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Harper’s hands tightened on Mason’s shirt as she raised herself on tiptoe to get closer. What in the world was happening? She hadn’t meant to get quite so close to him when he came out of the bedroom, but he’d looked so defeated. All she’d wanted to do was offer a little comfort, but somehow she must have pushed a little too far and the tension between the two of them finally snapped. Only instead of shoving them apart, it pulled them together.
By the lips.
Harper wasn’t even close to being sorry about it. Excitement and pleasure rushed through her veins as Mason’s arms held her close. She felt cherished...adored...beautiful...everything those romance novels she read said she would feel. No other man had ever managed to reach quite so deep before and she and Mason weren’t even dating!
We aren’t dating!
The words ricocheted through Harper’s mind until she finally pulled back with a gasp. They weren’t dating. She was supposed to be pursuing her career. She’d been helping him with Layla. Harper’s knees were shaking as she stepped back, trying to breathe some sense into her brain, but it kept screaming for her to go back, to kiss him again.
If she’d harbored any hopes of leaving this mess with her heart somewhat intact, they’d just been shattered in a matter of moments.
“I’m sorry,” Mason said gruffly. He pushed his hands through his hair. “It’s just...” He waved toward her, but didn’t speak. “I...” Groaning, he closed his eyes and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’ve been wanting to do that for so long...”
Harper held up her hand to stop his ramblings, her brain latching onto his words. He wanted to do... She didn’t bother asking him to clarify. Stepping forward, she grabbed the front of his flannel shirt and jerked, bringing his mouth back to hers.
Mason groaned and his arms banded around her, picking right up where they’d left off, as if that moment of panic had never happened.
Harper had no idea how long they stood in the hallway, so tightly wrapped in each other’s arms that she was positive someone watching wouldn’t be able to tell one person from another, but when they finally came up for air...it still wasn’t enough.
Mason brought his forehead to hers, closing his eyes and breathing heavily. “I don’t know why you did that, but a mere thanks definitely isn’t enough.”
Harper laughed, shaking her head and breaking their touch. “I can’t say I’ve ever been thanked for kissing someone before.”
Mason’s arms wrapped around her waist again. “Just because every other guy you’ve dated has been an idiot, doesn’t mean I’ll follow in their footsteps.” He lowered his head and left yet another lingering kiss.
Harper practically whimpered when he pulled away. All the heartache, all the self control, all the longing from afar for a life she could never have...none of it prepared her for what she was really missing. How had she ever thought she could continue to resist him?
Yes, she still needed to finish that painting, but she could do it. Even if it meant losing hours of sleep, this moment right here would make it all worth it. She’d never felt so alive. As if she could simply float away from happiness. This was a feeling worth fighting for.
“I should probably let you get home,” Mason whispered as he nuzzled her neck. “But now that I know what it’s like to hold you, I’m not sure how to let go.”
“Oh my gosh,” Harper breathed. “If you keep talking like that, I won’t be able to leave.”
“Then don’t.”
The words hung in the air between them. Could she? She had come this morning planning to assuage her crush by spending a few hours with them on the pretense of helping. But she had planned to do work this afternoon. Her painting was waiting and she had a couple of emails she wanted to send. Could she throw away yet another afternoon just to have more time in his company?
There’s only so much naptime.
Once again, the rational part of her brain came to the rescue. “Okay.”
Mason’s smile was enough to make every worry pop like a fragile bubble. The woman that followed him to the family room, snuggled into his side and sighed in contentment was not the same woman who had bargained with her mother for more time, for a chance to win a competition in California.
Mason’s arm lay around her shoulders, holding her close, and when he turned on the television, Harper didn’t even care what they were watching. She just wanted to be close to him. Wanted to enjoy the woodsy smell in her nose and the strength of his chest against her cheek. Her fingers drew patterns on his shirt as her mind reveled in the all the new sensations swirling throughout her body.
“Mason?”
“Hm?” By the lazy sound of his answer, he was just as content as she was.
“What did you mean when you said you’d wanted to do that for a long time?”
