Page 19 of The Edge of Intensity

Colt reaches out and places his large hand over my shoulder to give it a gentle squeeze. “From what I’ve heard? Cosima is strong and will handle whatever hand life deals out. Besides, she has a fierce sister who’s the president’s old lady. You both have a whole brotherhood to fall back on as well.”

I’m still processing his statement when he steps back and strolls out of the stables. My mind jumps to the fact that he breached my personal space and touched my shoulder. Yet, within the moment I didn’t think about it because I know him. Tiny steps forward are a way to overcome issues that block things in my everyday life.

There’s a bounce in my step when I walk in the direction of the clubhouse. The chat with Colt gave me confidence and the ability to see things from another perspective. The situation with Cosima has held my heart in a grip of fear. All while I now feel strong enough to handle anything she needs.

I owe her. She’s been my rock for years and it’s the least I can do. I might fail, but like Colt mentioned; I have a brotherhood at my back. Some of the old ladies of the older generation showed up to drop off food the past few days, along with some of their grown kids who are around my age. It made me feel awkward, but it’s also nice to have friends, and the option to ask for help.

When I enter the main room of the clubhouse, I notice Parker sitting at the bar.

“Hey,” I quip.

He glances over his shoulder at me. “Hey, yourself. How’s your sister?”

Cosima has asked me to keep Parker out of the house. He was sweet and helpful the first day but the day after he came to visit and she refused to so much as talk to him. With the added complications she demanded I didn’t share it with anyone. The only ones who know are the doctor, Rourke because he went with us to the hospital, and now Colt.

“Still recovering,” I reply and point at church. “Are Rourke and Kathleen still in there?”

Parker glances at his phone. “Yeah. They’re expecting company so if you need to talk to your old man I’d do it now.”

I smile. “Thanks, Parker.”

He clears his throat and hesitantly asks, “Cosima still refusing anyone to visit? Or is it just me?”

Shit. I don’t like lying and Parker is genuine and a nice guy.

I wring my hands and tell him, “She’s not herself. She needs time and needs to heal. The complications show she has to take as much rest as she can.”

Parker jumps to his feet and is barking out his words. “Complications? What fucking complications and why am I only now hearing about fucking complications?”

I wince and take a step back. Parker curses and mutters out an apology.

At the same time, I hear a door opening and Rourke’s voice asking, “What’s going on?”

Parker glares at Rourke. “Eastlynne just mentioned Cosima has complications. What’s going on?”

Rourke’s eyes collide with mine before they land on Rourke. “It’s Cosima’s private business and she’s asked Eastlynne to keep it that way.” His arm comes up. “Mind joining me in church for a bit, East? I only have a few more minutes until our new contact will be here.”

I rush toward him and let my palm glide over his so he can pull me close. His lips land on mine and I melt into him. The delicious pause button of my brain always hits whenever Rourke has his hands on me.

Every touch, every kiss, every-freaking-thing he does soothes my soul. It’s easy to follow him because he makes me feel like he’s always there to have my back, to catch me if I stumble, and to give me a shoulder to cry on.

Pulling back, I murmur, “Thank you.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Why’s that, sweetheart?”

“For your patience, your help, your persistence.” I can feel my cheeks heat. “For being you.”

The dimple in his cheek becomes prominent.

“I’m more me because of you.” He pulls me tight against him and I place my head against his chest. “Pacing myself, forcing a different approach to get to know you also made me more aware of shit. I can’t explain it. I guess it’s somewhere along the lines of becoming aware of how life rushed past me. How I’ve taken things for granted, while in fact, everything can be a struggle either inside your mind or facing tasks. Doing everything myself, throwing out orders, so many fucking dimensions and you never really think about all the details unless you stumble to a stop and put life itself under a microscope. Hell, I’d freak out too.”

He pulls back and his voice turns into a whisper when he says, “Kathleen and her mother don’t eat strawberries. Wanna know why?”

My lips slightly part, but I’m almost afraid to ask.

It seems he doesn’t need me to ask when he gives me the answer anyway. “Because when you put strawberries in saltwater…worms come crawling out.”

“You asshole,” Kathleen snaps and smacks Rourke’s shoulder. “You shouldn’t ruin strawberries for her. Now she’ll never eat them again.” She pierces me with a look. “Please don’t Google it, you don’t need those images inside your head. Trust me. I didn’t believe my mom when she answered my question of why she never ate strawberries. Details are overrated, sometimes you just need to say fuck it and enjoy.”

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