Free Made to Love by Syd Parker Page A

She stooped down and plucked Mason’s wallet off the ground. Stepping closer, she brought her body flush with Mason’s. “Are you always this fidgety or do I just bring out the best in you?”
    Mason looked chagrined. “I…I...uh…”
    “Relax.” Nikki ran a manicured finger along Mason’s jaw. “I just wanted to return this and thank you for last night. You made me realize a few things about myself that I need to change. For that, I’m grateful. Listen, I’ll let you get back to it. I just wanted to make sure I brought you this. Good-bye, Mason.” She spun on her heel and walked back out between the houses.
    It took several seconds for Mason to collect herself before she jogged after Nikki. “Hey, I was wondering if you maybe wanted to grab some dinner sometime.”
    Nikki shook her head, her eyes flicking up and down Mason’s overall clad body. “That’s sweet, honey. But you’re really not my type.”
    “But last night…” Mason’s face showed her confusion. “I thought we had a good time.”
    Nikki shrugged. “Sure, we did. I had a momentary lapse of judgment. Fortunately, you saved us from a mistake I’m sure we would both be regretting this morning. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?” She winced painfully. In actuality, the fact that Mason had run away from her advances wounded her already bruised ego. There was a time not so long ago that Nikki would not have failed, and even if she had, she wouldn’t have given two shits about it. However, this time was different. Nikki tried to hide her insecurities behind a façade of disinterest. “I’m not going to give you the whole it’s not you, it’s me speech. Actually, I am. I had fun last night. It’s just that I don’t date women like you, honey. Nothing personal. I prefer women who are a little less…earthy.”
    “Oh.” Mason’s stomach dropped. She knew she wasn’t girly. She didn’t pretend to be. Her mother had tried to put her in dresses and pigtails, but she was more content to play in the dirt. Now it seemed she was being punished for that. “This is just what I wear to work. I don’t always look like this.”
    Nikki smiled in surprise. “Mason, I’m not sure how long I’m going to be around. Maybe we can just try to be friends while I’m here. I could use some entertainment in this one-horse town.”
    “Sure, okay.” Mason forced a smile. She wasn’t the type to fall quickly. She did everything methodically, preferring to think before she jumped. It was different with Nikki. She was beguiled by her almost immediately. Perhaps, she was a little star struck by Nikki. Whatever the reason, Mason ignored the warning bells in her head last night and allowed herself to fall a little for the big-city girl, something she never did. “You like softball?”
    “Not especially.”
    “Oh?” Mason’s mouth opened in surprise. “Yeah, me neither. Movies? You have to like movies.”
    Nikki eyed Mason warily. “Mason…”
    “I know.” Mason stammered. “As friends. It would give you something to do.”
    “True.” Nikki sighed. She reached into her purse and pulled out a pen. She leaned over and pulled Mason’s hand into hers, holding her palm up. “Here’s my number. Call me.”
    Mason smiled awkwardly. “Okay, I will.”
    Nikki capped the pen and dropped it back in her purse. “Listen, I have to go. I’ll see you around.”
    “Okay.” Mason lifted a hand and waved, but Nikki was already half way to her car. She watched her drive away then stared at the numbers on her palm. Friends, huh? We shall see. Mason wasn’t normally so self-assured, but she remembered Nikki’s reaction to her last night and knew there was some attraction there. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she spun on her heel and started toward the garage.
    “That was interesting.”
    Mason looked up and met Marly’s bemused smile. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “That dog and pony show was worth sticking around. You like