by Tina Leonard
Mimi took the silver-and-white shopping bag Delilah handed her. “A present?”
“Something to celebrate the occasion,” Delilah said, sitting on the ottoman by Mimi. “Having a child is a wonderful experience for a man, but I suspect I know Mason well enough to know where his next thoughts will be turning. So, I appointed myself your surrogate mother and I went and bought you something I think you’ll need. Every mother should have the chance to buy one of these for her daughter for the big day.”
“Big day?” Mimi asked, pulling the silvery tissue from the bag to find an airy, twinkling, baby-doll nightgown. “Oh, my,” Mimi said, laughing nervously. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”
Her friends laughed. “Hold it up, Mimi,” someone said, and when she did, the lace was so sheer as to be bare except for the pretty sequins.
“A wedding nightgown,” Remy said.
“Or a nightgown to make a man think about weddings,” Tisha said, and everyone agreed.
“Did I hear something about weddings?” a male voice asked.
Chapter Twelve
Mimi shrieked and hid something. Mason grinned, realizing he’d stepped in on something. “Can I see?”
“No!” Mimi exclaimed.
“Mason,” Delilah said, hugging him, “you are like a child opening a gift. No, you cannot peek. But it sure is good to see you.”
Mason returned Delilah’s hug. “Where’s Jerry?”
“Hauling to Missouri. He’ll be back soon.”
Nanette burst into the room and into Mimi’s arms. Mason grinned. “She was checking out the puppies in back. You ladies rescued a new dog?”
“Six baby bird dogs,” Shasta said. “The owner is elderly and couldn’t keep them. She didn’t realize her dog was expecting when she took her in off the street.”
“Can I have a puppy, Daddy?” Nanette asked.
Mason’s and Mimi’s eyes met. The room fell silent. This would be the first time a co-decision would be made over anything concerning Nanette.
Of course, Nanette was his princess and he instantly wanted to say yes. But he felt the right thing to do would be to let Mimi answer the question that had been addressed to him.
“Why don’t we discuss it later with your mother?” he said reasonably, and the tension in the room lightened automatically.
Mimi smiled at him.
“Good choice, Dad,” Kiki said, walking past him.
He felt real good about jumping that major hurdle.
“What are these?” Nanette asked, holding up a pair of pink feather handcuffs.
Mason’s and Mimi’s gazes met again, and this time Mimi’s eyes were wide. Perhaps even guilty, he thought with amusement. Handcuffs? For him? He sure hoped so.
“Nanette, why don’t we go visit Aunt Valentine at her bakery,” he said, taking pity on Mimi. She had blushed the color of a near-ripe strawberry. “We’ll see you when you’re done in here, Mimi.”
They left, Nanette’s hand in his, but Mimi’s expression told him a lot. She was up to something again, and he couldn’t wait to see what it was.
Five minutes later, Valentine smiled when they walked inside her bakery. “How do you always know when I’m just about to take cookies out of the oven?”
“Good timing,” Mason said. “Smells like chocolate chip.”
“You get a prize. Come on, Nanette. Let’s show your father how to take cookies out to cool.”
“Believe me, some things I can figure out on my own.” But he followed, anyway, happy to be getting a treat. They sat at the table in the back, and Mason grinned at the tasty cookies on the plate in front of him and Nanette. “Mmm. Aunt Valentine’s is always a good place to come hide out, isn’t it?”
Nanette nodded, already choosing a couple of cookies.
“So, what’s Mimi up to that you’re needing to hide?” Valentine asked.
“Not sure. The ladies were having some kind of tea party, I think, and they weren’t expecting us.” He grinned. That was an understatement.
“What were those pink feather things Mommy had?”
Mason blinked.
“Pink feather things?” Valentine asked. “That sounds saucy.”
It was Mason’s turn to feel some heat on his face. “Nanette, honey, I think those were something for the puppies,” he fibbed.
Valentine laughed. “I know exactly what pink feather things you’re talking about. It sounds like Mimi’s planning a new kind of adventure. Maybe a romantic one.”
