by Sade Rena
“Girl,” I say through clenched teeth.
“What’s up?”
I place the dishes in the sink. “Remember the lil’ boy I told you about. The one who jizzed in my hand that night at the hotel? The one I met at the bar after you left?”
“Yeah. What about him? You ran into him somewhere in town?”
“It’s Parker,” I bark only to flinch and lower my voice, repeating his name like saying it a second time will make a difference.
Her eyes widen. “Parker?” she cranes her neck and whispers.
“Yes.” I nod aggressively.
“Wow… wow. So, was it big?” She inches closer to me, trying to keep the conversation between the two of us.
“Leah,” I blurt. “He’s your brother.” I slap her upper arm.
“Aht. Correction! In-law, no blood relation, I can ask.”
“I can’t with you.”
“Well?” Leah says, rolling her neck.
“Oh my God,” I pause and look over my shoulder to be sure we’re alone. “It was pretty,” I whine.
“So it ain’t big?” She asks seriously.
“Bitch. We’re not going there. I’m not about to go into details about your brother’s-” She glares at me. “Brother-in-law’s penis.”
“Fine. Are we going to give him another go?”
I point at her. “No. First of all, there’s no we. You’re married to his brother-”
“You know what the hell I mean.”
“And it was supposed to be just that night. I wasn’t looking to see him after that. I only wanted to be fucked that day.”
“Oh, please!” She opens the oven, pulling out a pie and turning the burner from warm to off. “You still need to be fucked.”
“He’s a virgin,” I plead.
“And! We all were. Plus he needs something good, just like you need something good. Let the boy fix your plumbing-”
“The plumbing is fixed, bitch.”
“Well, let his ass fix something else. And plumb you while he’s at it.”
“Oh my God,” I laugh. “You’re so rotten.”
“You love it, though.” Leah winks and places the pie on a decorative tray.
I’m steps behind her with cutlery and dessert saucers as she makes her way back into the dining room. Leah cuts into the pie after I pass her the knife, and I take the liberty of handing out servings. Like me, the guys are ready to dive in. I’m so excited I can’t sit down fast enough. Leah’s a fantastic cook and baker. It’s been her thing for as long as I’ve known her. I always knew she would do this for a living; I just didn’t expect her to do it here in Texas. People loved her meals back in DC, but she got into the Culinary Arts program in Dallas. It wasn’t until years later did she move to Bradford, the next town over, where she met Denton, where I met Parker.
“Thanks,” Parker says, breaking my thoughts.
I nod, taking my seat and digging into the sweet goodness. It doesn’t take us long to devour the treat, expressions of fullness, and satisfaction making its rounds.
“Whew. That was bomb babe,” I add, and she smiles.
“Renee?” Denton asks. “This is the first time you’ve been here, right?”
“It is.”
“Look around, I’ll help Leah clean up.”
They exit into the kitchen, leaving both me and Parker alone. For fear I’ll say something stupid, I stand and head into the living room. There’re pictures everywhere of Leah and Denton at their wedding, but a few of the boys as kids and some of who I assume to be their parents.
I stop to pick up the photo of the bride and groom during the cake cutting ceremony. Their happiness radiates through me as I continue to scan the room. After a moment, I feel Parker before I see him standing next to me. I glance at him but swiftly shift my gaze.
“Hey. About the other night,” he whispers.
“It’s okay,” I interrupt. “Really. It happened… or didn’t. Whatever, it’s fine, let’s just forget about it. We’ll be around each other, I’m sure, so no need to make it awkward,” I toss back the wine from the glass I brought with me, sitting the empty container on the fireplace mantle.
I turn, not stopping to acknowledge his last attempt to chat with me. I say my goodbyes to the other’s, stealing one last glance at Parker. His shoulders slump, and he takes a deep breath. Regret fills me, and the devastation on his face is unsettling. I know it’s unfair to walk out like this, leaving things undiscussed. But I am who I am, and this is what it is. There’s no room in my life for whatever he’s looking for.
