Blaire’s eyes widened as she sat up straighter. “Really?”

I nodded. I wanted to add that he was an ass then, too, but I didn’t. I liked Blaire. I didn’t want to insult her brother.

“Your boyfriend been dancing any more with his cousin?” Captain, River, whatever his name was, asked.

I really didn’t like this guy. I managed a tight smile and shook my head no. Although they had gone horseback riding and to a cattle auction together. I had told Mase to do both in hopes that I could win Aida over as the laid-back girlfriend, but it didn’t do any good. She still glared at me or shot me triumphant little grins whenever she left the house alone with Mase, like she had won some sort of competition. It was incredibly weird.

“I’d watch that,” he said. “I asked Hawkins about them, and he said Aida wasn’t really Mase’s cousin. She’s his stepfather’s niece, and she’s also adopted. Girl looks like she has her eyes on your man.”

“Captain, that’s enough. Mase is very taken with Reese. She’s moved to Dallas to live with him. And the way he watches over her is the same way Rush watches over me. Don’t go giving her things to worry about.”

I appreciated Blaire’s words, but if what Captain said was true, then . . . was it possible Aida felt more for Mase than just a family bond? Did she want more? I cringed at the thought. That would be so messed-up if it were true.

“You ain’t seen his cousin,” Captain said in response to Blaire’s remarks. “Long blond hair, all legs and curves. She’s something to look at.”

What the heck? Was he trying to scare me? And why did this man dislike me so much? I hadn’t done anything to him. From the moment I met him, he’d been rude.

“So, Reese, what do you do out there on a ranch all day?” Blaire asked, obviously trying to change the subject.

Other than have sex with Mase, walk around, and clean, I did nothing, really. I needed to do something. I didn’t like living off Mase. I wanted to make my own money, and I wanted to get my GED. It was something I planned on talking to Mase about when we got back. I needed a plan for life.

“I visited my family in Chicago for a month, but ever since I got back, I’ve just been spending time with Mase and hanging around the ranch. I need to get a job first thing we’re back. I haven’t started looking yet, but I’m thinking maybe cleaning work. And I’d like to go back to school.” I didn’t mention that school meant classes to get my GED, followed by an online college program, if I could save enough.

“Do you enjoy cleaning houses?” Blaire asked.

Not really, but for so long, it was all I could do. Now that I could read better, I had other options. I was just worried about whether I could focus on reading and writing in a pinch if I got stressed out on the job. “It isn’t my dream job, but I’m good at it. If something better came along, I’d take it. I want to move on from cleaning houses.”

Blaire smiled. “Yeah, I wanted to move on from being a cart girl when I worked at the golf course, so I completely understand.”

“Reese.” Mase’s voice was a relief, and I looked up to see him standing in front of me. His gaze shifted from me to Captain.

“Kipling, was it?” he said, looking confused and a little angry.

“Colt, was it? I hear it’s actually Manning,” Captain replied, and he looked up at Mase with a bored expression.

“Mase, this is my brother, Captain, but his real name is River Kipling,” Blaire explained.

“Brother?” Mase asked, shooting her a curious glance.

She nodded. “Yep.”

“Small world and all that shit,” Captain said.

“Yeah,” Mase agreed, then held out a hand to me. “Thank you, Blaire, for watching over my girl and giving her some company. Harlow’s good and coming out to enjoy her daughter’s party now.”

Blaire looked relieved. “Good.”

I slipped my hand into Mase’s and stood up. “I enjoyed talking with you,” I said to Blaire, while avoiding eye contact with Captain.

I thought I heard a low chuckle at my obvious slight of him, but I ignored it.

“I’ll be by the ranch next week with Hawkins to see the cattle operation,” Captain said to Mase.

Mase nodded his head. “See you then.”

I could tell I wasn’t the only one who didn’t like Captain River Kipling.

We walked across the yard, and Mase got me another drink. As he turned to hand it to me, his eyes focused on something, or someone, behind me.

“Kiro,” he said simply.

Kiro. As in Kiro Manning. I’d watched Dean Finlay jump off a rock with his grandson into the water, and now Kiro Manning was standing behind me.

“Glad you made it. Harlow wanted you here,” a deep voice replied.

Mase glared at him. “I’ve never let my sister down.”

The man behind me made a hmph sound, and Mase’s back went rigid. I reached over and ran a hand up his arm to try to calm him.

“You going to introduce me to your friend?” Kiro asked. I still hadn’t turned to look back at him.

Mase gazed down at me, and I moved to face Kiro. He was just like all the photos I’d seen of him and moved the same way he did in the music videos. But he’d also abandoned his son for years. I couldn’t forgive him for that.

“Kiro, this is my girlfriend, Reese. Reese, this is my father, Kiro Manning.”

Kiro grinned at me and shook his head. “This boy doesn’t introduce any girls as his girlfriend. You must be something else.”

“Uh, it’s, um . . . nice to meet you.” Kiro smirked. It looked so much like Mase’s smirk that I stared for a moment in fascination.

“I got to go find my granddaughter and see if I can’t get her from Grant long enough to take her inside to see Emmy,” he said, then walked off.

Mase didn’t seem surprised by his father’s abrupt departure at all. Instead, he touched my lower back and led me away. “Let’s find something to eat.”

Mase

Spending time with my sister and niece was nice, and I had missed them, but I was more than ready to get back to Texas with Reese. Having sex hadn’t been easy in my sister’s house, and I wanted Reese all to myself; Harlow kept taking her away from me. I knew Reese needed girlfriends—she had never really had any, and I wanted that for her—but I missed having her close.

Once we got back to our own house, I breathed a sigh of relief. I grabbed the bag out of Reese’s hand and set it down before pulling her hard against me. I’d been tempted to do this on the plane, but I figured she’d be embarrassed that the attendant could hear us in the back, so I’d let her curl up on me and go to sleep.

But we were in the privacy of our home now, and I wanted her naked.

“Strip,” I said, and I jerked my shirt over my head.

Reese laughed as she stood there and watched me unbuckle my jeans.

“Not kidding, baby. I need in you now.”

She didn’t laugh this time. Instead, she pulled off the shirt she was wearing and slipped out of her skirt. Just what I needed.

“I’m not letting you out of that bedroom until tomorrow at the earliest,” I warned.

She bit her bottom lip and finished slipping out of her panties. That sight never got old. “Prove it,” she taunted me.

I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. I slapped her bare ass, making her squeal. Once we were in the bedroom, I put her in the middle of the bed. “We fuck first, then I’ll play,” I promised her.

Reese flashed me a teasing grin and rolled over, sticking her bottom in the air as she got onto her hands and knees. I ran both hands over her plump bottom and down the backs of her thighs. “You wanted to fuck. So fuck me,” she said, glancing back at me.

She was being brave. Making the first move. My sweet girl was being naughty. I fucking loved it. I bent over her and kissed her shoulder. “How do you want to be fucked, baby? Easy?”