“Yeah.” He knew Valentine was teasing him, and he didn’t really mind. But he hoped Mimi was planning something that included him.
“So, have you and Mimi ever dated?” Valentine asked.
“Dated?” His mind spun as he tried to think of all the things he and Mimi had done over the years.
“You know, that thing two people do who are interested in each other?”
The front doorbell tinkled. “Sorry I’m late,” Mimi said, walking into the room. “Hi, Valentine. Hi, Mason.”
She didn’t look at him. That was a bad sign. Most women smiled at him and tried to flirt with him, even if it was harmless flirting. Trust Mimi to be different.
“What’s in there?” Mason asked, pointing at the silver-and-white bag Mimi held.
“Nothing,” Mimi said, holding it to her side so he couldn’t peep at the “nothing.” Mason decided that whatever it was, it wasn’t meant for his eyes. If they were married, Mimi would be more comfortable around him, he was certain. He wanted to know every little thing about her. He knew a lot about the girl he’d grown up with, but almost nothing about the woman she’d become.
Dating. Valentine might have hit on the only way to get Mimi to loosen up around him and discuss marriage without getting that wild-colt look in her eye.
They claimed he was a man who didn’t change easily, who was stodgy and stuck on his saddle. But he could change just as easily as anyone else—if it was the appropriate thing to do.
“Mimi, would you like to go out tonight?” he asked.
She stared at him and clutched her shopping bag to her more tightly. “Go out?”
He smiled reassuringly, feeling positive vibes coming from Valentine. “On a date.”
“What’s a date?” Nanette asked.
“It’s when a man wants to spend time with a woman he likes, honey,” Mason said.
“I can watch Nanette,” Valentine offered.
“What kind of date?” Mimi asked, doubt in her pretty blue eyes.
“A surprise date,” Mason said, because he hadn’t planned that far.
“I like surprises,” Nanette said.
“Me, too,” Valentine agreed.
“All right,” Mimi said.
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” Mason said, realizing he’d never said anything like that to Mimi. This was easy! Easy as getting thrown from a bull. He had this romance stuff in the bag. All the crowing and complaining he’d listened to from his brothers over the years had clearly been drama.
Getting up, he tipped his hat at both the women, and kissed his daughter goodbye. He wanted to kiss Mimi, too, but tonight he would kiss her all he wanted.
“WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?” Mimi asked Valentine when Mason had left.
“I don’t know.” Valentine shrugged. “Cookie?”
“I’d better not, since Delilah wants me to wear this one day.” She pulled the dreamy baby-doll nightie from the tissue.
“Wow!” Valentine admired it, touching a finger to the sequin-covered straps. “You’ll look like a princess.”
“In a very short gown.” Mimi put it back in the bag, her nerves anxious at the thought of wearing something that see-through for Mason. “Delilah is so good to me.”
“To all of us,” Valentine agreed. “No cookies for you, though.”
Mimi nodded, and smiled at her daughter. Nanette had a light dusting of crumbs on her lips. It made Mimi happy to see her daughter so happy. She and Mason were working things out all right. Nan
ette didn’t seem to be stressed or negatively affected by the changes in her life.
Mimi was grateful for that. There had been many times over the years that she had worried about how the truth would affect Nanette.
“She’s flourishing, isn’t she?” Valentine said, getting up to wrap the cookies.
“Mommy, I want a puppy,” Nanette said, “with one of those pink feather collars.”
Mimi looked at Valentine, her eyes wide.
“Mason told her they were for the puppies,” Valentine said with a wink. “Will you be wearing something that matches pink feathers tonight?”
“I don’t know,” Mimi hedged. “Probably not.”
“Go on, Mimi. Surprise him.”
Mimi looked at her friend, tantalized, she had to admit, by the thought of being daring. “We’ve never had a date,” she murmured.
“There’s always a first.”
Nanette munched a cookie and played with some sprinkles in a shaker can on the table.
“Do you love him, Mimi?” Valentine asked softly, walking to the sink to wash out a pan.
