Made to Love, page 5
“Hmm.” That was all Marly said on the matter. She didn’t agree. She believed that the house was just another inanimate object, easily parted with as she had no emotional tie to it. “Do you think you might let me try my hand at the English wheel again?”
Mason smiled and dipped her head obligingly. “I think that could be arranged.” Mason yawned and stretched her arms over her head.
“I think that’s my cue.” Marly stood up and took a moment to study Mason closely. She wasn’t traditionally beautiful, Marly would say almost handsome. Her loose, blond curls accentuated her strong face. High, arching cheekbones immediately drew a person’s attention to her blue eyes, and her crooked smile and full lips made you keep looking. Marly admitted that Mason was someone who would have caught her attention, if she were looking. She met Mason’s quizzical stare and blushed slightly. “Sorry, you remind me of someone on TV. I can see her face…yellow jumpsuit.”
“Uma Thurman. Kill Bill. I get it all the time.” Mason supplied the actress. “God, she’s such a girl.”
“Uh, Mason…” Marly lifted her finger and made a face. “You are a girl.”
Mason rolled her eyes. “I just meant she is so femme. Give me Maria Bello in Coyote Ugly. She’s hot and a total badass.”
Marly cocked her head and squinted her eyes. “You got a tank top? I’m visual; I need to see it.”
Mason shook her head and laughed. “No. I live in long-sleeve shirts. It’s safer in my line of work.”
“Too bad.” Marly smiled mischievously. “You’d probably look pretty good in a tank top.”
“Don’t go and fall for me, Ms. Cabot. I don’t want to mess up a good friendship.”
Marly snickered then covered her mouth quickly. “Not a chance, Mason…wait, what’s your last name?”
“Durant.”
“Durant.” Marly let the name roll around in her head. Mason Durant. It was a good, strong name, and it fit her perfectly. “Like I said, not a chance. I don’t do love.”
“Thank God. I hate when you have a perfectly good friendship, and someone falls in love and just mucks the whole thing up.”
“Agreed.” Marly smiled. “Thanks again. I didn’t realize how much I could use a friend.”
“My pleasure.” Mason’s reply was sincere. She was generally pretty good at sizing people up and despite Marly’s initial attitude, she seemed like a decent person, just a little lost.
“Well, I really should get going. I have a long walk home.” Marly paused with her hand on the door and shot Mason a grateful smile. “Thanks again, Coyote.”
Mason snorted and watched Marly leave. She mulled over the impromptu nickname and admitted she liked it, and she liked Marly. They hadn’t gotten off on a particularly good foot, but it seemed to be taking a turn for the better. For the first time since Anne’s passing, Mason felt her world start turning again.
Chapter 5
Mason took the steps two at a time and knocked on the door. She glanced at her watch and winced regretfully. She was fifteen minutes late for her dinner date. She had gotten caught up in the blooms for Anne’s orchid, struggling to get the look just right, and when she finally did, Mason couldn’t stop working on them. She mentally chided herself for her tardiness. “Hey, sorry I’m late.”
Aspen laughed at Mason’s rueful smile. “You’re right on time.” She stepped back and let Mason come in. She led her into the living room where Lex and her cousin, Nikki, were watching the end of a ball game. “Mason, this is Lex’s cousin, Nikki Castellanos. Nikki, this is our friend, Mason. We work together.”
Mason stopped in her tracks and held her breath. To say she was stunned by Nikki’s exotic looks was a gross understatement. It was almost comical to see Mason completely dumbfounded. She never believed in love at first sight, but she was fairly certain that Nikki was the most beautiful woman whom she had ever seen. A moment too late, she recovered herself and flashed a brilliant smile. “Hi.”
Nikki looked away to hide her smirk. She was no stranger to women, and men, reacting that way to her. She knew she was striking. She sized Mason up in the two seconds it took to stand up and cross the room. She was good-looking enough and maybe she could be a good summertime diversion. Nikki extended her hand and held Mason’s gaze as she shook hands. She licked her lips seductively and when she saw Mason’s eyes drop to her mouth she knew she had her. “Nikki Castellanos, it’s a pleasure meeting you.”
Aspen shot Lex a look and mouthed oh my God, are you serious? “Shall we eat?”
