Chapter 17

Tess

I'm buzzing with a whirlwind of hellos and oh-my-gosh-you-look-amazings. I stand at the entrance of our newly renovated ranch house on the outer edges of Lone Star Dude Ranch as the sun sets. The oak door swings open and closed as I pull each guest into a warm hug.

"Welcome!" I say and hug my mom and dad with both of my brothers to follow.

The boards of the wraparound porch creak under my boots as I bounce over to greet the next car pulling up. It's Clay and his girlfriend Romi saying hello and congratulations on the beautiful house.

There's Parker, threading his way through the crowd with a bottle opener and a grin. "Y'all thirsty?" he drawls, popping caps off beers with a flick of his wrist. He hands one to his brother Ryan, who nods his thanks.

"Try not to charm the pants off everyone, Rowdy," I call out to Parker with a wink. His laugh rumbles across the space between us, and I notice how it makes several heads turn. That's my Parker, effortlessly making everyone feel like they're the most important person here.

"Whoa, careful there, Skylar," Parker jests as he almost tips his drink. Levi chimes in with a joke about Jace's latest misadventure at Jackson's Bar, and the group laughs.

"Hey, Tess! Parker's telling tall tales again!" Jace calls over, raising his glass in salute. I shake my head, grinning ear to ear. This is what it's all about—friends, family, and the kind of love that wraps around you like a warm Texas night.

"Only the tallest for our guests!" Parker shoots back, winking at me across the lawn.

As the night gets going, I saunter across the lawn. Parker is by the grill, his cowboy hat tipped back as he masters the flames.

"Babe, if you keep flippin' those patties like that, we might have to rename you 'The Grill Master’," I tease.

He chuckles. “Only if you promise to be my assistant,” he says, green eyes glinting with that familiar mischievous spark.

"Assistant, huh?" I cock an eyebrow and swipe a finger along the edge of a rib, stealing a taste. The sweet and smoky flavor bursts on my tongue. I let out a contented hum, and his gaze heats up, locked on my lips. “How about partner in crime?” I suggest, licking barbecue sauce off my finger with a wink.

"Perfect," he murmurs, his voice husky.

Shaking off the intoxicating moment, I turn and beckon a cluster of guests towards the house. "Come on, y'all. Let me show you what we've been up to inside." I lead them through the wide-open doors.

"This is one of my favorite things in the house." I say, pointing to a custom-built bookshelf nestled in the corner. "Ryan built it for us with Sylar’s repurposed wine barrels from Bennett Family Vineyard. Can you believe it?" Their oohs and aahs make me smile.

"Y’all should see the rooms down the hall," I continue with a grin, leading them down the hallway lined with black-and-white photos of Heartville’s rolling hills. "Whoa! The electricity must have gone out."

Murmurs turn to gasps, and a titter of nervous laughter ripples around the small group.

I hear Parker's boots before I see his flashlight beam cut through the dark. "No need to fret, folks," he drawls. "We've got more candles than Jackson's Bar has whiskey bottles."

"Which is saying something," someone quips, causing everyone to laugh.

He soon emerges with lanterns and a box of candles clutched in his arms. "Now, who's ready for that rustic charm we advertised in the brochure?"

"Better than advertised," someone shouts back.

Under the flickering candlelight, I watch Parker's silhouette move with purposeful ease, and I'm reminded why I fell so hard and fast for this man. His steadiness, his humor—it all wraps around me and is so comforting.

"Looks like we're back in the nineteenth century," he says with a grin, setting a lantern down near me. "Good thing we're not wearing corsets, huh?"

"Speak for yourself," I shoot back.

Laughing, I nudge the door closed with my hip just as a burst of giggles erupts from the hallway. A flashlight beam dashes across the walls, and I see where it’s coming from. That one door, the one we thought was locked.

"Oops," comes a voice, followed by a chorus of oh-my-gods and no-ways. My cheeks heat up under the amused stares. Parker's eyes meet mine across the room, a sheepish grin playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Nothing to see here, folks," I say, but it's like waving a red flag in front of a bull. The guests edge closer into our playroom. I just chuckle at their wide-eyed wonder. It's not every day you stumble into your hosts' private den of kink.

"Let me tell y'all a story," I begin, leaning against the doorway with a tilt of my head. "Once upon a time, in the small town of Heartville, a girl met a cowboy who was more vanilla than the ice cream in the freezer section at the grocery store..."

Parker sidles up beside me. "And this cowboy thought his wildest ride would be on the back of a horse," he chimes in. "But then, well, he met Tess."

Someone whistles, another claps, and even Ryan's booming laugh joins in from somewhere behind.

"Turns out, there's a first time for everything, including leather chaps that aren't just for riding horses," I add, winking at Parker, who feigns a blush. "And let's just say, this cowboy... well, he got a taste for adventure."

"More of an acquired taste, really," Parker drawls, wrapping an arm around my waist. "Like fine wine or that fancy cheese Tess insists on pairing with it."

"Or handcuffs with fuzzy lining," someone quips, and the room erupts again.

"Hey now, don't knock it 'til you try it," Parker retorts, and the applause that follows is hearty.

"Anyway, it's all about trying new things, right? Whether it's a new dish at the diner or exploring... other appetites."

“Like the food I just pulled off the grill. Dinner’s ready, everyone,” Parker announces, and everyone chuckles as they rush towards the kitchen to fill up their plates.

"Oh my God, these ribs are divine," coos Julia, fanning herself with a napkin. "What's the secret, Tess?"

"Love, and a dash of reckless abandon," I answer, winking, making Julia blush and laugh.

"Plus, enough hot sauce to make a grown man cry," adds Parker, sliding in beside me with a smirk and a tray of grilled delights. He's the picture of ease, but his hand finds the small of my back.

"Speaking of hot," Levi teases, nudging Parker, "Who knew you had such a... spicy side?"

"Let's just say Tess has an eye for hidden potential," Parker retorts smoothly, and we exchange a glance that holds promises only we understand.

As the night wears on, my feet are beginning to protest the hours of mingling, and there's a part of me yearning for a moment of stillness.

"Steal away with me?" I murmur to Parker, nodding toward the porch. His answering smile is all the reply I need.

The night air is a relief as we lean against the railing, side by side, our fingers intertwining.

"Thank you," I breathe out, resting my head on Parker's shoulder. "For rolling with the punches tonight. For everything."

"Pixie, I reckon it's me who should be thanking you," he says with a quiet voice.

"For what?" I ask, tilting my face up to meet his gaze.

"For teaching me that sometimes... letting go is the only way to hold on to what really matters." Parker's thumb brushes against mine.

Heat pools low in my belly, desire threading through his words. Our laughter fades, leaving something raw and real in its place.

"Let's not keep them waiting too long," Parker says, but his reluctance mirrors my own.

"Five more minutes," I insist, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just five more under the stars."

"Five minutes," he agrees, pulling me closer. "Never thought we'd get here, did you?"

I shake my head, leaning back into his embrace. "Nope, not really." The words are thick with emotion, the journey flashing before my eyes—every bump and detour that led us to this moment.

“It sure has been a wild ride.”

"Wild doesn't begin to cover it." I tease, squeezing his hand.

"Pixie, you ran the wild right out of me." He chuckles, and I feel the vibration through his chest.

"Or maybe I just showed you how to run with it, Rowdy," I counter, turning to catch his eye. The look he gives me is so caring and tender.

"Run, fly, crash—it doesn't matter. As long as I'm with you." His lips brush against my temple, and I know that no matter what our future holds, it will always be an adventure with this man.