CHAPTER ONE

– COSIMA –

A growl of frustration rips from me when I open my eyes. Why I even bother to open them when I wake up is beyond me. Okay, I should feel slightly better now that I regained a blurry mess of eyesight in my left eye. The right one, though? Nothing. Not even a blurry glimpse; only a whole lot of nada in capital letters.

You never stop to think about how valuable your eyesight is until you're confronted with the loss of it, either partially or completely. I move my head around to take in the blurry blob that's my room. At least I'm able to move around more now that I can at least see something with one eye, and not bump into every-freaking-thing.

One moment in time and my life as I know it takes a nosedive. Where I used to jump out of bed early to start my day and work from sunrise till at least after dinner, I'm now on a schedule that involves loads of rest and just a mere hint of work per day. I'm slowly getting back to doing things, but my head needs the rest due to the headaches and much-needed recovery.

Besides, my loss of sight doesn't leave me many options to do all the stuff I used to do. For now, I've only made a few calls and caught up on all the voicemails people have left when I had to hit pause on everything after my attack. My sister, Eastlynne, is taking care of the horses Rourke, her old man, brought to his ranch.

Our stables have to be rebuilt and that is the noise I'm currently hearing. The construction crew has started bright and early each day for the past few weeks as Rourke and his guys arranged. My mood takes a nosedive at the thought. I'm a control freak and right now my hands are tied while others take over. I hate it.

I throw the blankets back and slide out of bed. My first trip is to the bathroom to handle my business and then I grab some clothes to get dressed. Another thing that makes me feel less like myself. Before the attack? I wouldn't even leave my bedroom without being perfectly dressed with my make-up in place.

I haven't so much as pointed my finger in the direction of a mirror and why should I? I can't see properly and rarely leave the damn house anyway. Not to mention, no one swings by because I told my sister to keep everyone away. The only ones who come here are my sister and Rourke.

I know for damn sure that annoying Parker has been sneaking into the house as well, but I've never been able to catch him if he does. How do I know he's been in the house? He lets me know through text messages and I can smell him.

Sounds weird, but I remember his scent. Parker was the one who found me after I was attacked. He has a very distinctive scent which is a combination of spice, leather, and citrus. The citrus is from the sweets he eats. The knowledge of this little tidbit is also due to a voice text message. He's been sending them since the day I was attacked. At first, I didn't reply, but the man is persistent.

There's also not much to do if you're bedbound and I do have to admit voice to text and vice versa, right between plain voice messages are entertaining when you have time to kill any time of day. He sounds nice. A little overbearing, though. A persistent asshole who doesn't take no for an answer, but also sweet in a caring way.

I have no clue what he looks like because I met him that crucial day when I was attacked so my eyes were already swollen shut by then. He sounds ruggedly handsome. Hell, we talked about sexual preferences, and he sounds like the type of man I'd jump for a ride even if he didn't have the looks to match. Though, the way I feel about myself right now? Sex won't be a consideration any time soon.

I grind my teeth and turn, seeing a glimpse of movement in my window. Did I imagine it? Dammit, I hate not being able to see. And for fuck's sake why didn't I close my curtains? Oh, I know…not being able to see makes me forget to freaking close them. I should have though, because I was naked when I slipped into a change of clothes.

Great. I bet some of the construction workers have been enjoying the show for the past few weeks. I can't believe I flashed them my boobs and whatnot. No wonder those guys start early. Ugh. Did I mention I hate everything?

I hear soft footsteps somewhere inside the house. The kitchen maybe? Strange. Eastlynne stayed with Rourke at his ranch last night so she's not home. I wrap my fingers around the shotgun I keep beside my bed and silently walk down the hall.

My vision is shit and over the past few weeks, I've had to rely on my other senses. Scent and hearing are my main focus and right now the scent of a male enters my nose. Sweaty, smoke, and a hint of iron. My heart lurches when I hear movement and swing my gun in that direction.

"Who are you?" I snap. "What the fuck are you doing in my house?"

I can hear the rush of my blood in my ears, that's how hard my heart is pumping. Adrenaline spikes when I hear soft shuffling.

"I said don't move," I growl and try to catch a glimpse through the blurry vision when I catch a hint of movement.

Without thinking I pull the trigger and my shoulder screams at me from the recoil. Turning my head, I blink furiously in an effort to get a tiny gap of clear vision like I had yesterday, but it's still freaking blurry.

"Cosima," I hear my sister scream. "Cosima, what the…hey, put the shotgun down."

"Put it down, you heard your sister," Rourke grunts. "We're stepping into the kitchen so point it to the fucking floor before you hurt your sister."

"Someone was here," I tell them and lower the shotgun.

"What's going on? I heard someone shooting," Parker states from behind me, scaring the shit out of me.

I spin around and Parker barely manages to grab the barrel before I hit him in the head with it.

"Easy, babe," he murmurs and I let him take the gun from me.

His spicy scent wraps around me and I want to bury my face into his chest.

