Mimi Mine Read online

  Nearly a week had gone by since their mall encounter and pizza date. The infuriating man hadn't made any kind of move to ask her out.

  Monday he'd acted like he hadn't seen her this weekend. It had been business as usual and she'd been disappointed but told herself he had work to do. She herself had plenty of things waiting on her desk for her. It was Monday. Tuesday's inattention stung. By Wednesday she was pissed. Thursday she was over it and today...today she was resolute to put it out of her mind.

  She reasoned it was better this way, he was her boss. But why did he accept the invitation to Thanksgiving? Why be amazing all afternoon and evening to her and her kid while giving her flirtatious looks? Her flirt-o-meter had gone through the blasted roof.

  She had a better time going to pizza with Mason and Zeke than she'd had on all of her blase dates combined. She'd been out of the game so long, maybe she was just mixing up friendly for interested. God she was pathetic. A man couldn't even be nice to her without her thinking he wanted to get in her pants. Sadly, she had really hoped he'd wanted in her pants.

  If she wasn't careful she'd end up one of those single mothers/divorcees who practically threw themselves at men. Before she knew it she'd be corralling twenty-two-year-old men in bars like a cougar. If they performed well she could send them home with a juice box and snack pack.

  The ringing of her cell phone reminded her it was about time to change the tune. She groaned when she saw who was calling. When your baby sitter calls the night before they are supposed to watch your child chances are it's not a confirmation call.

  Mimi answered, “Hi Stacy, what's up?”

  “It's Big Jim. I just got him home from the vet. He's got an ear infection and his glands are all messed up,” she said. Big Jim was Stacy's miniature poodle. “And by glands I mean his poop is backing up and—”

  “No explanation necessary,” Mimi said, quickly cutting off the younger woman.

  “That's the thing. We're going back to the vet on Monday, but I have massage his glands once an hour for the next two days. You're apartment complex has a no-pet policy and I have no one to watch Big Jim.”

  “It's okay, Stacy,” Mimi said, rubbing between her eyes. She certainly didn't want Stacy's gland impaired pet in her apartment. She could only imagine the complications involved. Gag. “I'll just call my mom. If she can't watch him...well, I'll think of something.” It's not like she really wanted to go out with Craig anyway. Maybe this was for the best.

  “Thanks for being so understanding.” Stacy said.

  “Yeah, well, I hope Big Jim's err, um, problems clear up.”

  After she hung up she fought banging her head on the desk. It felt like it had been four-thirty in the afternoon for the past twenty minutes. Time was moving backwards today. It had to be.

  “You doing alright in here?”

  Mimi jumped. “Oh God, you startled me,” she said as she looked up to drink in the sight of Mason standing— all white shirt, sleeves rolled up, and broad shouldered sexy like she knew he would be—in her open doorway.

  “Sorry, I figured you'd see me coming.”

  “You would think so,” she said sardonically. She'd been trying not to be aware of the man's every move all week. The second she let her guard down he came a callin'. “What can I do for you Mr. Coleman?”

  Was it her imagination or did he wince when she called him Mr. Coleman? Serves him right for blowing hot and cold on her.

  “You look a little on edge,” he said. “Everything okay?”

  “Peachy,” she said sarcastically. “Sorry,” she said automatically feeling contrite. “It's just been one of those days. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. Now my babysitter for tomorrow night just canceled.” Damn Big Jim and his gland problems.

  “Oh. So you're still planning on going out with that Craig guy?”

  Mimi wasn't sure why, but the way he asked irritated the hell out of her. Why wouldn't she still be going out with Craig? She certainly hadn't gotten any better offers this past week.

  “Yeah, that was the plan,” she said. “But now I'm going to have to see if my mom can watch Zeke. I hate asking her—”

  “Well then, let me watch him.”

  “What?”

  “I can watch Zeke.”

  She was speechless for a few seconds. He'd blown her off all week but now he seemed put out and annoyed she was going on a date, yet was offering to watch Zeke?

  “Let me get this straight. You wanna come over and stay with my son while I go out—with another man—on a date?”

