CHAPTER FOUR

– PARKER –

She's definitely it for me. Damn. The way she reminded me of how my parents got together? Yeah, my dad's persistence is something I can now relate to. Though, for him it was easy. At least the first part 'cause they started as a one-night stand. If Cosima hadn't been attacked I'm sure we would have ended up in bed soon after we met.

Their one-night stand and days after were enough to create me; it's what made giving my father a second chance easier after she kept pushing him away. Thank fuck they both grabbed that chance, 'cause they're still together and in love.

She's staring at me and I can feel my skin heat with longing to have her naked and under me. The things she mentioned the day we met, and details she shared in our witty chats? Yeah, we're perfectly matched, I know it. I fucking feel it in my gut.

"Don't," she croaks. "I'm not ready for a relationship at this point in my life, and you shouldn't want to be with someone like me."

I grit my teeth. "You're trying to tell me that I shouldn't be with a strong woman? One who is fucking gorgeous, filled with so much sass it gets me hard at the mere sound of your damn voice? Good luck with that 'cause I'm not listening. I have my own reasoning and no one can override my mind, what I think, or feel for that matter. So, I'll be right here, waitin' till you realize what's in front of you."

She releases a tiny scream, her face shows frustration as she stomps her foot. "I do realize what's in front of me and it's why I'm turning you down."

"Turning us down," I remind her. "Because it's not just me in this, it's you too. You're depriving yourself of something that'll be damn good."

Rolling her eyes she mutters, "You're crazy. Not like Peeping Tom crazy, a whole different brand of crazy for sure. That reminds me…us…you have competition."

I jab my finger in her direction. "That fucker is not competition. He's a disgusting fly on the window that's going to be squashed. Whacking off to the sights of my woman. I'm going to carve his eyes out for looking at something that was never his to look at."

She shakes her head and states with a hint of laughter, "Vicious, I like it."

I shoot her a wink and leave the discussion for what it is. For now, I've laid it all out into the open. We're both aware I'm a patient man and we will see eye-to-eye on the matter in the long run.

Over the next hour, I notice Cosima keeping the laptop with the camera feed in her sight. She's squinting and I know she's draining herself by focusing too damn hard.

"That's it," I grunt and close the laptop. "Time to give your head some rest. Either take a nap, sit on the porch to enjoy some rays of sun hitting your face, or join me for a ride 'cause the horses need their exercise."

I expect her to go into hiding again and disappear into the bedroom, but she surprises the fuck out of me when she says, "Let me go change into my riding gear and I'll join you."

"Seriously?" I quip, and hate asking as soon as I throw out that word.

I'm happy she's taking that step and shouldn't question her, planting doubts where there is no damn reason for it.

"Yes," she firmly states. "You're right. I have years of experience and can handle myself on a horse."

"Yeah." I grin. "Like I told you, if I ride on your right side we'd have it all covered."

She bites her bottom lip and I feel as if something is bugging her.

"Out with it." I breach her personal space to make sure I have her attention. "There's nothing you can say that will send me running. We can fix shit together, whatever it is."

A deep sigh flows from her. "I don't think I'm ready to ride Bluebell just yet."

I give her a tight nod in understanding. "She's new, neither of us has any experience with her yet. How about you take my girl and I'll take yours?"

Cosima purses her lips. "Didn't I just hear your horse is a bit of a bitch?"

Snorting at the reminder, I let her know, "Like Kathleen said, only whenever she's not in control. Like when she's in the pasture or if I jump off and let go of the reins."

"I won't be letting go of the reins," she firmly states, but she still looks wary.

Without thinking I offer, "We could go for a ride on my bike instead."

There's joy washing over her face before she schools her features. "I've never been on the back of a bike."

"All ya gotta do is hold on, darlin', and keep your leg away from the exhaust pipe," I tell her and decide it's the better choice. "Go change and I'll pack a few sandwiches to take with us."

I give her a little nudge and smile when I watch her disappear into the hallway. Stalking into the kitchen, I grab a few bottles of water and make some food to take with us. Twenty minutes later we're walking out the door and stuffing our lunch into one of the saddle bags.

Carefully I place the helmet on her head and fix the strap under her chin. I take a moment to point out the exhaust pipe and tell her to wrap her arms around me once I straddle the bike. A little squeal comes from her when I fire up the bike. I can feel myself smile when I hit the throttle once we're out on the open road.

There's not a day that goes by when I don't ride. Either on a horse, a Longhorn, or my motorcycle. It's the thrill of being in control of something powerful. Now there's an added feeling flowing through my veins. The woman plastered against my back gives a whole new dimension to the experience of riding my bike.

