When You're Back (Rosemary Beach #12)(21)

Mase

I hadn’t been able to just drop Reese off. I needed to be with her when she met Piper. I also wanted to hold her f*cking hand through the whole interview, but I couldn’t. If Reese needed to show Piper she could do this, then having me around, coddling her, wasn’t going to help.

Piper had given Reese a genuine smile when we approached and had been very friendly. She must have seen my reluctance to leave, because she’d turned to me and told me that Reese was in good hands and she would give me a call later. That had been her hint for me to leave.

Reluctantly, I went back to the ranch. My mother’s truck was in the driveway, which meant Aida was back. But Major’s was parked right next to it. I hadn’t seen him in at least two months. I headed up to the house, in need of some sweet tea and something to get my mind and my worries off Reese.

Opening the screen door, I stepped off the porch and into the small entrance that led directly to the kitchen. Major was sitting at the table with a plate full of biscuits and gravy. Aida was across from him, scowling about something. I glanced over at my mother, who was still working at the stove on what smelled like bacon.

“Little late in the day for breakfast, isn’t it?” I asked, taking off my hat before my momma could fuss at me and hanging it on the rack by the door.

All three sets of eyes turned to me.

“Her favorite boy is home. She’s gotta feed me,” Major replied with a stupid grin. Sometimes I think he honestly believed that.

“Oh, stop it. But yes, Major’s here, and he looked starved. I knew what would put some meat back on his bones,” Momma said.

Major looked just like he did the last time I saw him. He was by no means starved.

“Sure he does,” I drawled, rolling my eyes. “Can your second-favorite boy get some of that, too?” I asked.

I walked over and kissed Momma on the cheek, and she squeezed me around the shoulders the best she could. “You’re my number one always, and you know it. Sit down, and let me feed you, too. I also want to know all about Reese’s new job.”

“Reese got a job?” Aida asked, her eyes wide with something I didn’t recognize.

“You already put her to work? Damn, man, what’s your deal? Woman like that belongs in a bed all day. Happy and taken care of,” Major said, and I knew he meant it.

“Major Colt, that is enough. No talk like that at my table,” Momma said sternly.

He winked and puckered his lips like he was directing a kiss at Momma, before taking another bite. As always, my mother laughed at his antics. If that had been me, she’d have backhanded me.

“Reese wanted a job. I didn’t make her get one. And Piper Stout offered her one that I think she’ll enjoy.”

Major frowned and took a drink of his tea. “She gonna be working at the Stouts’?”

I nodded.

“You’re stupid as sh—uh, I mean . . .” He stopped from cursing as his eyes lifted to my mother, who was glaring at him in warning.

“I think she and Piper will get along fine.”

Major cocked an eyebrow. “Wasn’t Piper I was referring to. You do remember Hawkins, right?”

That was my biggest concern, but I trusted Reese. There was no question there. I just didn’t want Hawkins ever making her feel uncomfortable.

“If at any time he steps over the line, I will handle it. But I can’t keep her locked up away from the world. She needs a life.”

Major shrugged, then went back to eating. “Whatever. But dude, your woman is smoking.”

Aida let out a short laugh, like she thought that comment was amusing. Both Major and I turned to her.

“What? You don’t agree?” Major asked her. He was always up for a fight with Aida. While I was the cousin she grew up adoring, he was the cousin she grew up fighting with.

“She’s fat. Have you seen her butt? No offense, Mase. It’s just you could do better,” Aida said, looking at me with what she thought was an apologetic smile. It wasn’t.

“Aida! Reese is not fat. I can’t believe you’d say something so harsh.” Momma turned her disapproving gaze Aida’s way.

Aida shrugged. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but she is . . . she’s a little too curvy.”

Major let out a loud laugh. “I am so glad I came back here. I was missing this, and no one told me.” He continued to cackle with laughter.

“Reese’s backside happens to be the very thing that caught my interest. It’s perfect, and it’s mine. I never want to hear you say anything negative about her body or her again. Do you understand me?”

Aida’s eyes went wide, and I realized I’d never talked to her so coldly or harshly before. But she’d said the wrong thing. Being cruel wasn’t acceptable. Being cruel to Reese would completely turn me against her.

Major finally stopped laughing. “Reese has the body of a porn star, Aida. You have the body of a model. Women want your body. Men want Reese’s. It’s a simple fact. But seeing you get jealous and ugly about it is priceless.”

Aida stiffened at his comment. “I’m not jealous!”

“Don’t talk about my woman’s body being like a porn star’s, or we’ll have to take this outside my momma’s kitchen, and I’ll shut you up myself,” I warned Major.