Perv by Becca Jameson Page A

muttered.
    “Thanks, man. I don’t see how I can put it off any longer. It’s like an illusion of what I want her to be that haunts me day and night. I’m sure you’re right. She’d never make it in my world, but until I scare her off, I can’t rest.”
    Rafe laughed.
    “What? Don’t tell me you didn’t experience something similar with Katy.”
    “I did. True. But I never imagined ‘The Bullfighter’ falling for a girl.”
    “Yeah, well, like you said, if she knew the truth, she never would have given me the time of day.” He smiled at Mason. “I know just how to get her out of my system.”
    “Why don’t I think I’m going to like this?”
    “My goal is to ensure Jenna doesn’t like it. I don’t care if you do.”
    Rafe groaned. “Don’t— Oh, never mind. Do what you have to do.” He shuffled off to the locker room, leaving Mason pulling his gloves off and plotting how to lose a girl at the same time.
    •●•
    Jenna leaned back against her beat-up couch cushion and jabbed her spoon into the chocolate ice cream she held between her knees. She propped her cell against her ear and listened to Katy jabbering about her great life as the wife of the wonderful godlike Rafe, to hear her tell it.
    Katy took a breath and switched gears. “So how’s Ribbons and Bows doing?”
    “Fine. Good. I’m lucky to have two employees I can trust, and we’re in the black. That’s what matters.” Jenna took a bite of the rich chocolate and closed her eyes to enjoy the flavor.
    “So, what are you doing tonight?”
    “Me?” Jenna looked down at her loose boxer shorts and tank top. “Sitting on my couch eating ice cream. I’ll probably watch a movie or read.”
    “Really?” Katy chuckled. “Well, I have it on good authority that—”
    Jenna jumped when someone pounded on the door. “Hang on a sec. Someone’s at the door.”
    “Yeah, um, that would be—”
    Jenna opened the front door, her spoon hanging from her mouth. Mason . The man filled the doorway, seemingly too large to fit through the frame.
    Her spoon fell to the floor with a clang as her emotions ran amok in every direction. “I’ll have to call you back…”
    “Yeah, I bet you will.” Katy giggled in her ear and then disconnected.
    “What are you doing here?” She swallowed around the lump in her throat.
    Mason nodded behind her. “May I come in?” He pushed the door open slowly and stepped around her. When she didn’t move except to twirl in his direction, he wrapped his hand around hers on the door and tugged it away. The door slammed shut.
    Jenna flinched. “Sure. Why not. Don’t you always do whatever you want?”
    Mason chuckled. “Yes. That’s generally the case.”
    Jenna stared at his right eye. “What happened to your face?”
    “Oh this?” He touched the tender skin without wincing. “This is nothing. You should see the other guy.” He winked at her and stepped farther into her apartment. “Nice place. I didn’t pay much attention the first time I was here.”
    No shit. You were too busy plotting your game of how to strip a woman and break her down to mush without taking your own clothes off .
    “You don’t look too happy to see me.” He took a seat on her couch and leaned back, making himself at home.
    Jenna still stood by the door. She stared at her melting ice cream where it sat on the coffee table.
    Mason leaned forward, dipped his pointer into the confection, and sucked the digit into his mouth. He watched her as he moaned. “That’s good.” He lifted the pint-sized container. “Ghirardelli. You have rich taste in dessert.”
    You have no idea . “What do you want, Mason? I can’t do a third round of ‘let’s torment Jenna until she comes.’ I’m too tired.” She slumped against the door with no intention of moving until he left.
    “Third round,” he chuckled again, “that’s funny.”
    She had no idea what he meant by that.
    He took another lick of her ice cream, unfazed by the fact he was