“I do,” Mimi said. “I always have.” She thought about what was bothering her—her inner tuning fork was vibrating like mad with anxiety. “While I’m all for being sexy and fun, our relationship is based on sex. Shouldn’t there be something else?” Mimi asked softly, following Valentine to the sink to help her wash pans—and to keep Nanette’s ears safe.
“Friendship is good,” Valentine said. “You have that with Mason.”
Mimi shook her head. “We did. It isn’t like it was, though.”
“Maybe because it’s maturing.”
“I don’t know.” Valentine had a point. Mason had changed. She had, too. “Maturing would make sense, though.”
“Right. Like a favorite dress. One day, it doesn’t fit the same. It’s still a pretty dress, but your body has matured. Changed. Gotten better.”
Mimi laughed. “Okay.”
“So, pink feathers figure into your plans tonight?”
Mimi wiped the crumbs off Nanette’s chin with a smile, and kissed the tip of her daughter’s nose. “Maybe.”
TWO HOURS LATER, after Mimi had left Nanette with Valentine for babysitting, she stood in front of the long mirror in her room and took a deep breath. Then she slid the gown that Delilah had given her over her head.
It was lovely, even if it was very revealing. In fact, it revealed all the right things in an innocent, yet devilish manner, the twinkles casting light over the curves of her body. Mimi shivered, thinking about how Mason had made love to her.
Tonight was not the night for this, she decided, feeling too chicken to proceed. “Nor these,” she said, picking up the feather handcuffs with a perplexed look.
Banging on her door pulled a shriek from her. Instinctively, she threw her bed blanket over herself. “Who is it?”
“Mason.”
She blinked. “You’re early!”
“My watch says seven. If you’re not ready, I can come on in, anyway.”
“No, thanks,” Mimi said. She looked at her bedside table, realizing the clock was blinking. “We must have had a power surge, because my clock isn’t right.”
“All those blow-dryers,” Mason said. “Must have been a busy day in the salon.”
“Hang on a sec.” She dropped the handcuffs on the bed and looked around for something to cover herself with. “Mason, you could go sit in the sunroom.”
“You know, I’ve been having this fantasy—”
Mimi wrapped a sheet around her and jerked the door open. “Not out in the hall you don’t, with everybody’s ears pressed to the doors. Come in, sit down and behave.”
“Wow,” he said, “you look great. Toga, toga.”
She gave him a discouraging eyebrow raise.
Laughing, he sat down on her bed, leaning back comfortably. “Hey, what are these?” Holding up the handcuffs, he said, “Oh, that’s right. Puppy collars. Speaking of fantasies…it seems yours are going pretty well.”
Irked, she said, “The handcuffs aren’t mine.”
“Since I’m the sheriff, I could put them on you. If you’d like.”
“No, Mason. I wouldn’t like.” She turned away, not willing to laugh at his teasing expression. Instantly, she felt a tiny tug on the blanket she wore.
“What’s under here?” Mason asked.
She snatched the material from his fingers. “I was trying to get dressed.”
“So you’re naked?” He leaned back on the bed, folding his arms behind his head with a smile. “I have fond memories of that.”
“I’m not naked,” Mimi snapped.
“Then you don’t need this,” Mason said, leaning up and tugging the blanket harder than he had before. It slipped from her fingers and landed on the floor. “Wow. Is that for me?” he asked, seemingly amazed by the sheer confection he’d unveiled. “Because if it is, thank you.”
His gaze made a fast journey from her breasts to her toes, then back up for a more leisurely, concentrated perusal. She snatched the blanket off the floor, glaring at him. “No, it’s not for you.”
“I’ll try to earn it sometime, then,” Mason said. “Wow, Mimi. You’re hot. I’ve had pinup calendars that weren’t as sexy as you.”
“It isn’t anything you haven’t seen before,” she said, cross and embarrassed, as she pulled the blanket to her chest.
“Yeah, it is. Nipples, for one thing.” He leaned back on the bed again, but his gaze stayed on her. “And the rest goes unmentioned, although not forgotten, now that I’ve seen it. You are a true blonde, Mimi Cannady.”
