Vi, Addy, Rhea, and Bree rushed Mary the moment they stepped into the small bedroom Riley had commandeered at the bed and breakfast. They stroked her face and arms and slid assessing gazes over her, as if making sure she was okay.

“I’m good, way better than I have been in a while. I’m so glad you’re here. I couldn’t believe when Dylan told me where he’d hauled me off to. Really, I’m worse than a bridge troll.”

“Shower. Now. We’ll get the clothes ready.” Riley motioned toward the bathroom. “Rhea and Bree are on hair and makeup.”

“What do I do?” Addy asked.

“Whatever bad asses do. Stand in the corner and be menacing or something,” Vi replied. “I’m working security. Cord helped me get cameras up. HERA is scanning the crowd.”

“Great idea,” Mary muttered, relieved her BFF was watching their back.

Even though Dylan had it more than secure. She showered and towel dried, then padded in her clean underwear into the bedroom. Rhea and Bree gasped.

“What?”

“Honey.” Riley squeezed her shoulder. “I don’t think they’d seen your back yet.”

Oh. Right. She did a half-turn so the exposed wounds along her once flawless back appeared in the mirror. No longer an angry red, they ran in chaotic scars.

Addy’s jaw twitched. Hands wrapped around her front, she studied Mary through the mirror. Vi blinked back tears from her perch on the bed.

“It’s okay. They don’t hurt.” Not anymore. “Soldiers get medals. These are my badges of honor. The bastard didn’t break me. We’re winning this war.”

“Damn straight,” Addy replied.

“Has Dylan seen them yet?” Vi asked.

Mary glared at her friend through the mirror as Bree and Rhea went to work womanizing her. “Real smooth subject change there. Not subtle at all.”

“When have I ever been subtle?” Vi set the laptop aside. “Dish. How’s it going with him?”

Mary eyed Riley covertly. The woman held up her hands. “I’m a friend in here, not a sister. I won’t even get wigged out if you mention all those lip locks I caught you two in. The one out by the truck was damn near explosive.”

“We haven’t done it yet.”

“Of course you haven’t. It’s Dylan,” Riley returned quickly. “He’d wait out a snow storm in a desert in June. When you’re ready, it’ll be on you to let him know.”

“How?” she asked. “I’m not sexy and daring like Addy or you. I’m kind of a dud in bed.”

“The how is easy. Slip on something sexy, or nothing at all. He’ll take it from there,” Rhea suggested. “And don’t even say you’re a dud. We all have those thoughts. With the right man, you’ll get fireworks. The way you and he light up with a kiss? The compound will burn down.”

Heat rose in her cheeks. She hoped so. He deserved good.

“I don’t have anything sexy.”

“We’ll take care of that in the morning,” Riley grinned. “Retail therapy is the best. I know just the place. Hustle up. Dylan’s patient, but he won’t like his woman being away from his side long, not with the buzzards circling.”

Dylan’s woman. Mary smiled into the mirror, admiring the rosy hue in her cheeks and the way her eyes danced with mischief. Yeah, she liked being Dylan’s woman.

Rhea and Bree finished off her hair and makeup, opting for a more natural, fresh-faced look rather than a dolled-up tramp. Her pulse quickened when she wondered what Dylan would think of her hair in a non-troll, down past her shoulders and loose state. She headed over to the bed and looked down at the clothes Vi had spread out.

“Where’s the rest?”

Her friend smirked. “Ask the cowgirl.”

“Where’s the rest?” she asked Riley.

“Oh, that’s it.” She picked up the scrap of material. “Here, let’s go. I heard the speakers turn on. They’re getting started.”

It was a thin, stretchy scrap of material Mary wouldn’t call a dress. There was no way it would fit, but she tugged it on anyway. The wonder dress hugged her curves, accentuating the swell of her breasts and generous cleavage, then flaring inward along her stomach. Her full hips filled the dress out nicely, which swept down to end just short of mid-thigh.

Snug, but sexy. Right?

Doubt slithered in her. Maybe she was the dolled-up tramp after all.

“Tell you what,” Riley said. “Give it thirty minutes. If you don’t feel comfortable, we’ll come back and switch out. I brought something else, just in case. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered back. For Dylan she’d give it a try.

Hopefully he’d like it.

The town square was filled when they exited the small bed and breakfast and walked down the street to enter the fray. Mary spotted Marshall, Jesse, and Nolan first. A low whistle to her side drew her attention to where Dallas and Cord angled from.

“Jesus.”

Mary’s heart thundered wildly as she turned in the direction of Dylan’s voice. The women moved, leaving her standing alone as he closed the distance. His heated gaze slid from her to the area behind, then around her. Doubt crawled into her chest and squeezed tight.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered. “Is it okay? Riley has another.”

“It’s not that, Mary. I’m thinking little brother’s wondering how much trouble he’d get into if he hauled you away and forgot about the dance,” Nolan commented.