I huff, pull my shoulders back and exit, taking one last look at the house, vowing to make the best of this situation. How the hell I intend to do that, I’m unsure. But I pray the universe hurries and decides to be on my side for a change.
Chapter Four
Renee
I reach the bottom of the staircase, running my hand along the chipped wood railing, making a mental note to add sandpaper to the shopping list. Unsure of where to start, I stand in the entryway of my living room, scratching my head. What I need to be doing is writing.
That is one of the main reasons I moved. To buckle down and focus on my writing career away from the stress and heartache, I left behind in DC. But I guess if I ever want to turn this house into a home, I must focus on getting it in order. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t already gotten in my word count for the day.
I pick up a box of cleaning supplies but am interrupted by a knock at my door. My nose turns up, and my brows pinch together. I check my watch, and there’s no text from Leah, so I wonder who it could be. I’ve yet to meet any of my neighbors and aren’t expecting anyone. Through the decorative cut out on the left side of the frame, I spot a man standing on my porch. He’s tall, and his back is to me. There’s no delivery trucks or service vehicles out front, so I’m curious about who it might be.
Who the hell is this? I say to myself before cracking the door. “Can I help you?” My frown dissipates and is replaced with wide eyes.
He turns around, using the end of his t-shirt to wipe sweat from his forehead, giving me a tiny peek at his chiseled chest. I clear my throat and force my eyes to his face.
“Thought you wouldn’t answer for a second,” he says as he releases his shirt and grins at me.
I stick my head out, checking to see if Leah’s with him or something. But he’s alone. Alone and on my doorstep.
Fucking Leah, I know this is her doing.
“What are you doing here?” I ask perplexed.
“Came to help.” He lifts his left arm, showing me he’s come prepared with tools and all.
I glance around and then back at him. “Thanks, but I have it all under control.”
No sooner than the words leave my mouth, there’s a screech from inside the house and a loud thud. We both direct our attention to the noise, finding the light fixture I called myself installing last night shattered on the floor.
“Shit.”
He snickers. “You were saying?” he adds cockily.
I huff, turning my nose up at him.
See—universe—betrayal.
It seems I need to have a serious talk with the powers that be. This is the second time they’ve thrown a monkey wrench when it comes to this man, third if you want to count that first night.
“How do you even know where I live?” I snap, trying to save myself from embarrassment.
“Leah gave me the address, told me to get my ass over here.”
I sigh while shaking my head. “I’ma kill her.”
“If you don’t let me in, she might kill me,” he jokes.
I roll my eyes, contemplating whether that’ll be a bad thing. After a beat, Parker touches my elbow softly, and I shiver.
“Come on. Just let me help. I’m the foreman at the ranch, so this is right up my alley. Besides, if you’re responsible for the now broken chandelier, you can use me.” He smirks.
“Don’t be a jerk,” I add, trying not to release the laugh tha
t wants to escape me. With a deep breath, I step aside and hold out an arm. “All right.”
“That wasn’t too hard, was it?” he teases.
I scrunch my nose and roll my neck while mouthing his words back at him. His smile brightens, and he proceeds inside. This isn’t going to go well; I can sense it.
“Remind me to cuss Leah out when we’re done,” I say.
“Why would I do that when this is going to be so much fun?” Parker steps into the living room and sits his bag against the wall of the steps. “It’s nice in here. It’ll be even better once we get it all finished.”
I shut the door and stuff my hands into the pockets of my sweats while he continues to inspect the place. I don’t know why, but his being here sets me on edge, and I can’t help the embarrassment flowing through me. It’s not like he didn’t already know it needs work. I guess it bothers me because I don’t like having people over when my house isn’t guest-ready. All plans of hosting are on hold until I have freshly painted walls and a toilet that doesn’t require a kung fu grip to flush it. Okay, it’s not that bad, but still, I wasn’t ready for guests. Especially not him.
