I chuckle and kiss her. “The purpose was to add more fuel to the spank bank, stubborn.”
She gasps and gives me an offended look.
I throw my head back in a laugh, and she covers my mouth quickly.
“Be quiet, you’ll wake up Naomi!” she whisper-shouts.
“Sorry,” I say behind her hand.
“I’m joking,” I whisper.
“You better be,” she mutters.
“But what if I wasn’t?”
Mae purses her lips.
“Okay fine I’m joking, but my brain takes over all the time and replays our previousmomentsover and over again.”
She doesn’t respond right away and looks down at her feet. “I can’t stop thinking about them either.”
My chest puffs, and I lean down, dipping my nose into her neck, breathing her in. She smells like a hint of coffee, andme.
“Stay the night,” I tell her. It’s really not a question.
“I don’t have any of my stuff,” she says.
“Use mine, I’ve got an extra toothbrush.”
“But what about Naomi?” she asks.
I shrug. Mae is the only woman Naomi will ever see in the morning, so I’m not bothered.
“Fine, but I’ll get up before Naomi does.”
I chuckle and start turning us in circles. There’s no music playing, but a ballad is belting from my heart. “Baby, you will have to get up at 4:45 in the morning.”
“Fine,” she grumbles.
I chuckle and reach for the kitchen light. “Then let’s go get ready for bed.”
While Mae is in the shower, I get my pajamas on. My phone buzzes and I sigh, expecting it to be my cousin because there’s never a dull moment on this ranch. I was really looking forward to a night with Mae.
I pick it up without looking. “Hello?”
“Cooper?” Rebekah says.
My heart drops into my stomach, swirls around, then flops to my feet.
“Hi Rebekah,” I mutter.
“I was served with paperwork for you to be Naomi’s legal guardian today.”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. This is for Naomi. This is what’s best for her, and if I have to fight her mother, my sister, then so be it.
“I’m glad you got it.”
“When did you start this?” she asks.
