Made to Love (18 page)

Mason pulled a
nother dry diaper out and slid it under the wet one. She figured the second diaper would help keep the mess of the first one contained. “Just a bit more.” She wiped him clean a second time, only needing to reapply a bit of his butt cream. Mason quickly put the diaper on and re-dressed him, stumbling only a bit with the small buttons on his onesie. “Wait here just a second while I get rid of this.” She was thankful she changed him on the floor, and Alex didn’t move much yet.

Mason carefully folded the diaper in on itself and then wrapped the second one around it, securing the tabs. She pushed herself up and searched for a plastic bag to put everything in. All the while, she talked to Alex, trying to calm him down. His sobs were finally
stopping, and she saw him tuck his fist into his mouth, sucking on it quietly. The site made her smile. “Is someone ready for another bottle?” Alex kicked his legs. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Mason washed her hands and face and attempted to dry the yellow stain that pooled on the front of her shirt. Finally, she gave up and grabbed one of the pre-made bottles out of the refrigerator. She ran the tap until it was hot and held the bottle underneath the water for several minutes then shook it up to distribute the heat. She shook a couple of drops on her wrist to make sure it wasn’t too warm.

“Come here, big boy.” Mason scooped Alex up and sat back down in the recliner. She settled him in her arm and slipped the bottle inside his mouth. It took a second, but soon Alex was sucking on the bottle with enough gusto to surprise Mason. “You really are hungry. This time let’s not give you gas.” She tipped the bottle up as he ate, so Alex wouldn’t suck down so much air. She studied his face
as she rubbed his soft head with her palm. “Actually, you’re pretty cute, for a boy. I guess we will keep you.”

Mason watched Alex’s eyes getting sleepy and fought the urge to shut hers. The breeze blowing in the window and the last bit of sunlight streaming through the windows made her sleepy. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there rocking him before a knock on the screen door made her jump. “Come in.”

“Hey.” Nikki pulled the screen open and stuck her head in tentatively. “Everything going okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Piece of cake. I’m not sure why everyone doesn’t do this whole parenting gig.”

Nikki narrowed her eyes and studied Mason’s face carefully. “Oh, you’re joking.”

“Mm, yes, I am. Everything okay?”

Nikki nodded and kissed Mason’s cheek. She sniffed her face and neck. “What’s that smell?”

“That would be the smell of success, soiled by a little
you know what…
” Mason waggled her pointer finger in the air and gestured at Alex with her head.

“I knew I didn’t like those things.” Nikki flopped onto the couch. “How was he otherwise?”

“Aside from a crying fit that lasted over an hour, he is pretty good. Marly helped me with the colic.”

“Hm.” Nikki studied Mason’s face for several seconds before she replied. “That was very nice of her. I didn’t think she was back in town.”

Mason grabbed a glass off the coffee table and took a long drink before she answered. “She’s not. I called her.”

Nikki digested the words, trying not to let her displeasure show. “You could have called me.”

“I didn’t want to bother you, what with the important phone call and all.” Mason lifted Alex over her shoulder and pushed herself out of the recliner. “Besides, it wasn’t really that big of a deal.”

Nikki watched Mason lay Alex down in his Pack-n-Play. The uneasiness she felt was unwelcome and unsettling all at once.

Mason rubbed Alex’s back until he settled then flashed Nikki a smile. “I’m glad you’re here. Want something to drink?”

“Sure. Beer’s fine.” Nikki fought the urge to make a snide comment about her presence as opposed to Marly’s. She wondered at the sudden cattiness she felt with regard to the other woman. Marly had done nothing at all to her personally; it just seemed that when Marly was mentioned Mason lit up in a way that bothered Nikki. She took the bottle Mason offered and took a long swig before she rested the bottle on her knee and spun it around distractedly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

Mason waved her hand dismissively. “No worries. You’re here now. Want to see something?” Mason flipped on the baby monitor and grabbed the receiver of the table. She opened the back door and held it for Nikki.