  “Yep,” he choked out.

  Mimi leaned back in her chair giving Mason a considering look. His jaw was firm. His arms were now crossed over his chest. He looked resolute and challenging.

  Captain Platonic just became Admiral of the S.S. Mixed Signals.

  “Fine,” she said, defiantly folding her arms over her chest, matching his pose. “Be at my place around six. I'll order you and Zeke a pizza.”

  “Don't bother. I'll bring steaks.”

  “Fine. But I'm out of charcoal, so bring your own.”

  “Fine,” he bit out. “I will.”

  “Fine. I guess I'll see you tomorrow.”

  “I guess you will.”

  “Fine.”

  Mason stomped back to his office and slammed the door.

  She sat at her desk and fumed. How dare he volunteer to babysit while she went out with another man?

  *** ***

  Mason loaded up the groceries to take to Mimi's alongside a bag of charcoal. He couldn't believe he offered to watch Zeke while she was going out with another man. Not that he didn't like Zeke. He was a great kid. Spending an hour with him on Saturday had been a bit intimidating at first. It wasn't like he was around kids that much. But then something had happened and they'd clicked. On a man to man, mano a mano level. They understood each other.

  Zeke's mother on the other hand was a mystery. Mason had been damned surprised she'd kept her date with Craig. What the hell was she thinking? He'd hoped that after all their flirting last Saturday night she'd forgo her date with this other guy.

  She'd laughed, and gave coy looks, and made all the little woman-who's-interested-in-a-man signs. He knew the damn signs. He'd been avoiding them from other women for years.

  Mason had been planning on playing it cool. Keep it professional until he went to her family Thanksgiving. See how it went. Feel things out. Then he'd invite Mimi out casually until he moved from boss to pivotal part of her life.

  He'd mapped the whole transition out. Offering to watch Zeke while she went and danced the lambada with some jackass was not part of his plan.

  He fumed all the way to Mimi's place.

  Groceries and charcoal in hand he made his way to her door and realized she had a ground floor apartment. He wondered how safe that was. The complex seemed nice enough but it wasn't gated. What was to stop anyone from breaking in?

  After knocking twice Zeke answered the door by himself. Mason hadn't heard a lock turn or a chain being removed, meaning the door hadn't been locked.

  “Mason!” Zeke shouted as he launched his little body at Mason.

  Mason set down his bags and returned Zeke's hug, “Hey buddy. Where's your mom? Do you always answer the door by yourself?”

  “Sometimes. I knew it was you though, so my mom said it was okay.”

  “I want you to always ask who it is on the other side of the door before you open it from now on. Can you do that for me?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And if it's a stranger or someone your mom didn't know was coming over you don't let them in.”

  “Got it.”

  “Okay, let's keep this door locked, too.”

  “Geez,” Zeke groaned.

  “I'm serious. My daddy taught me these things when I was your age, you know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Cause they are important things to know.”

  “I don't have a dad.”

  Mason coul
d have kicked himself. He had no idea what Mimi's situation was with her ex or how often the man saw Zeke. Obviously not at all. “I uh, I don't have a dad either,” Mason said. “Not anymore. He went to heaven.”

  “Huh, I wonder if that is where my dad went.”

  “Uh, maybe...” Mason rubbed the back of his neck not sure what Zeke knew, and what Mimi wanted him to know, about death and afterlife. “Why don't you help me get the steaks ready to grill?”

  “I love steak! Can we watch football while we eat? Ian says he always watches football with his dad. My mom never wants to watch football, and Papa always wants to watch old black and white war movies.”

  “Well you're in luck, kiddo. I happen to love football.”

  “Yay! I'm going to go get Batman so he can watch with us.”

  Zeke darted out of the room and Mason started unloading the steaks and cobs of corn he'd brought while taking in the little apartment. It was open concept, which was good because it was a tiny space.

  *** ***

  Mimi threw another dress on the pile of discarded garments on her bed and rifled through what was left in her closet. Standing in nothing but the underwear she’d bought while thinking of Mason, she contemplated a black and green geo print dress. She hadn't worn it since before she had Zeke. She doubted it would even fit.

