Mase frowned. “I’d never ask you to marry me because I felt pressured to do it,” he said, his voice sounding sincere.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I nodded. “Good.”

Mase

The teardrop-shaped pale pink morganite stone was set within a halo of diamonds embedded in a rose-gold band. It was unique, and it was beautiful. It had stood out to me from the thousands of diamond rings I’d been shown, and the simple setting had struck me as perfect. I could see it on Reese’s hand. I didn’t need to see another ring.

Having it sized had been tricky, because the diamonds ran along the band of the ring, so it had taken a few weeks for it to be done correctly. Holding the finished product in my hand was exciting and terrifying. Timing was important, and I was afraid I’d royally screw this up.

Reese was adamant that I not propose to her because she was pregnant. If only I’d been able to give her this ring just a week ago. But I hadn’t been, and all I had now was proof that it had been purchased three weeks ago. This had to be handled delicately. I didn’t want her memory of our engagement to be tainted by my begging and pleading for her to believe me. I wanted it to be special. Something she would love to remember.

My mother knew about the ring—I’d told her when I found it—so she had been aware that I was going to propose before the pregnancy news came. Charlie knew that, too, now. My mother had made sure he understood how out of line he’d been. Given that he had apologized to me this morning at the stables, Momma must have been hard on him.

I tucked the small black velvet box into my jeans pocket and headed to the house. I had to plan this, and I had only three hours left before I went to pick up Reese from work. Momma was going to help me, and even Charlie was going to play a part. I just had to pull it all together.

Reese

The door to my office opened after a brief knock, and I looked up to see Aida walk into the room. I hadn’t seen her since we had returned home. Apparently, my luck had run out; she’d come to find me.

“Hello, Aida,” I said as she took a seat across from the desk.

“I thought we could talk privately. I have a few things I’d like to say to you. Things you need to hear, because from what I can tell, you’re not that smart,” she began.

Her insult stung, as if I’d been slapped. I’d heard those words a lot in my life.

“I heard you were pregnant, but I see you’re still not wearing a ring on your finger. Mase isn’t proposing. That should tell you something. If he was as in love with you as he claims, you’d be engaged.” She smiled at me with steel in her eyes. “When a man wants you, he puts a claim on you, one the world can see. You don’t have that, do you? Nope. Think about that, Reese. Think about all the sweet things he says and how he doesn’t follow through. Hooking him with a baby isn’t going to work. Bad idea.” She stood up and tossed her hair over her left shoulder.

I had nothing to say. I didn’t want to believe a word she said, but it was hard not to. Charlie had basically said the same thing. Was this my stupidity?

“When he gets bored and moves on, I’ll be waiting for him. I’ve been waiting for him since I was a little girl. You’re not taking him away from me. He’s just sidetracked. I’ll get him in the end. Enjoy him while you’ve got his attention.”

I watched as she shot me a triumphant smile and left my office with a slam of the door.

I sat staring at the closed door. Mase loved me. I knew he did. So why did her words sting? Why did I let her get to me like this? She was angry that I had Mase. That was all this was. I would not get upset and worry about it. I wouldn’t.

But I did for the rest of the day.

When I walked out to see if Mase had arrived to pick me up, I was surprised to find Charlie sitting in his truck instead. He’d never sent his stepdad to pick me up before. After last night, I was nervous about getting into the truck with him. I was surprised Mase had sent him, of all people.

Gripping my purse tightly, I walked to the passenger side and climbed inside. “Thanks for coming to pick me up,” I said, feeling awkward.

Charlie nodded. “My pleasure. Besides, we need a minute to talk. I was out of line last night.”

He sure was. I didn’t reply, though.

He backed up the truck to head out to the main road. My grip on my purse turned my knuckles white as I stared at the beige dashboard in front of me. “Seems I was speaking without knowing all the specifics. I judged Mase when he didn’t deserve that. He’s a good boy. He’s always been so dependable, and I felt like he was letting you down. I didn’t want to see him make a mistake and screw up his life. Wasn’t my place to say so, though, and I’ve apologized to him, and he’s explained some things to me. I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me.”

I nodded my head. “Yes, of course,” I said. I hadn’t been mad at him anyway. Just embarrassed. I was glad he’d apologized to Mase, though.

“Good, good. Glad to hear it,” he said, and he slowed down to drive through the gates of the Colt ranch. “Maryann ain’t real happy with me right now. I’ve got some making up to do where she’s concerned. But knowing the two of you forgive me, I think I have a chance to make my woman happy again.”

Maryann loved Charlie. I had no doubt she would forgive him easily enough. I knew how easy it was to forgive a man you loved. Especially if he was truly sorry.

“Oh, one more thing,” Charlie said as he pulled up in front of his house. “Mase left this for you. I think he needs you to get something out of the stables. I’ll just let you out here.”