Call Me Michigan (18 page)

“Of course,” she gave back, biting her cheeks. She already knew that she wouldn’t turn away the girl half as often as Mason probably hoped.

“You’re incorrigible,” he fussed gently.

“Incredible, you mean,” she teased. “Incredibly happy.”

For a few weeks, everything was chaotic between two farms, a tiny girl, and Taylor’s brother, but eventually, Mason and Tay settled into a routine that allowed them to spend as much time together as they could without neglecting anyone else. Tim actually loved the big brother role, and therefore, never minded when Becca was around. The girl followed him everywhere and looked at him as if he’d hung the moon. So some days, they stayed at the Collins’ farm, and sometimes, they spent their evenings at the Stiles’ home. To Mason, it didn’t matter. He loved knowing that Taylor brought his baby girl to school, and he could pick her up.

It was a nice routine. He didn’t mind knowing that his mother finally had time for her own life, and – surprise, surprise – she was busier than ever, catching up with friends and looking for a job she could do a few hours a week, something like working in a café or diner. Mason’s guilt about having taken up her time for so long finally eased.

Pulling up in front of the pre-school, he was ready to collect his little girl and head home. He knew she had a lot to tell him since it was the day before Halloween and they’d dressed up for school. As it was, he hadn’t seen Becca in costume yet since Taylor had taken care of it, and now, he was curious.

It took him a moment, but then he noticed that Miss Lavera, Becca’s teacher, actually stood by the door, clearly waiting for him. It made his stomach churn. Usually, she’d just wave at him and he’d find his daughter.

“Mr. Stiles,” she greeted him, and he paused next to her, all hope of simply slipping by being gone.

“Miss Lavera,” he replied, deciding to go for another attempt at leaving, but she ever so softly touched his arm, commanding his attention. Her face didn’t look promising, so he sighed. “What did she do now?”

Becca’s teacher laughed softly, before sobering considerably. “You know how kids are, right? Rebecca is still so young. She doesn’t know about relationships and rights and wrongs, or what the difference is between a biological parent and new partner in one parent’s life,” she started, and Mason forced his hands into his pockets so he wouldn’t reach for the first child he could and just get away.

“Okay?”

“When your girlfriend drops Becca off, she hugs her, kisses her, and tells her she loves her.”

Mason smiled as he could all but see that in his mind. He saw how Taylor would bend down just so she’d be at eye-level with Becca. It warmed his heart. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see anything wrong with that. “So?”

“You know how kids are. We teachers know that Miss Collins is just your girlfriend …” She was so much more to Mason, but people who hadn’t grown up with Tay and him couldn’t know that. “… and not Becca’s mother, but Rebecca was repeatedly told that everything Miss Collins does is what moms do. To make a long story short, children don’t see the difference. All they see is the treatment and not the role that person is playing. All I want is to warn you that Becca now refers to Miss Collins as her mom. She explicitly told everyone her mom would take her trick or treating. We tried to tell her otherwise, but she refuses to listen. “

Mason nodded slowly. Taylor indeed had promised to take Becca and Tim trick or treating before her sister would watch the two while Mason and Taylor would take part in something Ash called ‘Halloween Friends Revival.’ “Okay, you are saying that basically it’s likely that Becca will call Taylor ‘Mom’? Did I get that right?” he wanted to know.

Miss Lavera nodded. “They are young, and really aren’t to blame. It wouldn’t be the first time that this breaks up a couple. We’ve had everything, from guys being called ‘Dad’ too early to women having the same problem. It’s something about them not being ready to take on the responsibilities. May I be frank?”

He just nodded.

“With the way Miss Collins treats Becca, it’s hard not to call her a mother. You know, mothers aren’t necessarily created with a blood bond.”

Mason felt pride swell in his chest. “She’s amazing, no doubt.”

“Many partners run,” the teacher added.

“Thank you for the warning.” He meant it, even though there was no way to say how Taylor would react. Or he, for that matter.