Mason stilled, then shifted a little. He chuckled and Harper raised herself up so she could see him. Mason gave her a sheepish grin. “I, uh...might have had a crush on you for a while now.”
Harper’s jaw dropped. “Are you kidding? I thought it was all in my head!”
Mason tickled his fingers along her cheekbone. “Nope. That pull between us...it was as real as the baby sleeping in the other room.”
Harper pushed a little more until she sat completely upright. “Then why didn’t you say anything? I mean, there were a couple of times I thought...maybe...but then you’d throw out the ‘friend’ word and I’d smack myself for being too eager.”
Mason let his head fall back, groaning. “I haven’t been in a good place.” He came back down, his golden eyes begging her to understand. “Long before I became interested in you, I told myself I wouldn’t get involved with anyone until I had found my sister. I’ve been looking for three years. My money, my extra time and all my energy have all been spent on her behalf.” He took one of her hands, threading their fingers.
Harper couldn’t deny the way his touch made her feel. Her heart sped up and she felt a surge of sympathy for what he must have been going through. It made her own life decisions look so selfish.
“I didn’t want to date someone and have her play second place to Aimee.” Mason jerked his chin toward the bedroom. “And when I came home from her funeral, I had the same excuse, but a different reason.”
“And now?”
He gave her a soft smile. “And now I’m seeing that I was an idiot.” He leaned forward, stealing another kiss that Harper was too happy to give. “I can’t promise you date nights or long texting threads into the night,” he whispered against her mouth. “In fact, my time is probably even more taken than it was when I was searching for my sister.” He kissed her again. “But I can promise that what time I do have...is yours...if you want it.”
Harper wrapped her arms around his neck, letting him pull her forward until she was half laying on his chest. “I want it,” she said, letting her fingers play with his hair. “I’ve wanted it for so long.”
“Then take it, baby,” he said with a grin, coming closer until their lips were all but touching. “It’s yours.”
*****
MASON WAS POSITIVE he would never come up for air. He could drown in all things Harper and die a happy man. But eventually, his lungs won out and he pulled back so they could both catch their breath.
Harper curled up like a kitty cat into his side, her legs tucked under and her head resting on his sternum with one arm slung around his chest. He held onto her back, keeping her secure and enjoying every point of contact. How had he held back from this for so long? People made this type of situation work all the time. As long as Harper knew what she was getting into, there was no reason why they couldn’t be together. Layla made things complicated but not impossible...right?
Their little slice of heaven seemed far too short when Layla eventually woke up. They’d had a couple of hours on the couch, but as he walked down the hall, Mason knew it wouldn’t be enough. That thought was why he knew this was going to be a problem. His time with Harper would never feel like enough. She’d been here all day and he still wanted more.
Just take what you can get, he told himself. It’ll all work out. I’ll make sure of it.
“Hey, Tiny,” Mason said as he walked into Layla’s room.
Her face was bright red and her hair matted to her cheeks, but when she held up her arms, she might as well have reached into his chest and squeezed her heart. Stick a fork in me, I’m done. There was nothing for it. Layla had turned him into a lap dog and Harper was right behind.
He carried Layla out, her fingers in her mouth until she spotted Harper. Wiggling against him, Mason put her on the ground and the little girl ran over, flopping her head into Harper’s lap.
“Hey, pretty girl,” Harper said with a laugh. She pulled Layla onto her lap, nuzzling her neck and getting laughter in return. “Want to go for a walk?” Harper asked, glancing between Layla and him. “The sun’s shining. We should take advantage of it.”
Mason nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
“Great. You change her and I’ll pack some snacks.”
Mason gave her a wry look. “I know that trick.”
Harper laughed and stood, bringing Layla to him. “Tough luck, handsome. I only said I’d help with the schedule.”
Mason took Layla, but also grabbed a kiss when he leaned close. “To motivate me,” he said with a smirk and pump of his eyebrows.
Harper walked away, glancing over her shoulder with a flirty smile. “I’m happy to keep you motivated all the time.”
Mason whistled low enough Harper wouldn’t hear it and shook his head. He turned when Layla squirmed. “You women are going to be the death of me,” he told her. “I think I should be more upset about that.” With a shrug, he went to the corner where he had diapers and other baby stuff, getting Layla changed and ready for an outing.
