Suddenly and without warning, with memories of her mom’s illness and fear of losing her father overwhelming her, she started to cry.
Chapter Five
Parker walked beside Emily, her anger obvious with each step she took. As much as he’d anticipated upsetting her, he felt bad anyway. Family was a touchy subject. He understood that more than most. Still, he was taken off guard when he heard the first sniffle beside him, then glanced over and realized she’d started crying.
“Hey.” He grasped her elbow and pulled her to a stop. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It’s not that. Well, not directly.” She brushed at her damp cheeks. “It’s more about my mother. And worrying about my father. It all comes back to overwhelm me at the oddest times. And it forces me to act in a way I think is protecting him.” She pulled in a deep breath. “I don’t expect you to understand.”
“Actually, I do. It’s cold. Let’s go inside and talk.”
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s noisy inside. Let’s go to Harper’s. I’ll text her, she’ll save us a table, we can get some hot chocolate and talk.”
He liked the fact that she wasn’t holding a grudge. She wasn’t happy with him but she was open to talking.
A little while later, they were at a private table in the corner of the coffee shop, the usually nosey Harper keeping to herself behind the counter.
Two hot chocolates sat in front of them loaded with whipped cream, and from the way Emily’s eyes opened wide, Harper knew her friend well.
She dipped her finger into the whipped cream and sucked the tip into her mouth, causing Parker to groan.
Her gaze flew to his and a blush stained her cheeks. “Oops.”
He laughed but sobered, not wanting to let the serious moment of earlier go. Not when he thought she needed to talk about her mom and her grief … and the unfair expectations she was placing on her father as a result.
He placed a hand on hers, causing her gaze to come to his. “About your mom … have you ever had a good cry? Or did you hold it in to protect your father?” he asked quietly.
She swallowed hard. “I cried. We’re on opposite sides of the house, Dad and I, so it was okay. And I had Harper to listen to me when I needed to talk or vent. And Dad likes talking about Mom and good memories.”
He nodded. “That’s good.” Unlike his brother, who didn’t want his dead wife’s name even mentioned … but then again, Mandy had betrayed him. It wasn’t even in the same ballpark as what had happened to James and Emily.
“Look, I know you lost your mom when you were younger,” she said. “It wasn’t fair of me to say that you wouldn’t understand.” She blinked, her lashes damp with unshed tears, and his stomach clenched at the sight.
“But I didn’t have a parent left that I loved the way you do your father. That’s different. But I have experienced loss.” And he wanted her to know about it.
Like his brother Ethan, Parker never spoke about that time in his life, not even with his siblings, but for some reason, he wanted to share with Emily so she’d know him. He wanted her to see him as more than some charming guy who’d swooped into her life, thrown cash at her father, and thought he knew best.
It was his turn to swallow hard. “I was engaged.”
Her eyes opened wide but she remained silent, letting him tell the story in his own time. “Rina and I were close in school, we both loved skiing, and she understood my love of competing, medaling, and turning pro. The relationship took a natural progression. But to make a long story short, we were driving one night and a car came out of nowhere, broadsiding us. I was just coming back from an injury on the slopes and the impact shattered my knee … but Rina, she died instantly.”
“Oh my God. I’m so sorry,” Emily said, wrapping her arms around him and cushioning him in warmth, understanding, and everything that was Emily.
The lump in his throat from talking about that time was painful. He swallowed it down and pulled away, glancing at her. “I just don’t want you to think that I don’t understand emotions or pain. Or that I intended to barge into your life and take over like whoever hurt you before did.”
She opened her mouth but he shook his head. “Not now. We don’t need to get into that today.” Someday soon, he wanted to know all about her. But she was suffering now and she needed to cope with her current issues with the inn and her father. “Look. You can’t protect your father from life.”
“But I can make it easier for him to live out his years and be healthy. Relaxed. Happy. In Florida, where it’s warmer.”
“What if the inn makes him happy?” Parker asked, because he’d seen the gleam in the older man’s eyes when he spoke of renovations and had accepted Parker’s offer.
“Or what if he just thinks it does because it was my mother’s dream?”
He groaned, realizing he wasn’t going to sway her on this subject. “Okay, just don’t fight with him over it. It’s not what you need in your relationship and working on the inn makes him happy.”
Emily opened and closed her mouth before deciding on what to say. “As long as he sells it at the end,” she finally muttered under her breath.
With a nod, Parker tucked those words away to think about later.
“Would you understand if I rescheduled dinner?” she asked. “I’m not in the mood to go out in public and make small talk with people I know that I’m bound to run into.”
“Sure.” He understood. He glanced at their probably cooled hot chocolate. “Now let’s drink.”
She shot him a grateful smile and picked up her cup, taking a long sip, letting what remained of the whipped cream create a foamy white mustache.
Unable to resist, he leaned in for a kiss, then swiped his tongue over her upper lip and groaned. “You taste so fucking good.”
“I think that’s the whipped cream.”