“Or gave the townsfolk a real show,” Marshall replied.

Dylan placed both hands on her waist. His gaze swept across her once more. “You’re so beautiful, Mary. I’m never getting through the night with you in that dress.”

“I can change,” she offered.

“Don’t you dare,” he muttered. “Come on, I need a beer to cool down.”

Anticipation tingled along her skin. Dylan liked the dress. He needed to cool down. Empowered by the reaction, she wrapped an arm possessively around his middle and laughed. This was an excellent surprise.

TWO HOURS LATER, MARY decided laughter was the best medicine. Cord whispered the comment an hour ago when he and Dylan escorted her onto the dance floor and she got her first taste of the Mason brothers relaxed.

Dancing.

It should be a crime against humanity that every female in the world couldn’t enjoy watching the six brothers on the dance floor. Every female in the square drooled.

Lost in the moment, in Dylan’s arms, she laughed and danced nonstop. From one brother to another to another. The only one who’d left the dance floor was Dallas. Her gut clenched and anger rose when she saw the blond whore smirking from the sidelines.

Hailey.

She flashed a toothy, gummy smile and waved across the room at Dallas, who looked like he’d puke if given half a chance.

Oh, hell no.

Anger rode Mary hard as she kissed Dylan’s cheek and headed across the packed dance floor. Half of Resino halted their dancing and watched as she made her way toward Dallas just as Hailey sidled up to him.

“Hey, lover. Miss me?” The blonde slid a hand down his chest.

Mary watched a second, then grabbed her hand as it slid past his belt. “I warned you once. Don’t touch them. Ever.”

“What, so now he’s yours? I admit he’s way better than Dylan, but you aren’t woman enough to keep them both. Is that what the problem was? You two wanted to share me?” Hailey looked at Dallas, then Dylan, who’d come to stand behind Mary. “I’m afraid that’s just too weird for me.”

“I’m going to talk real slow with small words so you understand me,” Mary growled loudly. “Leave Dylan, Dallas, and everyone else with the last name Mason alone. They aren’t your play toys.”

“It’s not any of your business, whoever you are.” Hailey smiled her gummy smile. “Dylan understands. Don’t you, baby? You just weren’t man enough to keep me happy. While Dallas here was almost too much for me to handle.”

The bitch.

“I’m sorry about the baby. I’m ready to try again whenever you are,” she whispered up at Dallas.

The man was frozen in place. A statue locked in whatever torment she’d awakened. Rage flashed through Mary. She’d thought the bitch violated Dylan by groping him. Whatever she’d done to Dallas was far, far worse.

“Riles, don’t,” Marshall growled.

“Let me go,” Riley ordered.

“No. I’ve got this,” Mary gritted out. She grabbed the woman’s wrist again. “You see the brunette over there? The one shooting daggers at you?”

She waited until the woman looked, noted the widened expression.

“That’s Addy. Her older brother was the best operative in the covert world, knew a thousand different ways to kill a man with a pen.” Mary raised her voice, lilted it with amusement. “He taught her everything he knew.”

Mary shoved Hailey away from Dallas. She rocked back on her platform heels a couple seconds.

“I’ve had a really shitty few weeks, so I’ll make this quick. If I see you near Dylan, Dallas, or any of the Masons, I’ll sic Addy on you. By the time she’s done with you, you’ll be begging for whatever fucked up drugs you loaded into him so you could get your way.”

Gasps echoed around her.

“He’s man enough to let people have their say. He won’t ever call you on the shit you pulled, but I am. Right here. Right now. I warned you, bitch. Told you to back off. But you came at him, dragged my man into your drama. You want a scene? Fine, you have one.”

“You’re crazy,” Hailey spat. “Drugged? Is that how you get your men? I’m not surprised. How else would they handle fucking your fat ass?”

“My friend over there knows a thousand ways to kill with a pen. Me? I know ten thousand ways to trap idiots like you. When I figured out your plays, how you snared Dylan then used him to get an in with Dallas, I dug. Rooted through the muck of your life and found the trail.”

“You’re crazy,” she repeated.

“Maybe, but you know what?”

Hailey took a step back.

Mary prowled forward. “I got bored this morning, waiting for my man. I followed the trail. You weren’t worth the bother before, but when I got wind of what you did to Dallas, I made you worth it. You stupid, stupid cow. Using Daddy’s credit cards wasn’t smart. But I guess useless, jobless, spoiled brats like you don’t have anything but the plastic you either inherit or earn on your back.”

“She’s crazy. Get her away from me.” Hailey’s voice rose over the silenced crowd.

“That was a big order, Hailey. Who else have you been drugging? Or is that first cousin of yours supplying others? I’m going to keep digging, following the trail. I’m going to find every single speck of dirt you left in your wake. That’s what I do. You’re going to wish I unleashed Addy on you when I’m done.”

