Mason — Kathi S. Barton

Emma McBride loves working in the law firm, and hopes someday to hang out a sign that has her on name on it. But for now, she has some proving to do. By the time she is caught up for the day, it's nearly ten o'clock. If this doesn't help her make partner, she has no idea what will. Emma is going to her car when she hears someone coming down the lane she was in. Instead of getting in, being trapped in her car, she pulls out her gun…. Landon McBride owns the ranch next door to the Double Deuce. It is the largest ranch in the state. His health is failing and he figures it's time to sell. Lord knows, his son Dirk isn't fit to run the ranch, and Landon can't think of any person better to buy it than Mason Douglas. Mason is a good man and could manage the large spread better than he could. Mason is interested, sure, but knows he can't afford a spread that large, and tells Landon that. Landon jokes and tells him to marry his daughter and he can have it for free. Mason isn't amused. Although he's never met Emma, he knows Dirk, and if the siblings are anything alike it's not no, but Hell no. Emma is more embarrassed than she is hurting, but the entanglement with those men did a number on her body--she hurts everywhere. Recuperating at her parent's ranch seems like the logical thing to do, but with her brother showing his ass and getting kicked out, she's wondering if she's not better off in her apartment in the city. But when the man next door shows up and shifts into an angry cougar, all bets are off. The scent, the fear, and the smell of Emma is making Mason's cat wild. He knows that he is scaring her--hell, he is scared himself…. He growls low, “She's my mate. And hurt.”