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“You want me to run interference?” He meets my eyes in the rearview mirror.

“We’ll be okay. I think. I hope.”

Cash and I are on the opposite side of the street, just outside the building’s front door. He’s loading up the trunk while I figure out entertainment for our drive. Cash, being Cash, didn’t so much as let me touch my luggage, much less load it into the trunk.

Having a boyfriend who’s a filthy-mouthed cowboy in the sheets but an absolute gentleman in the streets sure as hell has its perks.

Watching Mom climb out of her sedan, my stomach dips. We left lunch on good enough terms yesterday. I feel like we had a breakthrough. At the very least, Mom understands where I’m coming from and why I’m making the choice to go back to the ranch today.

Still, when I called her this morning to tell her we were leaving after breakfast, I didn’t expect her to offer to swing by.

I certainly didn’t expect for her to actually show up. It’s a Sunday morning. While most people in her circle are at church or having brunch, Mom is usually working. Weekends are a real estate agent’s bread and butter.

She’s here, though. And I don’t know if that’s a good or a bad thing.

Looking both ways before crossing the street, she hurries over to us. I notice she has a white paper bag tucked underneath her arm.

“Mom! Hey.” I push open the door and step out. Because it’s early on a Sunday, the street is empty. “I’m glad you came by.”

“Mornin’, Ms. Brown.” Cash straightens, hiking up his jeans. “How are you doing today?”

“Please, call me Aubrey. And I’m doing all right. How about yourself?”

“Just making sure Mollie has everything she needs.” He gestures to the full trunk with a grin. “Turns out, she needs a hell of a lot.”

“I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that my daughter is a little high-maintenance.”

I let out a bark of laughter. “Runs in the family.”

“Guilty.” Mom smiles.

I look at Cash. This is a good sign, right? The smile, the insistence he call her by her first name? She didn’t say a word about that yesterday.

“Anyway”—Mom glances between us before she holdsout the bag to me—“I’m glad I caught y’all. Here are some treats to bring back to the ranch with you. Figured y’all could use something to nibble on during the drive.”

I take the bag, only now seeing the Dean & DeLuca logo printed on its side. “My favorite. Wow. Thank you, Mom.” I hold out an arm.

She pulls me in for a tight hug. “Just promise me you’ll start answering your phone more often. I need to hear from you. Not every day, but more than once a week.”

My eyes prickle with heat. I close them and nod. “I promise.”

“I was up all night thinking about y’all.”

“Mom—”

“It’s all right, Mollie.” She’s still holding me. “I’m not going to ask when you’ll be back in town?—”

“Subtle,” I say with a smile.

“But I want to be part of this.” She finally lets me go and glances at Cash. “Part of y’all’s life together. You’re in your element when you’re together—that much is clear. You’re happy.” Mom cups my cheek. “Hemakes you happy. Thank you, Cash, for taking such excellent care of my daughter. I’ve never seen her so lit up before.”

My boyfriend’s Adam’s apple bobs. “That means a lot. Thank you. You have my word, I’ll try my damnedest to make Mollie happy.”

“I believe you,” Mom replies.

I blink, genuinely shocked. “Wait, wait.Youtrust acowboy?”

Mom’s lips twitch. “No two people are alike. Same goes for cowboys.”