“Yes…I’m starving.” Nikki pulled her hand away and ran it through her short, purple hair. “Mason, how long have you known Lex and Aspen?”
Mason started to follow them into the kitchen, in absolute awe over Nikki. “Almost a yea…” Before Mason could stop herself, she tripped over the end table. She flailed her arms wildly, searching for something to catch herself on. Her arm caught a lamp and sent it crashing to the floor, with her not far behind. “Oomph!” Mason hit the floor full force, knocking the wind out of her lungs.
“Mason, are you okay?” Aspen watched as Lex put out her hand and helped Mason to her feet. “It’s my fault. I moved the furniture, and that table has been sticking out too far ever since. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m fine.” Mason shook her head and smiled sheepishly. “It’s my big feet. They catch on everything.” She caught Nikki’s eye and turned away as her cheeks burned bright red.
“I still feel bad.” Aspen gave her a once over. “You’re sure you are okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bruised ego. You got a broom? I am going to clean this mess up.”
“Lex can do it.” Aspen leaned over and picked up what was left of the lamp and set it back on the table. She put the lamp shade beside it. “There. Lex, can you sweep that up?”
“Sure.” Lex shot Mason an ingratiating smile. “No problem. I don’t like my meatloaf hot anyway.”
“Lex!” Aspen swatted Lex on the arm. “Stop it!”
Mason groaned and put her face in her hands, feigning humiliation. She trudged into the kitchen and sat down before she broke anything else.
Nikki pulled the chair out next to her and covered Mason’s hand with hers. “Don’t feel bad.” She leaned in and whispered in Mason’s ear. “It was an ugly lamp anyway.”
Mason felt Nikki’s breath on her cheek, and she shivered. Up close, Nikki was even more breathtaking. Her eyes were brown like Lex’s, but unlike hers, Nikki’s seemed to convey a never-ending invitation, seducing anyone who got caught looking. Her olive skin was smooth like honey and Mason’s fingers longed to touch her cheek. She smelled like vanilla and lavender, sweet and innocent. Mason blinked to clear her head. “Thanks. So…uh…you’re Lex’s cousin?”
“Mmhmm…” Nikki started to pull away, and she trailed her fingernail along Mason’s hand. She felt a swell of pride to see Mason’s eyes flash with desire. The past month took its toll on Nikki. Katherine de Moray had done a number on Nikki’s ego. Stupid bitch. Nikki wasn’t the type of woman who got dumped. And yet, here she was, sitting at the table in the middle of the country, trying to hook the town klutz. What had her life become? “So you and Aspen work together?”
Mason smoothed the edges of her napkin, trying to settle her nerves. “Yes, Aspen and I have spots in the same gallery on the South End.”
“Oh.” Nikki’s tone seemed less than enthused. “You’re an artist.”
“Yes.” Mason smiled proudly. She was smitten with Nikki so much already she missed the disparaging look on her face. “I work with scrap metal, rebar…that sort of thing.”
“Sounds interesting.” Nikki feigned interest. She couldn’t care less. The term starving artist came into her head, and poor wasn’t something Nikki did. “What type of art do you do?”
Mason shrugged. “Mostly outside sculptures for yards. Quirky stuff. You should come by some time. I’ll show you my workshop and some of my stuff.”
“I’d like that.”
Aspen waddled into the kitchen and stuck the broom back in the pantry. “I don’t know about you two, but I am starving.”
“Me too.” Lex dumped the glass into the trash before putting the dust pan away. “It smells delicious.”
“Agreed.” Mason rubbed her hands together hungrily. “You made the special meatloaf?”
“Yep.” Aspen pulled a pan out of the oven and set it on the stove. “Bacon-wrapped meatloaf stuffed with blue cheese, served with rosemary roasted potatoes. Lex made an Italian Cream Cake for dessert.”
“What? Since when does my cousin bake?” Nikki looked at Lex skeptically. “Do we dare eat it?”
Lex punched Nikki in the shoulder. “I’m learning, okay.” Lex walked by and patted Aspen’s bottom. “I’ve got a really good teacher. Besides, someone is going to have to cook when the baby is born, at least for a while.”
