Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

He pauses and takes me in for a minute. I feel my face flush as I glance down and fidget with my purse, like I’m searching for my lipgloss. When I find it, I pull it out and rub it on my lips. The movement catches his attention, and when I notice he’s staring at my mouth instead of my expression, I breathe a sigh of relief.

He must have sensed my uneasiness, and thankfully he asks, “Do I get to read the pout article you were working on?”

“Have you ever read the magazine?” I ask teasingly, knowing damn well he hasn’t.

“Sorry, no, I haven’t. Should I?”

Ashley delivers our drinks, and I take a sip, shaking my head. “I’m guessing it’s not really your thing.”

“It’s girlie stuff, right?”

“Yeah. A lot of dating advice, fashion, but I also write more serious articles, just keeping the audience in mind so it’s tailored toward what they want.”

“Dating advice, huh? Like ‘How to Date an Older Man’?”

I laugh out loud. “I guess I could write a piece titled ‘Should You Date an Older Man?’ ”

“It’s still in the should category?”

I shrug with a slight grin on my face. “I’m making my lists of pros and cons, like any good writer would.”

“Tell me the pros.” He leans forward, excited to hear what I have to say.

“Let’s see. They’re hopefully established in their career and not living at their parents’ or still in a roommate situation.”

He holds up a finger. “Houseboats count as their own place, right?”

I take another drink, trying to hide the smile that appeared on my face. His houseboat was a surprise, for sure, but spending the day on the lake with him was one of the best days I’d had in a while, and I could definitely get used to hanging out there more often.

After I swallow, I nod. “Yes, houseboats count.”

He grins and leans back, resting his arm on the back of the booth as he takes a sip of his water.

I continue, “Older men seem to be more laid-back. Less drama.”

“Have you had drama in past relationships?”

I sigh. “You have no idea.”

“Then, hey, I’m two for two.” He excitedly rubs his hands together. “Let me add a few more.” He lifts a finger. “We’re confident and self-assured.”

“You don’t say,” I tease.

“I’m too old to play games, and I don’t have to prove myself to anyone.”

“That’s refreshing.”

“Experience in the bedroom.” His lips tilt to a sly grin.

“How much experience?” I playfully raise my eyes brows.

“Enough to know ladies first and how to enjoy the entrée before skipping to dessert.”

My insides clench at the thought of him taking me as dessert, and I hope my face doesn’t show how flushed that just made me.

“Anything else?” I ask, trying to keep my tone unaffected by his words.

“We’re clear as fuck in our intentions.”

That he has been. It’s both refreshing and frightening at the same time.

“All right, I gave you all the pros. You have to tell me your cons.”

I tilt my head to the side and look off into space, thinking of what I should say. When my eyes meet his again, I stare at him for a while, noticing how the tiny specs of gray poke through this hair. Before, I never would have imagined finding that sexy, but on him, it is.

I feel secure with him. Like he’s a man and not a boy trying to still find his way.

If I’m being honest with myself, I haven’t found any cons when I’m with him.

“I think you’ve given me enough to think about. I guess time will tell if there are cons to be found.”

He winks. “I’m sure you’ll find a few. No man’s perfect. I try to be—at least for my son.” He smiles from ear to ear. “I can guarantee there’s no con there. You’ll love him. And I know he’ll love you.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because when I told him about you, he was happy to hear I spent the day with someone.”

“You told him about me?” I ask, surprised.

I thought parents didn’t mention people they dated until they knew it was going somewhere. Like it was the unspoken code of being a single parent.

“He’s seventeen, not five,” Tucker jokes. “He has a pretty serious girlfriend, so I think he gets it more now too.” He pauses, like something comes to him. “Hey, he has a game on Saturday. You should come with me.”

“Are you sure that will be okay?”

“Yeah, of course. It‘ll be fun. After, I’m performing at Pony Up, so you can come there with me too.”

“I get to spend the whole day with you?” I ask with a sarcastic grin on my face.

“I can’t think of a better way to spend the weekend.” He matches my expression.

“Now, it’s the whole weekend?”

“If I’m lucky.”

“Getting pretty sure of yourself there.” I purse my lips, trying to hide my grin.

“No, just clear in my intentions,” he says with a wink.

Our food arrives at the same time I hear the chime of the diner’s front door ring as more patrons walk in.

“Fuck,” he says under his breath. “Please don’t come over here.”

I turn to see who he’s talking about.

“No, don’t turn around.” He stops me.

He takes a bigger bite than I think he should have just as Hattie Jackson approaches our table.

“Well, well, well. I see whoever you snagged is someone I don’t recognize.”

Now, I know why he took such a big bite—so he doesn’t have to talk.

I answer for him, “Hello, Hattie. I’m Justine Samson.”

“Color me surprised, sweetheart.” She places her hand over her heart. “How have you been?”

I smile sweetly. “I’m good.”

She places her hand on Tucker’s shoulder. “And Tucker here has already swooped in and staked his claim.”

“Come on, Hattie. You know that’s not how things work around here,” Tucker says, obviously annoyed by her antics.

I see she hasn’t changed a bit. I remember my mom talking about her and her gossip chain when I was younger. I always wanted to go to her