“I beg to differ. It’s all you.” He grabbed her neck and pulled her into him, sliding his tongue over her mouth once more before dipping inside.
She gripped his shoulders and the kiss got hotter, deeper, only an awareness of his surroundings keeping him from hauling her into his lap and making her his in the most carnal sense.
She licked his lips back despite the fact that he hadn’t tasted the hot chocolate yet, and the feel of her had him shifting uncomfortably in his seat, his cock hard and ready. It was going to be damned difficult to convince himself he wasn’t taking her here.
Until the distinctive sound of a male throat clearing interrupted them, and when he reluctantly broke off the kiss and glared at the intruder, he found himself looking at a man in a three-piece suit.
“So this is why you left me? So you could degrade yourself by practically having sex in public? I had no idea you were into voyeurism,” the man said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Before Parker could react, he felt rather than saw Emily shrink back from him and knew immediately who he was dealing with. No, he didn’t have a name or the full story, but the only one who could make his girl react like this was the asshole who had done a number on her.
And she was his girl and Parker intended to make that clear, starting now.
He rose to his feet. “Can I help you? Because from where I’m standing, you’re interrupting a private moment.”
The man looked like a typical stuffed shirt… As much as Parker hated to admit it, he reminded him of Ethan before Mandy’s betrayal had sent him spiraling. Like Parker looked when he went to the office back in Manhattan. Emily had called him city boy, and looking at this man, he now knew why the notion put her on edge.
“Parker Knight,” he said, not extending his hand for a shake.
“Rex Mason and that’s my wife whose mouth you had your tongue in,” the other man said, disgusted.
Parker blinked at the word wife.
In her chair, Emily let out a sound, then seeming to gather her courage, she rose to her feet. “That’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Rex. We’re legally separated.”
&nb
sp; The man scowled. “Not by my choice and you know it.”
“If it were up to me, our marriage would be over already. The state of Illinois wants us separated for two years … unless you’re finished contesting my petition?” she asked, sounding hopeful.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You belong with me.” Apparently Emily’s ex was pompous as well as dense.
Harper had joined them in a show of support for her friend. “This is my shop and I don’t want you here, Rex.”
“Oh, great. The peanut gallery speaks. I don’t need you filling Emily’s ears with bullshit about me. I’m here to see my wife and you can’t stop me.” He took a step forward and Parker stopped him with a hand to his chest.
Emily folded her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to see you.”
“But I flew in and drove all this way to be with you. I thought I could stay at the inn and we could talk out our differences.”
“No.” Parker spoke before Emily could. “She already said she doesn’t want to see you.”
“She can speak for herself,” Emily said and Parker realized he’d made a mistake.
He couldn’t do anything that would remind her of her controlling husband. The fact that they were still married irritated him, but the law was the law. They were legally separated and she wanted nothing to do with the man. Parker didn’t let himself wonder why he cared so much or what he could actually do with her, considering his life was in New York. He just knew he was feeling particularly possessive about this woman and he refused to let anyone push her around. She was his while he was here.
“You are not staying at my family’s inn,” Emily said. Having found her voice, she stood up for herself against Rex.
“Because of the construction? I was there earlier and saw the work being done. Is that what’s keeping you here in this small town? You’re an innkeeper now? Surely you want more for yourself. I can live with the construction if it means we can spend time together.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want you there regardless of the construction and that’s my family’s business you’re disparaging, so watch it.”
He narrowed his gaze, obviously not used to her talking back to him, but Emily went on.
“And since it’s the only place to sleep in the area, you’re going to have to drive back and stay somewhere else in another town. You wasted a trip coming here.”
His frown marred his otherwise perfect appearance, the well-cut blond hair, expensive suit, and tie. “Think about the life we had together, the penthouse and all your gorgeous clothes. They’re still in the closet, just waiting for you.”
He looked her over then, his gaze traveling from the top of her messy bun to the sneakers she wore on her feet.
A look Parker found downright adorable, appealing, and infinitely sexy.
Her soon-to-be ex’s scowl deepened as he took in Emily’s appearance. “Surely you can see you’ve let yourself go. You haven’t lost the weight you put on when… Well, never mind that.”
Emily winced, her hand coming to brace her stomach.
Parker narrowed his gaze.
“And shouldn’t you have gotten this muffin baking and waiting on other people out of your system by now?” Rex asked, obviously frustrated. Oblivious to everything, he continued to speak, putting his foot in his mouth with every sentence.
Lord only knew what Emily had once seen in this guy.
“Come home and things can be like they used to,” Rex cajoled in a sickening voice.
Jesus Christ. Was this guy for real, insulting her like that and then asking her to come home? “Hey now–” Parker stepped forward but Emily spoke up.
“It’s like you never knew me at all,” she said.
“I know the woman you became. The one you were always meant to be.”
The one he clearly had tried to mold her into, Parker realized. He’d had enough of this upright, ridiculous ass looking to change the perfect woman standing in front of him. “Time to go,” he said. “And if you say no, I have no problem escorting you out.”
