AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Parker didn’t know how much time passed as he grappled with the dueling urges to push her away or pull her closer. Maybe he should do something more productive, like bang his head against the nearest wall.
‘You’re right, family should stick by you,’ she said, and he lifted his lids. ‘No matter what.’ Amber raised her chin to look up into his face, her eyes warming him in ways he’d never imagined. ‘Which is why you should come to your mother’s dinner party,’ she went on, and Parker didn’t bother suppressing the groan.
Christamighty, not this again.
‘To support Reese,’ she went on.
Without warning, she slid down from between his arms, and he instantly missed the feeling of warmth.
That tiny bit of...security, for lack of a better word.
‘You should go to the party, Parker,’ she said again.
After sitting up, she slipped on her jeans. Her shoes came next, and he absolutely did not panic that she was dressing to leave. Because that would be a stupid thing to do.
‘Why?’ he asked.
‘Because your sister loves you,’ Amber said as she stood to look down on him.
Something inside him rejected the notion, and not just because Reese had never said so in as many words.
‘And if you can’t do it for Reese,’ she went on. Her voice dropped an octave, creating an ominous pressure in his lungs. ‘Then do it for me.’
This time the word came out harsher. ‘Why?’
* * *
Reese stared down at Parker, her heart pumping wildly in her chest.
‘Do it for the kid who saw you as worthy of adoration all those years ago,’ she said.
The rest was on the tip of her tongue as she hesitated. But her insecurities suddenly seemed so insignificant compared to all that Parker had been through. He deserved the truth. He needed to hear the truth.
So she went on. ‘And do it for the woman who’s falling for you now.’
Denial, exasperation and a massive dose of confusion flared in his eyes just before he slammed his lids shut, muttering, ‘Damn.’
She hadn’t started out intending to share so much. But suddenly her choice to tell Parker the words that were so simple and complex, the words she was pretty sure he’d never heard in his life, was important—not just for Parker, but for herself. An extension of her decision to finally fight for what she wanted. And she wanted this man in her life.
Not the boy she’d obsessed about in the past, but the man of today.
Ironic, given it might be too late for Parker to ever truly let himself love anybody.
When he finally opened his eyes, a blank look on his face, she simply picked up the holster containing his keys and gently dropped it by his foot. Going on, she looked at him and spoke the words she knew he needed to hear.
‘I’m falling in love with you,’ she said. ‘And you deserve to be loved, Parker Robinson.’
SIX
Whywhywhy?
Two weeks later Amber was dealing with her last customers of the day and preparing to leave for the Michaels’ dinner party, still unsure she’d made the right decision to abandon Parker with his keys to free himself. Which he had, of course. She’d checked, just to be certain. Part of her thought she’d been making a statement by walking out, taking the first step in seizing control of her romantic life by seducing the man she’d dreamed of for ages, sharing the truth of how she felt about him and then exiting with her head high. The other part knew the truth.
Cowardcowardcoward.
Because she didn’t have the strength to stick around and really deal with the repercussions of her confession.
Fabulous, Amber.
Staring at the couple deciding on the style of the tuxedo for their wedding, she smiled, a tiny bit envious. When the groom-to-be leaned over and kissed the top of his fiancée’s head, Amber’s lips twisted. Such a simple gesture, shared and accepted so freely. As if the act was a given.
For some people displays of affection came easily.
Amber’s cell phone rang and, grateful for the distraction, she turned her back on the couple and answered.
‘Amber,’ Reese said. ‘You’ll be there tonight, right?’
‘Of course.’ Without thinking, she went on. ‘Have you heard from Parker?’
My. God.
Would she always sound like that twelve-year-old little girl who loved Parker Robinson?
‘No,’ her friend said with a sigh. ‘But at least he agreed to be in the wedding, so thanks for that.’
Amber murmured a ‘No problem.’ And how did she tell Parker’s sister that the only reason he’d agreed to be in the wedding was because her friend threatened to tell embarrassing stories to his partner? Maybe Parker really was that shallow. Deep in her heart she knew he wasn’t.
But if Parker believed it, then the truth didn’t really matter.
