Free GRUDGE MATCH (Love Challenge) by Pamela Bouvier Page A

more than to punch his mocking smile from his face.  Why would these feelings never die?  Her love and desire had tied her to this man for ten years with her inability to get over him.  Why was she not able to cut the cord?  She hated not completely letting go and preferred to desperately hate him for hurting her, but the best she could do was fake disinterest. 
                  “I’m not playing with you, Mason.”  With a tight smile, she tilted her head as though shaking out a memory.  “Sex with you was faintly adequate.  Don’t need to go there again.”
                  Mason stopped dead, his eyes boring into hers for long moments.  He finally blinked then threw his head back and laughed.  He laughed so loud the entire pizzeria paused to look at them.
                  “Stop laughing,” she waved her hand in a shushing motion, “people are staring.” 
                  Mason’s smile never dimmed, “let them stare.  We have more important matters to discuss.”
                  “I don’t think so.”  Just then another customer indicated he was ready to order and Holly was thankful to exit the awkward discussion.  She wanted him.  Three years must have been lonelier than she thought.  Wasn’t she just kicking herself for her tie to him?  Sex wouldn’t solve anything.  Grumbling about how bad he was for her, she put as much energy into denying her desires as possible.  Taking him home was not a good idea, ever.  Stupid hormones.
    * * *
                  Mason watched Holly for the rest of the evening.  How smooth she was with her patrons.  She offered them her bright smile and each one tightened his guts, a bitter-sweet torture.  She genuinely liked people.  The care and concern for each was evident in the way she spoke to them, asked about their lives, families and particular interests she knew each of them had.  She only seemed to scowl and frown at him.  He didn’t mind.  His grin widened as Holly caught him staring at her ass.  No, he didn’t mind her scowl a bit.  He flustered her.  He’d like to fluster her right on her back with her legs wrapped around his waist, nails digging into his back, her throat hoarse from passionate screaming.
                  Images of them together were vague and indistinct.  His recall was shoddy at best.  Pleasure came to mind, but he couldn’t extract details and that drove him crazy.  He was a shit ten years ago.  Her father was right to drive him away from her.  He drank too much then.  After a few blackouts and waking up with his face bloody and swollen, his hands in no better shape, he’d instituted a two beer limit.  He may find himself challenged to a fight from time to time still, but now at least he remembered them.  Justin helped if he got carried away on the rare occasion he wanted to dink beyond his self-imposed limit.  Justin was the brother he wished he had. 
                  “Damn, quit looking at her.  The steam coming off you two is making me hot.”  Justin’s Native-American heritage stood out prominently in his dark hair and high cheek bones even though he was only half and he never ceased to draw women, especially when he chose to turn on the charm.
                  “She’s mine.” Growled Mason, an uncharacteristically gruff sound meant to be carried to Justin’s ears alone. 
                  “Well, well.”  Justin’s eyes felt like they penetrated Mason’s defenses and saw what he was trying to keep quiet.  “When did that happen?”
                  Sighing at his friend’s skill at seeing truth he said, “A long time ago.  I just didn’t realize it before now.”
                  “You’re an idiot.” A grin broke from Justin’s dark skin. 
                  “Yes, I’m an idiot.”  Mason’s eyes tracked Holly as she worked behind