“Where would you like to start?” he turns to face me, removing his hat.
His muscles flex, and when he lifts his arms, I’m met with the deep v that hides behind his waistband. I swallow, thankful he doesn’t notice me staring. I’m really going to wring Leah’s neck.
“Uh. The kitchen. I want to cook without a mess around me,” I answer, pressing my brows together with my thumb and middle finger.
“Okay.” He makes his way into the kitchen. “You know, it’s not as bad as I thought based on the way you described it last night. It really is mostly cosmetic stuff.”
“That’s what I figured. My realtor and inspector made sure there were no structural or electrical issues with the house. The water heater issue was unexpected, but the tank just wasn’t equipped for the size tub I have.”
Parker taps along the walls; my guess is to make sure things are structurally sound. “It’s a great house,” he says. “I can’t wait till you decorate it.”
“Oh, what, you hate the boxes?” I add through a smile.
“Oh babe, the boxes are an impressive addition to the ambiance.”
Babe?
I run my hands along the front of my pants and turn to avoid his gaze.
“Do you have anything specific in mind?” Parker asks while pulling out his measuring tape along with a pen and paper.
I fold my arms over my chest and follow him into the next room. Without much instruction, he’s already gone to work measuring the floor, walls, and baseboards, writing everything down as he goes.
“I just want to fix it enough to live in it.” I shake my head and shrug.
He glances over his shoulders at me before opening the cabinets and checking the hinges. “You don’t have a specific color scheme or anything you’d love to have?”
I shake my head again, pinching my lips, and raising my brows at the same time. “Maybe something bright. I work from home, so I’d like it to feel open and light.”
“White paint, then?” he asks and turns on the faucet.
“That’ll work.”
Parker squats and checks under the sink. He knocks on the pipes, taking a moment to listen then stands to face me.
“How about this? Let’s make a quick run to the hardware store. We can look at some swatches and price out fixtures. Maybe seeing examples will help give you some ideas. And that’ll give me time to think it over and come up with a concept.”
“All right, sounds good to me.” I nod and lower my arms.
“Great, I’ll drive.” He speeds past me.
“Wait before you get started. I won’t be able to pay you. Not for a while, which is why I said I’d do it myself.”
His eyes shoot to the ceiling and the exposed wiring from where the chandelier used to be.
I laugh. “That was a fluke.”
“If you say so.” He chuckles.
“Seriously. I appreciate your help, but I don’t expect anyone to work for free. I can buy the materials and as soon as there’s more cash flow-”
He approaches me, placing his hands on either side of my neck, interrupting my speech. “You can pay me by going on a date with me,” he adds, peering at me for a response.
“What?” I yelp. “You’re tripping. How is that payment?” I pull from his grasp and stand over near the bay window.
“I am very serious. But not just one—many.”
“Parker.” I tilt my head. “What are you getting at?”
He inches closer. “You said my first time should be with someone who means something. So, I’ll make this mean something,” he adds, waving his finger back and forth between us.
My breaths heave in my chest, and my palms grow sweaty. I heard him loud and clear, and those were my exact words, but I didn’t mean for him to pick me.
God, what have I gotten myself into?
“Now, let’s go, babe.” He takes my hand, leading me toward the door.
I snag my purse that hangs from the stair’s railing and secure the house. Not once does he release his hold on my hand. I follow our grasp up to the side of his face, taking in his features. A shiver runs through me as a familiar sensation course through my veins. It’s the way I felt the first time we laid eyes on each other. The desire that made me brave enough to take him up to my room, the thrill that will probably get me in trouble.
Parker opens the passenger side of his Ford F350, waiting for me to sit before rushing to the other side of this silver beauty. I’ve always heard that Texans like enormous trucks, and it’s clear to me now how true that statement is. Even Denton has one of these big bodywork pickups, and I’d bet most of Parker’s friends have them too.