Aspen turned and shot Nikki a sly wink. She knew full well that Lex would be getting a lot of take out when the time came. She laid a hot pad holder on the table and set the meatloaf down then went back for the potatoes. She surveyed the table then sat down with a groan. “Dig in.”
Nikki reached for the potatoes, but Mason stopped her. “Here, let me.”
“Thanks.” Nikki held her plate up as Mason scooped out a huge helping of the rosemary potatoes onto a spoon. Mason went to put them on Nikki’s plate, but her arm hit her glass and knocked it over. Ice-cold water poured out onto Nikki’s lap. “Shit.”
“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry. I’ve got it.” Mason reached to get her napkin and realized her plate was stuck on top of it. She jerked it out with her left hand, completely forgetting about the scoop of roasted potatoes she had in her right hand. In true Mason form, the potatoes flew off the spoon and landed on the floor. “Damn it.” She reached over to dab at the growing wet spot on Nikki’s jeans. “Shit. God, I’m such a klutz.”
“Mason.” Nikki grabbed Mason’s wrist and pulled it away. She gave her a tight smile. “It’s just water.”
Mason closed her eyes and shook her head in sheer frustration. She exhaled loudly and got up to tend to the potatoes that were still on the floor. She scooped them up with her napkin. “Sorry, I’m just tired I guess. I haven’t slept too well the last couple of days.”
Aspen reached over and squeezed Mason’s hand. “It’s okay, honey. It’s Anne, isn’t it?” Aspen dished potatoes and a slice of meatloaf onto a plate and handed it to Mason.
“Thanks.” Mason waited while everyone else finished serving themselves. She smiled at Nikki ruefully. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s cool.” To her credit, Nikki played the whole thing off. “Who is Anne? Girlfriend?”
“No.” Mason shook her head and finished chewing before she answered. “She was my neighbor and a dear friend. She passed away last week. I’m just having a hard couple of days.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Nikki rubbed Mason’s arm. “I know how hard it is to lose someone.” In truth, she did. Long before Nikki turned into a free-spirited party girl, she had fallen in love with her best friend. It was a short-lived love affair that ended in tragedy. Nikki still couldn’t think of that day and not feel cold. Congenital heart disease. The one person Nikki loved, and she couldn’t save her. Nikki felt Lex’s eyes on her, and she shook her head just enough to let Lex know she didn’t want to talk about it.
“How are things with Mrs. Cabot’s daughter?” Aspen met Mason’s gaze and knew that something had happened. She knew Mason well enough to know when she had a story. She cocked her head and pinned Mason with an inquisitive stare. “Care to share?”
Mason shook her head. “It’s nothing, really. Marly came by and we worked some things out.”
Aspen grabbed more potatoes as they spoke. “So, she’s okay if you keep your stuff in the yard?”
“I guess.” Mason shrugged. “As long as she has the house. I think she wants to get rid of it. Man, I would buy it if I could afford it. I love that house.”
“Maybe she will cut you a deal.”
Mason sighed. “I doubt it. Hopefully, she will stick around until after stART. I’m not sure where I will store all the pieces if she doesn’t.”
“stART?” Nikki wiped her mouth and laid her napkin down. She leaned back and studied Mason for several seconds. Despite her obvious proclivity for causing accidents, she did have a handsome face, and it seemed she was good with her hands, outside of the kitchen. Nikki wondered what else she was good at.
“stART on the street. It’s the biggest art show in central Mass. I lucked into a spot this summer.”
“Oh? When is that?” Nikki was slowly becoming more interested in Mason. She pretended not to notice Lex’s cocked eyebrow. Lex could be suspicious of her motives all she wanted; it didn’t mean she was going to act any differently. Besides, they were both adults. “Do you get into a lot of shows?”
“Some.” Mason leaned back in her chair, comfortable for the first time. She felt at home in her skin when she could talk about her passion. “I’ve got stART this month then Aspen and I are sharing space at the South End Art Hop Labor Day weekend. I’ll be doing a couple of smaller, local shows in July and August. If Marly can stick around long enough to get me through the summer, I can find a place to rent by then.”
“Do you think she will?” Lex got up and cut her cake, dishing healthy-sized portions for each of them. She grabbed four wine glasses and filled them with milk. When she set the glasses down, she waited for the comments to come, knowing Nikki, at least, would have something smart-ass to say. She eyed her warily. “Nothing?”
