by Jewel E. Ann
Chapter Thirteen
“Do I seem happy to you?” Parker asked Mindy over lunch at a sub shop a block from Mindy’s work.
“Everyone who doesn’t have to pee a hundred times a day seems happy to me.”
Parker grinned. “That girl I shared the womb with is also pregnant. Did I mention that?”
Wiping her mouth, Mindy laughed. “Piper is pregnant? Wow. Bet that stings a bit.”
Parker picked off a piece of bread and tossed it in her mouth. “The pregnancy? No. The fact that they are moving back to Iowa? Yes.”
“Shit! Are you serious?”
“Serious. And my mom came over last night to see how I felt about them living with me until the new house they’re building is completed … in five months.”
Mindy gasped. “No. Fucking. Way. What did you say?”
“I said no fucking way, but here’s the kicker. Technically, the farmhouse and the land it’s on is half Piper’s. Our grandparents left it to both of us. Caleb makes an obscene amount of money, so they haven’t asked for a check yet, but something tells me I’m either going to have to choke on my pride and let them live with me or sell the place when they demand Piper’s share.”
Parker blew a long breath out her nose. “And mark my word, Piper would love nothing better than to see me have to sell it and move back home … which I will not do. I will live at a homeless shelter before I move back for the third time.”
“When are they moving back?”
“Middle of July.”
“That’s a month away. You can work something out. Maybe you could fuck her husband … you know … for revenge. If she’s half the hot mess I am, it won’t take much for Caleb to jump into your bed.”
Parker twisted her lips to keep from grinning while she leaned back and scratched her chin. “That would even the score, wouldn’t it?”
Mindy giggled. “Yes, it totally would. Everyone in your family would disown you, and it would be quite the story to explain to your niece or nephew someday, but …”
“Way to look at the bright side.” Parker cracked a smile.
“Speaking of the bright side, how’s the new job?”
“I’m getting ready to quit.”
“What? You said it was the perfect job and the pay was insane for a job with no experience necessary. What happened?”
“I think the couple is having marital issues.” Parker stared at the crumbs on her plate, fearing Mindy would see the bigger picture if they made eye contact.
“Lord, I hope it’s not because of the kiss at the bar. If that’s the case, I will totally stand up in your defense that it was nothing more than too much alcohol, and everyone who knows you also knows there is no way you would ever do anything with a married man.”
Nope. Not Parker, president of the “I Hate Cheaters Club.”
“Sabrina, the wife, travels a lot with her job. I think it’s put a lot of stress on their marriage.”
“I can see that. You know what else I can see?”
“What’s that?”
“Back to your original question: Do I think you’re happy? No. I don’t. You need to get out more, have some fun, and find a sexy guy to crawl between your legs.”
“I don’t need—”
“Aaannnd … I know just the guy.” Mindy grinned. “Mark. He’s the newest doctor at our clinic.”
“A podiatrist? No. I cannot date some guy who messes with nasty feet all day.”
“Ankles too. That’s not too nasty.” Mindy failed to keep from giggling. “I know. It’s a little gross. I’m glad I just answer the phone. But come on … one date. He’s wet behind the ears, just out of school, and so eager to please.”
“You think hooking up with some eager foot-fetish doctor will magically make me happy?”
“Do you have any better ideas?”
No. She didn’t.
*
After going a full week without running into Gus, Parker agreed to a date with the foot doctor. An hour before her date’s arrival time, Sabrina messaged her finally offering the five minutes to chat. Parker threw on her strapless white dress that hugged her curves, stopping two inches above her knees. Then she slipped into black heels that showcased her calves.
“Wow, aren’t you dressed to kill.” Sabrina inspected Parker as she stepped into the foyer. “Please tell me you’re not wasting that dress and those shoes on a girls’ night out.”
Parker rubbed her glossed lips together to contain her grin. “I have a date.”
“First date?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me about him?”
After weeks of wanting two seconds of Sabrina’s time, she chose the worst possible moment to give it to Parker.
“He’s a—”
“Sabrina, have you seen the—” Gus walked around the corner from the kitchen, stopping with a jerk to his whole body as his eyes homed in on Parker.
“Look at our little neighbor girl, all grown up and looking stunning. Don’t you think, August?”
Parker looked anywhere but directly at Gus. High heels had never been an issue, but for some reason, her knees and ankles wobbled as she stood there under the scrutiny of the Westmans.
“Uh … yes. Wedding?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, August. On a Thursday night? Really?” Sabrina rolled her eyes. “Men. What did you want to talk to me about?”
Gus kept his eyes on Parker. She could feel it. He didn’t take Sabrina’s hint to leave the room.
“It can wait a second. Did Gus need something?” Parker said.
“He can wait. Your date can’t.”
Parker gave in and shot Gus a quick glance. His jaw set, hands fisted, maybe in preparation for impact. He had no way of knowing what she wanted to discuss with Sabrina, but he sure had to have an idea.
“I’m giving you my two-weeks’ notice.” Parker’s voice trembled along with her knees and ankles.
“Oh? Why? Do you need more money?” Sabrina took a step closer, showing actual concern—probably for herself.
“No. You’ve been very generous. But I think it’s time to find a job that’s suited for my degree. As much as I’d love to walk your dog and bake banana bread all day, I think it’s time to grow up and find a real job.” She cleared her throat. “No offense.”
