Damn these days felt like they were getting longer and hotter. Not as long as the nights without Sage in my bed with me. Under me. On top of me. Moaning my name. But that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon because Sage was still not talking to me. No it was worse, she’s been avoiding me for days. Well no more of this shit. Tonight, she would listen even if I have to tie her up to make it happen.

I made my way towards the main house with a plan forming that included me and Sage and a romantic dinner. I sat in the mudroom and pulled off my boots before stomping inside the kitchen.

“Hey Ma. What smells so good?”

“I’m making my beef and pork lasagna so I hope you’re hungry.”

“I am but I was hoping to take Sage out to dinner tonight. Have you seen her?”

“Kind of last minute for a date, isn’t it?”

I sighed. “Maybe if she wasn’t avoiding me I could have asked her sooner.”

“Or maybe,” she said as she ladled the meat sauce over the noodles, ricotta and vegetables, “she’s giving you exactly what you want.”

That was ominous. “What the hell is that supposed to mean Ma?”

She shrugged. “It means you’re going through a lot of trouble for a woman you claim you don’t love.”

“I don’t!”

She tried to hide a devious little smirk but I saw it, dammit. “Then why do you need to take her out to dinner when I have a perfectly good lasagna about to go in the oven?”

I groaned and looked up at the ceiling, in search of some miracle that would help me not lose my temper with my own mama. “Because we need to talk Ma.”

“There’s plenty of time before dinner, why don’t you go on up and talk to her now. But,” she aimed the sauce covered spatula in my direction with a fierce expression on her face, “maybe actually talk first. Make up sex later.”

“God, Ma! Eww, I don’t need to hear that from you.”

A loud laugh erupted from her, turning into a high-pitched cackle of amusement. “You think I only had sex twice in my life huh, one for you and one for Tanner?”

“Hell yes that’s what I think and I’ll continue thinking if you don’t mind!” Making a firm exit was hard as hell in nothing but socks on hard wood floors, but I made a quick getaway while Ma’s laughter followed me up the stairs. I went straight to my room and grabbed a quick shower. If there was a chance Sage would go out with me tonight I didn’t want to give her time to change her mind. But when stopped at her door it was open and the shower was going. So I went in and sat.

Her laptop was open on the dresser and two worn suitcases stood beside them. Curious I leaned and picked one up, finding it heavier than an empty suitcase ought to be. With a frown, I tried the other. It wasn’t quite as heavy but it wasn’t empty either. What the hell? I was half tempted to walk around the bed to the closet and see if my suspicions were confirmed but I decided to wait, let Sage tell me herself.

“What are you doing in my room?”

I spun at her voice and was struck silent at the sight of Sage in nothing but a towel. Thick hair wet and sticking her to her neck, shoulders and chest. Her long legs were on display and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

“I missed you.” Not what I intended to say but true anyhow.

Arms crossed and pushing her perky breasts up to form impressive cleavage, she glared at me. “What are you doing in here?”

“I came to see if we could talk.”

“And you needed to pick up my suitcase to do that?”

“Are you going somewhere,” I asked instead.

She growled and stepped further in the room, slamming the door behind her. “I’m not doing this with you Mason.” She let the towel drop and I tried like hell to keep my focus on her face instead of those beautiful breasts, flat stomach and feminine hips that begged for my touch. “You don’t get to barge in here and pretend like you give a damn all of a sudden.”

That pulled me up short. “All of a sudden? Because I didn’t say the words you wanted to hear, all of a sudden I don’t give a damn?”

“Oh please, spare me. You don’t give a damn. You’re secretly happy that I’m leaving but you think it makes you a jerk to admit it.” She picked up pink lace panties and turned her back to me while she slid them on, giving me a perfect shot of her shapely ass. “It’s fine Mason. I really thought I could handle sleeping with you without my feelings getting in the way but I couldn’t. That’s on me so don’t beat yourself up about it.”

I sighed and dropped to the bed. “Are things going to be like this between us forever? I hate that it’s so awkward now. You won’t even look at me.”

She froze for a brief moment, and went to the dresser to pick out a pair of socks, nearly knocking her laptop over in the process. “Why are you making a big deal out of this Mase?”

I heard her question but my mind was too focused on the words flashing at me from her laptop. “You’re taking a job in Austin?”

She snatched the laptop from me and slammed it shut. “None of your business!”

“It damn well is my business when you’re here working for me. When were you planning on telling me?”

She sucked in a long breath, letting it out slowly with her eyes close as though she were searching for patience. “If the interviews go well, I will give you the appropriate notice. You should be happy about this Mason, your life will go back to how it was before my brother guilted you into helping me out.”

“And what about your business Sage? Was that a lie, or is that all over now that you’re not getting what you want?”

“What I want?” Her voice was shrill as she slammed her feet into brown and turquoise boots, big blue eyes blazed fire in my direction. “You have no idea what I want and none of it matters anyway. I need a job, a real job and I’m going to find one.”

“All the way in Austin? Your brother just got back, or doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

She reared back as though I slapped her, blue eyes looking shocked. Hurt. Then I saw them, tears welling up in her eyes but her clenched jaw and flared nostrils told me how hard she fought to control them.

“Get out.”

“Sage, come on.”

“Get. Out.” For emphasis, she pointed to the door with an icy look on her face.

“This is my house Sage.” If this was how she wanted to do this, I was ready.

“Fine. I’ll leave then.” She grabbed her laptop and shoved it into a bag before hoisting it on her shoulder and reaching for the heavier suitcase. Without another word, she yanked the door open and I heard the thump, thump of the wheels descending the steps.

“Don’t walk away from me, Sage.” My voice couldn’t sound more menacing if I tried. That tone had most of my ranch hands shaking in their damn boots, but this one little scrap of a woman hadn’t even halted her steps. “Sage!” I thundered down the stairs after her and caught up with her at her car. “Dammit, Sage wait.”

She pulled out of my grasp and took a step back. “What? Have a few more insults to hurl at me? Let’s hear them, then.” She gave me a come on motion that infuriated me. “All out? Good. I’ll see you around Mason.”

“Sage I’m sorry.” My voice held a note of pleading that surprised me, but didn’t seem to move her.

“Don’t be,” she said as all the anger drained out of her, replaced with sadness. “I always knew you didn’t love me. Wouldn’t ever love me back. I just didn’t think it would hurt so bad.”

I stood there and watched as she got into the car and started the engine, pausing every few seconds to swipe at the tears she now couldn’t control. The engine turned over and she disappeared down the long driveway.

“Dammit!” I kicked at the dirt, wondering when everything went all to hell.

“Hoo boy, you couldn’t have messed that up more if you tried.”

I turned with a bitter smile. “Yeah, thanks Ma.”