"So? Family is a good place to start. I didn't work for my father after college, but he still gave me my first job. And you're working your ass off. Griffen is proud of you. He said he's grateful you offered to handle the renovations, that you took off like a rocket and it's going to be beautiful when you're done."
"Griffen said that?" I sat back, rolling the compliment around in my head.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he puts you in charge of the rest of the renovations after you finish with the cottage and gatehouse."
"The rest of the renovations?" I echoed. I hadn't thought about that, but of course there would be more to do. Half of the house was empty. Griffen wouldn't leave it that way forever.
"Parker, sweetheart, the only person doubting you is you."
I didn't know what to say to that. I wanted to believe him. But that was going to take time. I had no words, but I knew what I wanted. Standing, I scooched my chair around the table until I was sitting beside Nash. Leaning into him, I picked up my drink and took a sip. Warmth shot through me when his lips pressed to the top of my head in a kiss.
"I'm glad you're here," I said with a sigh.
"Me too."
We didn't talk much after that. We ate and had another drink and watched evening take over the gardens. Later, we wandered down the street and stood in line with the tourists for an ice cream cone. Eventually, we headed back to the Inn and collected Nash's sexy car.
"Do you think we can sneak back into the Manor?" Nash asked.
"I don't know," I answered, "but we're going to try."
ChapterTwenty-Eight
PARKER
The house was quiet, dinner long over. We took the back stairs again, creeping down the hall in the family wing on silent feet. Once we were safe behind my bedroom door, the lock engaged, I texted Savannah and Griffen to let them know we were back.
That done, I tossed my phone on a side table and turned to face Nash. "I–"
That was all I got out. He moved in a blink, so close his shirt brushed the swell of my breasts, his dark eyes hot on mine. My throat went dry at the predatory gleam behind his thick lashes. His hands at his sides, he didn't touch me. With each breath, my breasts rose and fell, my dress touching his shirt and falling away. So little contact, yet he surrounded me.
"You're mine, Parker," he said, his voice rough. "I'm not fucking around anymore. Do we understand each other?"
Not the most romantic declaration. I didn't care. Nash was right. I was his. And I was tired of pretending otherwise.
I nodded, my throat too tight for words.
He didn't move. Didn't touch me. Just stared down at me. Waiting.
I reached up, tracing a fingertip along his full lower lip. "I'm yours," I agreed. "And you're mine." The words settled in my heart, exactly right. Nash was mine.
His head dipped, his lips brushing my ear. "I'm yours. It's all I've wanted to be. Since the first moment I saw you."
His mouth took mine in a rough kiss, his hands at the zipper of my dress. Stubble scraped my cheek. I scratched his neck in my haste to get his buttons undone. Fabric tore. I yanked my mouth from his so I could get to his belt.
Our clothes hit the carpet in a ragged pile as Nash swung my naked body into his arms and strode to my bed. He didn't bother pulling back the covers. I took him down with me, arching my neck to get my mouth close to his, kissing him with awkward fervor, chins bumping, his stubble scraping my lips.
I wanted to absorb him, to feel every inch of his skin on mine, to make him a part of me.
We rolled, Nash pinning me to the bed, his hips twisting until they were between my legs, spreading me wide, his hard cock against me. I was ready, desperate to have him inside me, to feel him filling me, stretching me–
I waited, but Nash was motionless, his hands pressing mine into the bed, our fingers twined, elbows braced beside mine, thick cock at my entrance. I was ready. So ready. What was he waiting for? His dark eyes fixed on my own, heated and intent.
"I'm going to show you what it means to be mine, Parker." His head dipped, and he took my mouth in a long, luscious kiss.
"I think I know," I said, inanely, after he broke away.
"You don't know." He ran his soft lips along my jaw. "You don't know yet, but you will."
