MASON WATCHED FROMthe doorway, the heavy bags dangling from his arms as Harper spoke to Layla. The toddler had two fingers stuck in her mouth and her head on Harper’s shoulder as the wonder woman stirred a pot of boiling pasta. If he’d been in a better frame of mind, the scene would have been quite touching, but as it was, Mason was too tired for it to be anything but shocking. “How do you know so much about kids?” he blurted out before he could think better of it.
Harper looked over her shoulder, looking entirely at ease. “I babysat, just like most teenage girls.”
Mason grunted and set the bags on the small kitchen table. His house was a complete and utter mess and he should probably be embarrassed for Harper to see it, but he couldn’t muster the energy. It wasn’t like anything was going to happen between them anyway. He’d already made that clear. So why is she here? The question begged an answer, but Mason was afraid if he asked, she’d leave, and this was the first true sign of hope he’d had since Layla arrived.
Harper hummed and swayed from side to side. “Layla,” Harper crooned. She kissed the tiny girl’s head with a smile. “Such a pretty name for such a pretty girl.” Harper wrinkled her nose. “Who needs a diaper change.” Harper looked to Mason and he groaned.
“I, uh...would you mind...” He scratched the back of his head. How could a grown man who worked a full time, successful job and played with chainsaws for fun be so incompetent?
Harper rolled her eyes. “What is it with men and dirty diapers?” She started toward the bags.
“No...I mean...I can’t quite figure out how to make them work.”
Harper paused. “You don’t know how to put on a diaper?”
Mason shrugged. “We’ve been getting by, but they always seem to sag and I’m pretty sure I go through more wipes than is necessary. Could you teach me?”
To her credit, Harper looked like she tried to stop her smile, but Mason couldn’t exactly blame her for finding humor in the situation. It was utterly ridiculous how something so small had taken him to his knees.
“Didn’t you ever change her diaper when she was smaller? When you visited your sister?”
Mason shook his head. “My sister ran off after high school. I haven’t heard from her in four years.”
Harper’s jaw dropped. “Did you even know you had a niece?”
Mason shook his head slowly, the shame slithering through his gut once again. What kind of an uncle was he?
Harper sighed and squeezed Layla a little tighter. “No wonder this is all such a mess. You guys are having to get to know each other on top of adjusting to living together. Good grief.”
Mason would have chosen other words, but he couldn’t say them in front of Layla or Harper. “So, uh...the diaper?”
Harper nodded. “Okay. I brought diapers with me, but why don’t you show me your setup?”
Mason led her to what used to be his spare bedroom. He had used it for storage, but all the boxes were now against the wall and a blow up mattress covered in blankets sat on the floor. It was all he had. Buying anything at the store had been impossible as of yet since he hadn’t managed to make it out of the house since getting home.
Those perfectly shaped eyebrows went up again. “Okay...” She turned to Mason. “Mason, you’re a great guy. But as your friend, I’d like to say something.”
As your friend.Why did that sentence hurt? He’d already decided that’s all they’d ever be. He couldn’t ask someone like her to wait for him to get his life together. “Go ahead.” He braced himself.
“You might need more help than I can give you. I have a project I’m working on and won’t be able to help after tonight, but it’s clear you’re starting from square one.”
Mason nodded wearily. “I know. I was completely caught off guard by all this and I’m just...not sure how to fix it.”
Harper laughed lightly. “Men and their need to fix things,” she teased. “Layla isn’t something that can be fixed. She just needs to be taken care of and loved.”
Mason didn’t know what to say to that. Well, he had some ideas, but none of them were appropriate. Did Harper also need love? Did she want someone to take care of her? Would she ever consider being with a guy who was a father?
Harper stiffened. “Dang it. I can smell the noodles. Hang on.” She handed Layla to Mason and rushed out of the room.
Mason looked at Layla, who stared back, those fingers still in her mouth. “Sorry about the diaper,” he said. “But Harper knows better than I do how to fix it.” I can’t fix your diaper, our sleep or even my love life. I’m starting to think I’m pretty useless around here.
Layla wiggled and Mason put her down. She immediately followed the path Harper had taken and Mason kept up.
“Hey, baby,” Harper said as they entered the kitchen.
Mason blinked, until he realized she was speaking to Layla. Idiot, he told the warmth in his chest, pushing it aside.
Harper was at the sink, draining the meal. “You want to help me mix this up?”
Layla grabbed at Harper’s leg and Harper set everything down to grab her.
“Has she always been this quiet?” Harper asked over her shoulder after settling Layla on her hip again.
Mason shrugged. “I don’t know. Since getting her home, she either screams, cries or is silent.”
“Hmm...” Harper went back to her work. In no time at all she had mixed the macaroni and cheese and was fishing through the bags. “I bought a booster chair. Can you go find it in the car?”
“Booster chair?”
Harper nodded. “Yeah. It’s a seat that can be hooked to one of your dining chairs so Layla is tall enough to eat. It’s a box. You’ll see it easily.”
Mason nodded and headed outside once again. How had Harper known everything to buy? He didn’t even know the names of the products, let alone that he needed them. After finding what he thought was the right box, he went back inside.
Difficult as this was, Harper was proving to be an absolute angel and it made him wish, once again, that things had worked out differently between them. He couldn’t let Layla down, but having Harper in his life would have been such a good thing.
You have her...for just a little bit anyway. Better just enjoy it.
Mason nodded at his own thoughts. Harper said she’d spend the evening with them and help him get settled. That would simply have to be enough. Her friendship was proving invaluable and hopefully could help him get his life back on track. By the time her work was done, he’d be able to let her go and simply be grateful. Yep. Grateful. That was probably all he was feeling towards her anyway. She was saving his bacon. Who wouldn’t be a little attached to the person doing the saving? It was a normal response and he was a normal guy. This would all work out...he hoped.