Mason Winter Novels & Stories

For a moment, Celeste simply stood there staring. Silas, or at least the wolf that was somehow still unmistakably him, waited in front of her with a patience that made the whole thing feel slightly less overwhelming. He was larger than the others by enough that it stood out immediately, thick dark fur built for winter while snow settled lightly across his back without seeming to bother him in the slightest. Even like this, there was something familiar in the way he watched her, steady and calm, like he already knew she needed a second to process everything.

“What should I do?” The assistant was caught off guard. It was the first time Nick had ever asked him for advice. He stood up quickly, speaking carefully. “Sir, you might not like what I’m about to say, but I’ve been by your side for eight years. I’ve seen everything you and Ms. Winters have gone through.” He paused to study Nick’s face. When he saw no sign of anger, he went on. “You two once loved each other deeply. You survived countless storms together, but you couldn’t survive the quiet. Ms. Winters won’t come back once she’s gone.

Wendy pushed the door open, clutching a roll of design sketches. Her hair was loosely tied back with a few stray strands framing her face. She looked up to speak, but her gaze froze on the man standing at the counter. It was Miles. He looked a little thinner. His eyes were burning with that familiar stubborn light. “Wendy.” Miles stepped forward. Wendy spun around and headed for the door, grabbing Austin’s wrist. “Let’s go.” “Wendy!” Miles rushed after them, blocking their path.

Forty-five Forty-five Mia Conner After I fell through the ice on that trip to The Lodge, Mason disappeared. He didn’t even tell his siblings that he was leaving. The rest of the vacation was me, alone in the family guest room, with the rest of the Crescent family playing board games with me, watching holiday movies, and more. At the end of the trip, I resolved that I wasn’t going to pay any more attention to Mason Crescent. “Are you okay?” Brooklyn asked me when we got back to our dorm.

After he left Summer's room, Mason headed straight toward his own. Just as he reached his door, the one across the hall swung open. "Hey." It was a blunt, impolite greeting. Mason stopped and turned around to look, only to see Snow in skimpy clothing, with her hair still damp as she stood by the door. "I brought some really nice wine. Would you like a glass?" No man had ever said no to her drinking invitations. "I don't drink," Mason said. Then, without giving her the chance to say anything else, he opened the door and went inside.

I agree and take another bite of food. “Good,” Rory says. “It’ll be fall before we know it and we'll be missing the heat of summer. And then we’ll be buried under snow. Though it’s not as bad in Eastwood as it is here. Funny how being just a few hours south makes a big difference in the snow.” “If a transfer to Miami comes up this winter, I might just take it,” Mason tells us. “No, you won’t,” Mom says right back. “That’s too far.”

I text Mason to see what he’s up to and he’s free. Mason: I’ll grab a pizza and come over. We can watch a movie or see if a good game is on. ME: Sounds like a brilliant plan. I’ve got the beer. Mason went to college to take over his family’s dental practice. He worked hard to make it through school and for the last two years; he has been successfully treating all of Frankford. Mason has been too busy to worry about relationships, so he is in the single lane with me. Jacob and Dominic are the only two out of the group who have gotten married. Jacob and his wife Maizy have a little boy named Jax who’s six.

Ramon had left with some other girl that night, and that was that. "Yeah, can you keep an eye on her during this ski trip? I know how drunk everybody gets during the après-ski. I went last year, and man, if I started explaining what happened that night, I’d be talking until tomorrow. Never seen so many shots go into people as those students. They could outdrink me, and I once downed half a bottle of Jack." Mason’s voice is lighter now, but I can tell he’s still worried. I remember how he came back from that trip last year—hungover, grumpy, and with a look in his eyes like he’d witnessed something he could never unsee.

Then he stood up, rounded the table and to my surprise, wrapped me in a big, bear hug. Mason was extremely handsome. At five feet eight plus my three inch heels, I wasn’t a small woman, but Mason towered over me with about four inches. He had long blond hair, and dark green eyes. He looked like a Viking. Well, if Vikings wore cargo shorts and T-shirts that is. “Is today costume day?” I asked when he pulled away. He threw his head back and laughed. “No. We just like to be comfortable when we work.

I need that hug right now, I want to give one back in return. It's then I see someone approaching from behind. Leonard can't see Mason, the quietest member of our team, who goes by the name of Mace because basically because he gets in, gets the job done, and does it with the quickest efficiency any of us have ever seen. We joke it's because he's a single dad, and has to jerk it fast. Today I'm not joking, and my heart is in my throat as I see him get closer to the two standing on the sidewalk.