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And again . . .

He cleared his throat. “Not that I’m complaining, because, believe me, I am very much not. Why did this conversation prompt a kiss?”

She stared up at him, that hint of tears and vulnerability he’d seen there before the kiss hidden under something else, something he couldn’t put into words. All of it was still there, but she’d rearranged it so something like strength was the predominant mask she showed.

He had a sinking suspicion itwasa mask.

“Well, I guess it’s wrapped up in the fact that I haven’t had a lot of good, nice men in my life.” She let out a huff of breath. “I didn’t think they existed until about a year ago. My sister started working for Mile High Adventures last spring, and the guys there are all really good, solid guys. They’ve always been so kind and encouraging with Micah. I know he looks up to them, and that’s been so important. But they’re not like you. You’re really good at making people feel like . . . I don’t know how to explain it. I just know those were the words Micah needed to hear. And he would’ve never listened to them from me.”

“Cora . . .”

“The point of all that is I’m really glad you could give him that, and so that’s why I kissed you. You helped when you didn’t have to. I know you did it because you thought it was the right thing to do, because you, your whole family, they just step in and help. And care. Plus, you’re really hot, especially in a cowboy hat.”

Shane managed to laugh. “I’m glad I could say something he needed to hear.”

“And Iknowyou mean that.” Cora looked behind him, at the pastel sunset streaking across the sky, clearly thinking something through. “But I shouldn’t have kissed you. I’m sorry.”

“Cora, like I said, I wasn’t complaining. There’s nothing about the kiss you need to apologize for.”

“Except that’s the kind of kiss that leads to other kisses, and I’m not sure . . .” She chewed on her bottom lip as she moved her gaze back to him. “I’m not sure I’m in a place to do this. Because you are nice and good, and I’m still kind of figuring out how to be all that.”

“So it’s that resolution thing again?”

“Kind of. And it’s about me, not you. You’re great.”

“Someone hurt you,” he said gently.

Her expression shuttered and blanked. Shane wondered if part of this wasn’t just the fact that she didn’t want to go into that. The hurt. The scars whatever happened must have left. He knew he had his own that he wouldn’t want to touch with a ten-foot pole, especially with someone he liked.

“What are we going to do about Ben?” she said resolutely.

He could’ve refused the change of subject, but he wasn’t about to push her any more than he would’ve pushed her little boy this morning when they’d talked about violence. “Molly suggested I ask Mom to do a prenup. That way, even if Ben is trouble, the ranch will be safe. If things went sour, Mom would still have the ranch. Her pride.”

“How could her pride be intact if she got treated that way by someone she loves?” Cora asked, all thatemotionswirling in her eyes.

“That’s where I’m stuck. I’m starting to wonder if it would even make a difference. If I found evidence he was a murderer, would it change a damn thing? For whatever reason, she loves him. I don’t know how to fight that. It’s all been running around in my head. Talking with Micah about violence and the marks it leaves. Talking with Molly about the way our family is. Nothing is working, so we have to change our approach.”

“How?”

“Honesty.” He’d been on the fence before, but kissing Cora, talking to Cora about howgoodhe was, and just the honest way she’d talked about not being ready . . . It was the answer. It had to be. “I knew Ben was a liar almost from the start, and I never gave him a chance to be anything but that. Maybe instead of fighting him and Mom, I need to talk to them. Openly. About my concerns and what we all can do to move forward together. As a team.”

Something moved over her expression. One of those unreadable feelings he wished he could label and fix for her.

“I wasn’t going to tell you this, because I thought it would just make you angry, but maybe . . . maybe you’re absolutely right. This morning your mom was upset. Crying. She’d had a fight with Ben and—”

“What did the thieving, lying, scheming piece of shit do to her?” Shane demanded, white-hot fury sparking through him.

Cora smiled indulgently. She reached out and placed her hand against his chest. They both looked at it for a second. He felt her move as if she were going to take it away, but when he gently placed his own hand over it, she stilled and smiled up at him.

“I like that you’re a good, protective son. It speaks to so much about you and your mother. They fought over Boone. She didn’t give details, and I didn’t press. Maybe I should have. Maybe I should’ve asked her what was wrong and said things related to her. Maybe instead of holding back because I was afraid of opening up to my crap, I should have connected to it and . . .”

He rubbed his hand over hers, and she stepped a little closer, the smell of her perfume infiltrating the smell of summer and ranch.

“I don’t know what happened between them. It could’ve been a simple argument. God knows I’ve seen my sister and her husband argue a million times over. But they love each other wholeheartedly, and they’d do anything for each other. It could be just a fight that people have because people have fights, but if I hadn’t been too afraid of giving something of myself, maybe I would’ve found out.”

“Tylers aren’t known for their heart-to-hearts. As wonderful as my mom is, as connected as we all are, there’s a separateness. Molly said something I’d forgotten. When I was a kid, Dad always used to tell us Tylers don’t cry. Scraped a knee, mad about some prank Boone played, Tylers don’t cry.”

“That’s silly. Kids have to cry,” Cora said, frowning.