“Do all the cowboys drive these big ole vehicles?” I ask when he’s buckled in next to me.
He revs the engine, a wicked grin on his lips. “You think I’m a cowboy?”
I shrug. “I mean-”
“Cause’ if it’ll make you that much more interested in dating me, then I’ll be whatever you want,” he cuts in.
His words catch me off guard, and all I can do is smile.
“Ooo. That’s not a no. I’ll take it.”
I shake my head, my joyful expression never wavering. “You live and work on a ranch, and I bet you’ve wrangled cattle at least half your life. The only thing missing is the hat.”
Parker reaches behind my seat, pulling out nothing other than a black Stetson with a black and gold band. I burst into laughter, losing my breath while trying to pull it together. He chuckles and peels on to the road.
“What? I don’t look good in it?”
“Whew,” I say, pushing away the hilarity so I can speak. “No, you look great.”
“Why, thank ya, sweetheart.” He chucks his chin in my direction, playfully deepening his southern drawl.
I close my eyes and press my fingers into my forehead, unable to hide the smiles that have yet to leave my cheeks.
He glances at me, then up ahead. “Your smile is beautiful.”
I straighten my posture and work to avoid his gaze. “Thank you.”
“Here.” He removes his hat and flops it on my head. “Let me get a glimpse at how fine you are with it on.”
I perk up, form the infamous duck lips, and strike a pose in his direction, batting my lashes over my shoulders.
He whistles. “Damn. Ya might need to keep that on.”
I blush. “Oh stop,” I add, removing it and placing it on my lap while rubbing its rim.
Minutes later, we pull up to a hardware store and hop out. He meets me at the front of the truck, taking my hand into his again, and this time it doesn’t surprise me. Well, it does, but this time it’s more natural. I don’t flinch or lose my breath as I did at the house. I just go with it. Maybe it’s his confidence that makes it easier to fall into place with him? Or perhaps I’ve subconsciously wanted to touch him again?
/> He holds the door, waiting for me to enter the building first. The scent of sawdust, paint, and metal fills my lungs as I glance around, taken aback from it all. It never fails; every time I enter a Lowe’s or The Home Depot, I feel small and lost with all the equipment. I have that same vibe now, but not Parker.
He moves about like he owns the place, weaving through the aisles, speaking to clerks, calling them by name. I guess it makes sense for a smaller town. I’ve been here over a week, and it seems that with a population of under three-thousand, everyone knows everyone.
“Okay, so I know you don’t have anything specific in mind. But if you had to pick out your absolute favorite kitchen style, what would it be? If budget wasn’t a factor, which direction would you go with it?” Parker spins to face me once we reach the appliance section.
We stare at each other and, at the same time, say, “Farmhouse,” we chuckle.
“Don’t act as if you know me?” I tease.
He smirks. “I don’t, but I’m trying to.”
I blush again. Goodness, this Lil’ boy… stop it, Renee. This man is pushing every button I have—all in the best way possible.
“So, we’ve got a style, how about fixtures? Do you like copper, black, maybe a nice nickel?” He pries and leads me to the sink section.
“You think we need to change out the entire sink?” I tense up and breathe in deep.
“We’re just looking at potential costs today.” He rubs my shoulder, giving me a soft smile. “I’ll take what we see today, and come up with a plan, budget considered.”
My muscles relax, and I nod several times, redirecting to the items in front of me. Over the next hour, we skim through catalogs of tiles, vinyl, backsplashes, knobs, and everything else one will need for a kitchen upgrade. He walks me through all the options, explaining what works best together and what doesn’t. With all the tips he shares and all the insight he brings, you’d think I’d have an idea of what I want by now. But sadly, I’m no closer to knowing than when he first asked the question.
Decor is one thing; I can play around with that all day, but sadly budget is a concern, and even though I’d love my dream kitchen, it’s just not possible. Parker’s wrapping things up with a guy from the paint section while I walk the aisles, checking out the chandeliers.