Her arms wrapped around me, knowing her tits and pussy are plastered against me. Fucking hell, I can almost feel the heat of it. Desire hums through my bones, lust filling my veins while my brain is being overtaken by the thought of having this woman on the ride of our lives. Fucking future, riding into the sunset.

My chest tightens at the thought. No fear or panic of being tied to one woman, but instead it feels right. I ride past the Iron Hot Blood ranch, through town, and simply enjoy the way this feels. Every now and then she tightens her arms around me as if to make sure this is real or to let me know she enjoys it.

At least, that's what I'm making of it. She doesn't complain nor tries to get my attention. The spot I want to take her is coming around the bend. It's a meadow and it's coming into view as I lower my speed.

I bring my bike to a stop, hit the kickstand, and pat her knee to indicate she can get off. Cosima is removing the helmet as I grab our food. I take the helmet from her and place it on my bike. She takes the water bottles from me and we both stroll into the field filled with wildflowers.

"This place is amazing," Cosima whispers in awe.

"I discovered it a few years ago when I went for a long ride with Wendy." I shoot her a smile. "Now I simply go here any time I want some peace and quiet."

Cosima reaches out and squeezes my hand. "You mentioned the feeling crowded part."

I release a sigh and sit down on a fallen tree trunk that allows us to oversee the meadow in its full glory.

"A large brotherhood working a ranch means there's always work to be done and we're all a part of it. Which means people are always around. Not a bad thing, but I like my own space every so often."

She chuckles as she hands me a bottle of water while I pass her one of the sandwiches. "I bet the few days you spent at my place were heaven."

It would have been heaven if I was buried deep inside her pussy, though being around her was close to perfect.

"Yeah," I croak and quickly open the bottle of water to gulp some down and hopefully lose the thoughts of burying myself deep inside her.

Fuck. Maybe throwing my intentions out in the open wasn't the smartest move. Talking about it with her makes it real, and feeds the longing inside my body.

"Thank you," she softly states. "Not just for believing me when they thought I imagined someone was in the house, or for stepping up to keep an eye on me. Hell, for getting the horse I've wanted for years. But mostly? For pushing me to get off my ass. Without you, I'd still be wallowing in self-pity."

"You would have gotten there on your own time," I state with determination.

"Maybe," she muses and stares off into the distance.

We fall silent and let the soft breeze of the lovely afternoon flow over us. This is serenity. There's no uncomfortable silence between us as we eat and enjoy the moment. The smile I'm sporting hurts my damn cheeks.

My phone gives a notification of an incoming message and I pull it from my leather vest to check. The smile is gone from my face, as is the moment of serenity.

Releasing a sigh, I tell Cosima, "There's an issue I need to handle at the ranch. Mind if I bring you with me instead of dropping you off at your house? I promise it won't take long."

She instantly gets to her feet. "What's wrong?"

"A Longhorn bull broke through a fence. He's on the run as are a few other Longhorns and calves."

Cosima gathers up all our stuff and rushes past me toward the bike. Where she was moving slowly around the house these past few days, she's been getting more and more confident in her movements.

Without a doubt there's been some post-traumatic stress that caused her to be jumpy, even more with the loss of her eyesight. The woman is damn strong to keep moving forward and clearly thankful enough with partially gaining back her eyesight.

I fire up my bike and while our time together was interrupted, I feel confident enough with the thoughts of many more moments like these in our near future. At least, that's the goal. To have her with me as we head for the Iron Hot Blood ranch shows she's not retreating.

A huge step forward. Her sister will also be pleased to see her there. I know for a fact that Eastlynne is working with her horses to train them for an upcoming commercial. It still blows my mind that Rourke managed to make her his old lady. She's a real addition to the club and ranch the way she handles, helps, and trains horses that experienced trauma. She also owns a few other horses, one of those a mare bred by us.

That's how their paths crossed, to buy a horse from us. Thank fuck our lives crossed because it also allowed me to meet Eastlynne's sister. All of it sounds like a simple explanation, but it feels like my world shifted.

Then this morning someone scares the shit out of the special woman in my life, and we find out he was jerking off at the sight of her. Anger surges through my veins as I park my bike in front of the clubhouse.

This pervert might have given me more time to stay at Cosima's house, but I don't care either way because I'm going to end the fucker as soon as possible. Our ride just now showed Cosima and myself that we will happen; now or in the long road ahead of us. We're gonna be together either way.