Free A Little Bit Naughty by Farrah Rochon

to it keep it together. Well, other than that little bonfire incident Kiera told me about,” he added with a grin.
    She winced and dropped her head to her knees again.
    “All joking aside, you should be proud of the way you’ve handled this. Despite the blows you’ve taken, you’re still standing.”
    “I guess you’re right,” she muttered. “I’m alone and unemployed, but at least I’m still standing.”
    “But you’re not unemployed. What about this new…what did you call it? Consulting business?”
    She shrugged. “That’s just a side gig to tide me over until I can find a real job.” She glanced up at him, a wry grin tilting her lips. “Maplesville isn’t all that big. I’ll eventually run out of people to sell G-Swirl Vibrators to.”
    Relief flowed through him at the sight of the humor sparkling in her eyes again. Sadness still echoed in her subdued voice, but Mason sensed she’d broken through a threshold tonight. The pleasure he derived from knowing that he’d played a role in helping her get to this point was intoxicating.
    Just one more reason why he should get the hell out of here.
    His work was done. In fact, he’d accomplished more than he’d set out to. He’d provided a shoulder for her to cry on, an understanding ear to listen to her list of problems.
    But he didn’t want to leave her. He wanted to sit right here for as long as she would allow. So, in a move that was astoundingly contradictory to his usual mode of operation, Mason put a muzzle on the voice of reason resonating in his head and encouraged Jada to keep talking.
    “How’s the job search going?” he asked.
    “Well, I’m still unemployed, which should give you some indication.” She told him about a public relations position she’d applied for that she considered her ideal job. “It’s with this organization that oversees several non-profits around the New Orleans metro area. I would love to work for a company that actually does some good in the world.”
    “What’s the organization?” Mason asked, hoping she would name one in particular.
    “The Fortier Foundation,” she answered.
    That was the one.
    Mason had to stop himself from smiling. Maybe he could help solve one of the issues plaguing her. He made a mental note to make a call tomorrow.
    “The job market is pretty competitive, so I’m not holding my breath,” Jada continued. “I’m just grateful to have the Naughty Nights parties providing some income.”
    “How did you get into throwing these parties anyway?” Mason asked, settling back on the sofa and draping an arm across the top of it.
    “I saw an advertisement in one of those Internet pop-up ads.”
    He tipped his head to the side, his eyes narrowing. “Exactly what were you looking at in order to get that kind of pop-up?”
    Her forehead furrowed. “What do you mean?”
    “I’m just thinking about the way Internet advertising works. Your web browser stores cookies based on the various websites you visit, and use that info to target their ads. So, what kind of websites were you looking at in order to get pop-up advertising for erotic toys?”
    Her mouth opened and closed as her light brown cheeks instantly reddened. She groaned, burying her face in her hands.
    A laughed rumbled from deep in his belly.
    “Oh, shut up, Mason,” she mumbled from behind her hands.
    “God, you’re adorable.”
    She spread her fingers, peeking at him through the openings. “You just called me adorable.”
    “Because you are,” he murmured, narrowing the distance between them. Mason halted for just a moment, giving her the chance to object.
    She didn’t. She just stared at his lips, her chest rising and falling softly with her measured breaths.
    Mason leaned forward, finally touching his lips to hers.
    That first touch was everything he’d expected, yet more than he could have ever imagined. Her mouth was soft, and pliant, and so damn delicious it was like a decadent dessert at the end of a fine meal.