I'm so glad that so many of you enjoyed the kiss! Thank you all for your continued support!

Please remember to review at the end! :)


It had one week since the kiss, and neither Parker nor Eliot had spoken of it, nor have they tried to kiss again. However, there was a new understanding between them, and a stronger bond than before.

Sheryl noticed the change, and inwardly jumped for glee at how close they seemed to be becoming. Derek had only rolled his eyes, and said things would take time. To which she responded with a roll of her eyes, and a shake of her head. "You have no romantic bone in your body." She stated, only to have her husband prove her wrong.

Eliot had relaxed somewhat, knowing how badly he had overreacted to Parker riding Brownie, and knowing Sheryl would defiantly take care of Parker. It seemed foolish now, but at the time all he could think about was how Parker could have been hurt and how he couldn't save her. Again.

It killed him each time he thought about it. True, Parker could take care of herself, but he still felt the need to protect her, especially now.

He loved her that much was certain. He felt it every time he saw her ride Brownie in the field with the expression of absolute joy and freedom on her face. Every time he came home to find her waiting for him. The way she lit up when he entered the room.

Eliot sat on top of midnight, and watched as the cows in the field grazed calmly. There was something else he was worried about, and Parker had seemed to sense it. He hadn't brought up the reason, though she tried her best to get him to talk about it. He knew he should tell her. He had mentioned it that night, but hadn't said it again since then. It worried him that he hadn't found a lead or anything. It bothered him: the dead cows.

Someone had shot them, not for meat, but for sport, or a warning.

Eliot straightened his hat on his head, and thought about how finding the dead cows, had set off his fear. Someone was threatening him, and possibly Parker.

He couldn't handle that. He wouldn't.

The wind began to move from the north and blew in his face, cooling him off as the sweat dripped down his face.

His mind raced as the wind continued to blow. Who would kill a few cows? Why? What was the message?

Derek had mentioned it was probably drunken teenagers having fun, but Eliot knew better. He had done so much in his past, made so many enemies, to which he couldn't help but feel it was one of them. He didn't want to think about it, but how could he not?

It was not only his life at stake with this, but Derek and Sheryl's, and most of all, Parker's. He couldn't lose her.

The fear of who could even consider coming after him didn't gnaw at him as bad as the thought of that person getting to Parker to get to him.

It was the main reason he tried to keep his distance. No, in his business, he couldn't afford to love anyone, but that was then. This was now. He loved. Oh, how he loved.

He closed his eyes as the breeze picked up, and the image of her face flooded his mind's eye. She was the reason he got up in the morning now.

Without knowing it, he fell in love with her, and now what was he to do?

Shaking his head, he reined Midnight away from the herd, and headed towards the homestead. All the cows had been accounted for, and he was relieved.

Maybe Derek was right. Eliot sighed. No, he wouldn't let his guard down yet, until it was proven true. He couldn't afford too. He had her to think about.

He should send her back to the others, but she would refuse, as she did when she first arrived, and despite all his fussing, he couldn't imagine the ranch without her in it. She had fit in at the ranch, and it was shocking to say the least, and what was even more shocking was the fact that she enjoyed it.

She rode Brownie every day, and relished the feeling of the wind on her face as she brought Brownie to a full gallop.

Eliot even had to admit that he enjoyed watching her ride. He smiled as he reined Midnight to a halt in front of the barn, as he thought of Parker and Brownie in full gallop, Parker's blonde hair flying behind her, a smile lighting her face, and riding as if she was born for it.

In one swift movement, he got off of his horse, and led him into the barn. He was early today, and he knew Parker would be surprised at seeing him. He just hoped it would be the good surprise.

He needed to talk.

After settling Midnight in his stall, and giving him some feed and checking the water, Eliot left the barn and headed towards the house.

Opening the door, he smelled something. Quickly placing his Stetson on the hook, he raced into the kitchen.

His eyes widened as he found Parker standing at the stove, steam or smoke rising in front of her.

"Parker, what the hell?" He asked, as he stepped further in the kitchen.

