Love Begins with Fate (28 page)

“I have to change. Ryder’s clothes fit you right?” She asked curiously.

Parker
frowned slightly. “I assume so. We wear the same size…” He shrugged.

“Great.” Kelsey mumbled as she pushed open her brother’s bedroom door and proceeded to his closet. “There is nothing bad about the way you are dressed…” Kelsey said slowly, “I just can tell you would feel more comfortable in something else.”

Parker offered a small smile and stepped forward. “Thanks.” He replied softly as she pulled out a button up long sleeve top offering it to him.

“I have to change. Want to help me decide?” She asked.

“Sure.” Parker shrugged as he shrugged on the shirt and turned to follow Kelsey out of the room. Within her own room Kelsey had made her way to the closet. She hadn’t left much here but there was always the extra clothing which was stored here for her visits, those she knew Ryder would leave here when he packed her things up.

She stood staring into the closet. She hadn’t had
many choices… a slim fitting short white and pink strapless designer dress, a few pairs of jeans and tops, and a few light spring dresses. She shrugged and pulled out the white and pink dress, looking over at Parker she said slowly as she pulled the dress to show him. “Now… you can behave right?”

Parker
expression grew into a huge smirk as he pictured her in the dress. “Do I have too?” He grinned devilishly.

“Oh god
” She moaned whipping around to put the dress back on the rack. Parker chuckled and pulled her hand back, with the dress still in her grasp.

“You can’t blame me if I do
n’t…” he whispered. “Put the dress on and calm down.”

Kelsey let out a breath and turned within his grasp. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips before releasing her fully.

Kelsey made her way into the bathroom and pulled on the dress after stripping her clothes. It was a party dress, the very same one she had worn many times to work parties her father had taken both, her and Ryder too, and those which Ryder had dragged her too.

When she had finally pulled it into place and went back out into her room
Parker quickly pinned her to the wall grinning down at her. “Why don’t you wear stuff like this for me more often?” He purred as he ran a hand under the dress and up the side of her bare thigh.

Kelsey sucked in a breath as he gripped her butt and lifted her up pressing himself against her. “You look beautiful.”
Parker pressed a kiss to her lips before slowly setting her back down onto the floor.

Kelsey gulped as
Parker removed himself from above her and grabbed her hand. “Ready?” He asked. “I think they could use some more help downstairs.” He said softly.

Kelsey nodded and together they moved back down the stairs to the kitchen. She had decided against shoes since they were in the house anyway and so Kelsey stood a foot and a half shorter than the man beside her. It was finally nearly six o’clock and everything was prepared or in the process when their father burst through the door.

“Ryder?” He called. “I’m home. Did you get Kelsey to come...?” He let his words drop as he walked into the living room and smiled at them. “Hey kids.”

“Dad,
” Kelsey groaned. “Why did you invite everyone…?” she whined.

“I love you too dear.” He chuckled
, “don’t look so distraught. Your grandma has been bugging me about meeting your boyfriend and now that he’s more than that she wasn’t going to say no to another missed dinner with you.” Erik said straightly.

Kelsey groaned pushing herself up from her spot on the couch and wrapped her arms around her father. “I’ve missed you dad, but really the family…” She whimpered.

“You’ll be alright. Now, Parker …” he said turning his attention away from his whiny daughter. “I want to speak with you in my office as soon as I am changed.” He said firmly. “Do you remember where it’s at?”

“Yes sir.”
Parker nodded as he stood from the couch.

“Good man” Erik nodded. “Ten minutes tops.” Erik turned away and
Parker pulled Kelsey close offering her some reassurance.

“They can’t be that bad love.”
Parker said.

She frowned as she squirmed from his grip and walked back to her spot on the couch flopping down and focusing back on the television.
Parker chuckled and shook his head as he walked down the hall to Erik’s office.

He had remembered long ago when he was playing with Ryder, Erik had told them to stay out of the office without permission. He had been stern and fierce when
Parker and Ryder were younger and the words had stuck in their heads. Neither ever dared to enter the office with or without permission.

Parker
waited outside the office for Erik to come down the hall and he wondered what he would be talking about. A few minutes later, Erik strode down the hall and smiled to Parker.

“Shall we?” He said turning the door handle and pushing it open.
Parker gulped as he followed Erik inside. Quickly though he relaxed once he realized the room they were in wasn’t as strict and clean cut as he had imagined.

Parker
chuckled and smiled over to Erik. It wasn’t an office. No nothing of the sort. The room was painted in a rustic fashion with pictures of his kids all around. There were pictures of Kelsey riding her horses and Ryder with his football team mates. There was even a picture of Ryder and Parker together when they had gone to an amusement park with Erik one summer.

Erik smiled “What is in this room is for our eyes only. You will not and I repeat NOT tell my children what is in here.” He said firmly.

Parker chuckled softly as he looked around at the décor. There was a large big screen television sitting before a large sofa and recliner chair and a small out cropping which held his laptop computer and books above it. “This is your office.” Parker chuckled again.

“Want a drink?” Erik offered as he opened a mini fridge filled with pop and beer.

“Sure.” Parker smirked accepting the pop can from Erik’s outstretched hand.

“Do you even understand how hard it is to have twin children
who fight a lot?” Erik groaned. “When they were younger… they used to fight a ton. So this became my private office. When you boys would rough house and have your little ‘get togethers’, I would hide in here. I had it sound proofed, so I can’t and don’t have to hear a thing. They can’t even hear my television when I watch my action movies. I thought they might be able to one day when I had it up just a hair too loud but nope. Now if you tell them you’re a dead man MacKay.”