Mimi stared at him. “You helped deliver my baby, Mason.”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t focusing on your, you know, personal assets,” he said with a grin. “There was a sheet, and it wasn’t all that bright. I was in a hurry and nervous. All I remember is a wee little girl sliding into my hands, much less attractive than a birthed heifer and yet far louder than anything I’d ever heard before.”
“Mason! How can you say that about your daughter?” Mimi asked, trying not to laugh. “She was a beautiful baby.”
“And the other times that I could have seen you,” Mason said thoughtfully, “once was at night in our field, which I enjoyed, but obviously didn’t give me a great view, and then the other day… Mimi, I don’t know what got into me. I should apologize except I enjoyed it so much. Still didn’t get to see your nipples, though.”
“Well, now you have,” she said, feeling her nipples tighten. “Could you leave while I finish dressing?”
“Not until you answer my question. Since you’ve always slept in big, ugly T-shirts, as long as I’ve ever known you, what’s made you suddenly change into a hot mama?”
She raised her chin. “It was a gift from Delilah, if you must know.”
“Ah.” Mason rose. “Should have expected the hand of experience on that purchase.”
“What does that mean?” Mimi demanded.
“Just that Delilah knows what a man likes.” He grinned. “Mimi, I’m going. We’ll do this date another time.”
Mimi was stunned. “Why?”
“Because we’re going to make love if I stay, and that’s not what tonight was supposed to be about.”
Mimi looked at him. “Mason, I believe you’re scared,” she said and dropped the blanket.
Raw desire raked his features. He hesitated only for a split second before grabbing her and pulling her onto the bed with him. The handcuffs fell on the floor, but Mimi told herself there would be plenty of time for those later.
AN HOUR LATER, Mimi awakened, still glowing from the lovemaking she and Mason had shared. He had one arm over her, and a great hairy leg wrapped around hers. It felt wonderful.
It felt permanent.
She tapped Mason on the shoulder. “Hey.”
He raised his head and grinned at her. “Hey, Noisy.”
“I am not!”
Sitting up, he ran a hand through his dark hair. “Let�
��s just say I think all the ladies decided to have dinner out to avoid the symphony.”
He was exaggerating, as usual. Mimi sat up, keeping the sheet tucked primly under her armpits. “Do you know that we never use a condom?”
“Why should we?” Mason demanded. “We want more children.”
Putting on his jeans, he stood tall as he zipped them. Mimi admired his bare chest and his strong posture for a moment before he surprised her by saying, “You’re coming back to the ranch with me right now. Being here serves no purpose.” He scratched his head. “Pack your suitcase. Keep the gown. It works for me.” He tossed her small travel bag on the bed and began cleaning out the dresser drawers.
“And then what?” Mimi asked, watching him busily run her life, which was a strange thing considering that all these years, she’d run his.
“Then we get married,” Mason said. “I don’t think you know how to date worth a damn. And in spite of my best intentions, I don’t seem to be able to stay away from you, Mimi Cannady.”
Chapter Thirteen
Once Mason said he wasn’t any good at proper courtship, he felt a load lift from his shoulders. Why should he feel bad about it? He and Mimi belonged together. They always had; this component of their relationship was just different.
He watched her with a mixture of lust and powerful attraction as she put on her clothes. Affection. Man, she had him in a stew.
She always had.
“Let’s go get you a ring and do this right,” Mason said.
“All right,” Mimi said, shocking him with her acquiescence.
He gave her a suspicious eyeing. “No argument?”
“No.” She shrugged a bare shoulder, and Mason nearly tossed her back into the bed. But she shook her head at him. “Uh-uh, you’re getting that look in your eyes again, and I have to wash the sheets before I leave.”
“Let me help you strip the bed,” Mason said. “I taught my brothers how to change beds. I can do this in four minutes flat and you’ll never see a wrinkle.”
“Really?” Mimi folded the blankets while Mason dismantled the pretty bedding. “I always admired the fact that you made the boys keep a clean house. You would have thought a bunch of guys living in a fraternity-like atmosphere would have had cleanliness issues. But you never did.”
