Free Love and Chaos by Elizabeth Powers Page B

Chaos to Mason. And vice versa. Mason had
called the night that Emma got back into town, and they had made arrangements
over the phone for Emma to move her things into his home the following weekend.
Mason was cool on the phone, and very business-like, and Emma was feeling a
combination of dread and stone-cold fear at the thought of moving in with him.
    “Why
don’t I pick you up from work on Friday evening?” Mason asked. “We can grab a
quick bite to eat, and then we can go by and get your dog and anything you
might need for the night. And then I can have movers come and pick up the rest
on Saturday.”
    Emma
sighed. “Mason, I don’t think you’ll want Chaos in your car. He sheds.”
    She
heard the hesitation coming loud and clear over the phone. “And no, he’s not
staying outside. That’s what vacuums are for. Marry me, live with my dog,” she
added. “But I’ll drive separately on Friday so we keep your leather clean and
fur-free.”
    “Very
well,” he said with a matter-of-fact tone that, for some reason, irritated the
crap out of Emma. “Shall I see you at my place then?”
    “What
happened to the offer of dinner?” Emma asked, half-seriously.
    “I’ll
ask my housekeeper to leave something in the oven,” Mason said after a moment
of silence.
    Emma
laughed then. “Mason, I was joking. I’ll eat before I come - I need to feed
Chaos and load a few things in my car. I’ll be there around 8:00. Does that
suit you?”
    She
heard the loud sigh on the other end and grinned. She rather liked the idea
that he was put out over Chaos because seriously??? Who didn't like dogs?
    “I’ll
see you on Friday evening, Emma.” As he hung up the phone, it occurred to him
that he’d been outmaneuvered. He had planned to meet Emma’s dog on her
territory, where he could see how well or poorly behaved it was, and still
influence whether the dog would be allowed in his house. But now it seemed that
they’d be meeting on his territory. He only hoped that Chaos was like a
well-behaved small child - seen and not heard.
     
     
    On
Friday night, Emma again pulled up in front of Mason’s home and looked up at
the imposing structure. Again, she noted the lack of anything homey about it.
It was cold and fairly unwelcoming, much like the man who owned it. Her
husband, she thought wryly.
    “You
set for this, Chaos?” she asked, looking into the back seat where her energetic
dog was standing and looking out. Hmmm. He looked less energetic than normal,
she thought. He looked almost... wary? With a quick pat on the dog’s head, Emma
climbed out of the driver’s seat of her car, and went around to let Chaos out
of the back. She took hold of his leash and grabbed her purse, then made her
way to the large and very intimidating front door. As she had done just a
little over a week ago, she rang the doorbell and waited, gripping her dog’s
leash nervously.
    Chaos
sat next to her, looking up in confusion, but wagging happily when she reached
down to scritch his ears. Hearing footsteps on the other side of the door, he
stood up, almost as if he were preparing himself for a formal introduction.
    When
Mason pulled open the door, Emma's eyes widened in surprise. He was dressed in
an old pair of sweats, with an obviously well-loved t-shirt clinging to his oh-so-defined
abdomen. When he just stood there, clearly amused by her staring at him, she
came to her senses and asked, “What, no tie?”
    He
raised an eyebrow in a way that Emma envied, then looked down at the
well-behaved dog at Emma’s feet.
    “This
is Chaos?”
    “This
is Chaos. And I have no idea why he is being as well-behaved as he is. Not that
I'm complaining.”
    He
looked up at her, his gaze narrowing. “He’s normally not this good?”
    She
grinned then. “He’s normally not this calm. I think he’s intimidated by your
house. Can we come in?”
    He
stepped aside, still looking at the dog dubiously, as if he expected it to
break off leash and go careening