Chapter 224

She looked at him as if she were trying to decide how much to tell him, which told him a lot. “It was not what I expected,” she said, “and I walked away feeling a bit too emotional.” He nodded, although he didn’t really understand. How could he when he didn’t know the context of the meeting? What he did know was that for tonight she needed a friend and he wanted to be that friend. “Come on,” he said, “you can help me with dinner.” She pouted up at him. “You said you were going to cook for me. If I’d known I was going to press-ganged into kitchen duties I would have gone and bought takeout.” He laughed, glad to see a bit of her sass back. “Come and at least talk to me while I cook,” he said. “Surely watching me do all the work would be satisfying for you?” She smiled and stood. “That is exactly what I need.” Mason got her situated on a stool at the kitchen bench and poured her a glass of wine while he pulled ingredients from the fridge. He wasn’t an accomplished cook, but he did have a