"Dr McKinney? You’d requested a moment with the Owner? You're in luck, Mr. Langley also happens to be the Head Chef."

Shelly elbowed Lena and looked sideways with a smirk on her face. Sitting still as a statue Lena continued to watch Mason, not giving him the satisfaction of her embarrassment. He smiled at all the members of the table, including herself, then turned his attention to McKinney. "Well I do hope you all had a wonderful time here tonight?"

McKinney nodded and stood reaching out a hand to shake with Mason and he smiled as he shook it enthusiastically.

"Oh yes Mr. Langley. Let me be the first to tell you that the food was absolutely amazing."

Lena watched dimples appear on Mason's cheeks as his mouth turned up in a smile, and thought, did the man really need dimples as well?

"Well thank you. Nothing pleases me more than a happy customer." he paused smiling around the table until his eyes landed right on hers and he spoke clearly, "After all there's nothing worse than someone running to the boss to complain."

Lena heard Shelly chuckle and she whipped her head around to glare at her. She shrugged innocently as he continued, "Did Wendy say you were Dr McKinney?"

Lena groaned silently at the mischief written all over his face and as the doctor nodded Mason pretended to look thoughtful, "Hmm. I was sure your name was familiar, but there must’ve been a mistake."

McKinney nodded. "Yes I think it must’ve been because if I'd known the chef it wouldn't have been so hard to get in here tonight." and just that quickly Mason had confirmed he’d never met McKinney and just how far off the mark Lena had been.

It also pleased him immensely, she was sure, that at the same time it managed to make her feel like a huge ass. He made sure he turned toward them and raised his eyebrow as if to say, see wasn't me now say you’re sorry. Lena glared at him, you conceited jerk. Just see if I turn up here tomorrow. Then he looked at Shelly and winked making her giggle like a thirteen year old.

"You are not helping." Lena said through gritted teeth.

"Oh Lena he’s adorable and I completely helped you out. Remember that on your date."

Lena continued to glare at her then turned back as Mason shook hands with McKinney once more then walked around the table. She was horrified when he stopped behind their chairs and squatted down.

"Hello again ladies."

Shelly turned so she was practically nose to nose with him, "Hello Mr. Langley."


"Oh come on Shelly, you can call me Mason."

"Ok then, Mason. Dinner was amazing."

Stiffening in her chair Lena felt his breath on the back of her ear as he leaned in. "It was the extra seasoning."

Turning her head quickly to see the huge smile on his face bracketed by those damn dimples, she whispered, "You’re disgusting."

Only he and Shelly heard and she wasn't sure but Lena thought she heard Shelly squeak.

"Hey, you were the one who gave me the idea." then he laughed softly, "Not to worry Lena, your meal was put together by the very best." he paused and stood, "Which would be me."

Rolling her eyes as he turned to walk away she let out a deep breath until she saw he’d stopped and looked back, "Oh and Lena don't even think about not being here tomorrow. I know where you work."

She glared at him as he walked away not even waiting for her answer.


The following morning Mason decided to drop by and see his mother. After all, the last time he’d spoken to her he hadn't been on his best behavior. He parked his car at the rear of her shop and made his way to the back entrance. Unlocking the door he pushed it open and heard the chimes tinkle as he stepped inside. Immediately he was hit with the fragrance his mother wore, Elizabeth Taylor's White Diamonds, mixed in with a combination of red roses, petunias and huge yellow sunflowers which were all sitting by the back door having just been delivered. He wandered up the main aisle searching for her. As a child Mason had loved his mother's store. It’d always reminded him of an enchanted forest. His mother and sister always accused him of being to charming for his own good and when you added in flowers, well  a woman didn’t stand a chance. That thought then brought to mind uptight Lena. Now there was a woman who was obviously not impressed with flowers. He tried to remember why and how he’d ended up asking her for a date tonight other than being a complete masochist. He rounded the end counter where his mother had set up a small water feature and saw her standing at the front of the store in the display window arranging a vase of pink, yellow and white tulips. His mother was a short lady, probably around 5'2 if that. She had her grey hair cut to chin length and was currently wearing a blue shirt that brought out her light blue eyes, eyes that both he and his sister had ended up inheriting, although his were a shade darker. She was wearing a long black skirt that was swishing around her ankles and had her shop apron on that was red and had Precious Petals by Catherine, in black embossed across the front.

