I wanted him. He was the most important thing. But I did want other things, too. This was the first step toward being my own person. Reaching up, I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close. “Thank you. Thank you so much for this.”

Mase kissed my head. “Don’t thank me for wanting to make you happy. I intend to keep you here. Whatever I need to do to make sure that happens, I’ll do.”

Smiling, I laid my head on his chest.

“I’m filthy,” he said, running a hand down my hair.

“I don’t care. I like you this way. You’re my sexy cowboy.”

Mase chuckled. “Sexy cowboy, huh?” I nodded, and he held me tightly against him. “Why don’t I fix us some sandwiches, and then you can take a shower with me to make sure this cowboy gets all clean.”

I pulled back and smiled up at him. “What kind of girlfriend would I be if I stayed here all day and didn’t fix you any dinner?”

“I didn’t smell anything,” he said, looking toward the kitchen.

“Because the fish is battered, and the hushpuppies are all rolled up and ready to go. I was just waiting for you to fry them so they’d be nice and hot. Fix yourself some sweet tea. It won’t take me but ten minutes to fry everything up. The coleslaw is already chilled in the fridge.”

His eyes lit up. “Seriously? Fried fish? Hot damn. I’ll wash up and set the table.”

Grinning, I ran a finger down his dirty shirt. “Why don’t you take a shower so you can be clean for dinner?”

“A shower with you sounds like more fun,” he said, with a pouty look that made me want to follow after him.

“You’ll enjoy eating if you’re clean. We can always get dirty again later.”

“Keep talking like that, and we won’t be eating until later.”

Giggling, I ran to the kitchen to grab the fish out of the fridge before he could grab me.

“Fine. But we’re getting dirty later. You promised.”

I flashed him a grin, then went about getting the oil hot.

Mase had left me early this morning, like always, but he came back around eight thirty to wake me up. Piper had been thrilled to hear that I wanted to come in and speak with her about the job. She was expecting me around eleven. Luckily, Piper didn’t live by ranch hours. She liked her sleep.

He kissed me and reassured me that I could do this. He also said he would come get me at around ten forty to give me a ride there. I didn’t have a car here, but I wasn’t sure of my way around anyway. This was another thing I hadn’t considered. How was I going to get to my job every day? I couldn’t just walk.

Mase

I hadn’t been able to just drop Reese off. I needed to be with her when she met Piper. I also wanted to hold her fucking hand through the whole interview, but I couldn’t. If Reese needed to show Piper she could do this, then having me around, coddling her, wasn’t going to help.

Piper had given Reese a genuine smile when we approached and had been very friendly. She must have seen my reluctance to leave, because she’d turned to me and told me that Reese was in good hands and she would give me a call later. That had been her hint for me to leave.

Reluctantly, I went back to the ranch. My mother’s truck was in the driveway, which meant Aida was back. But Major’s was parked right next to it. I hadn’t seen him in at least two months. I headed up to the house, in need of some sweet tea and something to get my mind and my worries off Reese.

Opening the screen door, I stepped off the porch and into the small entrance that led directly to the kitchen. Major was sitting at the table with a plate full of biscuits and gravy. Aida was across from him, scowling about something. I glanced over at my mother, who was still working at the stove on what smelled like bacon.

“Little late in the day for breakfast, isn’t it?” I asked, taking off my hat before my momma could fuss at me and hanging it on the rack by the door.

All three sets of eyes turned to me.

“Her favorite boy is home. She’s gotta feed me,” Major replied with a stupid grin. Sometimes I think he honestly believed that.

“Oh, stop it. But yes, Major’s here, and he looked starved. I knew what would put some meat back on his bones,” Momma said.

Major looked just like he did the last time I saw him. He was by no means starved.

“Sure he does,” I drawled, rolling my eyes. “Can your second-favorite boy get some of that, too?” I asked.

I walked over and kissed Momma on the cheek, and she squeezed me around the shoulders the best she could. “You’re my number one always, and you know it. Sit down, and let me feed you, too. I also want to know all about Reese’s new job.”

“Reese got a job?” Aida asked, her eyes wide with something I didn’t recognize.

“You already put her to work? Damn, man, what’s your deal? Woman like that belongs in a bed all day. Happy and taken care of,” Major said, and I knew he meant it.

“Major Colt, that is enough. No talk like that at my table,” Momma said sternly.

He winked and puckered his lips like he was directing a kiss at Momma, before taking another bite. As always, my mother laughed at his antics. If that had been me, she’d have backhanded me.

“Reese wanted a job. I didn’t make her get one. And Piper Stout offered her one that I think she’ll enjoy.”

Major frowned and took a drink of his tea. “She gonna be working at the Stouts’?”

I nodded.

“You’re stupid as sh—uh, I mean . . .” He stopped from cursing as his eyes lifted to my mother, who was glaring at him in warning.

“I think she and Piper will get along fine.”

Major cocked an eyebrow. “Wasn’t Piper I was referring to. You do remember Hawkins, right?”

That was my biggest concern, but I trusted Reese. There was no question there. I just didn’t want Hawkins ever making her feel uncomfortable.

“If at any time he steps over the line, I will handle it. But I can’t keep her locked up away from the world. She needs a life.”

Major shrugged, then went back to eating. “Whatever. But dude, your woman is smoking.”

Aida let out a short laugh, like she thought that comment was amusing. Both Major and I turned to her.

“What? You don’t agree?” Major asked her. He was always up for a fight with Aida. While I was the cousin she grew up adoring, he was the cousin she grew up fighting with.

“She’s fat. Have you seen her butt? No offense, Mase. It’s just you could do better,” Aida said, looking at me with what she thought was an apologetic smile. It wasn’t.

“Aida! Reese is not fat. I can’t believe you’d say something so harsh.” Momma turned her disapproving gaze Aida’s way.

Aida shrugged. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but she is . . . she’s a little too curvy.”

Major let out a loud laugh. “I am so glad I came back here. I was missing this, and no one told me.” He continued to cackle with laughter.

“Reese’s backside happens to be the very thing that caught my interest. It’s perfect, and it’s mine. I never want to hear you say anything negative about her body or her again. Do you understand me?”

Aida’s eyes went wide, and I realized I’d never talked to her so coldly or harshly before. But she’d said the wrong thing. Being cruel wasn’t acceptable. Being cruel to Reese would completely turn me against her.

Major finally stopped laughing. “Reese has the body of a porn star, Aida. You have the body of a model. Women want your body. Men want Reese’s. It’s a simple fact. But seeing you get jealous and ugly about it is priceless.”

Aida stiffened at his comment. “I’m not jealous!”

“Don’t talk about my woman’s body being like a porn star’s, or we’ll have to take this outside my momma’s kitchen, and I’ll shut you up myself,” I warned Major.