“Daddy! Tomorrow is Halloween!” A cloud of glitter, white fairy wings, and a tulle dress came running forward, and he caught Becca in his arms. Taylor had gone all out. Becca’s hair was braided like a crown around her head, and she was covered in glitter hairspray. His daughter’s eyes were sparkling, being no competition to the fake glitter stones that adorned her cheek. She was beautiful and clearly happy. Mason’s throat clogged with emotions.

“She is beautiful. And today, she even was on time.” Miss Lavera winked. Taylor had a tendency to run late with Becca, but she clearly had enough charm that no one was ever mad at her. “She really is incredible, that woman of yours.”

Mason already knew that, and he definitely couldn’t agree more. Thanking the teacher, he grabbed Becca’s backpack and then strapped the little girl into her seat in the backseat of his truck. She instantly reached for a doll, occupying herself with the toy while Mason started the truck, homeward bound.

He waited for Becca’s usual chatter, but instead, the girl was humming quietly, not keeping his thoughts as occupied as he wished.

Ashley’s truck sat parked in his driveway when they pulled up, and suddenly, he was presented with a totally new problem.

“We’re home, babe,” he announced, and the doll dropped from her lap, lying forgotten on the seat. She unbuckled herself and then waited until Mason helped her out of the truck. She hurried up the porch steps, and Mason followed, not caring that the truck doors stayed open since he feared what she’d say once she met …

“Ashy!” Becca hadn’t been able to pronounce the name right since the first time she had heard it.

“Hey, fairy.” Ashley grinned.

“Where’s Mom?” Becca asked, and Mason’s heart dropped. Ash’s eyes flew up to him, a smirk playing over her lips.

“Let’s go and find out.” She winked, taking Becca’s hand to lead her to the kitchen.

“Mom! I won!” The little girl scrambled over the moment she spotted Taylor. If Tay was surprised, she didn’t let on. Instead, she picked Becca up to set her down on the counter before resuming her task of cutting vegetables.

“You did? Did you get a certificate?”

“Yes because you made my hair pretty! Thank you, Mom!”

“You’re very welcome, baby.” Taylor laughed, leaning in to kiss Becca’s nose. Afterward, she brushed the cut pieces of vegetables in a pan.

“Everyone wanted to be me. The other girls liked my hair …”

Mason tuned them out, just watching. It was impossible for him to say a word. His heart was simply too full.

“It’s okay to tear up. I wanna tear up. This is …” Ashley shook her head next to him, and Mason cleared his throat.

“Her teacher warned me that Becca might call her that. It’s something that the kids –”

“Mason, does it matter why she calls her that? Honestly? No, because fate has finally righted all the wrongs. Anyway, I’m out. Tomorrow at the bonfire?”

Having Ashley constantly around was weird, but Mason was okay with ignoring the feeling as long as Taylor was happy, and that definitely was the case whenever her best friend was there.

“Tomorrow at the bonfire,” he confirmed.

“Bye, Mom,” Ash called, winking at Taylor. Tay blew her a kiss, and Becca waved at her, then the two focused on each other again.

As much as Mason had to do, or should organize, he couldn’t get his feet to move, so instead, he just stayed back and watched.

***

Taylor couldn’t ignore the shadow in the door. In fact, she was more than conscious of his eyes on her, and her skin prickled with awareness, but since she had no idea how he’d react to the fact that Becca had started calling her mom, she wasn’t ready to face or deal with him.

“... and everyone wanted to touch my wings,” the little girl went on, making Taylor smile. She cut the chicken and then placed it with the vegetables in the pan. Her heart was racing in her throat, tying it close with worry.

Things had been finally going smooth for her and Mason, and she was more than glad that they spent as much time together as they did. Now, though, she feared dark clouds on the horizon. It was crazy that one tiny girl was all the protection she needed.

“Timmy?” Becca suddenly called, listening intently.

