Page 82 of Where They Belong

“You go,” Mason said and leaned back so he could look Colt in the eyes.

Colt didn’t shy away from his gaze, but he did purse his lips a couple of seconds before releasing a sigh.

“The anticipation . . .” Mason teased, but a bead of worry trickled through him.

Colt sat up, wincing as he angled himself so he could face Mason straight on. He took Mason’s hand in his.

“I wanted to hate you when I arrived,” Colt started, and Mason tensed. Was this the part where Colt told him it was great, but it was over? That he was leaving, for good. Colt squeezed his hands tighter and gave a little tug. He shook his head as if he’d read Mason’s thoughts. “Hear me out.”

Mason nodded and swallowed down his worry. So much had changed since those first days when Colt had returned to Haverstall Mountain.

“I didn’t want to take this job, but my brothers convinced me,” Colt continued. “Wes thought it would be good for me to get closure, if nothing else. But what I never expected was to realize that after all these years I still loved you. I don’t know what happens now, but . . .”

Mason stopped breathing mid-inhale, his heart lifted in his chest, and his toes tingled. He smiled.

“What?” Colt nudged him.

Mason leaned forward, pressed a quick kiss on his lips, and then blurted, “Move back to the ranch. With me.”

Colt stared at him for a long moment, and then the brightest smile Mason had ever been graced with lit up Colt’s face.

“I would love that . . .”

“But?”

“I can’t leave my brothers hanging,” Colt said with genuine regret. “We have a business to run. As a team.”

“Do you know how many empty houses and cabins there are on this property?” Mason replied, on a roll now that he’d spoken what he wanted and Colt hadn’t scoffed and run off. “We usually make them available for vacation rentals and special events, but Wes and Levi can each claim one for themselves. They all have their own deeds, so it can be a permanent thing if they choose. There are a couple covenants, but nothing too crazy.”

Colt stared at him like he was speaking another language. “Are you serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”

“What about Katie?”

“What about her?” Mason frowned. Right. He should have probably run the idea past his sister first since this was her house too. But . . . “She and Angela have been getting serious. Maybe they can move into one of the cabins. Katie spends most of her nights with her already anyway, and I’m sure they’d like their own space.”

“What if she likes her space and isn’t ready to move in with Angela?” Colt countered.

“Hmm.” Mason pulled a hand free and reached behind him to grab his phone off the bedside table. “Let’s find out, shall we.”

Mason tapped his youngest sister’s number on the recents list, his gaze unwavering from Colt, and she answered on the first ring.

“Mase, everything okay?” Concern rang loud in her voice.

“More than,” he said, and he meant it. For the first time in a long while, he felt like everything was going to be right as rain from here on out. “I have a question for you, and I want you to take your time and really think about it, okay?”

She was quiet for a long moment. “You aren’t leaving the ranch, are you?”

Mason snorted. “Never. No. I wonder what you think about Colt moving in with me.”

She squealed so loud Mason had to pull the phone away from his ear.

“Ouch,” Colt whispered, the light in his eyes dancing with delight.

“I take it that’s a yes?” Mason asked his sister.

“That’s aduh,” Katie replied. “And, well . . . The timing is perfect, actually. I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you that I want to move in with Angela. But I didn’t want you to be in the house alone. If Colt moves in, I won’t have to worry anymore.”

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