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Her bare pussy is soft to the touch. Her breath hitches. I hit the gas. We bump over the dirt road as Trisha sings.

Mollie says she needs to grab some contact solution at the New House. After making her promise not to grab anything else—specifically any extra clothes—I pull up to the front door. Long as she’s at my place, she’s either naked or wearing my shit.

She darts inside and emerges a few minutes later with a small cosmetic case. She jumps in the truck, and I peel out of the driveway.

After a small eternity, I pull into my parking spot in the grass beside the cabin and cut the ignition. The night sounds of the ranch fill the silence: crickets, trees moving in a breeze.

“Cash?” Mollie asks.

I shove open the door. “Yeah?”

“What’s everyone going to say when they find out I slept here?”

Everyonemeaning the people who live and work on Lucky Ranch. She’s worried they’ll think less of her. Maybe they’ll think she slept with me to get something.

Or I slept with her to get something. Namely the ranch.

“They say anything, I’ll take care of ’em.” I hop out of the truck and hold out my hand.

She tilts her head and pins me with a stare. “Easy for you to say. Everyone respects the hell out of you.”

“They respect the hell out of you too. You’ve earned it this week, working your ass off like you have.”

“And now I’m going to lose that respect by fucking my foreman.”

My lips twitch. “I promise I’m worth the risk.”

“You would say that.”

“Look, I get why you’re worried. There’s a double standard when it comes to this stuff. But people around here—I wouldn’t say they mind their own business, but they know better than to meddle in other people’s lives. I’ll have you home before sunrise. That a deal? No one’ll see you.”

“And if they do?”

“That’s what a shotgun is for. C’mon.” I bend my fingers, motioning her out of the car.

“No shotguns.” Mollie takes my hand. “But I’ll take the early ride home.”

“Consider it done.”

I don’t let go of her hand as we walk up the steps. My heart beats a little harder when Mollie doesn’t let go of mine either.

The door is unlocked. Tonight will be the first time in an age that I’ll bolt it. Don’t want any interruptions.

I open the door for Mollie, and the old floorboards creak as she steps inside the cabin.

“I’m not sure I appreciated how pretty your place was before,” she says, taking in the tiny kitchen to our right and the living room to our left. The front of the cabin is all one big room, the floors, walls, and ceiling crafted of salvaged oak. “You’re an excellent caretaker.”

“Workin’ in the dirt all day, it’s nice to come home to a place that’s clean.” I take off my hat and toss it onto the counter. “What can I get you? A beer? Water? I have tequila too.”

Mollie arches a brow. “What do you make with that tequila?”

“I’m famous for my spicy ranch waters.”

“No, you’re not.”

I laugh, swiping my hand across the counter. “Lemme make you one. I’ll change your mind.”

“Who the hell are you making spicy ranch waters for?”