“Yes.” Nikki couldn’t help smiling at Mason’s enthusiasm. Her positive energy was infectious, which was a good thing. Nikki needed an attitude adjustment. She felt surly and sour and generally discontent. Her phone call, like those before, was from Katherine. It certainly wasn’t an emergency any of the times she called. Nikki had to question her insistence on taking the calls and behaving even remotely interested, and the answer she came to was that she actually felt some shred of joy that Katherine was now forced to admit she’d been wrong in dumping her. It was a bitter vindication as it only served to keep Nikki at arms’ length, waiting anxiously for Katherine to beg for her forgiveness and reconciliation. It made her feel cheap, used, disgusted with herself, but she couldn’t quit the woman. Nikki wanted desperately to pull away, but she felt the binds of that lifestyle buried deep within as though barbs twisting at her skin. It was an impossible situation for someone so obviously weak in character as Nikki deemed herself to be. She followed Mason with her eyes and smiled involuntarily. It was futile to even attempt
not to like Mason. She was good in every manner in which Katherine was not. Nikki stopped behind Mason as she opened the door to her work shed.

“I finished her last night.” Mason flipped on a light
in the garage and tilted her head toward the lithe metal figure that in a magical way resembled Nikki, purple hair and all.

Nikki’s feet propelled her toward the
sculpture, and she let her fingers slowly skim the rusted surface. It looked nothing like her, and yet Mason had captured the essence of her in each graceful curve and line.

“So, you like her?” Mason realized she’d been holding her breath, anxiously waiting for Nikki’s opinion.

“She’s beautiful.”

“Only in so much as imperfection can resemble perfection.” Mason looked down shyly.

Nikki slid her fingers through Mason’s. “Honey, I’m not perfect. In fact, I’m far from it. Your sculpture is breathtaking, more perfect than I could ever imagine being.”

“You’re more…”

“Mason, listen to me. This is what you see.” Nikki pulled her hand away and indicated a point above her head. “This is how I see myself.” Nikki bent over and pointed to a spot near her ankles. “The truth is probably somewhere in between.”

“I’ll need to see the truth and make that determination myself.”

“You can’t…” Nikki saw Mason wink mischievously and smiled. “You’re teasing, because somewhere in between…”

“Would be…” Mason slid her arms around Nikki’s waist and kissed her lips softly. She lingered there just until her body started to demand more than the passionate kisses they’d shared thus far. “…a perfect place to find the truth.”

“You, my dear…” Nikki kissed Mason’s nose then leaned back to study her face. “…are going to get us both kicked off babysitting duty. “

Mason waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “And that would be bad, why?”

“I can’t be seen as irresponsible. I’m kind of living with the kid’s parents. It might be bad to get kicked out.” Nikki reached around and pulled Mason’s arms away from her body. She stepped back just far enough to give herself room to think, but not make things awkward. “As I was saying before I was so, mmm…” Nikki moaned appreciatively. “…so very skillfully interrupted, there is a lot about me that you don’t know. I’m flawed and far from perfect.”

“So…” Mason stepped forward and licked her lips. She let her eyes fall to Nikki’s lips. It was much easier when her libido was in control. It helped when her brain checked out of the equation. “…tell me everything. The good, the bad and the ugly. I can take whatever you throw at me.”

Nikki turned away and sighed. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. There are things in my past that I’m not proud of.”

“So?” Mason grabbed Nikki’s hand and turned her back around. “Who doesn’t have a past? Show me a person without skeletons in their closet, and I’ll show you a liar. Take me for instance, I stole a pack of gum from the grocery store when I was nine.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Nikki eyed Mason dubiously. “You’re a boy scout compared to me. I was jacking cars at thirteen.”

“Seriously?” Mason’s eyes widened
considerably, and she searched Nikki’s face for a sign that she was joking.

