Incineration (Heart of Stone) (9 page)

“Okay” she said and reeled off the details for tomorrow’s
lunch “I’ll keep trying his mobile. How did he seem when he went out?” she
asked and I swallowed “Not good, I Erm…I had just handed him my resignation and
he didn’t take it very well, he kind of roared off on his bike” I admitted and
she sighed “Don’t worry Ava, I know where he’ll be. Usually the club, getting
drunk” she laughed without humour “He’s not good when he’s drunk Ava so I’d
suggest you get yourself off home before he gets back and I’ll go sort him out”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me “Okay, I’m sorry Kerrie but I can’t
handle him at the moment. I’m not a person who could share him, my armours not
hard enough” I apologised “Hey sweetie. You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s
that fucking Rebecca he should be apologising to you for. God! I have no idea
what he sees in her. I think part of is because she’s the police Commissioner
‘s daughter and it gives him an in, if you know what I mean” she said and I
scoffed but silently agreed with her reasoning, it would be tempting to be
screwing someone so high up.

We said our goodbyes and ended the call and I was
dumbfounded by her revelations. I’d specifically told Mason I couldn’t get hurt
by him and he couldn’t acknowledge that he wouldn’t hurt me, to him it was just
sex and then his sister reveals all sorts of things that now confused me more
than ever. His guilty look when he came down the stairs, confirmed what he and
Rebecca had been up to and had broken my heart but if what Kerrie had said was
true then why do that to me? I didn’t understand but I was determined not to
think about things for a while.

I gathered my stuff and headed toward the gym, the need to
work out hitting me hard.

I left Mason a note saying I had gone home early due to a
headache and left.

At 7pm I knocked on Brians’ door and it swung open to offer
Brians brilliant grin “Ava, come in” he ushered me in and a grey haired, tall
elegant woman entered the hallway. She grinned widely “Ava, at last” she
huddled me up into a tight embrace and then regarded me thoroughly “You are so
pretty Darling” she confessed and I blushed hugely “Brian told me how stunning
you are, No wonder Mason has been pursuing you. You’re simply enchanting” she
said openly and my blush grew hotter but I smiled at her sincerity “Thank you
Mrs Cox, that’s very sweet of you and I appreciate your invitation for dinner”
she grinned widely, winking at Brian “He told me how sweet you were and I think
we are going to get along famously but please call me Brenda, I insist” I
nodded to her as Brian took my coat and led me through to the dining table,
sitting me down with a glass of wine and Brenda scurried through with the meal.

As she sat in her seat after dishing up she cocked her head
at me “Have you heard from George Ava?” I smiled warmly “Yes, we speak every
couple of days, I can’t go longer than three days without hearing his voice” I
admitted and she smiled kindly “You must miss him dear” and I nodded “More than
I realised” I confessed, especially today and she nodded “We were all at odds
and ends when he took you in, to be quite frank I wondered if he had another
notion for taking you under his wing and I confidentially asked Brian to keep
his ear to the ground. Oh believe me when I say I’m not disrespecting George, I
always got on well with him but his reputation precedes him and he’s a hard man
but all credit to him, he loves and cares for you like a daughter” I nodded,
understanding her worries “To be honest Brenda, I also thought the same thing
when I woke up the next day in a huge comfy bed. After living on the streets
for three years and then an older man takes you into his home, you do think there’s
something dodgy, but he proved me wrong. George was patient, understanding and
full of respect for me. I felt cherished in his care and I always tell people
he saved my life and it’s the truth, he did” I shrugged, amazed by my openness
with a woman I barely knew but my instincts were telling me to trust her and
they were rarely wrong, so I did.

She smiled again “And how are you getting on with Mason?”
she asked and I smiled tightly, slowly swallowing a piece of meat from the delicious
casserole she had made “Okay” I nodded slowly, averting my eyes away from
Brians intense stare.

