When You're Back

by Abbi Glines

  That stupid motherfucker wasn’t ugly, either, and he knew it. He was using his looks to rattle her, too. And she was rattled. It was working. I leaned back against the wall and inhaled a painful breath. I was her first everything. She’d never let anyone else get this close.

  Was I being selfish to not let her go, if that was what she wanted? Was I caring for her like a possession and ignoring her needs? “Fuuuuuuck!” I yelled as pain sliced through my chest.

  I wanted to be overreacting. Was it because I was mentally exhausted from dealing with Kiro? Everything replayed in my head.

  “I just left her there,” I whispered out loud, knowing she had no way to come after me and explain. I hadn’t even given her a moment to get her thoughts together. She had looked as surprised as I was.

  I couldn’t leave her there all day to worry about this. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Sure, she hadn’t told me that she was having lunch brought to her by fucking River, Captain, whoever the hell he was, Kipling. But demanding an answer from her and then storming out when she couldn’t verbalize one wasn’t the way to handle it.

  This was Reese. My Reese. There had to be a reason she hadn’t said something before now. Maybe she was afraid I would react the exact way I just reacted. Or she could have been worried that I’d make her quit her job. She loved her job. She was proud of herself, and watching her blossom under Piper’s obvious approval was beautiful.

  I had to go back. I stalked back to the door, only to be stopped by Major, who was looking at me like I’d lost my mind.

  “Move,” I snarled, and started to push past him, but he grabbed my shoulders and stopped me.

  “She’s not there,” was all he said. He sounded annoyed.

  “What?” I asked him, shoving him back so he would let me go.

  “She called Maryann. Your momma went to get her.”

  Reese. “Shit. Is she OK?” I asked, moving fast to get around Major and head up the hill toward my momma’s house.

  “She was crying so hard Aunt Maryann barely heard what she was saying. She ran for the door, then pointed at me and said, ‘Go tell my son he better get himself ready to fix this.’ ”

  I had to fix this. Reese was crying. My stupid temper.

  “What the hell did you do?” Major asked.

  “River Kipling was in her office. He brings her lunch sometimes. She never told me.”

  Major let out a low whistle. “He’s a smooth one. But has Reese done anything wrong?”

  “She never told me!” I yelled, wanting to punch something.

  “Well, hell, Mase, if she thought you’d react like this, I can’t say I blame her. You don’t get worked up like this. Never seen you become an ass in my entire life. So what the fuck has happened to you?”

  This wasn’t me. I didn’t lose my mind over every little thing. I was careful, and I thought things through. I made calculated decisions. I wasn’t this off-the-handle insane man who had taken over.

  “Stop yelling, and listen to yourself. You’re acting like a nutcase over something that isn’t that big of a deal. So he brought her food. Did she fuck him for it? No. I can answer that. She loves you. You . Snap out of this.”

  Snap out of this. Those words replayed in my head. Words I had just said to Kiro. When he was losing his mind over a woman.

  I was acting like . . . my father. My entire life, I’d tried so hard to emulate the man who raised me. He was a solid man. A man who was careful and thoughtful but strong. Yet in one moment, I forgot all that and became the man whose blood ran through my veins.

  I didn’t want to be this man. But I understood him. I hadn’t even lost Reese, and I was going crazy. What if I were faced with actually losing her? Could I recover from that? Would I become the man I looked like instead of the man who had taught me everything?

  “I have to see her,” I said, feeling helpless.

  “Yeah, well, your momma will be here soon enough with her, and I wouldn’t want to be you when she gets here. She’s not happy with you.”

  I wasn’t happy with me, either. I’d let Reese down, but I’d let me down, too. This man wasn’t me.

  My mother’s truck came into view, and I took off running toward it. I wasn’t waiting for Reese to get to me. I needed to see her now. Momma stopped when she saw me getting closer. I didn’t even make eye contact with my mother; I kept my eyes on Reese. Her face was red and splotchy from crying, and that was all because of me.

  If it was possible to truly hate yourself, I did.

