Love Begins with Fate (20 page)

“Oh well tell him I said hello dear, but I have a busy night tonight.” Her mother said much to Kelsey’s dismay.

Frowning Kelsey groaned “Mom is there a reason you don’t want to come home?” Kelsey asked.

“Why would you think that dear? Don’t listen to what Annie has been telling you.”  Her mother defended.

“How about we come to town and have dinner at a restaurant with you. I’m sure you can take off a few hours…” Kelsey began.

“Oh, well I guess.” Her mother replied unsure.

“Great. Hattie’s Steak house. Eight pm.” Kelsey told her without further discussion. “I’ll see you there.”

Kelsey was beaming when she hung up. She turned to Annie “well Annie I guess we’re going out. Don’t hold dinner for us, okay?”

“Sure darling.” Annie sighed.

“Is there something you need to tell me?” Kelsey asked.

“It’s really not my place.” Annie shied “Have fun; don’t forget to warn your friends dear.”

“OH!
Right!” Kelsey laughed as she darted out of the room. She was so excited she wasn’t paying close attention and ran directly into the hard chiseled chest of someone. “Oh Dylan hello.” Kelsey said pushing away and slowly walking around him. “Have a good dinner.” She said as she rushed away.

Dylan groaned and clenched his fists tight. He was so close until the people showed up. He had almost gotten to her the other night, but then Kelsey had shot him down and pushed away “I’m sorry I just can’t” he remembered
her saying shortly before she drifted off to sleep on the couch. Now his chance was gone.

Kelsey had told
Parker and then went on to tell Ryder and Hannah about their dinner date with their mom. When the time came Parker offered to drive which Kelsey eyed him for.

Kelsey shrugged and tossed
Parker the keys. He smiled and still walked over to the passenger door to open it for Kelsey. “He’s doing everything right.” Hannah squealed quietly to Ryder, he simply shook his head and smiled.

Once Kelsey was inside
Parker walked around to the other side of the truck and climbed in. “So where to…” He asked.

Kelsey had directed
Parker to the restaurant and Kelsey had accepted Parker ’s hand as a comfort while they walked toward the door. “Wow…” Suzie smirked. She pinched her lips together evaluating as she nodded. “She must really love you to let you drive her truck.”

Parker
smirked and squeezed Kelsey into his side. “Hello, I’m Suzie, Kelsey and Ryder’s mom.” Suzie said stepping toward the group. A man around her age stepped up beside her and Kelsey went rigid. He had to be the reasoning behind Suzie not coming home. Suzie smiled and turned to the man “This is Billy, my boyfriend” Suzie beamed.

“So… he’s the reason you haven’t been coming home?” Kelsey said tentatively.

Suzie frowned slightly. “Listen Kels, I’m sorry I haven’t been there. Billy and I have been busy at work and all.”

“What?” Ryder questioned anger obviously present in his voice. “You left her by herself to care for the ranch? No wonder why she’s been so stressed.”

“It’s not like that.” Suzie defended.

Ryder turned to Kelsey
. She had tears in her eyes and was pressing her face into Parker’s side. “Kels, has she been home since you got there?”

“No.” Kelsey said shakily.

“Looks like that’s exactly what I think.” Ryder snapped bitterly.

“She’s got to grow up and get a man to help with the ranch anyway. Most of the kids around here with ranches get
engaged by sixteen or seventeen anyway and you are turning nineteen.” Suzie rolled her eyes. “Haven’t you proposed yet?” She eyed Parker before shaking her head. “Looks like you’re not the man then huh.” She added quickly when Parker didn’t answer “Not a country boy, ae? Too bad you’re kind a cute.”

Their mother was different from the last time the twins had spent time with her. She was just flat out mean now. “Look. I don’t belong in that house anymore. It’s not mine. Your grandpa left it to you because he assumed your husband would help you care for it. I am
will get remarried someday and I haven’t even spent time on that ranch for a year now.” Suzie barked in her defense.

