by Tina Leonard
Nanette smiled. “’Kay.”
A rap on her door sounded. “Mimi! Join us for chocolate chip cake!”
“That would be Shasta, and most likely, Aunt Valentine is here with a yummy treat.” Mimi patted Nanette’s hair, admiring the shine of it. Girl talk, treats and sleeping alone was just what the doctor ordered. After today’s frantic lovemaking in Mason’s office, Mimi knew Mason was going to drive her mad with desire.
He was tearing down every wall she put up.
It was too much, too fast, too soon, for a man who had been a stalwart bachelor. She didn’t trust it. Head-over-heels desire didn’t usually translate to a lasting relationship. Her mother was a good example of that, abandoning her family years ago.
And what if her mother’s genes had come to her and the lure of wanderlust tempted her?
Mimi would never, ever leave her daughter, of course. She squeezed Nanette to her in an affectionate hug. But the past had very long tendrils into the present, as Mimi knew too well.
Mason claimed she was a smidge flighty. He called her Mimi-jinx, in a teasing way that said he meant the pet name.
What if her history meant she wasn’t destined to be married? Certainly, she had chosen a platonic arrangement for her first marriage, which hadn’t lasted and was never meant to.
“I love you,” she told Nanette fiercely.
Nanette smiled. “Let’s go eat cake, Mommy.”
Cake. With friends. What more wonderful thing to take her mind off the sudden fear striking her?
Opening the door, she took her daughter’s hand. “First one there gets the biggest piece,” she said.
Nanette giggled and ran on steady, muscular legs down the hall. Mimi heard laughing voices and delight envelop her daughter as Nanette ran inside the screened-in porch.
Sisterhood. Without Mason, Mimi thought, trying not to feel sad. A vacation away from a handsome man. Right. And if you’re pregnant now? a laughing voice asked her, shocking her.
Now more than ever she wasn’t ready to think about marriage, but if she was expecting a baby, Mason would be more determined than ever to make her Mrs. Mason Jefferson.
Her head felt suddenly light. She sank onto a flowered ottoman next to Nanette, who had been given a very generous piece of cake. But Mimi had no appetite.
“You look pale, Mimi,” one of the women said. “Are you all right?”
“I think so.” Velvet handed her a glass of water, which Mimi sipped gratefully.
“Hey!” Mason said, calling through the screen. “I didn’t get an invitation to eat cake.”
“Daddy!” Nanette said, jumping up and nearly spilling her cake. “You can share mine.”
“Oh, no, cowboys get all the cake they want, honey. You’re very sweet, though,” Marni said. “I’ll go let him in.”
“Must be a social call,” Gretchen said with a wicked smile, “since the shop isn’t open.”
Mimi felt a blush run up her cheeks. She sipped her water more urgently, trying to cool off her system.
To her surprise, Mason came in, kissed his daughter, said a brief hi to Mimi, and then sat down and ate cake, allowing all the women to spoil him as he no doubt thought his due. When he was done being petted like a pasha, he got up, thanked the ladies politely, kissed his daughter goodbye and left.
In the twilight, Mimi could hear him whistling as he walked down the main street of Union Junction. Mimosas wafted their perfume through the screens as she listened to his happy sounds.
“Where’s he going, Mommy?” Nanette asked.
“Home to bed,” Mimi said, feeling terribly guilty that she was keeping Nanette from her father. Was she? He hadn’t seemed upset that they were here. “I’m a terrible mother,” she said suddenly, not meaning for the words to leave her lips.
But they had, and instantly everyone gathered around her, hugging her and reassuring her, much as they had doted on Mason. Okay, it feels good, she thought. So maybe he needs love and attention.
Mason had never really had anyone who loved him and spoiled him and looked after him. Except Helga, but that wasn’t the same. And me, Mimi thought.
He was trying to make her feel guilty, she realized. That was why he’d come here. It was working like a charm!
“I’m all right,” she told the ladies. “Everyone enjoy their cake. I had a moment of sentimentality, but it’s over now.”
