Page 21 of Ranch's Resolve

“My parents were around but too busy to take care of us. They weren’t bad parents. They were just unlucky. Dad got injured at work, which required multiple surgeries on his back.He couldn’t stand or sit long, so he had difficulty finding another job. When the medical bills arrived, Mom took on a second and third job to pay them off. They probably would have come out ahead, except Dad got hooked on painkillers.”

“Shit,” I say, shaking my head. “That’s rough.”

“It was. I cared for Killian until I turned fifteen and got a job to help them out. I cooked dinners for all of them so they could grab something when they got home. I got pretty good at cooking. Found I enjoyed it.”

“How are your parents doing now?”

“Great! My dad went through rehab, both physical therapy and to kick the drugs. He took night courses to get a degree in counseling and now runs a support group. He also helps people in the program find jobs. He’s good at it. Mom still works, but she only has one job. They have a nice house and are very happy. I’m pretty proud of them. Now, let’s eat.”

CHAPTER TWELVE: ATHENA

I sit across from Ranch and preen with pride when he takes the first bite and moans with pleasure.

“This is amazing,” he says, twirling spaghetti around his fork.

I don’t often fix food for anyone but myself. When I do, it is usually Deion and Killian. Sometimes, they’ll bring along a girlfriend, but I mostly cook for myself. Sitting across from this handsome and sexy man as he enjoys what I've made is a nice treat. My grin widens when I see the potted sunflower on my table. What a sweet gesture. Men might bring flowers, but I’d never had one bring me my favorite flower. It’s a little unexpected, considering the man. Who would have thought a rough biker would think of something so sweet?

“What happened after I left?” I ask him.

Ranch grins, and the sight has my pulse quickening. Undoubtedly, he’s handsome, but the dimple that comes out to play when he smiles makes him even sexier.

“The plan worked perfectly. Those assholes didn’t know what to do when the parking lot filled with two angry clubs looking ready to go at each other. I wouldn’t be surprised if they slid to the floor to hide. Ghost tagged their car, so now we know wherethey’re hiding. We’ll get eyes and ears on them to track their movements.”

“That’s good. So, you know they didn’t go looking for Selena?”

“No, they ran home. Selena and Santina should be safe at Crossroads. I’m glad Caitlin found them a spot.”

“They’re sharing the apartment with Angelica and her baby. I told you they knew each other.”

“Yeah, how?”

“They’re both from Santa Ana. Angelica worked at the same ice cream shop as Selena. Selena trained her.”

Ranch chews thoughtfully as he stares over my shoulder.

“Problem?” I ask.

“No. It’s just that I don’t like coincidences. What are the odds the two end up in San Diego?”

“I don’t know. We have a thriving Latino community here. California offers more opportunities and is much less hostile to immigrants. A group in Santa Ana could be transporting immigrants across the border with San Diego as their final destination.”

Ranch nods. “Maybe. I want to talk to Angelica and learn more about how she got here.”

“Why?”

Rather than answer, Ranch takes another bite of spaghetti. Knowing he’s figuring out how much to share with me, I struggle with the reality that he doesn’t trust me. It hurts more than it should. We’ve only known each other for a handful of hours, yet I feel like I’ve known him much longer. We’ve faced two incidents that required a great deal of trust on both sides, so his reticence now irks me. I swallow my anger along with the rest of my dinner.

When I grab my plate to take it to the kitchen, he places his hand over mine to stop me. “You fixed dinner, so I’ll clean up and do the dishes.”

I release my plate so he can take it. I store the leftovers while he washes the dishes. Neither of us speaks, but the silence isn’t unbearable. This all feels very domestic. I’m not sure how I feel about it. I love my independence, but I can’t deny my attraction to Ranch, especially when I realize how comfortable I feel having him in my space.

“I have a favor to ask of you,” Ranch says, interrupting my thoughts.

“Okay.” I turn to face him after closing the refrigerator.

“Would you talk to Angelica and learn how she ended up joining the group that crossed onto my property?”

“Why?”

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