Clutching her phone, Amber forced herself to focus. ‘Your dress is due to arrive next week,’ she said to Reese. ‘I’ll set up a time for the first fitting.’
Reese’s enthusiastic ‘Good’ was heartwarming. She knew Parker had his doubts about his sister’s marriage, but Amber envied Reese and Dylan because their relationship always looked so comfortable and easy. Just as Amber always thought love should be. Of course, Parker’s very DNA made acknowledging the possibility of forever near impossible.
Behind her, the tinkle of the bell over the door signaled another customer. Signing off the phone, she slipped it in her pocket as she turned...and spied Parker just inside the entranceway.
Her head spun, her gut tensed and her heart hurt too much to function. Unfortunately the overly dramatic angst of her teen years didn’t compare to the real, grown-up pain of a woman. Falling for him again was turning out to be easy. Doing something about it would be hard.
Now that she’d adjusted to his presence, her eyes roved lovingly over him. He wore jeans and his leather jacket, as usual. The only difference was the button-down shirt that he wore.
No matter, Amber was sure it smelled of leather. She’d spent enough time in his arms, kissing every inch of his skin to know his scent inside and out.
When the couple called out their goodbyes, Amber waved, working hard not to feel a sliver of jealousy as they held hands on the way out. Uneasy, she glanced at Parker, who was watching them leave. The slow barrel roll her belly was attempting wasn’t helping her nerves, and she swiped a damp palm down her dress pants.
‘Tuxedo rental,’ she managed to say lamely, nodding at the retreating couple.
His brow furrowed in humor. ‘Did you measure his crotch, too?’
‘It wasn’t necessary.’ Despite everything, she had to bite back the smile. ‘Only for you.’
His mouth quirked. ‘I figured as much.’
Five heartbeats pounded in her chest before the awkward silence was broken.
‘So...’ Parker leaned a shoulder against the wall, crossing his arms with that earthy easiness that was so seductive. And how could such a simple movement be so sexy? ‘What kind of woman leads a guy on by handcuffing him to a table and then up and leaves?’
‘I put the holster with the key in reach of your foot,’ she said. ‘I knew with a little bit of time and effort you’d eventually escape.’
Parker let out a cocky hunh. ‘I was free and out the door in two minutes.’
Clearly he was proud of his skills.
Hiking an eyebrow at the expression on his face, she said, ‘Ten.’ She tipped her head. ‘It was ten minutes.’ And when he shot her a sharp look, she gave a small shrug. ‘I was watching your car from the window.’
The pleased look on his face was comical. ‘You worried I wasn’t going to get free, Ace?’
And here he was, choosing the shallow route again. As if the amount of time it took him to retrieve his key from the holster and unlock the cuffs around his wrists—not an easy task, she was sure—was the most important thing they needed to discuss.
‘I think we already establis
hed that I do care,’ she said.
Parker closed his eyes, and the easy look on his face died, his voice low. ‘Damn, Amber.’ He rubbed his neck and met her gaze again. ‘I got good news today, so I’m in a first-rate mood. And you were the one who convinced me to go to my mom’s tonight.’
Her heart soared at the words, and she realized that also explained his button-down shirt.
Frowning, Parker went on. ‘But I don’t think I’m ready for...’
He dropped his arm to his side and looked at her. Shifting against the wall, his movements were now stiff. He looked as if he was braced for battle.
A million questions crashed through her mind like a ten-car pileup, but she decided to start out simple.
‘What’s the good news?’ she asked.
‘That teen I was telling you about? The suspect in my latest case?’ he said. ‘Turns out he’s innocent. He’s been cleared.’ The small shrug was simple yet meaningful. ‘I don’t know if that will help him with his parents or not, but at least he’s got a second chance.’ The relief on his face was obvious.
And this was why she was falling for Parker all over again. He liked to pretend he was above those pesky things called emotions. To pretend he felt no fondness or affection or hope. To pretend he didn’t care. But it wasn’t that he had no heart. The problem was his heart was so big, had been through so much, the need to protect himself was automatic.
Today was an encouraging step, but there was a real risk this instinct might never be undone completely.