“We thought it had something to do with that fine cowboy, with his extra-fine buns packed into those jeans,” someone teased. “Maybe you’d rather be going with him than staying here?”
“No,” Mimi said. “I need this time to re-center myself.”
“Pretty powerful stuff, is it? That Jefferson charm?”
The ladies all laughed, but Mimi didn’t feel like it. She’d lost her best friend, in a way, as she’d feared she would. She didn’t know Mason anymore, even less since he’d made love to her in his office. That had just confused matters between them. She wanted him, and yet, deep inside, something was warning her that it wasn’t meant to be. And if she was pregnant?
Worry slithered down Mimi’s spine. She felt smothered and out of control. She wanted to know what was real between them before they said vows that one day might be meaningless.
Her gaze fell on Nanette, happily finishing her cake.
It hit her before she could put a name to it: a sudden, terrifying desire to move as far away as she could possibly get from Mason Jefferson and his devastatingly sexy cowboy charm.
Before they made a mistake they’d both regret.
Chapter Eleven
Mason had intended to barge into the Union Junction Salon yesterday and drag his lady and his child back to the ranch where they belonged, but once he got there and saw the strain on Mimi’s face, he knew the sheriff was right in kindly telling Mason to cool his jets.
Mimi looked tired and not her usual happy self. He was worried, because before, there had always been a special light in her eyes for him, as well as a smile and a twinkle in her personality. He missed that. He missed everything about her.
He missed making love to her. Now that his feelings had overcome his better judgment where Mimi was concerned, he was ready to throw better judgment completely out the window and make love to her every day of the week. Maybe every hour of the day.
I could get used to that, he thought with a smile.
“You look happy to see the sun rise,” Last said, coming into the breakfast room where Mason sat with a cup of hot coffee. “Good news?”
“Nope.”
“Must be the sauerkraut.” Last helped himself to some coffee and sat down across from his brother. “Heard Mimi moved into the salon with the gals.”
The smile slipped from Mason’s face. “So?”
Last shrugged. “Just repeating gossip, Sheriff.”
Mason’s lips flattened into a straight line. “It’s only temporary.”
“That’s what I thought,” Last said with a nod. “Especially since she’d slept here one night, and one night at the town house—”
“What does it matter?” Mason demanded. “And does the whole town have to be in our business?”
“Yep,” Last said. “You are the sheriff, bro.”
“I keep getting reminded of that.” Mason felt very sour about the interest his every move was attracting. “Can’t a guy get to know the mother of his child?”
“Well, I think that makes folks a wee bit more interested in your business,” Last said easily, “since nobody had any idea that Nanette was your daughter. I guess they’re wondering what’s next.”
“Next?” Mason’s brow furled.
“Well, maybe wedding bells,” Last suggested. “Clearly you and Mimi like each other enough to make a child together. Of course, it’s none of my business.” Standing, he went to the sink to rinse out his coffee cup.
Mason sighed. “Mimi won’t marry me.”
Last looked at him. “I’ve given you all the advice I had. Wish you the best of luck with it
, though.”
He left, and Mason’s mood was not improved when Calhoun wandered in, grabbing himself a cup of coffee.
“Enjoyed the marshmallow roast,” Calhoun said. “Think I’m going to cook hot dogs tonight. Shall I toss a few extra on for your clan?”
“My clan?” Mason demanded. “Do I look like I have a clan as I sit here by myself drinking a cup of coffee?”
Calhoun glanced around. “Mimi and Nanette not here?”
“You must not have the connection to the grapevine Last has.”
“Probably not,” he said cheerfully, plenty pleased to have it that way.
“Mimi’s staying at the Union Junction Salon for a few days,” Mason admitted.
“Huh.” Calhoun drank his coffee down in one gulp. “Sounds like woman trouble, and I’m no good with that one. My woman keeps close tabs on me.”
“Fine,” Mason said, grumpy about the situation. Mimi wouldn’t keep close tabs on him no matter what.