“Kelsey, why do you think that so many of the family have been pushing you into getting married soon? Why is it that I had pushed you to date the guys I tried to get you to date? Duff for example would have made a great husband for you and would have
run the ranch properly.” Her mother continued.

Parker
held Kelsey tight and when he felt Kelsey shaking within his grasp he growled his words at Suzie as he defensively pushed Kelsey behind him. “I am perfectly capable of caring for all her needs. I would be the wonderful husband, ranch owner, and father that she’s looking for. Heck, I’d be anything and everything she wants and needs nd to prove that I am going to start with you. Leave my fiancé alone or we’ll be leaving right now. She has a lot on her mind and doesn’t need your crap!” Parker spit.

Everyone stared at
Parker dumbfounded, each with their own curiosities. Kelsey wondered why he had just defended her, Ryder and Hannah wondered when that had happened and why they hadn’t known about it yet, and Suzie, well she wondered well, everything.

“The prude Kelsey, getting married, ha!” someone barked from the doors.
Parker had enough. He shoved his sleeves up on his pristine button up black shirt and pushed Kelsey over to Ryder as he stomped forward. The man barked again “What are you going to do pretty boy, threaten me?”

“Duff,
” Kelsey hissed.

“Oh so you are the dick that has gotten her upset before…”
Parker hissed out continuing toward the guy. Duff was a big guy. He had grown up on the farm and in turn had developed plenty of muscles to prove it.

“
Parker,” Kelsey cried, finally snapping out of her daze. Ryder latched onto his sister’s wrist and pulled her back.

“Stay back here.” Ryder demanded giving her a hard stare.

“Well you’ll see what I mean when you try and get her into bed with you. She doesn’t put out man. You’d be lucky to get some on your wedding night!” Duff laughed harshly.

Parker
didn’t wait; he launched himself at Duff and slammed his fist into Duff’s face.

Duff’s nose now bleeding all over the place was misplaced.
“Dude?” Duff whined. He tossed his fist toward Parker, who quickly ducked out of the way. After a few more punches Duff as tired out and quickly backed up and took off. “This isn’t over!”

“Oh it is now
, get out of here!” Parker growled. “Leave my girl alone!”

Kelsey finally ripped her wrist from Ryder’s grasp and ran to
Parker collapsing her arms around him. Parker stumbled from the unexpected blow and smiled. Turning around within Kelsey’s grasp he gripped her hips and lifted her up until she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Love, don’t cry.” Parker said softly wiping his hand across her cheek.

“Thank you.” Kelsey whimpered pressing her lips to
Parker’s lips.

“Well…” Suzie mused. “Shall we eat?”

Chapter
32

That was how Kelsey and
Parker went from being almost completely unknown to each other, with the exception of their first kiss at the birthday party, to engaged within a few short weeks. Kelsey and Parker shared the semi-awkwardness with calm and relaxed expressions as they sat down at the restaurant dinner table. Ryder and Hannah were sure to question them once they got out to the car but something within both them said they needed to talk about it before they answered too many questions.

Once the waiter came around to order food, Suzie smiled “Order whatever you wish. It’s on us as a celebratory dinner for the new couple.” She beamed.
Parker had earned her respect standing up for Kelsey even if it was to Duff, the guy Suzie had liked for Kelsey.

“Oh what is it we are celebrating?” The waiter asked to clarify.

“Oh my daughter and this lovely man just announced their engagement.” Suzie chimed.

“Oh well, that is wonderful!” The waiter beamed. “Miss Lodge that is wonderful.”

The Lodge ranch was quite famous in the small town. The restaurant had ordered their steak from the Lodge ranch and most of the people in the town had their horses from either the Lodge ranch or the Janders ranch. Though the Janders ranch was more into milk cattle Kelsey’s ranch was more into beef cows.

“Thanks.” Kelsey said shyly and blushed.

With the help of the waiter most of the town would know by the end of the night. She probably could expect cards and small gifts arriving at her home by the end of next week. Kelsey groaned internally.

