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
“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
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