Daphne

We were back from New York and back in the office. There's a good bit to catch up on even though we only missed one work day. I had already answered several emails in the hour I'd been here and responded to a few voicemails. An intern had answered the phones for me on Friday so it was just messages left over the weekend.

Mason had a pretty busy day today. He was on the phone right now with a possible client and then he had two meetings to attend and another phone call after those. I was in the conference room setting up for the meeting. I already set up the projector and PowerPoint and I just finished pouring waters.

Two hands landed on the table on either side of me, trapping me in. I felt warm air on my cheek and a hint of scruff.

"Hi," Mason said from behind me.

"Hi."

I felt myself blush as Mason laid a kiss on my neck.

"Are you busy tonight?"

"No, I don't think so. Why?"

"I want to take you out," he said.

"Like a date?"

"Yes, like a date," he chuckled and I felt his chest rumble on my back.

I turned around in Mason's arms and looped my own around his neck.

"Ok, I'd like that."

"I'll pick you up at 7:00," he said and gave me a peck on the lips before stepping back.

The meeting would be starting soon and people would be coming in soon. I sat in my seat next to Mason and he scooted his chair an inch closer to mine and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before the first person came in.

"I don't know what to wear!" I panicked as I swiped through my wardrobe.

"Relax," Kat said from my bed where she was eating ice cream. I gave her a look and she came over to help me pick something out.

"How about this?" Kat suggested, pulling out a white and yellow floral dress.

"I don't know, maybe?" It wasn't my favorite.

"Oh! oh! I've got it!" Kat pulled out a blush pink dress. It had a corset style top and went down to just below my knees. I forgot I owned that dress.

I took the dress from Kat and went in the bathroom to change. The dress fit perfectly. It was form fitting and showed off my little curves. I went back into my bedroom and Kat squealed.

"You look amazing!" she exclaimed.

"Thank you."

I sat down at my vanity and Kat did my hair and makeup. She styled my waves but left them down and my makeup was fairly simple. She knew I wasn't a huge fan of makeup.

"What do you think?" Kat asked when she was finished.

"It's perfect! Thank you so much for coming over and helping me," I told her.

"Of course!"

There was a knock at the door and I rushed over to answer it. Mason was there in a crisp suit that showed off his muscles and he was holding a bouquet of flowers.

"You look absolutely stunning," Mason told me.

"Thank you," I replied, "You look really good too."

"These are for you," Mason said and handed the flowers to me.

"Thank you," I said as I sniffed the flowers. "Let me go put them in some water real quick."

I actually just gave them to Kat and asked her to do it and I was back to Mason in a flash.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Ready."

Mason took my hand and led me down the hall to the elevator. We walked hand in hand through the lobby and out to Mason's car. He opened the passenger door for me before going over and getting in the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked once Mason started driving.

"You'll see," he said with a chuckle.

Mason's hand found it's way to my thigh and my whole leg tingled from the touch. I liked it. A lot.

After a few minutes, Mason parked in front of a cute little Italian restaurant. We walked in hand in hand and an older woman rushed up to us.

"Mason!" she exclaimed and pulled him in for a hug.

"Hello Ms. Sofia," Mason replied while hugging her back.

"Who is this beauty you brought with you?"

"This is Daphne," he said, taking my hand again.

"It's about time you brought a girl over," Ms. Sofia said. "Come, come. I have a table all ready for you."

We followed Ms. Sofia to a table in a more secluded section of the restaurant. She didn't give us any menus though. She said she knew just what to get us.

"Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight?" Mason asked me.

"Yes," I said with a giggle.

"Well you look absolutely beautiful in case you forgot."

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks and Mason chuckled.

"I love it when you blush."

Just then, Ms. Sofia came back with two bowls of pasta. She placed one in front of Mason and one in front of me.

"Your favorite spaghetti and meatballs," she said to Mason, "and my favorite fettuccine Alfredo for you dear."

I made sure to thank her before she left. I took a bite of the Alfredo and nearly moaned. It was so good.

"This is the best Alfredo I've ever had," I said to Mason.

"Ms. Sofia knows what she's doing. I've been coming here since I was a kid."

"I thought you grew up in New York."

"I did," Mason replied after he swallowed a bite of pasta, "but we came here for vacation a lot and we always came to see Ms. Sofia. She was one of the reasons I moved here actually."

"Really?" I asked with a laugh.

"Dead serious."

"That's amazing."

I ate more pasta until I was stuffed. Ms. Sofia tried to give us dessert but I physically couldn't fit more food into my stomach.

"Come again dear," Ms. Sofia said and gave me a hug before we left.

"Definitely," I replied.

Mason played some music on the ride back to my apartment and his hand was on my thigh again. I absentmindedly drew swirls on the back of his hand with my finger until we got back to my apartment. Mason walked me up to my door.

"I had fun tonight," he said and took both of my hands in his.

"Me too."

"Now here's the part where I kiss you goodnight," Mason said before bringing his lips down on mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he rested his hands on my waist. The kiss was sweet. Gentle.

"Goodnight," Mason said when he pulled back.

"Mhm," I said at a loss for words. Mason chuckled and I let myself into my apartment.

"How was it?"

I jumped at the voice.

"Jesus Kat, you scared the living daylights out of me."

"Sorry," she said from the couch. I went over and sat down next to her.

"So how was it?" Kat asked again.

"Really, really good."