Moments with Mason Audiobook

When he gave her a job, he didn't expect to also give her his heart.

Barely hanging on after narrowly escaping an abusive relationship, Cassie Alan is running dangerously low on funds. After her job hunt comes up empty, she wishes for a miracle, only for the skies to turn black and dump on her. That pretty much sums up her life. But then he shows up. With the promise of a warm truck and a list of people who would vouch he's not a serial killer, Cassie accepts the ride. What she doesn't expect is for her entire life to change when she steps into the old truck.

New business owner Mason Hayes has a very strict rule: Do not mix business and pleasure. Until he hires the beautiful rain-soaked girl he rescued on the side of the road and finds it impossible to resist her. With each innocent touch and passion fueled gaze, his desires only grow. Afraid to scare her away and determined to gain Cassie's trust, Mason gives Cassie complete control over the pace of their budding relationship.

As Cassie slowly opens up, revealing her dark past and shameful secrets, Mason sees beyond the scars to the strong fighter she really is. But when the past she ran away from threatens their happily ever after, will Cassie find the strength Mason sees in her to fight back?

Set in the small town of Red Maple Falls, Moments with Mason is a boss romance between a sexy brewery owner and his new employee who has a secret past.

Mason Hayes stepped back and looked around the refurbished barn that was now the tasting room for his very own brewery. From the first batch he’d made at twenty-two in his parents’ basement, he never would’ve imagined that beer-making would become his lifelong passion, or that he’d be a business owner at the age of twenty-seven.

“You did it.” His best friend and brother, Cooper, smacked him on the back.

“We did it,” he said, giving credit where credit was due. Cooper, who hadn’t stayed put in one place for more than a couple of weeks since he graduated high school, had stayed in Red Maple Falls for four months to help Mason get things running.

Mason never would have gotten everything done in time for his opening in a couple weeks. None of this would’ve been possible without the help of his five siblings, his parents, and definitely not without the generous loan his grandparents had given him.

It was a dream come true, made possible by the people he loved most, even if they all were a big pain in his ass.

“I need to head out,” Cooper said. “See if Dad needs help with anything on the farm before the bulk of the storm hits. That way the festival can start right back up when the weather clears.”

The Fall festival at their parent’s farm happened every year from the end of September to the end of October, and it required all Hayes’ hands on deck. Mason had felt guilty about not being around as much he usually was.

“Let me know if you need help,” he offered.

Cooper’s blue eyes travelled around the tasting room. “If you haven’t noticed, you have a brewery to open.”

“Bad timing on my part.”

“The festival happens every year. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. We can manage. Besides, I’m here. What else can Mom and Dad possibly need?”

“Peace and quiet.”

“Whatever. They love having me around.”

“That’s because I gave them earplugs.”

“Funny.”

“Are Grandma and Grandpa down at the farm too?”

“No, Mom told them to stay home today. Which reminds me, I forgot Mom asked me to check on them to see if they needed anything so they don’t try to wander out in the storm.”

“Because that would stop them,” Mason said. He loved his grandparents fiercely, respected them, owed them his life for believing in him enough to loan him such a huge chunk of money, but Betty and Harold Hayes were stubborn as all hell and getting progressively worse with age. If they wanted to go out, Cooper stopping by and offering to do it for them wouldn’t deter them.

“That’s what I said. Mom was still adamant about it. Ever since the old man’s stint in the hospital, Mom’s been on edge.”

While their grandfather was recovered and back to his normal obstinate eighty-two-year-old self after a bout with heat stroke, Mason understood their mother’s concern. Sitting in that hospital waiting room, not knowing what the hell was going on and unable to get answers had been torture. Mason had never felt so helpless in his entire life. Even he’d been making extra trips to his grandparents’ house since that dreadful day, finding ridiculous excuses to stop by and check in on them.

“Hopefully I can be in and out before Grandma corners me and tries to set me up with one of her friend’s grandkids. I don’t know how many times I can tell her I’m not interested.”

Mason laughed. Betty Hayes was desperate for grandkids and had taken matters into her own hands by offering up any single girl she could sink her work worn hands into. They had thought when their oldest brother Matt had knocked up his new bride, they’d get a bit of a break, but if anything, Betty Hayes was more relentless than ever.

“I don’t think she’ll stop until we’re all married off with kids.”

“She can keep it up, but it’ll never happen. Me with kids?” Cooper scoffed. “Now that is the biggest joke of all.”

