She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 164

(Mason)

Chloe shows up to dinner in a slip dress the color of a scarlet macaw and earrings shaped like tiny mushrooms.

"Mason!"

"Chloe."

"I love your shirt, it's giving banker who reads poetry."

"I read poetry."

"Oh my God I knew it."

She kisses me on the cheek.

She smells of something citrus and expensive.

We sit and she orders sparkling water with three lemons and the burrata salad to start.

She tells me, with great seriousness, that the moon is in something tonight and we are going to feel everything more than usual.

I drink half my wine in one go.

She talks.

God, does she talk.

She talks about her astrologer, who’s a man named Bryce.

She talks about her sister, who’s a vegan but a fun vegan.

She talks about a documentary about coral reefs that made her cry on a flight to Aspen.

She’s exhausting in exactly the way I need.

Which is to say, the topic is never me.

"Chloe."

"Mm."

"I should be honest with you."

"Oh my God I love honesty."

"I’m not in a place to commit to anything. I’m getting over someone and I don’t want to lead you on."

She tilts her head. The mushroom earrings swing.

"Is it Natasha?"

I cough on my wine.

"Mason. Come on. I'm not stupid. I notice things."

"I-"

"It's fine. Honestly. It's fine. I figured it out the first time you introduced us. And honestly I think it's hot that you're, like, unavailable in this whole tortured wounded soulful way."

"Right."

"You don't roll your eyes when I talk."

"I have rolled my eyes at you, Chloe. Internally. Several times this evening."

"But you don't do it on your face. That's the difference. Most men do it on their face. You're a gentleman, Mason."

"Thank you."

"Also you're rich and hot."

"Uhm. Thank you?"

She takes a sip of her sparkling water.

She looks at me over the rim of the glass.

The light hits her cheekbones in a way that would be illegal in most jurisdictions.

I think, not for the first time tonight, that whoever assembled Chloe at the factory did an unusually thorough job.

"Mason."

"Yes."

"Let's skip dinner."

I set my glass down.

"You want to end the date?"

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