Shrugging, Calhoun left. Mason looked dolefully into his coffee cup. The brew was cold now, as cold as he felt, and brought him no pleasure whatsoever. He could rarely remember feeling that displeased about a cup of coffee.
It’s Mimi. She’s ruining my morning joe.
If she was here, where she belonged, she could fix him a cup of coffee, and he’d be so grateful that he wouldn’t even need sugar in it.
Or maybe he’d fix her a cup of coffee, if she wanted.
He had no idea how to get her into his house, his life, his bed. The sheriff’s desk incident had probably given her the clue that he had no self-control around her, and she’d stay well clear of him.
To his astonishment, Mimi blew into the kitchen just then. She sat down across from him and gave him a very serious glare.
“Mason Jefferson, you’re ruining my reputation,” she said.
His mouth curled. “I offered. You turned me down.”
“Not that reputation,” Mimi said. “My reputation for being sensible. Logical. Sane.”
“Uh—” Mason gawked, wondering when anyone had ever thought Mimi was logical and sensible. But he dared not say such a thing, or she’d blow him clean out of his boots. “I’m not sure how to fix that,” he said. “Can you give me a hint of what the exact issue is?”
“The issue is that everyone, including my dearest friends, thinks I’m not giving you a chance to be good to me.”
He perked up. This topic sounded exactly like what he thought. “Maybe your dearest friends have a point. They know I’ve changed.”
“Changed?” Mimi stared at him. “I liked the old Mason. Him I trusted. You,” she said steadily, “are telling me you want to marry me, and you’re trying to make me say yes by making love to me, but that’s not love. It’s lust.”
“Lust works for me,” Mason said. “I won’t quibble about it. I hope I lust for my wife for the next thirty years, or until my pe—”
“Whoa,” Mimi said. “What I’m talking about is depth of friendship.”
“So? Who is a better friend to you than me?”
“Friends listen to friends’ feelings,” Mimi said. “You don’t listen to me.”
“Mimi, anyone who doesn’t listen to you gets a purple ear from the pressure of your personality,” Mason told her kindly. “Even mine are getting a bit pink around the edges.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Well, let’s test that theory. I’d like to start putting some money away for Nanette to go to college in Boston.”
“No,” Mason said automatically. “Nanette stays in Texas.”
Mimi glared. “You see what I’m talking about.”
“No, that’s not a fair subject. Try another.”
“All right. If we got pregnant again the other day—”
“During our burst of passion,” Mason said, happily joining in. This topic he liked.
She sighed. “If we did, I don’t want you pressuring me about marriage.”
“Okay, you pressure me instead,” Mason said. “I’ll say no, secretly call the minister, and we’ll pretend like we’re not saying our wedding vows when we actually are. The moment will be over, and the drama past, and you’ll have caught me fair and square. Only we’ll never say that,” he said with a grin. “We’ll say we’re positively aligned with each other’s auras.”
“Mason!”
He shrugged. “I just think you’re being ridiculous. I like you, you like me, let’s get married. Then it won’t matter if we’re pregnant again. And we’ll only be on number two anyway, so we’ll just be getting started.”
“Why, Mason?” Mimi asked. “Why now? Why do you suddenly think that marriage is a good idea?”
He scratched his head. “I want my own clan.”
Mimi wrinkled her nose. “Ugh. That’s not very romantic.”
“I don’t do romance as well as I do steadfast,” Mason said. “You could learn to like steadfast, I bet. If I can learn to deal with headstrong and flighty, steadfast can be something you decide you like.”
“But you know,” Mimi said, “we were such good friends. We’ll never have that if we’re married.”
“We don’t have it now,” he pointed out. “All this chitchat is getting in the way of what could be a really satisfying time in our lives.”
“You’d forget about me once we were man and wife,” Mimi said.
“Fat chance,” Mason said. “Do I look like I ignore naked women in my bed? I promise you, Mimi, you come to bed naked, and I will never, ever forget you. Or,” he said thoughtfully, “you can keep that T-shirt you wear. Just nothing on underneath.”
