When I'm Gone(24)

“He seems . . . concerned about you. Mase is the protective sort, but I can’t remember him being quite so concerned about someone who wasn’t family. Until you.” A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

Oh, no. She was getting the wrong idea. If I didn’t explain this to her, she would say something to Mase, and I didn’t want that. He had been so helpful, and I owed him this. Besides, it wasn’t something to be ashamed of. Astor had told me that several times. He’d even had me repeat after him, “I am not less than. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I am a smart, capable person.”

Remembering those words, I put the second cookie back on the little china plate. I met Harlow’s curious gaze. “I call Mase after my lessons with Dr. Munroe.” I paused for a beat. “I . . . I have dyslexia, and until Mase found Dr. Munroe, I didn’t know why I couldn’t read and write. Words are so difficult for me. Your brother took the first step and found a specialist who pointed me in the right direction. He’s just helping me because he’s a good man.”

Harlow’s gaze stayed on me for several seconds, and I had to drop my eyes to the cookie waiting before me. I didn’t want her to read what I couldn’t hide on my face.





Mase


“It’s a woman,” Major said, as he opened my fridge and grabbed a beer. “I know the signs. You can try to shit me with whatever hogwash you wanna spew, but I’ve been there, dude.”

Major was becoming a pain in my ass. He was my stepfather’s nephew, and I’d been raised with him as my cousin. Although we weren’t related by blood, it didn’t seem to matter. I had needed his help today with the horses, but I was ready for him to leave now. Reese would be calling soon. And Major was the last person I wanted here when she called.

“We’re done for the day. Take the beer and go home. I’m getting a shower, then hitting the sack. I’m beat.” I walked past the kitchen and toward my bedroom.

“Right there. That is. Bull. Shit,” he called after me. “Woman bullshit. Seen it. Know it.”

I hated how close he was to the truth. Reese was on my mind most of the day, every damn day. I looked forward to her calls way more than I should. But damn, her voice made me smile. Hearing how excited she was over her progress also got to me. “Leave,” I fired back, and slammed the bedroom door behind me.

I had started pulling off my boots when my cousin decided to bang on my door. “Who is it? Can’t be Cordelia. You’d have done more than tap that ass years ago if you wanted her. She’s more than available. Wait . . . Rosemary Beach. You met someone there, didn’t you? Rich babe? Got cash? Got a sister? No, wait, I don’t want her sister. I still want a go at your hot single sister.”

God, could he be any more annoying? “Go on, Major. I’m not giving you anything. There is no woman. Leave and let me shower in peace. Fucking pest.”

Major’s laughter filtered through the door. “Thou doth protest too much.” He slapped the door one more time. “Fine. Be like that. But you’ll admit it soon enough. Or I’ll figure this shit out.”

I didn’t respond to him. I waited until his footsteps had moved toward the front door. When the door opened and closed, I let out a sigh of relief. Glancing at the clock, I saw that I had forty-five minutes before she was due to call. I could shower and grab something to eat.

If Major knew about Reese, he’d say something to my mother. Then I’d never hear the end of it. I loved my mom, but she would ask questions. I wasn’t ready to answer questions. I wasn’t even sure where this was going with Reese. Denying that I was attracted to her was pointless. I had admitted that to myself.

Hell, I’d been thinking about the freckle under her ass since the first moment I saw her. But it was more than just lust now. I liked Reese. I liked the woman she was inside. At first, I’d been afraid it was pity and that my emotions were wrapped up in feeling sorry for her and wanting to help her.

I didn’t think that anymore. Reese didn’t want pity. She didn’t require it. She was tough. Much tougher than I had given her credit for. I respected her ability to roll with the punches of life and keep fighting. With a body like hers, she could have used those assets to follow another path in life. One where her looks paid the bills. But she hadn’t done that. Instead, she worked hard cleaning houses, and she was proud of her job.

There was much more to Reese than I had first assumed. So much more than I could have expected. And she was getting to me, slowly reeling me in, and she didn’t even realize it. But I had to face the fact that she might not want that. It was very likely that Reese wasn’t interested in me for anything more than friendship.