CHAPTER THREE

Two days later

– COSIMA –

I slowly awake and feel myself smiling as I blink to clear my vision. Only one eye is cooperating, but who the hell cares? I'm able to see and that's what counts. Hell, if it would stay this way for the rest of my life, I would be forever thankful. Knowing what it's like to lose something you take for granted has opened my eyes in more than one way.

A soft knock on the door is followed by Parker's voice. "You up, darlin'? Coffee is ready and we have a big day ahead of us."

The man is persistent, I'll give him that. Two days ago, when he showed up with Bluebell, I wanted to strangle the man for forcing his way into my house. I could hardly deny him and decided to ignore the guy and let him sleep on the couch. The next day he made coffee and breakfast.

We used to send one another voice messages and it's why our chats are easy. He didn't force me to go out or anything. We just sat on the porch and enjoyed the sun. My vision was still somewhat blurry but watching his horse and mine grazing in the pasture almost brought tears to my eyes.

To be honest? I almost gave up on being normal. I'm thankful for his persistence and it's why I jump out of bed and rip off the tank top I was sleeping in. I catch movement near the window and when I glance that way I scream at the top of my lungs.

Parker bursts into my bedroom. "What's wrong?"

I'm holding my tank top in front of my breasts with one arm while I point with the other at the window. "Peeping Tom."

"What the fuck?" Parker snarls and runs out into the hallway.

I quickly jump into some sweatpants and throw on my tank top before shoving my feet into the boots near the door. There's the sound of a gunshot when I open the back door and I freeze in place.

My heart is beating in my throat, clogging it and making it hard to scream for Parker. Was he shot at? Was he the one doing the shooting? Is he hurt? Should I go out to check? Dammit, why is fear rooting me in place?

"No, goddammit," Parker growls. "I lost him but he's heading in your direction. Send Walker here with shit to put up a camera system. It's not the first–" Our eyes meet and he cuts off his voice.

Pulling his phone slightly back he tells me, "Go on inside, darlin'. I'll be right there."

Gritting my teeth, I swallow the first reply that comes to mind. Something that involves him to go fuck himself. Though, I'm glad he was here when that creep was watching me through my own damn window.

I step inside and let the door fall shut while I wonder how many times that creep has been peeping inside my window. I felt someone watching me two days ago. Was this the same guy who was inside my house that day? Worry hits me and now I'm even more glad I allowed Parker to stay with me.

"Hey," he grunts when he steps into the kitchen. "Are you okay?"

I stalk to the cabinet and pull a mug to get myself some coffee. "Hell no. Did you manage to shoot the Peeping Tom in the balls or was he the one firing off a round?"

"I missed." Placing his hands on his hips he adds, "Walker is gonna swing by along with Luke and Silas. Kathleen will be here in ten minutes or less."

"Kathleen? You already reported it?" I guess that's a perk when the sheriff is the daughter of one of the bikers in the MC Parker is a part of.

Parker grimaces. "That nutjob was whacking off."

"Oh yuck, really?" Now I'm the one grimacing. "Great, that seriously pops my bubble of having a lovely view of the stables. I should board it up now or switch rooms to one in the front."

"Fuck no. You're not going to let a pervert ruin shit. He's trespassing and we're gonna make sure there won't be a next time," Parker grunts and steps closer. "Did you get a good look at him?"

My shoulders sag. "No. I only caught movement and noticed a figure dashing off. That's why I screamed."

Parker reaches out and cups the back of my neck.

Giving me a gentle squeeze he says, "You did good, darlin'."

His soft words make me confess, "I'm glad you were here."

Leaning in, he brushes his lips against my forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."

I swallow hard at the different kinds of emotions filling my body. The heat from his hand on the back of my neck, the way it makes me feel safe with his closeness. The tenderness of his lips on my forehead, how he ran out of the house and shot at the Peeping Tom.

If only I was my old self and not post-attack, I'd jump his bones without a second thought. Yet, now I'm filled with doubts and am self-conscious, definitely not worth the attention of this strong and handsome cowboy biker. Dammit. I hate self-pity.

I step back and give him a slight push against his chest. "Okay, don't get too comfortable, buddy."

He chuckles and I'm glad we're interrupted by a knock on the door. I turn, but Parker halts my movement and without a word he's out of the kitchen. Talk about overprotective. Though, within this moment I do appreciate it. A woman's voice flows through the air and I instantly recognize it as Kathleen's.

"Hey," she quips. "Heard you had an unwelcome visit from an asshole playing with his squirting joystick."

A grin automatically slides across my face. "You heard correctly. Shame Parker missed his shot."

Kathleen narrows her eyes at Parker. "Why did you miss?"

"Wendy," he grits through his teeth as if that explains everything.

Kathleen nods and I don't understand it at all.

"What does your horse have to do with you missing a shot?" I wonder.

Kathleen chuckles. "His horse is a bit of a bitch when she's in the pasture. Parker here can't jump off and rope a calf 'cause she'll bump him right out of the way. That's why he has more than one horse for different tasks. He even has a Longhorn he rides. Now that's an impressive sight." Her face falls. "Sorry. I didn't mean to–"

I hold my hand up. "No worries. This idiot here throws out sentences with vision references like confetti. I'm used to it by now. Besides, I'm thankful enough to say that I've regained partial vision in my left eye. It wasn't enough to get a clear view of the Peeping Tom, though."

