Tolerance (Heart of Stone) by D H Sidebottom Read Free Book Online

will always love you Mason, you and
only you” I whispered in his ear and his shoulders slumped and he exhaled
heavily “Ava” he whispered back softly.
    I made myself step away from him “Sam’s gonna run you and
Rebecca home, Okay?” I said and begged him silently with my eyes. He nodded but
didn’t smile and then he turned and walked away.

 
    I breathed a huge weary sigh of relief and Kade came round
to my side “Thanks for that” he puffed “I think he wants to kill me” he said
jokingly but I knew he knew Mason well enough to understand that he would have
definitely beat the life out him if he got his hands on him. “He won’t touch
you now Kade” I smiled gently and Kade nodded.
    “Drink?” he asked “I know I fucking do” he laughed and I
gave him a ‘don’t be stupid’ look and pointed to my bump “Oooh poor you” he
grimaced and grabbed my hand as we walked over to the drinks table.

 
    A few people came over to say hello and we eventually
found a couple of chairs in a quiet corner “How long are you home for?” I asked
as I took a sip of soda and bit into one of the many nibbles I had piled on my
plate. Kade eyed my huge mountain of food sceptically and I grinned and rubbed
my tummy “Prepare to be amazed” I grinned wickedly “A woman who eats for
England” he laughed heartily and my body hummed at the sound “I’m here till
just after new year” he said and took a long pull from his bottle “Nates kept
me up to date with you Ava. Don’t blame him” he said quickly when he saw my
scowl “He’s a good friend and I just asked him to look out for you. I know what
Masons like. To be honest I thought you would have been back with him by now”
he said frankly and I shook my head as I popped a pastry puff thing in my mouth
“No he can’t…can’t get past what we did” I said quietly and Kade nodded softly
“Do you regret us?” he asked, wincing slightly as he waited for my answer. I
took his hand “No Kade, never. My only regret is hurting Mason but I’m not
ashamed of what we did” he sighed heavily and I saw the relief in his face
    “So, where are you stopping?” I asked biting something
that looked a bit too orangey “Yours?” he asked candidly and I laughed at his
hopeful expression “Try again cowboy” I scolded good-humouredly. He pouted
sulkily but then grinned “At the apartment. I took a six months contract out on
it before I left for Italy and I rented it to a mate so I’m stopping with him
until Christmas then I’m off to my folks in Newquay” I smiled, glad that he had
someone to spend Christmas with “Unless I get a better offer” he waggled his
eyebrows at me and I rolled my eyes “Keep trying” I laughed
    “Oh I fucking intent to” he said seriously and my
laughter stopped abruptly, my stomach heated and tightened at the huskiness in
his tone. He rolled his head round his neck and stood “I’m gonna scoot, I came
straight here from the airport and I’m knackered” he announced and I frowned
“You came straight here?” I asked perplexed. He grinned lazily “Yeah, there was
someone I was dying to see” he winked and bent down and kissed my cheek
tenderly, cupping my other cheek with his hand and I turned my face and kissed
his palm “I’ll be in touch” he breathed and then was gone. I sighed heavily. My
body was screaming at me in frustration and I pulled a face. What a night!

 
    I climbed into bed, exhausted and bone tired and
miraculously dropped to sleep straight away but a couple of hours later my mind
was racing again. I refused to open my eyes, knowing the moment I did I
wouldn’t get any more sleep tonight but they had other ideas and I slowly
peeled my eyelids back and scrambled up the bed in shock.
    “What the hell Mason” I squealed. He was sat in the
wicker chair in the corner of my bedroom. I was amazed I hadn’t been aware of
him earlier as he had switched on the small lamp on my dressing table. He sat
silently