Mary glared at the bitch a moment longer, then glanced at the man behind her. “Get her the hell away from me before I get angry.”

She noted Dallas’s tense body and realized she’d spewed his secret to the town, gutted Hailey by exposing something not hers to share. She settled a hand on his jaw. “I’m sorry, Dallas. Sorry she did that and sorry I couldn’t hold my tongue.”

He smiled at her, hesitant but sincere. His blue eyes glimmered with moisture. “That was kind of hot, you going after her.”

“Come on, let’s dance.”

“YOU’VE GOT A GOOD WOMAN there,” Brant commented as he settled beside Dylan on the side of the dance floor.

Mary had danced with Dallas nonstop the past eight songs. Sooner or later, he’d have to haul her off so she’d hydrate. Shoes kicked off, bare feet on the wood floor, she was a sexy, laughing sprite.

The blue dress accentuated the sparkle in her gaze as it settled on him. Her full lips painted a dusty rose, which matched the heat creeping up her cheeks. His cock swelled as he watched her lush ass sway in that dress.

Dallas kept a safe distance between them. His gaze swept to Dylan often, as if gauging his acceptance of them continuing.

“Yeah, she’s a special woman.”

“Make sure she takes some time away, steps back enough to breathe easy.”

“Yeah, once we get her situation settled, she and I are going to look into a few things. Riley’s concerned about Rachelle. We’re looking into Marville. Something’s up. You heard anything?”

“No, but I’ve seen some strange stuff. More and more people coming into the clinic I started, the one where visits are free and I don’t keep things on record.”

“For undocumented workers, right?”

“Originally, yes. Lately, we’ve had a lot of others coming in for stitches, setting bones. A few concussions. On their own, it’d be accidents. Too many accidents happening.”

“You have any names?”

“Afraid I can’t say. Marville’s where you want to be, not Resino,” Brant said. “Careful. Still waters run deep over there. You start stirring up trouble, it’s likely to bolt.”

“What’d you suggest?”

“Stir, but let someone else settle. I figure you’ve got enough folks at the compound. A man, woman. Couple moves into Marville. Easy enough to explain away with the oil fracking craze.” Brant shrugged. “We’ve got a couple rental properties there. You need one, let me know.”

“Appreciate it, man.”

He wanted Mary home. In his bed. Though he knew most everyone at the dance, enough strangers lurked to keep him and his brothers on edge. The oil fracking craze which had taken over Marville left the entire area filled with new people.

“Hey,” Mary whispered playfully as she wound her arms around him. “I’ve had at least a dozen women tell me I landed a good man, one of the best around.”

“Oh really? He’s a lucky guy.” Dylan smiled. “You okay with being his man?”

“Oh yeah. He’s a real good dancer.” She kissed along the column of his throat. “You know what they say, right?”

“What’s that?” he asked.

“That means he’s great in bed.” Mary nibbled his earlobe. Pleasure shot straight to his cock. “Let’s go test that theory.”

“How much have you had to drink?”

“Just some of the punch.” She hiccuped and giggled.

“Jesus.” Dylan put a hand on her back and guided her toward the truck. “Let’s go home.”

“Riley’s taking us shopping tomorrow so I can buy something sexy to wear to sleep in,” she whispered to his throat. “I know you probably like lace and stuff, but do you know what I really want?”

He shifted uncomfortably, willing his thoughts somewhere other than her soft skin covered in lace.

“I love sleeping in your shirts. They’re really sexy, knowing they’re yours, which means I am, too. I have the right to be in one, not that Hailey cow.” She hoisted herself into the truck, then turned and smiled down at him. “Do you have one of the collared ones, with buttons and a long tail? I always thought that’d be sexy to wear. All buttoned up for you to unwrap like a present. Or leave draped open so you could touch and kiss and stuff.”

Jesus.

Dylan angled her head down and claimed her mouth. Fire spread, an out of control need to have her beneath him. In bed. He severed the kiss before he forgot where they were.

The drive home was painful. She hummed and sang to herself, whispering whatever notions ran through her head. Fuck, he should stay away. She was drunk.

He ran drills in his head, recited the alphabet backward, and then started in on the odd numbers. By the time he made it to the triple digits, he’d angled the vehicle to a park near the building entry.

She settled at his side as they headed in. She dragged him forward. “Dylan?”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“I promise I’m not that drunk. I just had a really good night and am happy.” She blinked up at him. The intensity in her gaze made his body throb. “Please make love to me. I need you. Please.”

He was the lowest son of a bitch for even thinking about it, but he couldn’t imagine saying no. Not when the fire in her gaze matched his. Not when he noted the doubt and nervousness snaking across her face.

“You’re mine, Mary. I’m not a horny, pimply faced hormone on two legs. I swear I can wait however long you need.”

“Please, I want you. I need to have you, be yours fully.” She tugged his shirt from his jeans and kissed the exposed skin above his waist.