the back
of the taxi, nervous as what to tell him but when I let myself in, he wasn’t
anywhere in sight and I let out a huge breath of relief.

I quickly set about my duties and answered the landline
phone many times, taking messages and informing people that Mason wasn’t
available.

 After I had baked a carrot cake and was sliding it onto the
cooling rack the phone rang again “Hello, Mr Fox’s residence” I answered, the
phone tucked under my chin as I tried to steer the cake in the right direction
and still squinting my eyes against my pounding head “Oh Erm, Hi is Mason
there?” a woman said in a soft tone, her voice was one of those that you knew
would send you to sleep within ten minutes, a relaxing quality to it “No I’m
sorry, he’s not available at the moment. Can I take a message?” I inquired “Is
this Ava?” she asked and I finally gripped the phone properly having navigated
the cake successfully “It is yeah” she was quiet for a moment “Erm well if you
tell him Kerrie rang and to ring me back please?” I smiled at her pleasant
manner “Sure, I’ll let him know” she thanked me and said goodbye.

Ending the call, I groaned against my headache and held my
head in my hands, resting my elbows on the worktop. “Are you okay Ava?” Mason
asked from behind me, and as usual I jolted in alarm “Oh dear, there I go
again” his voice held no humour though and I turned to look at him, nodding
“Yes I’m fine, just a headache” I lied and his eyes narrowed on me “You look
like shit Ava, are you ill?” his tone held concern and I shook my head again,
trying to smile and keep the approaching nausea at bay.

His head tipped as he scrutinized me “Well you look fucking
ill” he barked and I flinched at his firmness “I’m fine Mr Fox, just a
headache” his eyes searched mine and then widened as a grin broke out on his
face “Are you hung over?” amusement lit his face and I swallowed “You look a
little green Ava” he laughed as I closed my eyes and groaned “I’m so sorry Mr
Fox. I don’t usually come to work like this but my friend has been having a few
problems and she turned up at my house in tears… with vodka” I shrugged, hoping
my truthfulness would help the situation.

He tipped his head “Well it’s good to know that you’re a
loyal friend, and if ever I need a shoulder to cry on all I need is a bottle of
vodka…and you” he winked, turned and left the room leaving me froze in place.
What the hell was that all about? I shook myself and switched on the coffee
machine, still pondering his words.

I knocked on his office door armed with coffee and a slice
of frosted carrot cake “Yep” I smiled at his summoning and opened the door.
Smiling at him, I placed the tray on his desk and handed him the messages I had
taken all morning “Some messages Mr Fox and Kerrie rang and asked if you could
return her call” he nodded and peered at the cake “Do you bake all these cakes
you keep bringing me?” he asked and I felt a blush creeping up my neck as I
nodded. He frowned at me “Don’t be embarrassed Ava, your cooking is delicious.
As I told you last night…
orgasmic
” he said huskily and the throb was
back, causing me to swallow harshly as a slow grin lit his face “they really
are delicious and I’m glad you make them for me.
I love sweet things
”
there was that sexy tone again and I quickly changed the subject. “Is there
anything specific you need me to do today Mr Fox?” I asked around my little
finger.

He tipped his head, his gaze on my mouth “Do you always bite
your finger when you’re nervous Ava?” he asked, his eyes hooded and my hand
shot to my side as I shrugged “I’m sorry, I don’t realise I’m doing it” I said
“Don’t apologise for who you are Ava” he said sternly, Mr unpredictable was
back and I flushed at his statement as he glowered at me. I fidgeted nervously
“If that’s all Mr Fox I’ll get back to work?” his eyes cleared and he nodded
“I’m expecting someone later, if you can show him up when he gets here please”
he stated “Yes that’s fine” I said and turned, reaching for the door handle “Oh
and Ava” he said as I opened it “Please call me Mason, please” he practically
begged, his mood now shifted again. I smiled widely “Okay, Mason” I said as he
nodded, a smile on his lips as I said his name.

 An hour later there was a knock on the front door, a small
thin man stood on the doorstep “Hi” he said and I could feel his nervousness
and fear, making me frown “I’m here to see Mr Fox, Robert Nolan” he said and
then gulped and I nodded, letting him pass and into the entranceway.

I took his coat “Would you like to follow me Sir” he just
nodded grimly causing me to frown at him but he followed me up the stairs, a
slight drag to his feet. I knocked on Masons’ door “Yep” I opened the door and
entered “Mr Robert Nolan’s here” I said and I saw a flicker behind Mason’s
eyes, something resembling anger. He nodded and I opened the door wider,
gesturing the man in. He looked a little pale and I wondered if he was sporting
a hangover too.

I smiled and turned to leave “Ava, make sure we’re not disturbed
please” he said sternly and I nodded and left, noticing the man was pressed up
against the back wall, his paleness now looking a little green.

Deciding to sort Masons’ laundry I walked across the huge
landing, opening many doors before I found his room. When I entered, the sight
of his bed took my breath away. It was a huge, antique wooden four poster
outfitted with pale blue bedding. The rest of the room coordinated the blue,
giving it softness but with a masculine feel.

Two large French windows opened up onto a balcony
overlooking the garden and I walked over to the doors, opening them and
stepping out. The view was stunning, a vista of peace and tranquillity and as I
looked around I noticed a hot tub in the corner of the veranda, my mind wandered
as I imagined Mason sat in it, a naked woman writhing about on top of him.
God
damn it Ava!
 I admonished my thoughts and quickly walked back in the room.