“No, I’m not serious. But I could have.” Nikki smirked a little at Mason’s gullibility. “I have a string of broken hearts. Women I’ve left in the dust when the next best thing rolled into town. I am horrible at commitment, unless there are dollars involved. I am never faithful. Though, to be fair, most of the women I’ve dated are all about an open relationship. I’m shallow, selfish, heartless
, and not a small bit conceited.”

“Who wouldn’t be a bit conceited with that face?’ Mason was trying to lighten the mood. She knew Nikki came with a past, but didn’t realize it bothered her as much as it did.

“You know what I mean.” Nikki chewed on her fingernail guiltily. “The phone calls I keep getting?”

“Yes?”

Nikki grimaced. “They are from Katherine…my ex.”

“Oh.” Without realizing it, Mason stepped away from Nikki. “I guess I thought that was over and done.”

“It is, at least on my end. Katherine is having a hard time with her new girlfriend, and she’s used to talking to me about stuff that bothers her. I guess she didn’t have anyone else to turn to.”

“She can’t pay someone
, like a therapist?” Mason flexed her fists. Oddly, she wasn’t so upset about another woman. She was more annoyed that she’d been played for a fool. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, remembering that Nikki wasn’t like her. Mason wasn’t rude to her exes, but they weren’t best friends either. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Nikki nodded her head regrettably. “I deserve that for lying to you.”

“Well, it was more sin by omission, but who’s keeping score? Why do you take her calls?”

Nikki shrugged. “I’m not sure. I guess I feel obligated. She did a lot for me.”

Mason rolled her eyes. “You mean cheat on you? I can see where that would make me feel like I owed someone my life.”

“It’s not like that. She never promised more than what she gave me.” Nikki felt her lip quiver. That was mostly true. The women she dated never promised a future with them, never declared love with more than expensive trinkets, but it didn’t keep Nikki from hoping. She actually thought Katherine was different. Maybe part of her reluctance to cut her off was the
minuscule chance that Katherine would finally have to admit that she’d wronged Nikki.

“I’m the kind of woman
who believes a promise doesn’t have to be said to be there. She made love with you. That speaks volumes, at least in my book.”

Nikki had to agree, at least in a small way. The Nikki who still believed in fairytales knew Mason was right. The cynical, jaded Nikki got a bad taste in her mouth at the adolescent notion that sex equated to anything more than sex. “You’re different than most.”

“Am I? Or is it that you have been choosing the wrong women up till now? You may not see it, but the majority of us are interested in happily ever after and not the next one-night stand. If you step back you will see that Katherine is no good for you.”

“Is it bad that I always seem drawn to the bad girls?”

“I guess not, if that’s what you’re looking for.” Mason leaned back against her work table and crossed her arms. “Now, if that’s what you are looking for, that’s not me. We’d be better off parting ways now.” Mason’s mouth was pursed stubbornly as she waited for Nikki’s response. Part of her thought it would be easier if she did walk away. Then Mason wouldn’t have to figure out why she couldn’t open herself up completely to the woman. There was a small part of her that didn’t take being someone’s second choice very well. That was the part that held on in hopes of proving that she was more than Nikki needed to be happy.

“I don’t think I’m ready to give up on us.” Nikki narrowed the distance between them and slid her palms up Mason’s arms. “There’s something very irresistible about you.”

Mason tensed and pinned Nikki with a tight-lipped smile. “Let me be very clear. I like you. I’m not going to start treating you like shit just to impress you. That’s not my game. I may be a tiger in bed, but it doesn’t happen outside the bedroom.”

“Mm, I like the sound of that.” Nikki slid her arms around Mason’s shoulders. “I think it’s time to explore that side of you.”

Mason gulped loudly. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could put off sex. Being a gentleman only got her so far. No matter where her head was, the second their lips met, there were other parts of her that fought for control. She couldn’t think of an appropriate response for either feeling, so Mason did the first thing that came to mind. She growled, or at least attempted to growl sexily. What Mason succeeded in doing was sounding more like an animal with something stuck in its throat. Fortunately, for Mason, a loud cry saved her from the embarrassment of having to explain what had just escaped her mouth.