“So
Parker, tell us about yourself…” Billy said. He didn’t seem to enjoy talking as much as Suzie, yet it seemed like he was trying to game some bonus points with Ryder and Kelsey.

“What would you like to know?”
Parker shrugged. “I’m an open book.”

“Well let’s start with how old are you?” Suzie shot off.

“I’ll be twenty a few months after I graduate.” Parker told her.

“And you’re still in high school?” Billy stated in an almost questioning tone.

“Yes well, that is a long story. I have been in college part time for two years. Though, I seem older in high school, I have never failed a class. I am a perfect straight A-B student. I have to be or I wouldn’t be able to stay on the football team.” Parker said proudly.

Kelsey smiled. She was feeling proud at that moment as well. Her family seemed to be approving of her choice in
Parker even if the choice was made on the spur of the moment.

“Hmm…” Billy nodded in approval. “You play what position.” He questioned.

Parker sat up straighter and beamed, “Running back.”

“And you would give that up for my daughter?” Suzie grunted.

“Any day of the week,” Parker said looking at Kelsey.

Dinner went along well after that. “Well it’s been nice to meet you both.” Suzie cooed as she hugged Hannah, whom she knew from visits with Kelsey, and then
Parker.

“It was nice meeting you both as well.”
Parker nodded.

“Are you going to move out completely?” Kelsey had said. Her voice had been nearly gone for most of the dinner. She was too nervous and anxious to talk.

“Well…” Suzie drawled.

“If you are getting married and not coming back to the home other than for a visit we would like that you move your things out. That way we have a free room.”
Parker told her. He knew that was exactly what Kelsey was hoping for even though she wasn’t the most assertive.

Kelsey was enjoying the abruptness of
Parker. He was the perfect match for her. “Oh uh… yeah I guess I can come over later this week and clean out my stuff.” Suzie sighed. She wasn’t fully prepared for such a strong presence in Kelsey’s life. She no longer could push Kelsey around nor use the ranch as a storage room for her stuff.

“That sounds great.” Kelsey told her mom, stepping forward and hugging her. “Let me know what day and I’ll make sure Annie cooks enough.”

“See you later” Suzie and Billy both said waving as they climbed into the car.

Once loaded up
Parker drove them back to Kelsey’s ranch. It was late when they finally made it back. Kelsey had drifted off to sleep, most likely from all the stress. When Parker stopped the truck he walked around to the passenger side and lifted Kelsey into his arms. Ryder and Hannah had tried to ask questions but they realized how tired Kelsey was and figured they would ask questions in the morning.

Kelsey mumbled and
Parker shushed. “Shh… just relax baby, I’ll bring you up to your room.” Parker told her tucking her into his side more as he walked. “Good night guys.” He said to Ryder and Hannah as he walked into up the stairs.

Parker
pulled the covers back on Kelsey’s bed and gently set her down. Kelsey’s eyes opened and she sat up. “I’ll take care of your shoes.” Parker said as Kelsey began to reach down to her feet.

“Will you stay with me?” Kelsey said quietly.

Parker searched her eyes. Was she drunk? No. She hadn’t drank anything other than pop. Was she high? No, of course not. He was trying to figure out if she really was serious.

Kelsey grinned. Grabbing hold of
Parker’s shirt she tugged him closer to her. “I’m serious, would you stay? My fiancé should stay the night in my room.” She smirked.

“
Of course I will, especially when you put it that way.” Parker smirked then winked. “But as a fiancé do I get privileges?” Parker teased as he crawled on the bed over top of Kelsey. He kissed her then tailed kisses down her jaw before she could even protest.

“Maybe.”
Kelsey mumbled.

“
Mmm…” Parker murmured against Kelsey’s skin as he gently kissed her neck. His hands were holding himself up which also pinned Kelsey, though she didn’t complain. Taking his hand and running it down the neckline of her shirt Parker trailed kisses down the top of Kelsey’s breast.