  She wanted to look perfect for when Mason saw her going out with another man. And wasn't that just a kicker? She hadn't thought of Craig once since she'd run into Mason last Saturday. Now she was dressing for one man while going out with another. She was certifiably insane.

  Someone knocked on the front door and she realized it was already six o'clock. Reaching into the heap she put on the first thing she grabbed.

  As she put on the black dress she considered sexy yet conservative she could hear Mason's rich voice through the wall while he talked to Zeke. She couldn't make out his words but the effect of his voice was the same. Melting tingles everywhere.

  Cracking open the door she heard Mason tell Zeke that his dad was in heaven, and Zeke say that maybe his dad was there too. Heaven wouldn't have been her first choice of where she would send her ex-husband given the chance, but why not? She half listened to their conversation while she chose earrings and shoes.

  She gave herself the critical eye as she turned this way and that in the full length mirror before discarding her red fuck-me pumps and silver dangle earrings. There was a fine line between Mason thinking she looked sexy and giving Craig the wrong idea.

  Only a week ago she would have loved if Craig got the wrong idea. The wrong idea would have been the right idea. Now, thanks to Mason, she was having to shelf her transition guy. Sex for the sake of sex was no longer that appealing. It looked like the celibacy streak was living on.

  Just get me a soup pot and call me Mother Teresa.

  When she finally emerged from her room she wore her moderately sexy black dress, plain black pumps and conservative silver dewdrop earrings. Her hair fell around her shoulders.

  Mason and Zeke were both behind the counter in the kitchen facing her. It was strange having a man in her apartment. The space seemed smaller with him in it. Mason wore her Chef apron and Zeke wore his matching Little Chef apron. Her heart turned over and she suddenly wished she were staying here. What was she doing, going out with another man when the perfect one was in her kitchen right now?

  “You look beautiful,” Mason said. His gaze heated her blood as he slowly scanned her from head to toe.

  She thought he looked pretty damn good himself. He was wearing a navy blue t-shirt under her apron and it stretched over his chiseled shoulders. He was in really good shape for a man that sat behind a desk all day.

  “Craig is going to love you in that dress,” he said pointedly.

  And there it was, like a glass of cold water thrown in her face. The reason why she was going out with mediocre Craig. Her perfect man was also an idiot. Disappointment spiked through her and she suddenly wished she had worn the fuck-me heels just to spite him. “The matches are in the third drawer on the left.”

  “Did you know you left your patio door unlocked?” he asked.

  “Oh, I must have forgotten to lock it.”

  He gave her a look she couldn't quite read. “Do you forget to lock your door often?”

  “I don't know. I don't really think about it.”

  “Zeke why don't you play in your room for a little bit while I talk to your mom.”

  “Okay,” Zeke said, sounding a little unsure.

  They both watched as he headed to his room before Mason said, “You're a woman that lives by yourself with your young son. You might as well have a target on your back. You need to lock your doors.”

  “If you haven't noticed, I don't exactly live in the slums. It's a nice area,” she said feeling her hackles rise.

  “I don't care how nice the area is, you need to lock your doors.”

  She knew he was right, that didn't make her any less annoyed. “Will do Mr. Coleman. Anything else you'd like me to do for you?”

  *** ***

  Mimi scowled at him as she gave her sassy retort.

  God, he had a list of things she could do for him. He wanted to kiss her sassy mouth and drag her down on the counter. He'd lift the flimsy skirt of the dress she wore and see what kind of panties she had on right before he stripped them off her.

  Feeling an erection to rival a maypole coming on, he decided to stop thinking about her sexy little ass, pronto. He was lucky he was behind the counter.

  Mason had no idea Mimi could be so appealing when riled. She was damned cute scowling at him, her arms over her chest, tapping her foot.

  “I'm sorry,” he said fighting the urge to smile.

  “You should be. You don't go into other people's homes and tell them what to do.”

