“No sir, not me,” he answered, unable to keep the grin off his face. “She said it just didn’t feel finished so she wanted to polish it or some such. I don’t know, she’s too smart for me. Now tell me what you’re having so I can get back to work.”
“Special,” they said in unison. Rolling his eyes, he turned to the stranger.
“Make it four and whatever is good on tap,” the man answered. With a nod, Parker held a glass under the local IPA until it was full.
“I think you’ll like this one,” Parker said. “It seems to be a favorite. Your food should be out in a few. I’ll be back to check on you.” He could swear when he turned to work his way back down the bar refilling drinks, he heard the stranger ask a question about him.
Andrea was waiting for him when he got to the server end. He quickly filled two trays of drinks for her and helped her deliver them before heading to the kitchen to pick up several food orders.
“Well, it’s not too bad with Andrea now. But Astrid? I think Parker spends half the night with the baseball bat in his hands,” he heard when he set the burger in front of Jackie.
“What are you talking about now?” he asked.
“We were just telling our friend Andy here about what a tight ship you keep. Don’t let anyone mess with the girls. Except yourself maybe,” Alan said with a wink.
“Christ, you make me sound like a letch. I simply believe just because you walk through my door doesn’t mean you can turn into a wolf. Goes for me too, contrary to popular belief. Can I get you another?” he asked the stranger.
“We’re just giving you grief, Parker. He’s a pretty good kid,” Declan said, addressing the stranger. “With his dad in the rehab home, it’s our job to keep him in line. Finn would want us to make sure his nose stays clean.” Declan raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of, rumor has it Astrid has moved in with you.”
“And who's spreading these rumors?” Parker asked. He noticed the stranger was now watching them like he was sitting at a tennis match.
“I heard them around the neighborhood.”
“Well, someone needs to mind their own business,” Parker said, snatching the pint glass up from in front of him. He placed it into the rack under the bar and grabbed the coffee. All three men limited their beer to just two a night. They preferred coffee when their meals appeared.
“For the record,” Parker continued, dropping his voice. “SWAT raided the house behind where she was living. What did you expect me to do, leave her there? She’s got my room. I’m on the couch and we have both my little brothers up there.”
It was almost the truth. They didn’t need to know he had abandoned the couch a while back.
“Finn’s not going to like that. You know how he feels about living with a girl you’re not married to,” Declan hissed. Parker wished the stranger would stop leaning closer to be able to hear better. He didn’t want his private life aired in front of just anyone.
“Finn’s not here, is he?” he growled. “I’ll deal with Dad. She wasn’t staying another night in that hellhole. I’m moving her back into the dorms as soon as they reopen. Now leave it alone.”
There was a fine line between shutting down an uncomfortable private conversation and flat telling the other party to fuck off. Parker knew he was getting close to crossing over it. Then he would not only have to survive his father’s lecture about Astrid. He’d have to survive one on his attitude as well.
They stared at each other until Declan finally backed down.
“I just hope you know what you’re doing,” Declan said. “She’s a good girl.”
“I know that. But, whatever mess I make of this, it’ll be mine to clean up. Thanks for your advice, Mr. Blake. I know you’re just concerned about me fucking everything up before Dad can get back.”
“You’re wrong, Parker. We just like you and Astrid. None of us want either one of you to get hurt,” Alan added. Parker took a couple of deep breaths until his anger was back in check.
“I appreciate that. I’ll do my best.” With a thump on the bar, he headed back down to the other end.
* * *
Astrid stretched her arms over her head, working the kinks out of her back. She pressed the send button on her laptop before closing it. There wasn’t anything more she could add to her paper that she hadn’t covered.
She pulled the earbuds out of her ears and looked over at where Liam and Ronan were stretched out on the couch. Each had a video controller in their hands.
She gathered up the remains of their dinner from the coffee table. She stacked the plates to return downstairs to a chorus of thank-yous.
Balancing them in one hand, she carried them downstairs to the kitchen. She visited with Joseph for a few minutes before heading out to see if she could give Andrea a hand.
She found Parker at the end of the bar closest to the door, visiting with someone. As if he could sense her, his eyes immediately sought her out. She loved the grin that lit up his face every time he saw her.
As a matter of fact, she was having a hard time coming up with anything she didn’t love about Parker Donnelly. She smiled back at his beautiful face, wishing they were alone so he could kiss her.