“Especially since you’re still a kid yourself.”

Cooper grabbed Mason’s hand and smacked him upside the head before Mason could scramble out of the way.

“What the hell was that for?” Mason asked, knowing damn well his brothers didn’t need a reason to hit him. It’s something they’d done since they were kids.

“Trying to knock some sense into you.”

“If that’s the case you should be hitting yourself.”

“I think I’m the sanest person in this family.”

“And I think you just found your calling.”

“Calling for what?”

“Standup comedian, because that shit is hilarious.”

Cooper shook his head, but before he could retort, Mason patted his back. “Need to work on your comebacks though. Come on, I’ll follow you out.”

Mason hadn’t eaten all day and needed a lunch break if he was ever going to get through the rest of the night.

“Damn, it’s coming down in buckets,” Cooper said as he opened the door, letting the sound of rushing water echo through the space. “I’ll catch you later.” He pulled the collar of his shirt up and dashed toward their dad’s old beater.

Mason pulled the hood of his sweatshirt over his head and jogged to his truck, being careful not to land in any deep puddles. Cooper beeped as he drove away, and Mason offered a nod, though he doubted his brother could see him through the sheet of rain.

Mason turned his Bronco onto the main road, his windshield wipers working overtime to try and clear the rain. It was one hell of a storm blowing through, and he worried his parking lot would turn into a mud pit. He opted against putting down blacktop because he wanted to keep the rustic feel—plus, he didn’t want to add to his overhead costs.

Now he was questioning that decision. He’d been doing that a lot lately—double guessing every decision he had made, wondering if what he decided now would bite him in the ass down the line. He wanted to be a success, but more than anything he wanted to prove to himself that he could do this, that he could take the intelligence he was known for and create it into something he was passionate about.

He leaned forward to get a better view of the road, and tried to ignore that annoying voice in the back of his mind when he spotted a figure walking down the side of the street. He didn’t recognize the person from behind, but that didn’t stop him from slowing down.

Born and raised in Red Maple Falls, Mason knew everyone, and would never let a neighbor fend for themselves in this type of weather. He pulled his truck to the side of the road and rolled down his window.

On closer inspection, he could see the petite, soft curves of a female. She kept her head down, hiding her face behind a curtain of long, wavy, reddish-brown hair that was sopping wet as she continued to walk on by without offering as much as a glance in his direction. Concerned for her well-being, Mason put the truck back in drive and rolled alongside of her.

“Can I give you a ride?” he called out, trying to make his voice heard over the relentless wind and loud smacking rain drops.

“I’m good,” she said, but he detected a hint of sadness in her voice. Her shoulders were raised, body hunched, probably trying to keep water from running down her neck. She wouldn’t look at him, so he had no idea if he knew who she was. Regardless if he knew her or not, he couldn’t just leave her out in this monsoon.

He put his truck in park and jumped out. He came to a stop in front of the girl, who paused, her eyes wide and startled before she tried to step around him.

“Hey,” he said, reaching his hand out to her shoulder, but she flinched at his gesture, causing him to retract his hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just want to give you a ride.” He removed his hood, so she could see his face, hoping that would give her a little peace of mind.

She finally looked up; her golden-brown eyes reminded him of a fresh poured amber ale, making him momentarily forget how to speak. He definitely didn’t know her; he would have recognized those eyes anywhere.

Big rain drops ran down Mason’s face and neck, pooling where his hoodie met his skin. “Please,” he said. “You’re soaked through, and you’re shivering. Let me give you a ride.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust strangers.”

“Then allow me to introduce myself. I’m Mason Hayes.” He held out his hand, but she only looked at it, so he let it fall back to his side. She was hesitant and she was scared, and that was the last thing he wanted, so he broke out the signature Hayes smile known to charm anyone it came in contact with. “If that doesn’t mean anything to you then that tells me you’re not from around here.”

“Are you famous or something?”

“In our own right,” he said with a laugh. “I was born and raised in this town. My parents own Basil Hill Farms that’s currently running the state’s famous Fall Festival, my sister owns Serenity Glass Blowing Studios, my sister-in-law owns Sweet Dream Bakery, my soon to be brother-in-law owns the Chain and Spoke. Oh, and my oldest brother is the Sheriff, so I really can’t be a serial killer, because that would be bad for business. So please, let me give you a ride.”

She stood there, rain sluicing down her black leather coat as she fidgeted with her hands. Finally, with a deep breath she nodded. “All right.”