  Reese

  Once the tears started, I couldn’t stop.

  After Mase left, sobs wracked my body, and I doubled over. He’d left me. I’d messed up. I couldn’t lose Mase.

  All I had known to do was to call Maryann. Staying at work was impossible. Telling Piper what was wrong with me was also impossible. She was gone for the day, and I would have to apologize later. Right now, I had to get to Mase.

  Maryann hopped out of the truck and rushed to me. “What’s wrong?” she asked, pulling me into a hug. I clung to her and cried harder.

  Having any kind of motherly affection undid me. It wasn’t something I knew, but I craved it. Maryann’s arms around me made my tears come harder. Because I’d let her son down. She was comforting me and didn’t know what I had done.

  “Shhh, now, it can’t be all that bad. Let’s get you back home, and you can tell me what happened. I know my son, and when he knows you’re this upset, he’s going to be furious with himself.”

  No, he wouldn’t. He was furious already. With me.

  Maryann led me to her truck, and I got in obediently. Once she was in the driver’s seat and pulling out of the Stouts’ ranch, she glanced over at me. “Can you tell me what happened?”

  I could, but would she hate me, too? Probably. I hated me. I should have told him after the first time. I shouldn’t have kept it a secret.

  “I let Cap- . . . River Kipling bring me lunch several times. I didn’t ask him to, he just—” I let out a small sob. “He would just show up with food, and I would eat with him. I don’t even like him most of the time. He’s arrogant. But I have to file paperwork that he brings me.”

  “And Mase is upset because River brings you food?”

  “No . . . yes. He’s mad because I never told him. I was afraid he’d be upset. And I kept telling River to stop. Sometimes he just came with paperwork for me to file, but a couple of times, he brought food. I should have told Mase.”

  Maryann didn’t say anything at first. I began to think I’d made her mad at me, too. “Do you like River Kipling in any way other than as a friend?”

  I shook my head. “No! I don’t even like him as a friend. He assumes too much and ignores the fact that I don’t want him to be in my office. I love Mase.”

  Maryann nodded. “I know you do, sweetheart. But it appears my son has let jealousy take control of him. It’s not like him, but then, that just means you’re different from any other woman who has been in his life. Give him time to cool down, and then he’ll fix this.”

  “He was so angry with me,” I whispered.

  “No, he was scared of losing you. He was terrified that he wasn’t enough for you. He wasn’t angry at you.”

  He wasn’t enough for me? He knew better than that. The look in his eyes was definitely anger. But I didn’t argue with his mother. She would see soon enough. He wasn’t going to be happy to see me. I had to explain. Getting all tongue-tied and panicking wasn’t going to save us.

  “I never should have gotten a job,” I said, thinking that none of this would have happened if I’d just stayed home.

  Maryann made a tsking sound. “Don’t start that, girl. You deserve a life. Mase doesn’t have to be your world. He can be the most important part of your world, but you need to live, Reese. You need to feel accomplished and make your mark on this earth. I love my son, but I don’t want you giving up your dreams for him.”

  I let her words sink in, but they didn’t matter. “But he’s in all
of my dreams.”

  She nodded. “As he should be. But they’re your dreams. You have control over them, not his jealousy. He knows that, too. He just needs to get his head straight.”

  We drove past the gate of the ranch, and I wiped my damp face as I prepared to face him. I was so used to seeing him smiling at me and wanting me. I didn’t know how to deal with a Mase who didn’t want to even look at me.

  “There he is,” Maryann said, slowing the truck. “Guess I should stop if the fool’s gonna come running straight at me.”

  I glanced up to see Mase running toward the truck and panicked. Was he going to demand that I leave? Oh, God. What if he wouldn’t let me on his property? I had to explain myself.

  Maryann opened the truck door and started around the front to meet her son. I death-gripped the seat as if he was going to open the truck and yank me out.

  When Mase saw his mother, he shot her a look. She said something to him and then slapped him on the back of the head, before walking toward the house and leaving me alone in her truck, just sitting there. I didn’t want her to leave.

