Mama tucks her hand around my elbow and I crook my arm for her to hold on to. Rainy runs around the yard, nipping at everyone’s heels as they split up, not quite understanding why her herd is all going in separate directions. Bailey finally whistles for her as she climbs the front stairs of the Big House and the pup darts inside.
I lean the chair up against the side of the house while Mama lollygags on the steps, looking up at the sky instead. “Need help?” She glares at me like I knew she would, but I just want her to get to the point. There’s a sexy, naked woman in my bathtub.
“It’s good to see you so happy, son,” she says, eyes going glossy. I sigh and walk over to the edge of the porch, hanging my arms over the railing. I was stupid enough to think she was going to want to talk about Colt, maybe ask me to tell Austin off for how she spoke to her youngest son. Colt got babied just as much as Tate did sometimes. I’m not sure happy’s the right word for what I am. I’m closer to happy than I’ve been since Dad died, but my mind never lets me stay that way for long. The reminder that Austin’s going to leave, gonna yank the rug right out from under me one day soon, is a fog that hangs over every second we spend together.
“I like seeing someone taking care of you the way you’re always taking care of everyone else,” she says instead when I don’t respond.
“I don’t need anyone taking care of me, Mama. Austin and I…” I sigh. How do you tell your mother that the woman sharing your bed, a woman ten years younger than you, is just someone who comes over to get fucked every weekend? There’s no right way to say that, but if I know Mama, I know she’s already picturing a wedding under the big oak in the front yard and I’ve gotta put a stop to that. “We’re not serious,” I settle on.
Her lips twist. “You’re more than just a… physical thing,” she says, and I don’t know that I’ll ever grow out of being slightly grossed out when my mom mentions sex, no matter how she does it. “By Christmas, I bet you’re sitting me down and telling me she’s gonna give me a grandbaby.”
“She doesn’t want kids. I don’t either,” I burst her bubble.
“Awfully heavy conversation for two people to have if they’re not making long-term plans.”
I sigh, watching the lights in Jameson’s cabin go off one-by-one. She’s not wrong.
“You’re in love with that girl, Maddox Clyde.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“The hell it doesn’t,” she starts, defensive for no reason.
“It doesn’t, Mama,” I tell her again before she can keep it up.I’m already pitying myself enough, I don’t need her doing it too. “The last thing in the world Austin needs is someone ten years older than her holding her back. She doesn’t want to stay in Cedar Creek and it’s not like I’m ever gonna be able to leave it, so.”
It’s too quiet after that. The air between us is thick and heavy. I let out a sigh, hanging my head. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
“You could leave if you wanted to,” she says quietly. The words sound out of place, like they were never meant to leave her lips. “Jamie could take over anything Bailey or I couldn’t handle.”
I’m shaking my head before she can even finish, pushing off the railing and pulling her in for a hug. I swear she’s shrunk. I can vividly remember her being so much taller, and I know I grew up, but I don’t remember growing this damn much. I had measured my height against her every day for a year or better when I was a kid, celebrated when I got to be even a half-inch taller than her. Her head barely reaching my chest right now doesn’t match my memory. When was the last time I hugged my mom like this? Not just a half-assed side-hug, but an honest to god hug?
“I love the ranch, Mama,” I promise her. “It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s honest and I’m proud of it. I don’t want anyone else to take over.”
“I just want you to be happy, son,” she tells me, pulling away and turning her back immediately like I’ll fall apart if I see the tears on her cheeks. Hell, she might be onto something actually. “Ever since your daddy died, you’ve been all work. That’s not the life I want for you. It’s not the life he would’ve wanted for you either.”
The words feel like a slap. “I’m running this ranchexactlyhow Dad taught me to?—”
“I didn’t say you weren’t,” she says, softer. She reaches up to touch my cheeks and I have to bend forward a little to allow it. “You run the ranch beautifully, Maddox. Clyde would be so, soproud of you. Ignore me. I’m just sticking my head where it doesn’t belong.”
I give her a small smile and pull her hand from my cheek to kiss her knuckles. “Don’t worry about me, Mama. I’ll be fine. The only thing we need to be worrying about is getting the ranch ready for tourist season again.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
AUSTIN
When Maddoxfinally gets back to the cabin, I’m still soaking in the tub. I hear him kick his boots off at the door and then the shuffle of his feet as he walks around flipping off all the light switches that I deliberately turned on just to hear him grumble about the electric bill. His jeans rustle as he takes them off in his bedroom and I pretend that the clink of his belt buckle hitting the hardwood floor doesn’t make me flinch.
There’s a knock on the open bathroom door and I crack an eye open to look at him. He’s smug, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his naked chest and sweatpants hanging low on his hips, a grin on his face even his mustache can’t hide. I close my eyes again so I can at least act like my pussy isn’t loving the sight.
“Don’t get cocky. My dad’s house doesn’t have a tub. That’s the only reason I’m in here.”
“Mhmm,” he replies, clearly not believing me but kind enough not to call me out. “Can I come in?”
I sigh. “If you must.” I don’t hear movement so I peek at him again. My sarcasm didn’t land quite right by the looks of it. I flash him a smile and stick out my hand, erasing the lines between his brows. Maddox lowers himself to the ground besidethe tub, sitting on the bathmat and leaning over the rim, his fingers just barely skimming the water.
“Jesus Christ, that’s hot. How are you sitting in that and not burning up?” He looks so genuinely worried that I can’t help but smile wider.
“There’s a joke I could make about being from hell in there somewhere, but I’m too relaxed to figure it out.”
