"And Emma?" Mason asks quietly. "She holding up okay with all this?"
I think about this morning—the way she kicked me out, her voice steady and certain as she told me she's my partner, not my possession. "She's fine. She's stronger than people think."
Luke shakes his head. "If Garrett starts pressing her?—"
"He won't get anything." My voice is flat, absolute. "Emma knows what's at stake. She's not going to break."
My phone beeps with a text.
Emma
On my way.
See you in a few.
Luke lets his chair drop to the ground and looks over my arm. “Are you going to send her a kissy face back?”
I give him a flat look.
“Better yet, send her a taco.” Luke pretends to frown, scratching his chin. “Unless you think that’s too obvious.”
Mason snorts.
We wrap up and close the barn right as Emma pulls up to the house in her truck. I know the sound of her engine like I know my own heartbeat.
Luke grins. "I can’t believe she forgave you for being a controlling asshole this morning."
"Fuck off,” I say as I walk out to meet her. But he's not wrong. I've been replaying the conversation all day—the way Emma stood in her hallway in my shirt, her voice calm and steady as she told me off. The way she unbuttoned the shirt and handed it to me while she told me how it was going to be.
I'm not your possession. I'm your partner.
She's right.
I know she's right. But knowing it and accepting it are two different things.
Emma's truck is parked in front of the house, and she's pulling a bag and her camera case from the passenger seat.
An overnight bag.
Relief floods through me so fast it's almost painful. She's staying.
"Hey," I say as I approach, keeping my voice neutral even though I want to pull her into my arms and never let go.
She turns, watching me closely. "Hey."
"You moving in?" I try to joke, reaching out for both her bags.
"For the weekend. If that's okay." She lets me take them from her. "I brought my camera. Thought I'd get some shots of the ranch and you guys this weekend."
Mason steps up beside me, his tone easy. "You're always welcome here, Emma."
"Thanks, Mason." She smiles at him, then at Luke. "I actually came to talk to all three of you."
Luke raises an eyebrow. "Sounds serious."
"Not serious.” She shrugs. "I have something I want to give you."
I frown. "Give us?"