  “Oh, I'm not sorry for that. I still think you need to lock your doors. I'm just sorry it upset you.”

  “Well then that's the crappiest apology ever.”

  He lost the battle and chuckled a little at that. “You have a nice apartment, by the way.”

  She shrugged, “It's tiny but it will do for now. I'm saving up to buy a house.”

  “That's good. I was beginning to worry I wasn't paying you enough.”

  “No, you pay me well...is that cheese and crackers?”

  Mimi came over to the counter and checked out his spread as Zeke came out of his room. “I'm hungry. When are we going to eat?” Zeke asked.

  “I have some snacks we can munch on while the steaks are cooking,” Mason said. He knew what it was like to be a growing boy. He'd always been the skinny kid that ate twice his weight in food.

  “You brought pre-cut veggies, cubed cheese and crackers? This looks like you prepared this yourself,” Mimi said.

  “Always be prepared,” he said holding up the dip for the veggies. He actually had a housekeeper who came once a week and stocked his fridge but he liked how impressed she seemed to be with him being domestic.

  Mimi laughed. “You must have been a boy scout.”

  “Indeed, I was.”

  “I want to be a boy scout,” Zeke said. “But Ian's dad said I have to have a dad to be a boy scout.”

  Mimi gasped, “What?!” She looked like she'd just swallowed a hot pepper.

  Mason really wanted to punch Ian's dad when he caught up with the man. “You do not have to have a dad to be a boy scout, buddy. Ian's dad must have been thinking about something else.”

  “Yeah,” Mimi muttered under her breath. “He was thinking how he's a misogynistic asshole.”

  Mason could see Mimi was fighting back tears.

  “That man is a menace,” she said quietly. “I turned him down months ago when he asked me out and he's been using his kid to make Zeke feel crappy he doesn't have a dad ever since.”

  Without conscious thought he came around the counter he pulled her into his arms and rubbed her back soothingly, not sure what else to do. Mimi seemed more angry than anything and single pare
nt problems weren't his strong suit. “You want me to run him over with my car?” he offered.

  She gave a light laugh. “Yes.” Whispering she said, “Zeke didn't even tell me he wanted to join scouts. For weeks all he could talk about was getting karate lessons.”

  Huffing she pulled out of his arms and he immediately wanted to pull her back to him. She'd felt right snuggled up against him. “I'm sorry,” she said. “I better go finish getting ready.”

  “Hey Mason,” Zeke said, distracting Mason. “Look what I can do!” He was kneeling on a high stool at the counter flicking the button on his Batman action figure's chest to make the plastic arm launch cheese cubes into his mouth.

  Mason watched him do it twice more, and twice more the kid caught it.

  “Wow that's impressive, buddy.” Just as he said it the next piece of cheese went wide and fell to the floor. Not skipping a beat, the six-year-old just picked up another hunk and tried again. “My dogs would love you.”

  “You have dogs?” Zeke asked his face lighting up.

  “Sure do. I have an older blood hound named Daisy and a younger golden retriever named Jenny.”

  “I want to meet your dogs.”

  “Not tonight,” Mason said, picking up the fallen cheese.

  “Ahh man.”

  There was a knock at the door and Mason realized he had forgotten why he'd come over in the first place. A cold lump formed in the pit of his stomach.

  “That must be Craig,” Zeke said running to the door.

  “What did I tell you?”

  “Right.” Zeke stopped with his hand on the door. “Who is it?”

  “Uhh, Craig Keller.”

  Zeke looked up to Mason for approval. “Go ahead kiddo.”

  Zeke opened the door and let the man in, just as Mason moved in behind Zeke and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. Craig was the same height as Mason's six-foot-two frame. He had thick brown hair and brown eyes. Mason figured he was good looking enough. He wore a tan suit. Overall he looked like a real estate agent.

  The expression on Craig's face as he took in Mason was priceless. Smiling, Mason held out his hand. Before he could get out a greeting Craig took his hand saying, “Well, this is kind of awkward. You must be Zeke's dad. I didn't expect...well, you and Mimi must have a much better relationship than me and my ex.”