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“Mollie does.” My heart lifts when I see the front door open. “Which means I do too.”

Her face breaks into a smile when she sees Wyatt and me. She looks gorgeous in a long, checkered sundress that dances around her legs as she moves. She’s wearing her jewelry and heels and a pair of enormous black sunglasses.

She’d look every inch the spoiled heiress if it weren’t forherfarmer’s tan. Can’t help but smile when I take in the lines on her chest and arms.

She’s a city girl. But she’s also a cowgirl now too. No way I can let her leave that part of her behind again. There’s also no way I can ask her to abandon her life in Dallas.

“Just remember,” Wyatt murmurs as he waves at Mollie, “where there’s a will, there’s a goddamn way.”

I turn to stare at him, taken aback by the casual way he can read me like a book. Part of me is annoyed I’m that transparent. Another part likes the fact that my brother knows me so well.

I’ve broken my back to keep our family together. Nice to know my work’s paid off. I know so many people who are estranged from their own families. Garrett. Mollie. It’s rare—special—that not only do my brothers and I love each other, but we like each other too.

Which is exactly why I can’t tear myself away from this place. But if I did get away more often—if, say, I had to accompany Mollie to Dallas a couple of times a month—my brothers would cover for me. They’re not going anywhere.

I just have to show Mollie—and her mom too—that I’m willing to compromise so that my girl and I don’t have to sacrifice our dreams to be together. We all deserve a happy ending.

I won’t get mine unless Mollie’s in it.

CHAPTER 30

Mollie

SEX AND THE CITY

I never thoughtmy seven-hundred-square-foot condo was small until Cash Rivers walked into it.

Standing inside the kitchen in his Wranglers and Lucchese boots, he looks like a giant. A very handsome, very scruffy giant who I’m struggling not to climb like a tree right now.

He sets down our bags and looks around. “This is nice, Mollie.”

“Thanks.” I watch his face as his gaze moves over the open space of the kitchen and living room. “It’s my cute little bachelorette pad.”

“It’s you.” His eyes meet mine and he grins. “I like it.”

The full feeling in my chest spills over. Of course Cash likes it. Of course he’s not intimidated or put off by it. He’s secure in who he is.

Makes me realize how insecure the other men in my life have been. Men like Palmer.

City lights are coming alive outside the windows. The summer haze has cleared, and while I can’t see any stars, the sky is wide open, dusky blue, edged with the pale orange of the sunset.

It’s a pretty view. Granted, it doesn’t compare with sunsets on the ranch. Few, if any, places do.

We went right to the office of Mom’s legal team when we arrived in Dallas earlier this afternoon. Cash sat beside me for all three hours it took to go through everything and sign the necessary documents. The team doesn’t typically work on Saturdays, but they made an exception for me.

I expected it to be more emotional than it was, but I kept my calm. By signing those documents, I basically acknowledged that I don’t need to be anywhere near the ranch in order to get my inheritance. If I wanted to, I’d never have to go back to Hartsville ever again.

The stipulation made all of this so much easier because it took that choice away from me. NowIhave to decide what the future looks like. I don’t want to sell the ranch. I can’t imagine never seeing Patsy and Sally and John B and the Rivers boys again.

I can’t imagine Cash being anyone else’s foreman.

Lord, this man’s rubbed off on me. He’s possessive as hell, and now I am too.

What Mom will have to say about all this, I don’t know. She had an event tonight with some friends, so we’re meeting her tomorrow at our usual spot for lunch.

Mom was silent on the phone when I told her yesterday that Cash was coming with me to Dallas.

“Is he your boyfriend?” she asked at last.