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Which iswild. And wrong. I’ve known Cash for all of a month. I’m not ready for a baby, and neither is he. I have no idea where we stand in terms of our relationship. We’re exclusive, but we’re also really busy. It’s not like either of us has time to pick up other people.

That’s not why y’all aren’t sleeping with anyone else, and you know it.

“You and Wheeler have to give Bellamy Brooks another shot,” Mom continues. “It’s important you have boots on the ground here in Dallas. I mean that literally. Wheeler said these boutiques have tens of thousands of followers online.”

My chest crumples. I don’t know what I’m going to do about the ranch or Bellamy Brooks or the will.

I just know I need Cash. Now.

“Mom, I have to run.”

“Wait, Mollie. We have a lot to discuss?—”

“I’ll call you tomorrow. Promise.”

“Sweetheart—”

“Mom. I need to go.”

“Are you all right?”

No. Yes. I don’t know.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” I repeat.

Then I say goodbye, hang up, and run out the door.

CHAPTER 28

Mollie

THE LONGEST TWO MINUTES

Cash appearsat the screen door as my footsteps thump across the cabin’s front porch.

He pushes the door open. His brows snap together when he takes in my panicked expression. “Everything all right?”

He’s still in his work clothes, although he’s pulled his T-shirt out of his jeans. The hem rises as he reaches up to spear a hand through his hair, revealing a slice of thick, muscled stomach and side.

His eyes are pools of bright blue in the shade of the porch.

“I’m late,” I blurt. Out of all the things I need to tell him, this seems like the most urgent.

“Late?” He steps out onto the porch, scrunching his forehead as he slips a hand inside my shirt. “Dinner’s not for another twenty minutes. We got plenty of time for a shower.”

Even now, sweating bullets and on the verge of a panic attack, my body ignites at his touch. “No, Cash. My period is late.”

He goes still. His expression morphs, but I can’t read it.

“I’m really good about taking my birth control, and I haven’t missed a pill or anything like that,” I babble. “But I usually getmy period by now, and there’s no sign of it.” I draw a shaky breath and look up at him, trying to figure out what he’s thinking. “I’m pretty regular, so this is a little…yeah, scary.”

Without a word, he steps forward and pulls me in for a tight, fierce hug.

And without a word, I wrap my arms around him. I bury my face in his big, broad chest and let the tears flow.

My stomachache lessens, then dissipates altogether.

I love—love—how safe I feel in this man’s arms. There’s a very real possibility that we’re in very real trouble. But the way Cash is holding me, our embrace comfortable and familiar, makes me feel so much less alone in dealing with that trouble.