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CHAPTER ONE

Mason Carlisle sucked in a bracing breath of icy cold air, and then, ignoring the heavy pool of dread that settled in his stomach, stepped into Ralphie’s Pub A wall of humidity and noise slas in an instant He hadn’t set foot in this place in over a year; it wasn’t really his scene Not anymore

“Hey, Mason Long tiet for you?” the heavyset bartender said as Mason sat down at the end of the bar Mason dipped his head in greeting and cast a glance around the unusually full local pub He couldn’t recall ever seeing the place this busy before, and he wondered what the occasion was

“Just a beer, thanks, Ralphie,” he said “It’s really puht”

“Yeah, hey? A hen party” Ralphie pointed his double chins toward a corner of squealing, giggling women, and Mason frowned Ralphie’s wasn’t the sort of place to attract hen parties—or wo to say the least

“Who’s gettinga hand over his stubbled jaw, absently noting the need for a shave He wasn’t particularly interested in Ralphie’s answer but was killing time until his brother, Spencer, showed up

“Andrew McGregor’s girl, the pretty one Marrying souy”

The local veterinarian, Andrew McGregor, had three daughters, and just about every guy in high school—Mason included—had had a crush on the pretty one, Dahlia Daffodil, the cute, older one, had been in Mason’s class He recalled her being obnoxious and sarcastic He didn’t really reest one

Mason didn’t particularly care to dwell on McGregor’s girls right now; he was more interested in where the hell his brother was Spencer had begged Mason to join him at Ralphie’s and now couldn’t be bothered to show up on tih spot after his separation froirlfriend, Tanya, Mason would have ditched his ass and headed ho, a six-pack that wanted drinking, and a classic eighties action movie to watch

Yeah, all things considered, he’d much rather be at home

A scandalized squeal co his head instinctively to the rowdy crowd of wo passed around

“Seriously? That thing looks like the Hulk’s cock Talk about placing unrealistic expectations on a guy I hope her groom can compete” Spencer’s voice calare at his brother