By the time Nash was out of the shower, I was ready. I wasn't used to standing up for myself, but I had to start sometime. And this was Nash, who I loved. Nash, who loved me. "I'm not staying in the house. I have a job to do."
Nash sighed. "I know, and I know the schedule at the cottage is important, but you need to delegate for a few days. We don't know what Tyler is up to. You need to be careful."
"I'm tired of Tyler dictating my life. And I'll repeat, I have a job to do."
"Griffen would understand," he started. I wasn't having it.
"Of course he would. But I don't. I'll be with Billy Bob and probably the electrician all day. Working. Tyler won't want to come anywhere near the cottage. He'd take one look at all the dust and run screaming."
Nash pulled his shirt over his head. "I don't want to risk it."
"It's not up to you." I pulled on my own shirt, a clean but ragged t-shirt I'd stolen from one of my brothers with the logo of a local sandwich shop across the chest. I was working in Savannah's bedroom that morning, scraping old paint from the fireplace mantel, and it was going to get messy, as most things in the cottage did these days.
Nash clenched his jaw. "Sweetheart," he began.
"Nash. Stop." He did, but he wasn't happy about it. "I have no idea how long Tyler is going to string this out." I felt sick just thinking of him living in my house, especially when I couldn't leave. "According to Angie, this could go on for a while given how the courts are backed up and his refusal to cooperate. It could be a year. Or more. And I am not going to hide in my room until he decides to get the hell out of my house. I'm not going to let him take my life from me." I drew in a breath for courage. "And I won't let you do it either."
Nash reared back. "Parker, I'm not taking your life from you, you just—"
"I know you don't mean to," I interrupted, "But by asking me to stay in the house and never be alone, you are."
Nash pushed a hand through his hair, his eyes narrowed in frustration. "I want you to be careful."
"I will be," I promised. I hated making him unhappy, but I didn't have a choice. I took one more minute to shove a travel mug into my single serve coffee maker and press Go. I was not facing the day without coffee. That was a scarier thought than running into Tyler. By far.
Nash didn't argue while I made my coffee, instead spending his time getting dressed and brushing his teeth. He was ready when I was and followed me out the door. "There's only one key," I said, turning it in the lock.
"You keep it," he said. "If I need anything from the room, I'll come find you."
"Parker!" I looked up to see Griffen coming down the hall from the direction of the master suite.
Griffen strode closer, his eyes narrowing as he took in my clothes and the travel mug in my hand. "You're going to the cottage?"
"Don't you start," I said, pointing a finger at him. "I already argued with Nash about it. I have things to do at the cottage, a meeting I'm late for, and I'm not spending the rest of however long locked in my room. Deal with it."
Griffen shot a look at Nash. "What did you do to her?"
"Don't blame me, this is all Parker."
"Parks," Griffen started.
I walked past him. "Seriously, I'm late. Billy Bob and the electrician are waiting. I'll be careful. I promise."
Griffen said something under his breath. Probably better that I couldn't hear. Nash followed me, calling over his shoulder to Griffen, "I'm just going to walk her over to the cottage, hand her off to Billy Bob."
"Take your time," Griffen called back, sounding relieved.
We didn't say much on the short walk through the Manor and across the side lawn. I had my eyes out for Tyler, but, aside from Hawk working in the barren gardens, we didn't see anyone. Tyler was probably still asleep at this hour. As long as he wasn't near me, I didn't care where he was.
"Be careful. Lock the door to the cottage when you're inside," Nash said before kissing me goodbye.
"I will, I promise." And I did, flipping the deadbolt as soon as I closed the door behind me.
Careful wasn't going to be good enough. Not when it came to Tyler. Careful wasn't even close.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
PARKER
