Chapter 62
LILY
The stablemaster’s cottage sits behind the barn, tucked into the tree line like it was designed to disappear.
Mason pulls up and kills the engine. I sit in the passenger seat of his truck, staring at the small structure through the windshield. It's simple—wood siding weathered gray, a single window facing the main house, a door that looks reinforced. Functional. Tactical. Very Mason.
I follow him out of the truck, watching as Mason picks up my bag. The evening air is cold and sharp, carrying the scent of pine and horses. The main house glows warm in the distance—lights on in the kitchen, movement visible through the windows. Shadow hops out of the truck and darts toward it.
Mason unlocks the door and pushes it open, turning on the lights before stepping aside to let me enter.
The interior matches the exterior: sparse, organized, nothing wasted. There’s a nice kitchen to the left—clean counters, minimal dishes, a coffee maker that looks well-used. I think about what Emma said about Mason and omelets and turn away quickly, blushing.
The living room has a couch, a low table, a single chair positioned with a clear view of the door and window. No television. No clutter. No personal items of any kind. There’s a staircase beyond the main room. I look up the stairs and see several rooms at the top.
Mason goes through and turns on all the lights downstairs before he rejoins me, my bag in his hand. “I’ll show you upstairs.”
At the top of the landing, he flips the hallway light on. “Hang on a second.”
I watch as he enters each room, turning on all the lights up here as well. For me. I blink at him. How does he know?
“I pay attention, Lily.” He comes to stand in front of me and nods to my right. “My bedroom’s that way. The spare bedrooms”—he gestures to my left—“are there. You pick where you want to stay. There’s also a bedroom ready for you in the main house, but I didn’t think you’d be as comfortable there.”
I swallow thickly. Truthfully? I’m overwhelmed.
“If you decide to stay in my room,” he says quietly, “it doesn’t mean that anything will happen. I remember the rules. But I need to warn you. If you decide to stay in my room, you’re choosing to stay.”
“Until this mess is cleaned up?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Once you’re in my bed, I won’t let you go, so be sure you want that.”
Before I can process that, there's a knock at the door. Mason sets my bag down and jogs downstairs to open it.
Emma stands on the small porch, a plate in her hand and a concerned smile on her face. Her gaze flicks between us. “Hey, Lily. I just wanted to check in, to see if you need anything.”
Mason steps back. “Come in.”
Emma enters, holding out the plate. “Cookies.”
Mason offers her a faint smile. “Does Luke know he doesn’t get them all?”
“No way.” She grins impishly. “I let him think I left them all for him.”
Chuckling, Mason takes the plate.
“Wait.” Emma adjusts her grip, hanging onto something under the plate.
“What is that?” Mason asks.
“It’s for you and Lily.”
Mason raises his brow.
She shoos him. “Go put the cookies down so I can give you the surprise.”
Shaking his head, he goes into the kitchen.
Turning to me, Emma clutches the package to her chest. “Jake told me what happened to you. Before. I wanted to tell you.”
“I—” I press my lips shut, not knowing what to say.
“You’re my friend, period,” she continues. “If you ever need someone to talk to, I listen really well.”
Touched, I can only nod, my arms crossed.
“I made up the guest room in the main house for you. It's got its own bathroom, and it's close to everything. You'd have privacy but also proximity. If you need it.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.
Emma studies me for a moment, then she smiles in relief. “You want to stay here.”
I glance at Mason as he rejoins us. “Yes, I do.”
“Good.” She hands Mason the package she has in her hands. “Then this is for you two. Also, Jake and Luke want to talk logistics. I’m the messenger girl.”
Mason nods. “Tell them we’ll come over in a bit.”
Flashing another smile at me, Emma reaches for the door. Before she leaves, she looks over her shoulder at me. “I know the circumstances suck, but I’m happy you’re here, Lily.”
You know? I kind of am too. I know better than most people that sometimes life thrusts you into a situation you don’t expect. The measure of who you are is determined by how well you adapt and what you do with what you’re given.
I wait until Mason closes the door and faces me again. “I want to stay in your room.”
“You sure?” he asks softly.
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” I reply honestly.
Mason takes a deep, shuddering breath. When he speaks, his voice is husky, like it was when his fingers were playing between my legs. “Okay, then.”
I shiver, and for the first time in my life I wonder how quickly I can get a man alone to feel his hands all over me.
He holds up the package. “Want to open this?”
I’m not used to getting gifts, and with everything it feels a little too much at the moment. “Can we do it together?”
“Yeah.” He brings it over to me, frowning at it. “Are these unicorns?”
“Glitter unicorns,” I correct, amused at his disgust.
“Emma’s weird,” he mumbles, ripping part of the wrapping before holding it out. “Now you.”
I rip the rest of it, exposing a box for a picture frame. Mason lets the paper fall to the floor as he opens the box. Carefully, he slides the black picture frame out and turns it over right-side up.
I lean in to see.
It’s the picture Emma took, of Mason and me kissing by the corral. It’s in black and white, the background blurred and Mason and me in focus.
He has a hand in my hair and one on my waist, like he won’t ever let me go. My fingers are tangled in his shirt, and we’re kissing like we’re the only people who exist. Like the whole world is narrowed down to where our lips meet.
The sun highlights both of us, but all I can see is the look on his face.
Not hunger. Not lust.
Something softer—like he already decided I’m his forever.