Page 44 of Every Single Vow
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“You are always welcome,” I whisper back.
A few seconds pass, then she pulls away, turning to climb in the front seat.
She pauses, before peering back at me. “Who was that man?”
I laugh. “He’s a client.”
“He wants to date you.”
“Well, he’s out of luck,” I say. “I’m off the market."
“Thank God,” she mumbles before she slips in the seat and closes the door.
I can barely manage to keep the smile off of my face as I round the back end of the truck.
When I grip the handle, a piece of paper tucked inside my windshield wiper catches my attention. It’s probably the pizza coupons the local arcade uses to draw in people on buffet nights. I press my boot on the running board and reach over to pluck it from the windshield. Only when I unfold the flimsy white paper, it’s not a coupon. It’s four words that make my blood run cold.
You deserve what’s coming.
Chapter twenty-seven
Cooper
“I’m gone a week and now you’re married with a teenager?” Parker says as he rocks back and forth in the rocker next to me.
My laugh is instant, my shoulders shaking as I move my own chair in rhythm with his.
Parker and I have always been more like brothers than cousins. He’s only a couple of years older than me, and even though his mom, my mother’s older sister moved them close to the Texas coast when we were only toddlers, he’s spent every summer here at the ranch until he made it pro in the bull riding world. We traveled all over this state the minute we could drive.Going to as many rodeos as we could. I enjoyed the ride. Enjoyed the rush. But my life was here. I always knew that. But Parker? He had talent and determination like no one I’d ever seen. Which is why when ranch life called my name, the professional bull riding dream called his.
And I’m damn proud of him and his accomplishments. Even if it does take him all over the country.
“What can I say?” I lift a shoulder. “I’ve always been a family man.”
Parker laughs, his head shaking. “You’ve been a sucker is what you’ve been.”
I scoff, but don’t deny it. I know exactly what he means.
“Was this her idea or yours?” He asks.
When I still don’t answer, he fills the silence. “You’ve always loved her, Coop.” He stops rocking. “You sure this is a good idea?”
“It too late if it isn’t,” I respond. “She needs me. She doesn’t want Arizona in the system. It was the least I could do.”
Parker is the only person I’ve ever revealed my feelings to about Dakota. He knows the truth. He knows she’s been it for me. Foryears.
“Just don’t want shit going sideways,” he says, looking off at the field across from us.
“Speaking of sideways.” I glance over at him. “How’s Tori?”
His shoulders tense before he shrugs. “Tori.”
I still don’t have a single clue as to why he’s with her. It’s clear as day he doesn’t want to be.
“I don’t know why you don’t just end it, man.” I pull a toothpick from my pocket. “She’s toxic as fuck.”
“That’s an understatement,” he mutters.