Stupid. Why would I want him to seek him out for comfort? He's not my boyfriend, barely even a friend. Hell, I've never even seen him with my own damn eyes.

"Anyone come past you?" Rourke asks.

"No, why?" Parker fires back.

"Someone was in my house," I whisper.

"Fuck," Parker mutters. "You okay?"

My hands curl into fists, frustrated by the hard fact that I'm yet again freaking useless.

"No. I am not fucking okay," I hiss.

Parker sighs, his breath with the scent of citrus teases my nose.

"No one came out of the back, and Parker just said he didn't see anyone either," Rourke states. "Eastlynne, do you see anything out of place?"

"Stay here, I'm going to check the rest of the house," Parker states and I can hear his footsteps retreating.

"Are you sure you heard something?" Eastlynne questions.

I glare in her direction. At least, I freaking hope so because all I can see is a blobby figure against the bright light of the kitchen window so it might as well be Rourke, or both of them for that matter. Hell, maybe it's the wall I'm glaring at, who the fuck knows? Not me, that's for sure.

"All clear," Parker grunts from behind me, scaring the crap out of me.

"Hey," my sister says in a soothing tone. "It's okay. Come on, why don't you go lie down and I'll fix you some breakfast. We'll let the guys check out the noise you heard."

I take a step back and bump into someone. Frustration and anger overwhelm me and I snarl, "I don't want to lie down. Someone was in the damn house. In the fucking kitchen with me. I might not be able to see, am stupid enough not to close my curtains, and might have flashed fuck-knows who…but I heard someone inside the house, smelled his stinky presence, and fucking know damn well when I'm not alone, okay?"

"Eastlynne, mind making some coffee?" Parker rumbles from behind me.

I feel his fingers touch my arm.

I flinch and rip my arm away and hiss, "Don't touch me."

"On second thought," Parker grunts and I hear him step around me.

I rub my eyes in an effort to clear my sight. Blinking a few times, I catch a clear view from my good eye of my sister and Rourke leaving through the back door before my vision becomes blurry again.

"Where are they going?" I ask panic now slipping through my veins.

Someone was in the house and for them it might not have seemed that way, but it was very real. What the hell am I going to do if I'm here alone and he or she returns? Or worse…what if there was someone here all along?

"They are going to check on the renovations. The stables should be completely rebuilt any day now and that's why they were here this early, to check the progress," Parker informs me. "Coffee?"

"Yes." I release a sigh and reach for one of the chairs. "Where did you put my shotgun? I need to have it before you leave."

"I won't be leaving, and it's right in front of you, darlin'."

I reach forward to wrap my fingers around the shotgun and only grab air when Parker states, "You won't be needing it as long as I'm here. So, let me put this back where you normally stash it."

It's as if the asshole knew I was going to threaten him with it. Grinding my teeth, I keep quiet and hear his boots retreat. He knows where I keep the shotgun because I mentioned it in one of our voice message discussions. Ugh. Why I keep talking to him is beyond me.

I don't want anyone in my life right now and he sure as hell can do better than a woman who can't freaking see. Blame it on boredom. At least, that's my excuse. Parker, on the other hand, doesn't have a legit excuse to be around a woman who can't even leave the damn house.

Hearing his footsteps come closer I snap, "Why are you here?"

"Cranky without coffee," he murmurs. "Hold that thought, darlin'."

I grind my teeth and want nothing more than to run into the hallway and disappear into my bedroom, but with my luck, I'd run into a wall if I wanted to make a quick escape.

"Incoming," Parker states and I flinch when he wraps his fingers around my wrist. "Easy, babe. Gonna place a mug with coffee in your hand now."

Easy, babe? I'll show him fucking easy. It's a shame I crave the coffee he just gave me otherwise I'd throw it at him. I mentally snort, because knowing my aim right now? I'd miss him for sure.

"To answer your question, I was swinging by to show you your blue Blagdon Gypsy Cob."

I want to snarl at him for how considerate he is to swing by to show me something, but he mentioned the horse I agreed to buy from the Clyden's Ranch which is known for its warm and stable character Gypsy Cobs. After the incident, I asked my sister's help to cancel. There's no way I can spend time with a new horse while recovering.

He must take my silence for something else than the sadness, anger, and frustration filling me when he states, "Finish your coffee, and then we'll go out front so you can meet your new mare."

Inside I'm fuming. Outside, though? Ice.

I slowly rise from my seat and pride myself for not flinging the coffee at the asshole. The only reason I don't is because I can't fucking clean it because I wouldn't know where it fucking lands.

Taking a deep breath, I squeeze my eyes shut to brace myself. Flashing my eyes open, I roar, "Get the fuck out of my house."

He looks as surprised as I feel when I suddenly have complete and clear sight in my left eye. Only one eye, but fucking perfect eyesight. He looks breathtakingly handsome. I only now become aware of this little fact because I can see. A sob escapes me and my sight becomes blurry in my left eye due to the tears. Dammit. I'm a fucking mess.