Brenda frowned “I take it his temperament is hard work?” she
asked gently and I coughed slightly, stabbing a carrot “Oh I’m sorry Dear, I’m
being nosy” she chuckled and I smiled back “No, it’s fine Brenda. I Erm…I
handed my resignation in today” I blushed again and lowered my eyes. Brian
choked on something and gulped at his wine “Why Ava?” he asked after his throat
settled and I cringed “I Erm…well were not really compatible” I speared a
potato, trying to avoid their stunned faces “But you have only been with him a
couple of months” Brian uttered.
Long enough for him to break my heart.
I smiled again, shifting uncomfortably in my chair, Brenda narrowed her eyes
and placed her cutlery down “Ava” I heard her say but I continued to study my
plate “Ava, look at me” she demanded gently and I raised my eyes to hers. She
tilted her head and searched my eyes and then groaned “Does that man have no
shame?” she growled at Brian and I swallowed harshly. Brian looked stunned and
confused “What are you on about Brenda?” he asked but treating his wife with
utter politeness.

She reached over and took my hand in hers “Ava Darling, how
many times?” she probed and I shook my head, highly ashamed of my behaviour
“Talk to me dear. How many times?” she persisted “Once” I said quietly “That’s
why I have resigned” I smiled sadly and her eyes pierced my soul, her gaze
penetrating my depths and she gasped “You love him” she declared and I bit my
lip “Brenda!” Brian warned but she ignored him “Oh Ava, you must be careful.
Masons’ a hard ruthless man and he has no shame where seduction is concerned.
You must pull yourself back before he hurts you” she said softly and I nodded,
taking a quick glance at Brains face, he looked fuming; his fists clenched
beside his plate “Too late” I grimaced and she sighed “Oh Ava” her voice was
full of empathy “I’ll kill him” Brian fumed and I turned quickly to him “No
Brian. You mustn’t tell him you know. I have resigned now so that will be the
last of it” I implored and he nodded in resignation “Anyway, he obviously
prefers Rebecca to me so he’ll be glad I’m going” I added “Well I fucking
won’t” he growled “Brian!” Brenda admonished “We can still keep in touch with
Ava. In fact I insist, I have a feeling you’re going to be the daughter we
couldn’t have” she said bluntly and I squeezed her hand “I’d like that very
much Brenda” I grinned, a tear dripped down my cheek at her kind words.

I would be ever grateful to George, not only had he given me
his love but if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have met these two wonderful
people and I had a feeling I would be needing their care and support in the
coming weeks.

The next morning Mason’s house was deadly quiet and I got to
work in his office straight away, filing some dodgy tax receipts and dubious
orders for the club.

About 11 O’clock I still hadn’t seen Mason and I walked into
his bedroom to collect the laundry. I opened his curtains and a window, trying
to get some air into the stuffy room and as I was re-making his bed the
bathroom door opened and Mason stepped out, a white fluffy towel draped around
his hips.

My mouth instantly dried at the sight of him, drops of water
were trickling through his chest hair and I had the urge to lick them off, his
abs were wet and delicious and his powerful arms were rippling as he scrubbed
his hair with another towel.

I swallowed heavily and he opened his eyes and froze, his
eyes were red and puffy but he sported another black eye, his eyebrow was split
and his knuckles were once again grazed “What the hell happened to you?” I
asked as I reached out and tilted his head back to check out his eye. His hand
shot up and he placed it over mine, leaning his cheek into my palm. “You happened
to me” he whispered, his eyes boring into me and I frowned “What?” I asked,
confused.

He shook his head and dropped his hand “I got into a fight,
it’s no big deal. Leave it” Mr cross was out to play today and I rolled my eyes
and continued with my chores, quickly exiting the bedroom before he decided to
drop the towel and dress before I left.

I put on a wash load and went to his office, popping my head
around the door “I’m going out to lunch today Mason. I should only be about an
hour” I said and he glared at me “Sure” he snapped and looked back down at some
paperwork. Rolling my eyes again I left him to it and went to meet Kerrie.