Parker glanced over her shoulder, and sent him a quick smile. "I'm trying to fix supper." She stated, simply, with a glance at the microwave clock. "You're early." She added, turning back to the stove.

Eliot nodded. "Yeah, I finished up early." He replied, coming closer. "What on earth are you doing?" He asked, looking over her shoulder.

Parker smiled brightly. "Sheryl taught me this recipe today, and I wanted to try it." She replied, proudly. "I think I've got it." She added, stirring some sauce in the saucepan.

"What are you making?" He asked, narrowing his eyes. Normally, he couldn't stand someone else in his kitchen, but he couldn't resist how beautiful she looked with her hair pulled back with a black tank top and blue jeans, standing in front of the stove, like she was made there.

Parker glanced at him. "Spaghetti." She said simply.

Eliot shook his head, and checked the noodles in the pot to the right of Parker.

"Hey!" Parker shouted raising her wooden spoon she was using to stir the sauce.

Eliot smiled. "I'm just checking the noodles, Parker." He replied, picking up a fork, dipping it into the pot, and lifting a noodle. With a glance at her, he placed the noodle in his mouth.

It was delicious.

He couldn't believe it. Parker could cook.

"Parker." He replied his eyes widening as he swallowed.

Parker dropped her shoulders. "What? I overcooked them." She began, looking down at the pot. "Sheryl said if I left them on for too long, they would dry out or something and they wouldn't be fit for consumption." She replied, her voice full of disappointment.

Eliot shook his head, as he smiled. "No, Parker, the noodles are delicious. You did a wonderful job." He whispered, softly.

Parker beamed. "I'm glad." She whispered, turning back to the sauce she was stirring.

Eliot watched as a stray strand of hair fell in front of her face, and he couldn't resist lifting his left hand to push it out of her face.

Parker glanced at him, for a second, and turned back to the sauce. She wasn't sure what to make of the gentle Eliot, but from the stirrings in her small body, she knew it was a good sign.

"I'm going to grab a shower, before supper." He whispered, dropping his hand to his side.

Parker nodded. "It should be ready by the time you get out." She replied, keeping her eyes down, fearing if she looked up she would forget about the sauce, and she wanted everything to be perfect tonight.

Eliot nodded. "Okay." He returned, turning on his heel to leave the kitchen.

Parker smiled as she heard the bathroom door close minutes later.

Sheryl had been right. Cooking Eliot dinner was going to be a success. If everything turned out the way she hoped, she was going to thank Sheryl extensively in the morning.

Lifting the spoon to her lips, like Sheryl taught her, she tasted the sauce. She sighed as the tomato flavor melted in her mouth along with the hints of garlic powder, paprika, red pepper, onion, and just a hint of the seasoned meat she had browned before adding it to the sauce.

She couldn't wait to see Eliot's reaction.

It had taken her all day to learn how to cook the pasta, after two failed attempts on Sheryl's stove, which she ended up cleaning up after an overflowing boiler, which she had mistakenly left on after leaving for a minute, overflowed over the stove. The other, the water had boiled out, leaving the noodles dry as rice, and not fit for human consumption. Not to mention, the pasta had stuck to the boiler, it took thirty minutes for Parker to get the pasta out, without stabbing.

The sauce was another tale. She had apologized immensely for the mess that she had made, but Sheryl had only laughed and said it was understandable for someone who had never cooked before to make that mistake. She had been stirring the sauce, but had forgotten to turn the burner on low, to allow the sauce to simmer, thus enabling the sauce to grow a mind of its own, and exploded everywhere, covering both women, and half the kitchen in the sauce.

Parker had spent the better part of thirty minutes in the shower to get all the sauce out of her hair, which had looked like she had put in red highlights in her blonde hair.

She wasn't even going to discuss the rolls. Sheryl again had informed her it was common for beginners to forget about the bread, but Parker still frowned when she took the, then, burnt rolls from the oven, causing the smoke alarm to go off in Sheryl's kitchen.

