I ran downstairs to grab a glass of water and found Gage’s parents talking in the kitchen. It looked like Tessa was preparing some things for the next day; I swear that woman never stopped cooking.

“Hey, sweetheart, whatcha need?” Tessa asked.

“Oh, I’m just getting some water. Do you need any help?”

“No, but can I say again that I’m so happy you’re here? You didn’t see him when he thought y’all were over. Damn near broke my heart seeing him that way, and then thinkin’ of not having you in our family . . . well, that sealed the deal and my heart did break.”

“Tessa,” I said softly, and put the empty glass down on the counter.

“No, no. Don’t go getting weepy on me. I’m thrilled as a pig in cool mud that you’re back, and I’m gonna stay that way. Now, when all our visitors are gone, you and Gage are gonna have a sit-down with me and John, and we’re gonna talk about everything that went down. But it looks like y’all worked out whatever happened, and when he showed ya the house, that told us all we need to know. Right, honey?”

“Sure did,” John agreed, and snatched a bell pepper slice.

“I’m not going anywhere again,” I said, hoping it would reassure them for now until we could have our sit-down.

“I know, baby girl.” She smiled sweetly at me and went back to slicing.

“Hey, John? What did you mean earlier when you said that if I married Gage, half the ranch would be mine?”

His eyebrows raised and he shared a look with Tessa. “He didn’t tell you?”

I sighed deeply and hopped onto the breakfast bar. “Apparently there’s a lot he doesn’t tell me. I found out about your family helping Isabella from Jesse just last night. Gage never once mentioned it.”

John made a clicking noise with his tongue. “That’s Gage for ya. He doesn’t mind being in the background. He prefers it. As for the ranch, guess we should start back when he was fifteen. Of course Gage has been doing chores on the ranch all his life, but when he turned fifteen he started working for me. Worked harder and longer hours than any of my hired ranch hands, so he got paid same as they did and for the hours he worked. That’s how he got that truck; paid for it in cash when he turned sixteen. Other than that, he saved practically every cent. Now, when he went to school he wasn’t getting paid much because he was only home about four months out of the year, but from what he had left over, and what he hadn’t spent on the apartment he shared with y’all, he decided to put it toward something. It took almost every penny he’d saved, but he bought half the ranch and business from me. Signed his half over to him about a week before y’all showed up last year. I was sure he woulda told you then.

“So he struggled for a bit at first, but once his half of the earnings started coming in he picked his life back up and repaid me for what I’d paid to get him into the town house. As for Isabella, I didn’t take care of her medical bills; Gage and I did. Don’t know if Jesse knows that, don’t know if Isabella knows that, but I’d doubt it. He called to tell me what he was going to do, and knowing he was going to graduate soon and would be starting a life with you, I didn’t want him blowing all his money again, even if it was for a great reason. I knew y’all would have to furnish y’all’s house soon and other things like that, so we split it just like we split the business. As for the house, Cassi, sweetheart, you can thank me all damn day, but that house is on Gage’s half of the property. And like I said earlier, y’all get married, half this ranch will be yours until he buys the rest of it from me.”

I heard movement and I turned to see Gage leaning up against a wall not far from us. His green eyes were on me and it looked like he was fighting a smile since his dimples were showing. God, I loved those dimples.

He walked toward me and put himself between my legs, planting a hand on either side of me.

“So that’s why the town house furniture wasn’t yours . . . because you’d just bought half the ranch?” Gage just nodded so I kept talking. “Well, I have money now; I can pay for us to furnish our house.”

“Darlin’,” he said with a laugh, “I have money to furnish the house, I just didn’t a year ago. But now that half is mine, I actually make money from the business, not from working as a ranch hand. Promise you, sweetheart, it’s a lot better.” He kissed my lips softly and pulled me closer to him. “Tomorrow, we’re going to get everything we need for the house, ’cause I’m not spending another night after tonight without you.”

Tessa clucked her tongue. “You furnish that house, Gage Carson, because you’ll be stayin’ in it and Cassidy will be stayin’ here ’til y’all get married.”

Gage’s body froze and he turned his head slowly to look at his mom. Before he could say anything she spoke up again.

“And don’t try any hanky-panky either. This may be half your land now, and that may be your house. But I am your mother and I am not lettin’ no hanky-panky go on between the two of y’all before you’re wed.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said softly.

“Mama, we’ve already been living together.”

“Nu-uh, not under my roof. And before you say that’s your roof, don’t think I won’t come after you with a wooden spoon, Gage Michael Carson! I don’t care if you’re grown. You’re still my son, you’re not married, and you’re gonna do right by that sweet girl. So, all funny business stops right now, you hear me?”