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“I got a feeling I’ll be helping.” He tugs me closer. “And we both know I’m not going to say no to a single thing, too. I wish you’d let me buy you something nicer. Money is no object.”

“It’s not about money,” I point out. “It’s about building it myself.”

Cruz comes bounding down the steps and jumps out. “I can’t wait to start stripping that bitch,” he says, brushing his hands on his pants. “It’s gonna be fun. Can I start drawing up plans in CAD?”

I give Bass a look and release him. I drape an arm over Cruz’s shoulder and it still surprises me that I have to reach up to do it. He used to be my little brother, but he’s growing like a weed. “We’ll discuss layout.”

“You gonna let me drive it?” His eyes light up. “Come on, dude. I’ll have my license by the time this thing is done.”

“Maybe. Probably not.”

“Mari, I swear, I’ll do a good job.”

“You put in the sweat equity then we’ll see.”

He barks a laugh and pushes me away. “Gonna kill this thing, bro, you’ll see.” He stalks off, gesturing and animated, heading toward the barn to get some chores done.

“When do you think he’ll get sick of this place?” Bass asks me, leaning against the front of the bus with his arms folded over his chest.

“Don’t know,” I admit. “You’ll get sick of him sooner, I bet.”

“Doubt it.”

“Really? You don’t think the house is a little crowded with Cruz around?”

“Not at all. House could be more crowded, honestly.” He gives me a meaningful look.

I put my hand on his chest. He’s steady and big, his body warm and strong. Life is stable now. He and Graciela get along well and the Escalante seem happy. I don’t pay much attention to that side of my world anymore. As far as I’m concerned, my parents might as well be dead.

But Bass seems satisfied. His operation is growing. I know I can’t really expect him to disappear into the Texas wilderness with me in a school bus, but a girl can dream. I’ll probably do this build, drive it around a bit, and sell it on, then maybe do another if I want to. It’s never been about the travel, but about being able to travel. It’s being with people I love, going places I choose, and not having to bow and scrape and keep my head lowered.

Here on the ranch, I feel like I’m home.

“You really want kids?” I ask, even though I know the answer. I like hearing him say it.

“Yes.” There’s a desperate edge to his voice. “Badly.”

“You want to make them. You don’t actually want children.”

“With you, I really do.”

A thrill runs through my stomach. I know he means it. The man’s a psycho for getting me pregnant lately.

“Tell you what. When the bus is done, I’ll stop taking birth control and we’ll see how it goes. How’s that sound?”

His eyes light up. “You swear?”

“I mean⁠—”

“Damn you, Mari, swear to me right now, when this bus is all finished, you’re going off birth control and I’m going to come inside of you until you got my baby growing.”

“Geez, when you put it that way⁠—”

He grabs me and drags me tight against him. “Swear it,” he says, low and menacing. “And don’t piss me off anymore.”

“I swear.” I say it all breathless before I press my lips to his. “Think the baby will like traveling in a bus?”

He looks to the sky. “I have the feeling we’ll find out.”