Before he could grab the man’s arm, Rex got the hint. “I’m leaving. But this isn’t finished. We aren’t finished.” He adjusted his suit jacket and strode out of the shop.
Emily blew out a huge breath, her shoulders dropping in relief as the bells rang above the door, signaling he was gone.
“Oh, honey! I hate that asshole.” Harper pulled Emily into a huge hug and quickly released her.
“Thanks for having my back,” she said to her friend.
“Any time and you know it. I have to get back to work.” Harper rushed back behind the counter and Emily turned her gaze on Parker.
“Don’t say it,” Parker said before she could turn her wrath on him. “I shouldn’t have made any proclamations or decisions about whether or not he could stay. That was your choice to make.”
A more relaxed smile edged her lips. “Who said you weren’t teachable?” she asked and he was happy to see the visit hadn’t left her on edge and irritable. She blew out a long breath. “I appreciate you saying that.”
He nodded. “So…” He met her gaze, then had to state what was on his mind. “You’re married?”
* * *
Hearing Parker say the word married, Emily winced. “Legally separated. And though I probably should have mentioned it to you, I honestly try not to think about Rex or anything having to do with my life or time with him. I’m just counting down the days until the divorce becomes final.”
“He doesn’t want to let go,” Parker said.
“He’s like a dog with a bone. He got his teeth into me and has claimed me as his own. What I don’t understand is why?”
A soft expression took over his features. “Because you’re everything a man could want,” he told her and her body went warm all over.
“Except I’m not what he wants, something he never failed to remind me of. You heard him. He wanted to change me from the day we met… Still does. And I let him.”
She looked away, embarrassed by how weak she’d been when it came to Rex. But she’d been a small-town girl alone in the big city, thinking that’s what she wanted. Then she met an exciting man who swept her off her feet and she hadn’t realized she was turning into his vision of her until the deed was done.
“I’d expect him to take one look at me now and think he was lucky to be done with me.” She gestured to her appearance, hair in a messy updo, sweats, very little makeup. And yeah, the extra weight she’d put on when she’d been pregnant with his baby, something she did not want to get into with Parker. At least not now. “He wants me back the way things were.”
“And that’s not happening.” Parker pulled her into his arms and she hated to admit she felt safe there.
Once she’d seen Parker side-by-side with Rex, the differences had been stark. Her city boy was a sexy guy with nice clothes, an amazing personality, and a tendency to exert his will on occasion. But he never failed to look at her as if she were the most beautiful woman on the planet, no matter what she wore, and he never once belittled her. Rex had made sure to get in his digs, even today during his pitiful attempt to get her back into his world. A place she wasn’t going. No matter what.
When they arrived back at the inn, her father was waiting in the main room, pacing and looking unhappy.
“Dad?” She stepped toward him, not holding a grudge or wanting to fight with him over the inn. “I’m sorry I lost my temper,” she said.
He held out his arms and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. “I know. It’s all good. We’ll work it out,” he promised her. Only once she’d stepped away did he sigh and say, “Rex was here earlier.”
Behind her, a silent Parker stiffened at the mere mention of the man’s name.
She nodded. “He found me in town.”
“I didn’t tell him where you were. Not that I knew. But I assumed you went to Harper’s. Did he bother you? Because he tried to get me to let him stay here and I told him absolutely not.”
Her father rubbed his hands together nervously.
“It’s fine, Dad. I’m fine.”
“We handled him,” Parker said, coming up behind her and wrapping an arm around her waist.
She didn’t know what to make of his possessiveness. He was staying for a while but they both knew it was temporary. But after her revelation today about the differences between him and Rex, and his obvious dedication to her family, she was going to indulge for the time he was here, and she leaned back into him.
Her father seemed to relax at their words and the fact that they presented a united front.
She hoped he wasn’t too disappointed when Parker left after he finished helping with the inn. It was going to be hard enough for her to get over him without adding her dad’s feelings to the mix.
* * *
Because of her lifestyle in Chicago, Emily had sexy lingerie that she’d purchased for Rex’s pleasure, something she didn’t like to think about anymore. When she’d left, she hadn’t taken much with her, especially in the way of nighties, but she did have one with a tag that she’d never worn before.
Later that night, alone in her room, she dangled the short piece of silk and lace from her finger, staring at it as she considered the possibility of slipping on the garment and walking across the hall to Parker’s room. Her nipples tightened at the thought and her sex pulsed with desire.
Obviously she wanted to be with him and she knew better than to think he’d turn her away. Their chemistry was off-the-charts hot. Which meant she didn’t need to be nervous.
Still, her stomach fluttered as she gathered her courage and slipped into the negligee. A glance in the mirror, a fluff of her hair, and she then had to talk herself into believing he wouldn’t mind the soft, rounded belly she still had. Thank you, Rex, for reminding her of that fact. Not that she ever forgot the reason behind the stomach but she’d managed to come to terms with the miscarriage and was even grateful that it meant she wasn’t tied to Rex permanently in any way. But she’d still mourned the loss of her baby.
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