  Mase took several long strides to my side of the truck and jerked the door open. I closed my eyes tightly and held on, thankful that I was wearing my seat belt. It wasn’t much, but it was a form of protection.

  A warm hand touched the side of my face, and my eyes snapped open to see Mase looking at me intently. His eyes weren’t full of the anger I’d seen earlier. He looked . . . sorry. Worried.

  “I am so sorry,” he whispered. “So goddamn sorry.”

  Tears of relief filled my eyes, even though I didn’t think I had any more tears to cry.

  “I didn’t . . . I don’t even like him. I try to get him to leave. I’m rude to him. He just doesn’t care.”

  Mase leaned in and kissed my mouth gently as he unbuckled my seat belt. “I don’t doubt it,” he said softly. “I was an ass. I let him rile me up, and I took it out on you. I was jealous, Reese. You’re mine, and I can’t lose you, baby.”

  I wrapped my arms around Mase tightly and buried my face in his neck. Inhaling deeply, I felt safe again. He was here. He wasn’t mad at me. “I’m sorry. I should have told you. I was afraid you’d be angry.”

  His hand ran over my hair, wrapping the long strands around his fingers. “Guess I proved that theory correct,” he said, sounding amused.

  I nodded. “But I should have told you. He says he’s not flirting, but I don’t know what he’s doing. I’ve told him to leave me alone.”

  Mase took a deep breath. “I want to kill him.”

  Right now, I wanted to kill him. He had done it on purpose. “I think it would be better if I quit my job. That way, I don’t ever have to see him.”

  Mase didn’t reply at first. I stayed in his arms, thankful to have them around me. I didn’t care what I had to do to keep this. “No. You love your job. I won’t let my fear and that asshole take it away from you. But from now on, I’ll be bringing you lunch.”

  Smiling, I looked up at him. “Really?”

  He cupped my face with one hand. “Really. And I’ll bring you Momma’s food. It’ll be better than any restaurant shit he brought you.” A small laugh escaped me, and he grinned. “You’re just so damn beautiful inside and out, Reese. I’m going to have to get used to men wanting what I have. They can’t help themselves.”

  My cheeks heated, and I put my head on his shoulder. “I don’t think that’s the case. Captain is just . . . annoying.”

  “You call him Captain. Do you know who he is?”

  “He’s Blaire Finlay’s brother. He was at Lila Kate’s birthday. I found out his nickname then.”

  Mase frowned. “I never saw him.”

  “That’s because we talked when you were inside with Harlow. Then he just disappeared. I figured he went inside.”

  “But he found you and talked to you,” he said, sounding annoyed.

  “I was with Blaire,” I reminded him.

  “Still, the dude is a dickhead.”

  Yesterday, I would have been ready to disagree. But after what he did today, I couldn’t deny it. He had told Mase about our lunches for a reason, and it wasn’t an innocent one.

  River “Captain” Kipling had just become my enemy.

  Mase

  After dropping Reese off at the office and kissing her long and hard, I headed out to find River fucking Kipling. I’d given Arthur a call and asked him where I might find the guy. He’d told me he would be at the main offices for the Stout and Hawkins restaurant chain.

  Stepping through the main door, I smiled at the young receptionist. I needed her help. “Morning,” I said with a nod, tilting the brim of my hat back.

  “Good morning,” she said, a little too brightly.

  “Arthur told me I could find River Kipling here this morning. You know where he might be?”

  She didn’t even ask for an ID. She nodded and pointed to a door. “Go through there; he’s the third office on the right.”

  I winked and gave her a nod, then went to find the bastard.

  I didn’t bother knocking on his door. I just opened it and walked in, closing it behind me. River was working at his desk. When his eyes looked up to see me, I saw the gleam of challenge there. I was ending this shit.

  “I actually expected you sooner,” he said, leaning back in his chair, looking pleased with himself.

  “Reese came first. I’d been away from her for a few days, and I needed to be with my girl,” I said, putting the emphasis on my.

  He smirked. “You here to stake your claim like a fucking caveman?”

