The pounding in my chest was echoing in my ears. I hadn’t needed the kiss to remind me of how much I loved Paxton, but when our lips met and our bodies rushed with energy, I knew deep in my heart that this was the woman I would love for the rest of my life. She was the reason my heart beat.
When the doorbell rang I silently thanked God. It was taking every ounce of strength not to pick up Paxton and lay her over the island and bury my dick inside of her. The constant battle between my head and my heart was getting exhausting.
I reached down and adjusted my rock-hard dick.
“Jesus, get a grip, Parker,” I whispered to myself as I walked to the bottle of rum. I poured a shot into the glass and went to drink it when I stilled at a familiar voice.
“Joe?”
“Hey beautiful. Miss me?”
What in the fuck is he doing here?
I tossed the shot back and set the glass on the counter.
Paxton stood there in silence for a little longer than I would have liked.
“Um, Joe now isn’t really a good time.”
His eyes lifted and met mine. When his smile faded, mine grew bigger. That’s right motherfucker. I’m back.
He let out a gruff laugh and said, “Steed Parker. I heard you were back in town. Planning on sticking around this time?”
Asshole.
“I sure do.”
Paxton cleared her throat and stepped in front of Joe as he attempted to walk in.
“Now’s not a good time, Joe.”
“Nonsense, looks like you’re having a bit of a reunion here.”
Walking around the island, I made my way into the living room. “And I don’t believe you were invited.”
Paxton glanced over her shoulder. “Steed. I can handle this.”
Joe laughed again. “So you think you can ride on back into town and pick up where you left off?”
“Excuse me?” Paxton said as she placed her hand on Joe’s chest. “I think you need to leave now, Joe.”
He looked down at her and then back at me. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here, Parker.”
It was my turn to laugh. “You don’t even know why I’m here, asshole.”
“That’s enough, both of you stop. Joe, I’m asking you nicely, please leave.”
A frustrated expression moved across his face as he glared and then finally focused in on Paxton while pushing himself into her house. He grabbed her by her upper arms and shook his head as he spoke.
“Why, Paxton? Why would you let this lowlife back into your life? He left you, remember? He doesn’t love you and never did. All you were was a sex thing for him to play with until he found something better.”
I walked up to him and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him away from Paxton.
“Fuck off, you son-of-a-bitch!” I hit him in the face, causing him to stumble back.
Paxton screamed and rushed to Joe. “Steed! Are you crazy?”
“He had his hands on you, Paxton. I’m not going to let him touch you and say bullshit things like that.”
Joe wiped the blood from his mouth as he glared at me from the floor. Paxton was kneeling down next to him. Why she gave a shit how he was, I couldn’t imagine.
I pointed at him. “You ever say something like that again and I’ll—”
“Enough!” Paxton cried out. “Steed, I think you need to leave.”
My eyes widened in shock. “What? Why in the fuck do I need to leave? He’s the one who came bursting in here and manhandled you!”
“I could have handled it, but it looks like some things never change. Your hot-headed temper likes to take control.”
There was no way she was taking that asshole’s side right now. “Pax, are you serious right now? We were talking …we were… I thought… Why are you doing this?”
“I need you to leave, Steed. Now.”
Joe stared up at me with a shit-eating grin on his face.
Nodding, I glanced between the two of them and settled my gaze on her. “Fine. If that’s what you want.”
She stared up at me, anger still visible.
“I guess maybe you were wrong,” I said.
The anger on her face immediately melted away. “What?”
“Maybe you did stop loving me.”
One more survey of Joe, and I simply nodded. “You got what you wanted, fucker.”
Paxton stood. “Steed. Wait.”
Without looking back, I walked out the front door and to my truck.
“Steed!”
I opened the door to my truck and glimpsed back at the house. “You asked me to leave, Paxton. I’m doing what you asked, unless you want me to stay. Do you want me to stay?”
She wrapped her arms around her body and said nothing.
I slowly nodded. “Okay, I guess I’ll see you around.”
My heart felt like it had been ripped from my chest all over again. This time, before I walked away, I asked her twice if she wanted me to leave. I started up the truck and drove away.
Chloe was practically pulling my arm out of socket as she dragged me behind her.
“Hurry, Daddy! The carnival is about to start!”
Glancing around, I couldn’t help but notice all of the people. Where in the hell were some of them yesterday when Paxton needed help setting up? They must have gotten more help after we left.
“A petting zoo!” Chloe shouted.
Laughing, I shook my head. “Pumpkin, you live at a zoo practically.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s not the same, Daddy!”
As we walked over to the zoo on wheels, I searched the crowd for Paxton. I knew she was here and a part of me dreaded seeing her. Especially since she let me walk away from her last night, leaving her alone with that fucker, Joe.
Before I knew it, I was in the damn pen chasing a duck down for Chloe to pet.
The battle was won, and it was worth it when I saw the smile on Chloe’s face. Her little blue eyes stared up and pleaded. “May I get a duck?”
My heart dropped. “Huh?”
A light chuckle came from my left. Turning, I wanted to groan when I saw Gina standing there. “They are so adorable at this age. Lilly wants a duck too.”
Chloe jumped up and down. “We can get sister ducks, Daddy. And then they can have play dates.”
Lilly jumped around in agreement. When I looked at Gina I had to turn away. Holy shit if she wasn’t giving serious fuck-me eyes.
“Chloe, we’re not getting a duck. Sorry pumpkin.” I took her hand and glanced back at Gina. “Good seeing you. We’ve got to run, meeting someone.”
Her lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Bummer. Let’s plan a play date! Soon!”
Lifting my hand, I called back to her. “Sure. I’ll get with you on it.”
The second we got out of the mini-zoo I took off. “Daddy, why are we walking so fast?” Chloe asked.
I slowed down my pace. “Sorry, pumpkin. How about we go find some games to play?”
Her smile grew bigger. “Games! Yes!”
We headed over to the area that had all of the games set up. Each one they got to play for something. A homework pass for the older kids, tea with your teacher, a trip to Build-A-Bear, a floating raft trip down the Frio.
“Daddy! It’s a fishing game.”
Something in the air changed, and I quickly looked around. Paxton was nowhere to be found so I shook it off. Chloe was yanking on my shirt, trying to get me over to the small circular pond where the kids were fishing.
When I walked up, I glanced down. Real fish. Yep, we’re back in Texas all right.
“Please may I fish?”
My Chloe loved fishing. She and Dad had already been to the lake on the ranch about a dozen times. Smiling, I motioned for the kid manning the booth to give us a pole.
“Just one, sir?” he asked confused.
Laughing, I stated, “She fishes better than me.”
When the kid handed her the fake worms, Chloe stared at him with a confused expression. “Those ain’t real.”
“Those are not real,” I corrected.
She quickly glanced around and dashed over to the open field.
“What’s she doing?” the kid asked.
A smile spread across my face. “Looking for a worm.”
“But we have worms. She has to use these.”
My eyes swung back over to the kid then I glanced around at their setup. “I don’t see where it’s posted they have to use your bait.”
He glanced over to the older man who laughed and winked. “Hey, if she’s got the guts to dig her own worm, she deserves to use it.”
I gave him a nod as my way of saying thank you.
Chloe came back with a huge fat earthworm.
“I got me my worm, sir.”
“Would you like me to hook for you?”
By the look on Chloe’s face, he knew her answer and handed her the pole again. Promptly getting her worm on the hook, Chloe tossed it into the water. Peeking up at me, she grinned and my heart fluttered in my chest.
I was in so much trouble with this little girl.
So much trouble.