Parker sighed as she turned off the stove, and covered the saucepan with a lid. She smiled as she looked at her work. She had done well, for her fourth try.

Moving to the oven, she opened the stove, and with an oven mitt, pulled out the rolls, and set them on the rack next to the stove.

She just hoped those were edible.

She heard the shower turn off, and took a deep breath, as she sat down on the stool next to the island, and waited for Eliot to come out.

She really wanted to see what he was going to think about the supper she had so painstakingly prepared, for the first time for him.

She was proud of her work, and what would make her even prouder, was if Eliot was too. Nothing else mattered to her, than his approval.

He had eased up on her after that night, and she was grateful. She knew he worried, even though it was pointless, but she went along with it, because she loved him.

She didn't understand it. This wasn't her, but lately she had begun to realize that when you love someone you do try your best to satisfy their needs.

And she was trying. She learned to ride something she had been terrified of for most of her life, and loved it. She had learned to cook, which technically was Eliot's forte, but why couldn't she get a crack at it.

She tried so hard to get him to realize why she was doing all of these things. She wasn't one to express her feelings out loud, but a part of her wanted to shout it out. She loved him.

She loved him wholeheartedly. It made sense to her when she followed him out here, to make sure he wouldn't leave. Leaving the team was one thing, but leaving her was another.

So many people had left her in her life, and she couldn't stand the thought of Eliot doing that. He had even said as much. He wouldn't leave her.

Hearing the bathroom door open, she sat straighter on the stool, and waited for him to enter the kitchen.

When he did enter, he had on a pair of rugged jeans, and a ribbed black shirt. His feet were bare, and his hair was still wet.

He looked yummy.

Parker lowered her eyes, and felt a blush form on her face. Get a hold of yourself, Parker. She thought with a sigh.

Eliot watched her blush, and couldn't help the smile on his face. She was beautiful.

"Do you want to explain why a towel was half covered in pasta sauce, Parker?" He asked, after a moment, walking to the fridge.

Parker closed her eyes. "Oh," She whispered, dropping her face in the palm of her left hand, which was propped on the counter.

Eliot smirked. "Oh?" He asked, getting a beer out, and popping the top off. "What happened?" He asked, after he took a sip.

She dropped her arm into her lap, and looked up at him shyly. "I sorta made a mess when I was learning to cook over at Sheryl's." She replied, honestly in a shy voice.

Eliot choked on a sip of beer, and couldn't help the laugh coming from his throat. "You sorta?" He asked, not making fun of her, but getting the image of her covered in sauce in Sheryl's kitchen.

Parker crossed her arms over her chest, and narrowed her eyes. "I don't think it's funny. I covered the pan with a lid, while I was getting the rolls ready, and the sauce took a mind of its own, and went" making the sound of 'bang' "all over the place." She added, motioning with her hands.

Eliot shook his head, and stepped around the counter. "I wasn't laughing at you, Parker. I was laughing at the way you sounded." He whispered, stepping closer.

Parker swallowed hard. He was making her nervous. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not.

Eliot watched as her eyes widened, and thought he was scaring her. Lowering his head, he stepped back, and cleared his throat.

"Do you need help setting the table?" He asked, motioning to the spaghetti on the stove.

Parker wrinkled her brow in confusion, and then quickly snapped out of it, as she straightened and jumped off the stool. After nearly three weeks on the ranch, and five weeks since the incident, Parker's wound was nearly healed. She still didn't need to do anything strenuous, but she could do more than she used to.

"Nope, I've got it. Tonight, I'm serving you." She stated, pushing him towards the small round table in a little alcove nook beside the kitchen.

Eliot rolled his eyes. "Parker." He began but she shook her head.

"No, Eliot, this is my thank you for allowing me to stay with you, and for taking care of me." She replied, keeping her eyes low.

Eliot knew she had a problem with voicing feelings, so he closed his mouth, and let her bring the food to the table.

"I hope it's edible." She muttered, as she finished setting the rolls on the table.