“I keep expecting you to whip out a contract,” Mimi said. “This all feels so methodical.”
“You think about it,” he said, “and in the meantime, think about this.”
He kissed her, making certain he lifted her clear off her little sandals, holding her tightly. His lips held hers, and his tongue swept hers, and he knew he had her when he felt her go limp in his arms.
“I have to get to work,” he said, “but I sure thank you for dropping by. A man should have a friendly smile to go with his cup of java.” Tipping his hat, he left, feeling very satisfied with himself and the direction his love life was going.
It was the dawn of a new day, he thought, my way. Always he had let Mimi run things, and all they had to show for it was some memories of tying cans on goat tails and painting on people’s barns.
From this day forward, Mason intended to make the plans for them. And the first plan he was going to make was one for a wedding.
“I KEEP TALKING about romance, and he keeps talking about marriage,” Mimi told her friends at the salon. “As if it’s something people can do in two minutes down at the local greasy spoon. I’ll have a burger with that marriage,” she said, mimicking Mason’s deeper voice. “You can’t short-order a meaningful relationship.”
“Sex,” Velvet said. “Sex makes a man think romantically.”
“Pretty sure we’ve researched that a bit,” Mimi said, hedging.
“But romantic sex,” Marni said. “That’s what separates the women who get what they want from the women who don’t.”
Mimi blinked. She wasn’t sure if sex in a field and sex in an office qualified as romantic. Their entire lives, she and Mason had been together twice. “Maybe I don’t have the concept of romance.”
Her friends laughed. Mimi felt herself blush.
“Handcuffs,” Gretchen said.
“No,” Mimi said. “He may be sheriff, but he is not going to put me in handcuffs. Although he’d probably like it,” she said. “He has a caveman personality sometimes.”
Giggles made her blush again. “Come on, girls, Mason was my only love. There’s never been anyone for me except him. Handcuffs—no.”
“Girls, we have an important job to do,” Violet said. “Get out the good book.”
They all laughed, and Shasta went to a closet. She pulled out a giant red feather-bound book. “We know what we want when we finally f
ind the right thing,” she said. “So we compiled a cookbook, you might say. Cooking Between the Sheets, by the Union Junction Salon sisterhood.”
Mimi gasped. “You smart things!”
“It has our best recipes, and our best romantic ideas,” Carly said. “What we’d like if we meet someone special, and what we think a woman can offer her man.”
“Sounds like what I need,” Mimi said. “I’ve been worried that I’m too much like my mother to settle down, but I think what I really am is afraid.”
“The man-woman thing is scary,” Dixie said. “Here.”
She handed the feather-covered book to Mimi.
She slowly opened the book, clapping it closed when they heard the front door open. “I bet that’s Mason bringing Nanette,” she said. “Please hide the book!”
Daisy took it and slid it neatly under the ottoman cushion. But it was Delilah who walked in, and, grinning, Daisy pulled the book back out again.
“Hi, Delilah!” they all said.
“Working, I see,” their former boss said with a smile. “Creative juices flowing?”
“We’re showing the book to Mimi,” Kiki said. “She’d like a little inspiration, and we thought we’d test-drive it on her.”
“It worked for me,” Delilah said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Jerry and I thought we’d had all the romance we could stand. But now,” she said, laughing, “even watching a movie in bed is not the same.”
The ladies clapped, and Mimi tried not to be completely embarrassed. Delilah gave her a hug.
“I heard a rumor that you told Mason about Nanette,” Delilah said. “And that he accepted the news with great joy and excitement.”
“Yes.” Mimi nodded. “He has a fathering bone I never knew existed in his body. He always said he didn’t want children of his own, but I think something’s gotten uncorked. Even the thought of having a big family seems enticing to him now.”
Delilah smiled. “I’ll bet getting all his brothers married off took quite a load from his shoulders. Here. I brought you something.”