"That sucks. But we'll get him, no worries," Kathleen vows. "I'm gonna step outside and take a look."

She walks out the back door and I turn my back to Parker as I take a few sips of coffee. My mind drifts off to the memory of two days ago, when Parker and I were in this kitchen as well.

"Do you think he was the one inside my house?" I whisper.

Parker growls low in his throat and steps up behind me. A gasp rips from me when his arms circle my body.

"I'm gonna fucking kill him." There's a deadly promise in his voice.

It doesn't scare me. In fact, Parker makes me feel safe. I lean back and close my eyes. He simply holds me and slowly rocks us back and forth. Where I was feeling on edge a breath or two ago, I now feel at ease.

Again, we're interrupted by knocking. This time it's Parker's club brothers who show up and instantly get to work installing a camera system around the ranch. Parker is overseeing the whole thing while I'm on pins and needles in the living room.

Kathleen is the first one to walk back into the house. "Hey, I'm heading out. I've gathered some evidence and the guys are installing cameras. So, if the fucker comes back, we'll have a face to find a name and put him behind bars."

"Maybe he'll stay away now that I've caught him and Parker gave chase," I mutter.

"Most of the time these types of perpetrators don't stop," she softly tells me. "I would advise you to keep Parker around for a little while longer."

I groan and it makes her chuckle. "Oh, come on, he's not that bad to be around. He's handsome too. Well, I've heard some of my friends mention it when he's around. I don't look at any of the brothers in that way 'cause they're all…you know, brothers. Anyway, I'm not trying to be a matchmaker here, but the way he's all fierce and has his nuts in a twist? I'd say he's making it personal and I'm thinking it's because of the way he looks at you."

The way he looks at me? I frown. "How does he look at me?"

"The way my parents look at one another." She smiles. "You do know he's bullheaded, right? I mean, the story of his parents getting hitched also shows where he gets the genes from. His father had all the patience and time to give his old lady the space she needed to ultimately give him a second chance and realize they belonged together. Except, with you two, Parker is waiting for his first chance to be with you."

I'm still processing her words when Parker strolls into the room. Shit. I wanted to ask Kathleen why Parker's father needed a second chance.

"Let me know if that fucker's spunk gives any hits in the database," he tells her and my nose wrinkles.

"Oh yuck," I grumble.

Parker ignores my response when he adds, "It shows that fucker has been out there a while."

"We'll get him," Kathleen simply states. "Call me if you need me."

"Will do," Parker states.

I hear footsteps coming from the kitchen and the three guys who are installing the security system stroll into the room. One of them opens a laptop and sits down on the couch. Kathleen gives me a finger wave as she slinks out of the room.

"I also put a camera up by the stables. Let me get this up and running and then I'll show you how shit works," Walker states and is letting his fingers move over the keyboard of his laptop.

I buckle through most of it, but everything that happened, along with staring at the laptop and listening to all the information, is giving me a headache. I rub my temples in an effort to lower the pressure I feel.

"Okay, that's it, guys." Parker stands and takes the laptop from Walker. "I'll be here anyway and can keep an eye on the cameras and the alarm system. Cosima needs her rest."

A few minutes later the room is coated in blissful silence. Releasing a deep sigh, I let myself slide to my back on the couch and throw an arm over my eyes.

"Do you need anything? Some water? Food? You haven't had any breakfast yet and it's been hours," Parker rumbles.

"I'm fine," I growl and then remember the things Parker did, and keeps doing, while all I've been is grumpy and snappy the past few days.

"Sorry." I drop my arm and slowly rise into a sitting position. "I'm thankful for your help and that you're here."

"Wouldn't dream of being anywhere else." He shoots me a wink and it makes my belly flop.

I direct my gaze and ask the first thing that pops into my head. "Why did your father need a second chance?"

"What?" he frowns.

"Kathleen mentioned how your father had all the patience and time to give his old lady the space she needed to ultimately give him a second chance and realize they belonged together. You walked in before I could ask why he needed a second chance."

Parker nods in understanding. "That's because my mother is just as bullheaded, and it involved a misunderstanding. My mother thought he was with her to keep an eye on Harlene, Rourke's mother, as a favor to Weston, the president at that time. Yeah, my father being the VP at that time did keep an eye on Harlene for his prez, but it was only an added convenience because he was there anyway. He didn't stick around for that reason…my father loved my mother. He knew she was it for him the day they met and it's why he waited patiently until the time was right. Which happened to be around the same time they found out they created me."

Laughter rips from me and Parker chuckles. I guess everything worked out for them. My laughter fades when I become a little envious of their story. It would be nice to have a man fight for me the way his father did. How Parker does. Shit. Kathleen mentioned it because Parker is…does he think I'm…it for him?

My throat runs dry at the mere thought. If only I met this man before I was attacked. Then we would have been together prior to me having issues and would know he wasn't with me because I'm a helpless chick. Ugh. I know he's not the type, and it's just my head twisting ugly shit in my head. That's why it won't work. I'm not ready for a relationship because I don't feel like me.

I let my gaze find his and the determination on his face is telling me this man might have inherited the same patience he needs to wait for his chance…with me.