“Living room,” her brother called back. He was bent over his homework, Taylor knew that, but he’d most likely let Becca join him. The two were like siblings - only they didn’t share the same blood.

“Coming!” Becca answered, wiggling her feet until Taylor swept her off the counter and set her down on the ground. Instantly, Mason’s daughter hurried away, taking away all excuses Taylor had not to look at Mason.

She reached for another tomato even though she already had enough in the pan. All she wanted was another reason not to look up.

“Hey, Mase,” she whispered ever so quietly. He’d been on shift the night before, and while she had missed him like crazy and wished she could be in his arms, she didn’t want him to be angry with her.

He came closer, stepping behind her and trapping her between the counter and the heat of his body.

“Taylor,” he growled; his voice was so low, she wasn’t sure he had really spoken. Warm hands stilled hers on the cutting board, and then one turned off the stove before he turned her around with his hands on her hips.

She swallowed, hoping he didn’t notice that she was already close to tears. Correcting Becca hadn’t been on her mind until he’d walked in. Taylor didn’t mind the girl calling her mom, especially not since that was what she wanted to be, but she hadn’t exactly forgotten what Mason had told her before. It didn’t matter that everything was forgiven. Her heart couldn’t forget.

“Taylor,” he repeated again as she still hadn’t looked at him. When she finally lifted her eyes, a heated gaze met hers. His hand cupped the back of her neck, holding her in place as he leaned in to claim her lips in a wild kiss. The passion he conveyed with every stroke of his tongue almost made her incinerate on the spot. His fingers left her neck and his arms wrapped around her as he moved even closer to her, clearly intent on wiping every thought she’d ever had straight from her brain. She could feel his arousal pressing into her thigh and then against her core as he picked her up and pushed her onto the counter.

She crossed her ankles behind his back, moving as close to him as she could while finally participating in the kiss, hoping to drive him as crazy as he was driving her. His stubble scratched her skin, and it just heightened the sensations. God, she wanted him, and if there weren’t two kids in the next room, she probably wouldn’t even mind getting what she wanted right there and then.

Mason’s hands pushed under her top, seeking and finding skin as he bit her lower lip, making her moan softly. He swallowed the sound by slanting his lips over hers again.

Tay squeezed her hands between them, finding the waistband of his jeans and pushing her hands inside. Just a few tiny movements and she’d feel his ...

“Hi, guys ... whoa, I’m blind!”

Tay pulled her hands free, wishing the ground would open up to swallow her whole. She had totally forgotten that Tamara was bound to be home soon. Mason pulled her shirt down and then rested his hands left and right of her on the counter, exhaling slowly.

“Hi, Tam,” Taylor greeted her, clearing her throat as she realized how raspy she sounded. This really was the worst timing ever.

“Give us one second,” Mason demanded, not even looking at Tamara, but making Taylor meet his eyes.

“You got it,” her sister replied, and Taylor could see from the corner of her eye that she didn’t move.

“I love you, Taylor. And I never thought I could love you more, but it turns out, every day I can, just a little more. You’re my sun, my moon, and my stars. You’re the very air I breathe. Thank you,” he whispered. No matter what Taylor had expected after their make-out session just then, it certainly wasn’t that.

Tears came to her eyes, and she bit her lip while trying to find the right words to say. “Forever and for always,” she promised. He gave her the sweetest of smiles, winking.

“I think it’s safe to step back now.” He grinned, and Taylor couldn’t help herself, reaching between them to brush her hand across the former erection.

“Agreed,” she stated.

Mason groaned, stepping away. She knew exactly why because in his eyes lay a dark promise. They’d finish what they had just started, and it was obvious that next time nothing would interrupt him. It made need pool in her stomach as she hopped off the counter and resumed her cooking.

Mason playfully slapped her ass before kissing her cheek and telling her that he still had to water the horses before he and the kids could carve pumpkins. She knew they were a little late with it, but time was limited.

Mason hugged Tamara at the door; her sister walked over, sitting on the other side of the kitchen counter.