Once again, it took far longer than it should have, but eventually they were walking along the boardwalk, Layla swinging her legs out in front of her stroller. This was the first time Mason had really gone out with Layla, other than the market the other day, but that hadn’t been in his hometown. A light breeze played across their skin, which felt good to Mason, but Harper was having a hard time with her hair.
“I should have pulled it into a ponytail,” she muttered, rolling her hand around it.
Mason let go of the stroller with one hand and tugged on her beautiful blonde locks. “I like it down.” He stared at the pink color that crept across her cheeks. The fact that she blushed was oddly attractive. It brought her skin alive and he wanted to touch it to feel the heat. He knew from experience only a couple hours ago that her skin was like silk, and he wanted to touch it again.
They were quiet after his admission, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He wished he could take her hand, but the stroller kept him from it. Just another reminder that having a child was going to interfere with his love life.
Can we really do this? he wondered. After knowing what it was like to kiss her, he wasn’t sure if he could stop, but he also wasn’t sure how this would look going forward. He wanted to see Harper every day, but between their work and Layla’s schedule, what if he only saw her once a week? Would that be enough to build a relationship on? What if Harper couldn’t handle it? What if she needed more than he could give her?
“You’re thinking awfully hard over there,” Harper said with a grin. She tried once again to tuck her hair behind her ears, but it only lasted a few seconds.
He smiled back. “Just thinking about how tame this situation makes me look.” He waved his hand toward the stroller. He couldn’t tell her about what was really going on in his brain. It would only make him look like he was unsure of his feelings, which wasn’t the case at all. He was halfway in love with Harper. He just wasn’t sure if their lives would allow it to actually progress.
Harper’s laugh was heavenly, which fit perfectly with his comparing her to an angel so often. “The great lumberjack has been domesticated. Whatever shall he do?”
“I feel like I need to carry one of my chainsaws around with me,” he continued. “Just to prove that I’m not a sissy.”
Harper whacked his arm. “You’re giant. No one thinks you’re a sissy.”
“I don’t know...” he murmured. “I know what I’ve thought when I’ve seen guys like this.”
“And what was that?”
Mason widened his eyes and leaned over a little. “That they were whipped.”
Harper rolled her eyes. “You men. So dramatic.”
He gave an extra big shiver. “No man wants to be held back.”
Harper sobered and her eyes dropped to Layla. “And are you being held back?”
Mason regretted his words. He’d been trying to tease, but apparently it had been the wrong topic. One of these days he’d remember that his situation was unique. But it was a good question and he wanted to give her an honest answer. “I think it would be easy to think I am,” Mason said. He paused, yanking the stroller out of a rut. “But it wouldn’t be entirely truthful.”
Harper glanced his way, obviously waiting for an explanation.
Mason squinted into the sun, trying to come up with the right words to express his thoughts. “I think it’s all about a person’s attitude, though.” He swallowed hard. “My life has taken a complete one-eighty,” he explained. “But it doesn’t have to be bad.”
Layla squealed and bounced in her seat.
They stopped and Mason watched the bird that had caught her attention. “My time isn’t my own anymore. It’s full of diapers and naptimes, tears and tantrums.” He huffed a laugh. “But it’s also full of taking time to stop and watch a seagull. Reading books in funny voices, cuddling and laughing much more than I ever have before.” He turned, making sure Harper could see the sincerity on his face. “It might not have been what I expected my life to be like at this point, but it isn’t holding me back. It’s opening a whole new world.”
Harper’s eyes were misty and she laughed when she sniffed. “Sorry.” She wiped at her face. “I don’t know why, but that might have been the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Mason smirked, his chest puffing out a little. “I never turn down brownie points.”
Harper’s laugh grew and she stepped up, rising on tiptoe to give him a soft kiss. “Mason Turley, you’re an amazing man.”
Yeah...there’s no way we’re not giving this a shot. He began to push the stroller again. “Just trying to keep up, Angel. Just trying to keep up.”