love to
her….
Down boy. Don’t go there so early in the
morning.
Her kisses were intoxicating. He had left her
last evening with a sweet, lingering kiss on her lips and a promise
to call her. She’d gone inside with a small wave and a smile and a
semi-confused look on her face.
Probably not unlike the look that was on his
face.
Things were moving too quickly between them,
and that likely was not a good thing. He had a lot on his plate
this next week or so, and with the future of the ranch on the line,
how could he even think about starting a relationship? Plus, he’d
not had a moment to let the grief surrounding his father’s death
settle in, never mind trying to deal with it.
He shouldn’t have kissed her so much. But
standing there in the open door of the cab, looking into her sad
face and wiping away her tears, all he could think about was he
wanted to be the person to make her tears go away. To hold her and
kiss her until she felt beautiful again. To be the man taking her
out to dinner. Not Mike.
He just couldn’t stop kissing her.
Jealous. Yes. The green-eyed monster had
reared its head the moment Mike said he’d wanted to ask her out.
What was Parker supposed to do with that information, anyway? Be
happy for him?
He didn’t know. And that’s why he’d gotten
all pissy and silent in the car. And made her cry. What an ass.
But when he’d kissed her… All he could
feel was he wanted to make things better, keep her safe, protect
her from—everything. Make her his. Claim her for his own with each
and every kiss. He wanted her to remember those kisses in case Mike
did call. Hell, he needed to just tell Mike the truth.
He’d lied. It was more than casual for him.
More than just friendly neighbors.
Those feelings surprised him. He’d not
experienced this strong of an emotional attraction toward a woman
in a long time. Maybe never. Physical too. No doubt Reba Morris was
a sexy, interesting woman. A strong and capable woman, too—but
there was a part of her, he was pretty darned certain, who needed
and wanted a man to take over from time to time. She’d probably go
screaming and kicking, but for some damn crazy reason, he wanted to
be that man to drag her into his world.
And yes, he would save her and protect her
and take care of her, whether she knew she wanted it or not. The
thought made him smile and chuckle.
The ringing of his phone brought him out of
his contemplation. He reached for the device rattling on his desk.
“Yes.”
Brody. “Hey, man. Just wanted you to know
that we’re all down here for breakfast. You joining us?”
Yeah. Might as well get this started. “I’m on
my way,” he responded. “Ten minutes.”
Parker pushed the button to end the call and
turned to stare out the window. He’d grown up in this house. His
father had given it to him when he and Liz built the new house.
Surely James McKenna wouldn’t jerk his home out from under him.
Would he?
He didn’t think so. Likely, he was worrying
about nothing.
****
“I understand there is a meeting with Tom on
Friday.” Liz wasted no time. She caught his eye the second he
stepped over the threshold and held his gaze. Hell, she was likely
as nervous about all of this as he was. He thought about Tom’s
message and decided to cut her some slack. The large great room was
the family gathering spot, and it seemed everyone was already
there.
“Yes, ma’am. Two o’clock in Tom’s office. I
can drive us both if that works best for you.”
“I suspect I should drive myself. I have a
few other errands to run while in town. But thank you, Parker.”
He nodded. “Not a problem, Liz. Let me know
if you change your mind.”
She smiled and handed him a coffee cup.
Parker took it. One thing for certain, this family couldn’t
function without buckets of black coffee first thing in the
morning.
He stared at the cup for a moment. His dad
never started his day without half a pot of coffee.
A breakfast buffet had been set up
her….
Down boy. Don’t go there so early in the
morning.
Her kisses were intoxicating. He had left her
last evening with a sweet, lingering kiss on her lips and a promise
to call her. She’d gone inside with a small wave and a smile and a
semi-confused look on her face.
Probably not unlike the look that was on his
face.
Things were moving too quickly between them,
and that likely was not a good thing. He had a lot on his plate
this next week or so, and with the future of the ranch on the line,
how could he even think about starting a relationship? Plus, he’d
not had a moment to let the grief surrounding his father’s death
settle in, never mind trying to deal with it.
He shouldn’t have kissed her so much. But
standing there in the open door of the cab, looking into her sad
face and wiping away her tears, all he could think about was he
wanted to be the person to make her tears go away. To hold her and
kiss her until she felt beautiful again. To be the man taking her
out to dinner. Not Mike.
He just couldn’t stop kissing her.
Jealous. Yes. The green-eyed monster had
reared its head the moment Mike said he’d wanted to ask her out.
What was Parker supposed to do with that information, anyway? Be
happy for him?
He didn’t know. And that’s why he’d gotten
all pissy and silent in the car. And made her cry. What an ass.
But when he’d kissed her… All he could
feel was he wanted to make things better, keep her safe, protect
her from—everything. Make her his. Claim her for his own with each
and every kiss. He wanted her to remember those kisses in case Mike
did call. Hell, he needed to just tell Mike the truth.
He’d lied. It was more than casual for him.
More than just friendly neighbors.
Those feelings surprised him. He’d not
experienced this strong of an emotional attraction toward a woman
in a long time. Maybe never. Physical too. No doubt Reba Morris was
a sexy, interesting woman. A strong and capable woman, too—but
there was a part of her, he was pretty darned certain, who needed
and wanted a man to take over from time to time. She’d probably go
screaming and kicking, but for some damn crazy reason, he wanted to
be that man to drag her into his world.
And yes, he would save her and protect her
and take care of her, whether she knew she wanted it or not. The
thought made him smile and chuckle.
The ringing of his phone brought him out of
his contemplation. He reached for the device rattling on his desk.
“Yes.”
Brody. “Hey, man. Just wanted you to know
that we’re all down here for breakfast. You joining us?”
Yeah. Might as well get this started. “I’m on
my way,” he responded. “Ten minutes.”
Parker pushed the button to end the call and
turned to stare out the window. He’d grown up in this house. His
father had given it to him when he and Liz built the new house.
Surely James McKenna wouldn’t jerk his home out from under him.
Would he?
He didn’t think so. Likely, he was worrying
about nothing.
****
“I understand there is a meeting with Tom on
Friday.” Liz wasted no time. She caught his eye the second he
stepped over the threshold and held his gaze. Hell, she was likely
as nervous about all of this as he was. He thought about Tom’s
message and decided to cut her some slack. The large great room was
the family gathering spot, and it seemed everyone was already
there.
“Yes, ma’am. Two o’clock in Tom’s office. I
can drive us both if that works best for you.”
“I suspect I should drive myself. I have a
few other errands to run while in town. But thank you, Parker.”
He nodded. “Not a problem, Liz. Let me know
if you change your mind.”
She smiled and handed him a coffee cup.
Parker took it. One thing for certain, this family couldn’t
function without buckets of black coffee first thing in the
morning.
He stared at the cup for a moment. His dad
never started his day without half a pot of coffee.
A breakfast buffet had been set up
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