Parker
laughed whole-heartedly and shook his head. “I guess we all need our quiet time once in a while.”

“Oh you just wait and see when you have children…” Erik said then paused “You are interested in children am I correct…” He
asked before adding. “I know Kelsey wants a few. She would be an excellent mother.”

“As many as she would allow us to have sir.”
Parker grinned and nodded.

“Good.” Erik smirked. “Now… do you love my daughter?” He asked firmly.

“With all my heart. I know we haven’t known each other for long but…” Parker dragged on until Erik held up his hand.

“Don’t make the same mistake I did. Suzie, Kelsey’s mother and I had it good. We were a lot like you and Kelsey
; we had only known each other for two months before we got married. Why… I don’t know I just loved her from the moment I saw her and knew I wanted her to be mine.” Erik sighed as he sat down in his recliner. “But, I made a mistake and let her walk out of my life. If you love my daughter… don’t let that happen… I know she’s a tough girl but the toughest of people are the ones which are the most sensitive and need the most caring for.” Erik told him in a sad far off voice.

“I won’t let that happen
, sir.” Parker promised.

“Good man… good man,
” Erik beamed. “Are you planning on moving out to the ranch? I know my daughter can’t, well won’t move away from there.”

“Yes. I wouldn’t dream of killing her dreams.”
Parker nodded.

“You know she has a lot of pressure out there. The town is very old fashion and so is that side of her family. Running the ranch isn’t considered a woman’s job and they have been urging her to get married for a while now.” Erik looked up at
Parker offering him to sit down beside him on the couch.

“I have somewhat figured as much, but she is young why would they do that?”
Parker asked out of curiosity. He would still marry the girl as soon as he could without hesitation anyway, but it was just a different life out there and he understood that.

“I don’t know. It’s the old philosophy that woman can’t own land and such… They have been trying to set her up with guys since she was sixteen. It made her mother so mad that she would even call me, asking me to convince Kelsey to go to the parties and dances.
To go out with the boys that she had tried to set Kelsey up with, but I just refused to interfere. I figured she would find someone eventually. I just didn’t expect that someone to be her brother’s best friend.”

Parker
smiled. “I know what you mean. At first Ryder wanted to kill me.” Parker chuckled.

“Well, I think the guests will be arriving any time now and we shouldn’t leave Kelsey out there to flounder…” Erik said standing up. “I would be happy to give my daughter’s hand in marriage to such a fine young man as
you, Parker, but don’t crush her or I’ll be the father that pulls his weapons from the safe.” He said pointing over to a safe in the corner of the room.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,
” Parker replied.

Together the men walked out and returned to the living room. There was more talking now and both of them had known they had missed the guests arriving. “Oh finally
,” Kelsey breathed as she jumped up and wrapped herself in Parker’s arms. “Parker, this is Grandma and Grandpa Lodge.” She told him. “Grandma, Grandpa, this is my fiancé Parker MacKay.”

Parker
stepped forward offering his hand out “It’s nice to meet you.” He said as he shook Grandpa Lodge’s hand.

They had filled into the dining room and as soon as everyone else arrived they had begun dinner. Many had asked
Parker the same questions that had been asked from her mother such as was he sure he could help her run a ranch or that if he really wanted that kind of burden. Kelsey had been so embarrassed, she didn’t even bother to look up any more. Instead, she looked down at her plate and held Parker’s hand beneath the table.

Parker
had answered every question which was thrown his way swiftly and with ease. Dinner had progressed; Kelsey and Parker had been the first ones to leave for the night and promised to see Hannah and Ryder at school the next day.

The two had drove back home to
Parker’s house. “Your family is definitely an interesting one.” He smirked.

Kelsey groaned blushing as she put her head in her hands. “Don’t go there.” She whined.

When they arrived he parked in the garage and walked around to the opposite side of the car. He quickly wrapped his arms around Kelsey’s waist. She yelped in surprise.

“You’re cute.” He mused as his fingers began to tickle her sides.

Squealing Kelsey tried to squirm away. “Stop!” She cried in between giggles.

“Someone ticklish?”
Parker purred.

Kelsey
finally pushed from his grasp and ran toward the door. She could hear Parker’s laughter as she ran into the house. Kelsey had remembered the layout of the house so she ran as fast as she could toward the stairs.

Unfortunately,
Parker was quite a bit quicker, he caught her around the waist pulling her into his chest with a rumbling laughter before she reached the stairs. “You’re in trouble now princess” He chuckled as he lifted her up and flopped her over his shoulder and tramped up the stairs, Kelsey squealing with laughter the entire way.

Chapter 46

The weeks progressed quickly; Kelsey and Parker had enjoyed their time together while at home and then went to school together. They were practically inseparable.

Kelsey had called home to the ranch every other night, most of the time no problems had arisen. There had been a sighting of coyotes around the house stalking a few animals but they had been quickly scared off and on Thursday night there had been a scare with one of the pregnant cows’ breach birth. Kelsey had almost hoped a flight home right then but after a few hours everything was worked out and
Parker convinced her to stay.

“Are you ready?” Kelsey asked as she
peeked her head into the bathroom. It was Friday morning and Kelsey was already finished getting ready for school, it was the last day of school. “Yeah babe” Parker said putting his toothbrush away. He walked out into the bedroom and grabbed his bag following Kelsey out.

As they arrived at school
, Parker turned to Kelsey, “Are you ready for our last day here?” He asked softly.