Eliot smirked. "I'm sure you did a wonderful job, Parker." He replied, grasping her hand gently, before she went to get the drinks.

He held her hand longer than he intended to, and couldn't resist looking into her soft eyes.

Parker couldn't help the bright smile on her face at his words, and gave a slow nod with a blush, before she went to gather the drinks.

Eliot watched her as she gracefully moved around the kitchen. She was sight. After the kiss they had shared, Eliot found himself thinking of her in his bed, but as always he shoved the thoughts out of his mind.

It was too soon.

Parker set his beer in front of him, and sat down in the chair opposite the table.

After Eliot got a helping on his plate, he noticed she was watching him intently.

"You know, Parker, it's not nice to stare at someone." He replied, gruffly, lifting his fork to stir his spaghetti.

Parker just continued to watch him. "I want to see if you like it." She replied, bluntly.

Eliot shook his head. "I don't think I can eat with you staring at me, Parker, no matter why." He stated, looking up.

Parker nodded curtly, and lowered her eyes briefly.

Eliot smirked as he shook his head and opened his mouth. He had been prepared if the food was horrible, but nothing in his mind or mouth could have prepared him for the treat he discovered as soon as the sauce entered his mouth.

His eyes widened as he chewed a few times, and watched as she looked up at him with hope and questions in her eyes.

He swallowed his bite, and looked down at his plate. He still couldn't believe it, but then again the blonde beauty sitting in front of him was full of surprises.

Parker watched as he looked at his plate, and bit her lip nervously. He hated it. She could tell. With a quiet sigh, she forked her spaghetti around her plate, her heart breaking inside.

She didn't look up, when she heard the chair slide back or when he stood and walked over to her.

With remarkable ease, he picked her up out of her chair.

She finally looked up into his eyes, and what she saw rendered her speechless.

"It's delicious, Parker." He whispered, grasping her face in his hands.

"Truly?" She asked, searching his eyes.

Eliot nodded, and smiled. "Truly." He whispered, closing the distance between them.

For an entire week, Parker had wanted to kiss him again, but always thought he didn't want too. She feared rejection. She knew if they took, whatever this relationship was, a step further that they would never be the same. That's why she made the dinner. That's why she made the effort. She wanted him to know that she would learn for him. She would adapt to wherever she lived as long as it was with him.

As his lips touched hers for the second time, Parker couldn't help the feeling of glee in her heart at how she and Sheryl's plan had worked.

She opened her mouth and allowed him entrance, and began to weave her fingers in his long wet hair. Oh, she loved his hair. She felt his hands move, one to the base of her neck, and the other to her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Oh, she didn't want this one to end.

Slowly they separated, panting as they had the first time they kissed. Eliot smiled softly as he brushed her cheek with his thumb, and kissed her forehead softly before he looked into her eyes.

"The spaghetti is going to get cold." She whispered, after she caught her breathe.

Eliot smiled. "Well, we better finish it then." He whispered, stroking her face gently.

Parker smiled and unwove her hands from his hair, touching his face with her left as her right came down to his chest.

She nodded, as he stepped away, and sat back down in his chair, and she in hers.

For the rest of the dinner, Parker kept sneaking glances at Eliot, and found him watching her as well.

Yep, this night was perfect.

~X~

High in a carved out ledge in the hills, a dark figure watches through his telescope as two people sit back down at their table to finish their dinner.

He sneered coldly at the thought of Eliot Spencer growing soft, and with a thief no less. He shook his head as he lowered the telescope, and stood up, picking up his .300 Win Mag rifle, he began his hike to the hidden cave he discovered weeks before, hidden far on the other side of the mountain range, away from Eliot's land.

After life in the Special Forces, he found work as a mercenary, and developed a loathe for one specific man.

Eliot Spencer.

Now, Nicolas Conway was going to get his revenge.

He was going to take away the one thing that stood between him and his revenge.

Parker


What did you think?

I added a bit of intrigue into this story. I hope you approve.

Next chapter will be up as soon as I can get it. :)

Until Next Time...