  God, I hated this douchebag. “I’m here to protect Reese. That’s what I do. She was ready to give up a job she loves because of you. I won’t let you ruin this for her. She’s been through more shit than you could ever imagine. She doesn’t need you upsetting her.”

  His face almost looked remorseful. “She’s overcome her dyslexia. She’s faced her demons, and she’s thriving. She doesn’t need someone to stand over her and keep the rest of the world out. Is she not allowed to have friends?”

  She’d told him about her dyslexia? I was proud of her. She’d admitted it to someone else other than Piper and me. “Her dyslexia did hold her back for a very long time. But she’s lived through a worse hell than that. Don’t assume you know her. Because you don’t. And if she wants me to protect her, I will. From anyone and anything. She didn’t have that for most of her life, but she’ll have it for the rest of it.”

  River frowned, leaning forward and putting his elbows on the desk. “You’re doing her an injustice by assuming that because she had a rough home life growing up, she isn’t strong enough to take care of herself. I know for a fact that made her a stronger person. I lived a life just like hers.”

  I really hated this son of a bitch. “What? Was life hard for you? Did you get slapped around a little? Leave home when you were finally old enough? Yeah, well, lucky fucking you. That’s not the hell I’m talking about. Just stay the fuck away from her. You have papers for her to file? Then take them to her. But I’ll be bringing her lunch every day.”

  River looked like he was weighing my words and deciding how to respond. His witty comebacks seemed to have dried up. “I was just being friendly,” he finally said with a shrug. “Both of you got too worked-up over that shit. Trust is an important part of a relationship.”

  If I nailed him in his smug face, I’d end up in jail. I debated if that was worth it. “You being ‘friendly’ had her in tears yesterday. Sobbing tears. What you did yesterday wasn’t friendly. It was a low blow, and then you walked off and left her to deal with it. That’s not being a friend. It’s being an asshole. No woman deserves that kind of disrespect.”

  He didn’t respond. I needed to leave before he said something that I couldn’t walk away from. One day, I’d get the chance to knock him on his ass. But this wasn’t the place or the time.

  I opened his door and walked out before he could say anything else.

  It wa
s lunchtime. I arrived at Reese’s office with Momma’s meat loaf, fried okra, and creamed potatoes. When I opened Reese’s door, she looked up and beamed at me like I was the only person in her world. Before I could get through the door, she was out of her seat and hurrying toward me.

  “Hey, baby,” I said, holding the food out of the way so I could bend my head and kiss the prettiest lips in the world.

  “Hey, smells good,” she said.

  “It is. Momma made it.”

  She gazed up at me through her thick eyelashes and grinned. “I was talking about you, but the food smells good, too.”

  “Careful, or I’ll take some more of what I had this morning before I let you eat,” I warned her, thinking about the shower we’d taken together before I brought her to work.

  “I have a microwave,” she said, backing up against the desk. I watched her as she began pulling her shirt off.

  “Fuck,” I replied, setting the food down on the empty chair. “You sure about this?” I hoped to God she was.

  She nodded. “Piper’s gone,” she said, and she unsnapped her bra and let it fall off her arms. “And I’m wearing a skirt. Shame to waste it.”

  I took her face in my hands and claimed that sweet mouth before she could say anything else that made me lose my mind. When Reese decided to seduce me, it didn’t take much. Just the fact that she wanted to was sexy as hell.

  Tasting her was intoxicating.

  She began to wiggle, and I broke the kiss to look down at her. She had dropped her panties and kicked them off as she pulled up her skirt. She was panting. “I missed you,” she said.

  I missed her, too, although we had just had hot shower sex five hours ago. I wasn’t complaining. Slipping my hand between her legs, I trailed my fingers over her wet heat. She was more than ready.

  I had started to go down on my knees when she grabbed my shoulders. “No. I want you in me. We need to be quick, and I want you now.” She sounded breathless.

  After yesterday, I wondered if this was her way of making that memory fade to the background. Whatever it was, I would do anything she asked of me.