I entered the restaurant and scanned the room, having no
idea what she looked like. A small woman stood and waved me over “Ava” she
shouted and I approached her warily but she looked familiar, I couldn’t
determine where I had seen her before until she smiled; A huge face splitting
grin, the same smile that the woman in the photograph on Masons wall wore “Ah,
you’re the woman in the large photo on Masons office wall” I grinned and she
nodded eagerly “Yep, that was took a couple of years ago, a birthday present to
Mason from my husband” she revealed. “It’s such a happy photo” I admitted and
she grinned again “Mason and I have been close all our lives. My parents
weren’t really very good at…well parenting, so we always relied on each other”
she confessed and I had a sudden envy at their relationship, wondering what it
would be like to have close family. “Anyway come on, sit down, I’m famished”
she laughed and waved a waiter over

“I’ll have a chicken Caesar salad and a cranberry and soda
water please” I told the waiter “Ooh sounds good, I’ll have the same please”
she smiled generously at the waiter and handed back our menu’s but he kept his
gaze on me. Kerrie rolled her eyes behind his back and I suppressed a smile
“It’s good to meet you finally Ava” she said as the waiter retreated. She was
utterly stunning, a natural beauty to her but now that I was closer I could see
she had Masons intense eyes and full lips “And you Kerrie” I said honestly, she
sighed heavily “You seen Mason this morning?” she asked, grimacing slightly and
I nodded “What happened? Do you know?” she rolled her eyes and nodded “The
usual happened. Mason gets drunk and picks a fight” she shook her head sadly
“I’ve never seen him like that though Ava. He wouldn’t listen to me, he kept
calling himself a dickhead” she laughed and then shrugged “He was really drunk
and he kept saying he wasn’t good enough, over and over. I couldn’t get a
straight word out of him” I frowned “But I don’t understand. What set him off?”
I smiled to the waiter as he placed our plates and drinks on the table.

He winked at me and slipped a piece of paper under my glass,
then turned and returned to the kitchen. I opened the folded paper and my eyes
widened “What is it?” Kerrie asked. I chuckled “His name and number” I told her
with a shake of my head “Well he’s very forward” she laughed with me. I screwed
up the paper and placed it in the bread basket, winking at her.

We both tucked in to our food “Where were we?” Kerrie asked
“I asked what set Mason off” I told her as I took a sip of my drink “Oh yes.
Well apparently your resignation set him off” she informed me, her eyebrows
raised high “But I don’t understand, I’ve told you this. I told him I couldn’t
risk getting hurt and he just looked away, he can’t commit and I can’t just do
the sex; it’s just not who I am” I shrugged “Well you’ve definitely had an
effect on him. I’ve never seen him like he was last night” she took a sip of
her drink and regarded me “I asked him about Rebecca” she glanced at me and I
lowered my eyes, shielding my heart against her next words “They were just in
his office, sorting out interviewees for Mondays barmaid interviews” she
grinned slyly “Oh” I was stunned “But…” she laughed at my expression “apparently
she was all over him though but he says after your Erm…encounter he wouldn’t
touch another woman again. You blew his mind apparently, his words not mine”
she winked “But why hasn’t he told me this?” I asked, even more confused.

She shrugged “He kept saying he isn’t good enough for you. I
dunno Ava; I can’t get my head around him sometimes. He has everything he needs
but he won’t allow himself any happiness. It’s like he’s frightened to let you
in” she sighed and sat back “I can understand that because I’m the same. I was
in foster care and let’s just say it wasn’t pleasant but it made me difficult
to trust anyone. I want to trust Mason but I’m scared of how I feel already
about him, if my feelings were to grow even more and he hurt me, I don’t…” I
trailed off and she took my hand “Ava, talk to him. Please” she pleaded and I
shrugged “He’s hard. One minute he’s flirting and the next he’s mad at me” I admitted
“But we’ll see what happens. If he wants to talk then I’m here but…” I shrugged
again and she nodded and left it at that as we changed conversation and enjoyed
each other’s company, promising to make it a regular occurrence whatever
happens between me and Mason.

I arrived back at the house but Mason had gone out so I made
a coffee and sat at my computer, logging into the electoral register…illegally
of course. Mason had learnt to trust me straight away with some of his illicit
business and I was pleased he had.

I had wanted George to trust me to do this but he had
adamantly refused, telling me that he didn’t want to risk anything that could
come of it but Mason had smiled slyly at me and shown me how to do some of the
things I hadn’t understood and when he said he was amazed I had picked it up so
quickly I was absolutely glowing.

I had a feeling I would have loved this job but it was my
own fault for not controlling my hormones and now I had to leave.

I had shredded some documents and as I went to throw them in
the bin I saw my resignation, torn to shreds sat on the top. I sighed and
tipped my own paper scraps on top and went back to work.