"Hey there mom."

She looked up with three pink tulips in her hand then grinned at him.

"Mase! How are you?"

Mason put his keys on the bench and walked around it to her. Reaching out he bent down putting his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek. "I'm good. How are you this morning? I see you got more sunflowers in. I didn't realize they were such a big seller?"

She smiled up at him, "Oh yes! They came in this morning, they're so happy aren't they? I always feel like they’re smiling at me when I look at them."

Mason nodded and took his mother's hand to help her step down from the small lip of the window display. She walked around him wiping her hands on her apron as she moved over to the counter. "So what brings you by dear?" she paused looking at her computer then back to him, "Not that you need a reason, but this is an unexpected visit. Especially after you yelled at me yesterday morning."

No one, absolutely no one could make Mason feel guilty like his mother. He walked around the counter and leaned against it watching her as she scrolled through the first orders of the day.

"Well I actually came by to apologize to you." and that comment automatically brought Lena to mind and her horrible attempt of an apology. Pushing her from his thoughts, for the moment, he heard his mother say, "Oh you did, did you?”

"Yep." Mason smiled as she turned to face him and leaned her waist against the counter in a pose that mirrored his. She reached up and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"And what are you apologizing to me for son? Yelling at me or hanging up on me?"

Mason grinned and shook his head, "I did not yell at you."

"This does not sound like a good apology to me." she said in a sing song voice.

"Alright, alright." Mason chuckled, "I apologize for yelling at you and hanging up on you."

She reached up and patted his cheek, "That's quiet alright son. Obviously something had you quite upset."

"Yes at the time I was upset but I’ve since come to terms with it." Thinking with a chuckle of Lena as the it, in question.

"Well good! I'm glad to hear it. I just hate when my boy is upset." Turning she walked back down the aisle he’d come in from. He grabbed his keys and followed her stopping by the bright yellow sunflowers. She turned to beam at him. "See? Don't you feel like they just smile at you?"

Mason swung his keys around his fingers. "Yeah mom they do. I still don't know why you order so many. Don't people usually by them one at a time?"

He watched as his mom twirled one in her hand, "Yes usually. I have one customer who buys one everyday."

Mason felt his eyebrows rise, "Really? Everyday?"

His mother smiled then looked up at him, "Yes dear, everyday."

"Wow. I wonder who they’re for?"

His mother smiled softly and reached out to touch his cheek, "It's not my job to ask son. I just make sure I have what’s needed."

Mason nodded understanding his mother, in some ways, was like a confessional and counselor of sorts. Someone that people went to when they wanted their happiness celebrated, their guilt assuaged, or their grief expressed. She touched more people in a day then he did in a week. She was a wonderful person and he knew he was lucky as hell to have her.

"Well I just wanted to come by and say sorry for being a jerk and that I love you."

She smiled, reached out and squeezed his hand. "Well thank you for that son. I love you to." she paused and smiled widely, "Even when you're being a jerk."


Lena sat staring at the files in front of her. It’d just turned 3pm and she’d been busy all morning. She had patient after patient and hadn’t been able to stop and eat let alone think. She’d worked on a five year old boy today with a piece of chalk wedged in his right ear and extracting it hadn’t been pleasant for anyone in the room, including Lena who had felt horrible for the child who’d started screaming the minute he saw the long pair of stainless steel scissors going toward his ear. Lena grimaced remembering the crying child, the worried mother and her own immense headache. It’d felt like hours, but in fact had been twenty excruciating minutes. However, the day had finally slowed down and she’d got a break in her schedule before the last few patients of her shift and as she sat at her desk her mind wandered to Mason Langley. She hated to admit it but last night, after the frustrating and humiliating turn of events, she had gone home and Goggled him. She now wished she hadn't. She knew everything from what his favorite color was, which was sky blue, to how many women this year he’d dated, which was a staggering thirty three and it wasn't even mid May yet! How could one man have the energy to date that many women? Let alone sleep with them? Then, of course, her mind started wondering to Mason in bed and Lena doubted when he was there he did any sleeping. Groaning to herself she dropped her head onto her arms and thought, why on earth had I agreed to this? Then she reminded herself, oh that's right he suckered me into it with his manipulating words and his damn dimples.