“Nope. Why would you think so? I can see the pregnant lady in the room.” Nikki smirked then looked away quickly. She dabbed at her cake and nibbled a small bit off the end of her fork. She closed her eyes and moaned loudly. “Okay, cuz, I’ll give you this. That’s a damn good cake.”
Lex beamed proudly. “I would have to agree.”
This time Nikki poked into the cake hungrily. “Mason, you were saying?”
“Oh, yeah, I am not sure. She didn’t think she would be sticking around for long. Marly seems to be a bit of a loner, doesn’t let anyone inside. I think she could use a friend, though.”
Aspen set her fork down. “We could have a lunch or something here and invite Marly. She could probably use a couple of friends.”
Mason smiled gratefully. “You would do that?”
“Sure, why not? I’ll have Lex whip us up something good.”
Lex snorted. “Hot dogs and leftover Italian Cream Cake.”
“And milk.” Nikki’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “Mason, I would love to see your sculptures sometime soon. Would you mind giving me directions to your place?”
“Sure.” Mason’s eyes widened slightly. She wasn’t sure what to make of Nikki’s continued interest in her. She could tell just by looking at Nikki that she didn’t go for the type of woman she was. While understated, Mason could recognize expensive clothing and jewelry when she saw it. Mason was in a different class than Nikki, and she knew it. Still, Mason couldn’t say no to the smile that Nikki flashed at her. “I can draw you a map.”
“That would be great. I have paper at my house.” Nikki tossed her napkin on the table and pushed her chair back. “Ladies, I’m exhausted. I think I’m going to take off. Mason, would you walk me home?”
“Uh, sure.” Mason looked like a deer caught in the headlights. It would have been comical if it weren’t so pathetic. “Thanks for dinner, guys. It was delicious.”
Lex rolled her eyes and shot Aspen a look. She wanted to say something, but she wasn’t quite sure what Nikki was up to yet. Lex wanted to believe that she was trying to change. That perhaps Nikki was finally growing up. “No problem.”
Aspen pushed herself out of her chair. She pulled Mason into her arms, as much as she could with her belly sticking so far out she thought it might have reached another county, and hugged her tightly. “Be careful, okay?”
Mason gave her a reassuring pat then pulled away. “I’ll be fine.”
Aspen watched them go, Nikki leading with Mason in tow. She leaned back against Lex and rested her head against Lex’s shoulder. “What do you think Nikki has up her sleeve?”
Lex kissed the top of Aspen’s head and wrapped her arms around her belly. “I wish I knew.”
“I shouldn’t worry. Mason is a big girl; it's just that…”
“Oh, I know. It’s Nikki. I wouldn’t put anything past her.” Lex spun Aspen around and kissed her soundly on the mouth. “Let’s worry about it tomorrow. Right now, I just want to snuggle with my wife.”
Aspen glanced at the dirty dishes on the table and grimaced. “Let me just…”
“Unh-uh. I’ll get them tomorrow.” Lex slid her fingers through Aspen’s and pulled her toward the stairs. “Tomorrow.”
“Fine.” Aspen followed Lex up the stairs, the dishes all but forgotten. What she couldn’t stop thinking about was her friend and the short trek across the yard into the lion’s den. God help us if Nikki gets her claws into Mason.
Outside, Mason stopped at the stairs. “Thanks for the company.”
Nikki’s bottom lip jutted out. “You’re not stopping there, are you? I thought I was getting directions to your place.”
“I…uh…” Mason hesitated. Her mind was reeling. If she didn’t know any better, she would have sworn that Nikki was propositioning her. No, that wasn’t possible. She was Nikki Castellanos and Mason was, well Mason just was. Nothing special or exotic. Just homegrown and ordinary. “Lex and Aspen can show you how to get there.”
Nikki came back down the stairs and stopped when she was eye level with Mason. “I’m much better with visual aids.” She ran a fingernail along Mason’s jawbone. “Besides, I could use more than a glass of milk tonight.”
Mason gulped and tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. In all her years, she couldn’t remember a time when she had been so skillfully hit on, or so incredibly turned on in such a short time. “Listen, Nikki, I really should be going. It’s late.”
