I was two steps away from slicing Dick’s goddamn fingers off for even daring to brush Parker’s perfect skin when I forcefully shoved all the rage aside.
With all that done, there was only one thought on my mind.
Parker. Parker. Parker.
Bailey nudged his head in the direction of the hallwhen I gave him a reaffirming look. He had this under control. Dick and his little puppet wouldn’t do shit.
Once I was out the back door, my eyes landed on Parker.
And fuck, she was breathtaking.
Rage, possessiveness, the urge to get another punch in. It all disappeared into the heavy, lovesick air as I took her in.
She paced, booted feet making imprints in the slightly muddied dirt. Inches of snow piled in odd crevices here or there, but the rest was slowly turning to mush. I wouldn’t let her slip, though. Wouldn’t stop her from doing what she needed to do, either.
I slid my hands in my pockets, hiding my aching knuckles. She was worked up and didn’t need the reminder.
Suddenly, she halted her steps, spinning to face me. “What was that?”
I cocked my head to the side, my eyes twin slits of curiosity. “I punched a guy for touching you.”
“Why?” Her bottom lip wobbled slightly, her grip on her emotions dwindling. She could cry, kick, scream. It was all warranted.
“Becausehe touched you.” I enunciated each word, as if the issue wasn’t clear enough.
“I can take care of myself.”
My hands fell to my sides. “Why are you mad?”
Her mouth opened and closed as if there were a million reasons fighting for first place. “Because I can’t get used to this.” There was disappointment there, butsomething told me she wasn’t being completely honest.
“Why?”
She shook her head, like the question was ridiculous. “He was drunk and trying to flirt with me. He wouldn’t have…”
“Wouldn’t have what? Hurt you?”
Her glistening eyes lifted to meet mine, but she provided no answer. Even she wasn’t sure if he would have. Fuck, he already had.
“Why do you think I don’t like him, Parker?”
Her lashes fluttered, throat working. “I don’t know. Some drama from when you did rodeo?”
“Because he’s forceful with women.”
Her eyes widened the slightest bit, her body going eerily still.
“When I saw him do it, I always stepped in and stopped it. But I know I didn’t see all of it. So when I saw his hand on you—” Bile clogged my throat. “He’s a fuckboy who rides twice as many girls as he does bulls. He has no good intentions with you, or likely any other woman.” I swallowed, forcing myself to steady. “Wyatt’s working on his truck all damn night to get him the hell out of Bell Buckle.”
“I didn’t know,” Parker admitted quietly.
“You didn’t have to.”Because I’ll always protect you.
The battle between laying out every heart-wrenching emotion I felt for her and not putting too much on her shoulders at once was a torturous one. But it was a warI’d fight every day if it meant she was standing before me.
She shook her head, gaze falling to her muddied boots. “You get jealous,” she stated. “You protect me like you used to. You go out of your way to bring me my favorite drink, just the way I like it.” Her mouth twisted, a curl sliding out from behind her ear. “Even after all this time apart”—her head lifted, eyes desperate—“you still want me.”
I waited for her to go on, but when only silence came and charged energy flitted in the five feet separating us, I knew what she was feeling. She didn’t even have to tell me, becausethat’show in tune we were with each other. “You’re scared.”
