Long, elegant legs stretched out beside me. Shiny, sweet smelling hair. Curves that wouldn’t quit. I tried not to look, but she was right there. So close I could reach out and touch her.

My cock was hard and aching already. And this was just the ride to work. We still had a shift and a half before dinner time, and even then I’d be in constant, unbearably close contact with the woman I wanted but could not have.

It was going to be a long, hard fucking day.

Pun intended.

At the same time, I relished it. I didn’t want her out of my sight for a moment. Not just because I wanted her, or even because I feared for her safety.

I wanted my eyes on her because she was like gravity to me. She kept my world from toppling over and my insides from spilling out. Just her presence alone was enough to keep me sane.

I didn’t really want to live in a world without Michelle Buchhannon.

Not to mention, that amazing kid of hers. So sweet and smart and kind, even with everything they’d been through. I was already way too attached to them both. Hell, I’d basically forced them to move in with me.

I knew she thought she was imposing.

I knew she wanted to move out.

I knew she even thought I’d rejected her back there at the Jar.

None of those things were true. In fact, it was the opposite. And she sure as shit was not leaving me. So, the boot stayed on her car and she stayed under my roof.

Sure, it wasn’t ideal.

If it was an ideal world, she’d be in my bed every damn night.

Forfuckingever.

As it was, I had to keep her safe and alive. Give Paton a chance to thrive. Legally, they were living with me now and that was exactly what I would tell the school when we signed Pate up.

I would pick her up and drop her off every damn day. Probably drive past the school a couple times to watch for trouble too.

I smiled a little at the thought. I had Michelle almost right where I wanted her. Once Pate started school, she was mine. They couldn’t up and disappear on me then.

Not that it would change a damn thing.

I’d find them, wherever they went.

I just didn’t want to risk that happening. Michelle was mine, even if it wasn’t true in the biblical sense of the word. She was mine where it counted.

We pulled in and she popped out of the truck, those long legs of hers a thing of beauty as they slid to the ground.

“Thanks, Mason.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” I smiled. “I’m the one who locked down your car.”

She blinked at me.

“Oh. Right. Are you going to… unlock it?”

My smile faded.

“No need. If you need to go anywhere, I’ll take you. You want to go shopping or something?”

She shook her head and I cursed myself. Of course, she didn’t want to go shopping. They were barely scraping by after months of being flat broke.

It made me get angry all over again.

She should go shopping, dammit. She would. Girls liked doing things like that, and she needed new clothes. I was an ass for not thinking of it.

“Kelly will take you.”

“There’s no need. Please. Just… forget it.”

I bit my tongue but I had a lot to say about that. She was saving every penny for Paton. I knew she was. Just like she’d only eaten scraps for so long.

Well, I was going to take care of that.

I pulled out my phone, staring as Michelle walked gracefully to the front door.

I texted Cass and Kelly.

I need to get some clothes for Michelle and Paton. Where?

Then slid my phone into my pocket and got out to open the bar.

* * *

I stared at the tiny dress in my hands. It was a sturdy blue cotton shirt dress, and according to Kelly, it was the right size.

I was still waiting for her to snake a pair of Pate’s shoes and riffle through Michelle’s things for sizes.

She’s already told me what sort of colors and fabrics to find. Bright jewel tones for both, plus denim, shoes and some stuff for the cold weather that was ahead.

I was absolutely petrified when they mentions underthings. It didn’t seem right to pick that stuff out, so I’d given some sizes to the woman in the lingerie department and told her to just ring it up.

I’d swing back around to get those before I went back to the bar for the dinner shift. And I would resist the urge to paw through the bag and stare at all the lacy stuff like a pervert.

A studded denim mini skirt caught my eye across the aisle in the miss’s department. Michelle was slight so Kelly had said to look there as well as in the regular women’s department. I was trying not to go overboard and just get some basics but I could feel myself getting carried away.

I took the dress, carefully laying it over my arm, and crossed over to the denim skirt. I held it up, my mouth suddenly dry. It was short, but not obscene. And I knew Michelle would look incredible in it.

Of course, seeing her wear something that revealing might do me in, but I’d die a happy man.

I put it over my arm with the dress for Pate and headed to the counter.

“Will that be all sir?”

“No. I made a list…”

I handed it over and the sales girl nearly lost her mind with glee.

“And these are the sizes?”

“As far as I know.”

“So nothing final sale?”

“What does that mean?”

“Stuff that can’t be returned.”

“Doesn’t matter, they won’t be returning unless it doesn’t fit.”

“Ohhh, it even says what sort of colors they look good in! Blue for the little girl and blue or green for the adult?”

“She looks good in anything.”

“Awww!”

The sales girl smiled at me with a melting look and I groaned. She had some romantic notion in her head, clearly. I had to admit, she had a good eye though. Pate got a whole new wardrobe from shirts to sweaters and skirts and jeans. The girl found a simple navy jacket that would work over everything, and I grabbed a matching tartan scarf, hat and gloves to go with it. We even made sure to get socks and some cute little patterned tights. Sneakers, loafers and one pair of dress shoes too. None of it was all that expensive, not that it would have stopped me.

Then we got back to the ladies’ department.

“What color are her eyes?”

“Hazel.” I answered without hesitating. “But more green than anything else.”

That earned me another giggle. I was making a damn fool of myself. The truth was, I didn’t really mind. I was a fool when it came to Michelle. She had me even if she didn’t want me.

Hook, line, and sinker.

Getting clothes for Paton and Michelle made me feel like I was doing something proactive. Taking care of my girls. And I hoped they’d be pleased.

I knew Paton would, but I wasn’t so sure of her mom. I was overstepping, without a doubt, and I was sure Michelle would have something to say about that.

All the same, I didn’t stop the sales girl from picking out a few things that were sexy as hell. Of course, Michelle would look sexy in a paper bag, but that was beside the point.

The sales girl really, really knew what she was doing.

Another hour later and I left the door with eight big shopping bags and a shit eating grin. Yeah, I’d overdone it. But I would tell them it was to compensate for the all the birthdays I’d missed before I met them.

I nodded to myself as I loaded up the car.

Michelle would just have to accept that.