Sabrina shook her head. “None taken. Have you secured another job?”
Parker gave Gus another quick look. His eyes roamed over her body, bringing on a need for an underwear change.
“N-no. Not yet.”
“Well, don’t feel the need to give me a two-weeks’ notice, but also don’t feel the need to quit until you’ve actually accepted another job. I’m sure you have living expenses. Why go without an income if you don’t have to? And honestly, I’d be so grateful if you could stay until after our Fourth of July party.”
Parker’s teeth dug into her lower lip as she searched for the courage to say, “No, thank you,” but Gus’s eyes on her left her overheating and fuzzy in the head. “Okay. Thanks.”
“Great! I’ll leave you a list on the counter in the morning. Have a great time on your date.” Sabrina lowered her voice. “And if you’re a bit late in the morning, no big deal.”
Parker thought she could hear Gus’s teeth grinding together and the joints in his fingers popping under pressure.
“Thanks. I’d…” she retreated to the door “…better get going.”
“Be responsible, Parker.” Gus narrowed his eyes as a small smirk played across his lips.
The jerk had to say her name after he already had her worked up to a boiling point from his eyes alone.
She winked and flashed him a huge grin as she slowly pulled the door shut behind her. “No worries, Mr. Westman. I have plenty of extra-large condoms in my purse.”
Click.
*
Virgin, doe-eyed, Parker Cruse would have felt some odd loyalty to her married neighbor. I-pick-all-the-wrong-fucking-men Parker felt zero loyalty. She also felt it nece
ssary to not only let Dr. Mark Blair crawl between her legs on their first date but to distract him for an extra hour in the morning so he would happen to leave after Gus left for work, therefore seeing Dr. Mark’s car in her driveway.
“Thanks for last night … and this morning.” Mark palmed her ass under her large T-shirt and kissed the life out of her. He possessed some serious skills and the ginger hair, freckles, and killer smile didn’t hurt either.
“Thank you.” She rubbed her bruised lips together.
“So, can I call you sometime?” He fiddled with his key fob.
Mindy had been right. He was adorable and eager to please.
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.” A little disappointed. The foot thing still weirded her out a bit.
After a quick shower and a toasted English muffin with peanut butter, she skipped to the Westmans’ feeling ten stories high on life.
“Morning, Rags.” She kissed his head then opened his food bin.
“I already fed him.”
“Shit!” She jumped. “Gus, what are you doing here? I saw you … I mean … you’re usually gone by now.”
He leaned against the doorway, sipping coffee from a to-go cup. “I took the morning off to have the oil changed on my van and tires rotated. A guy from the station brought me home after I dropped it off.”
“Oh. Um … okay.” The corners of her lips quirked into a light smile when she turned to squeeze past him.
Gus didn’t move an inch, making her ass brush against him as she tried to get by. “How was your date?”
With her back to him, she grinned, hating herself for wanting him to ask her that. “Fun. Casual. But definitely fun.”
“Fun, huh?”
She pretended to look over the list Sabrina left on the counter. “Yeah. Mark is a doctor, and he’s young, so lots of fun … lots of stamina. You know, that sort of thing.”
“What kind of doctor?”
“Medical doctor.”
Gus chuckled, leaning his back against the fridge. “I figured. What’s his specialty?”
“Uh … I think legs.”
“Legs? Never heard of that specialty.”
“Well, you’re not a doctor, so I’m sure you aren’t familiar with every specialty.”
“No, I’m not, but my sister is a neurologist. I’ll have to ask her about the leg specialty.”
She tossed the list on the counter and glared at him for the first time. “He’s a podiatrist. There. Are you happy now?”
“Now? No, not now. But I might be in another twenty years if I need him to dig out my thick, yellow, fungal-infected, ingrown toenails.”
“For your information, he’s amazing in bed.” Shoulders back, chin up, Parker stepped closer to Gus, daring him to say another word.
The asshole smirked behind his coffee cup. “I bet Dr. Scholls really hammer-toed you to the headboard … or did he prefer the footboard?”
“Wanna know how many orgasms I had? How many extra large condoms we used?” Something in the deepest depths of her brain warned her to stop talking, but she couldn’t get the message through her stubbornness that flowed like a busted pipe without a shut-off valve.
The longer their standoff continued, the more Gus’s features softened—surrendered. “I don’t need to know your numbers, although I’m sure they’re quite impressive. You really did look stunning last night, and I hope he was deserving of you.”
Blink. Blink. Blink.
“But?”
Gus shook his head. “No buts. You’re young and single. I’m old-er and married. One of us deserves to be happy. I choose you.”
Her head jutted forward like she didn’t hear him correctly. “You choose me? What? My happiness?”
“Yes.”
It was sex, not happiness. A date, not marriage. Her ego bowed its head, embarrassed about the temper tantrum it had two minutes earlier, dukes up, ready to fight Gus.
“You deserve to be happy too.” A hundred other fighting words waited their turn, but for some reason, the compassionate ones insisted on being heard first.
He breathed out a soft laugh. “My life is far from terrible. Even if my marriage has hit a rough spot, I have so much more than Sabrina to be thankful for.”
“Stop it.”
His head cocked to the side. “Stop what?”
“This!” Parker turned and ran her hands through her hair. “I shattered a glass of juice when you told me you had sex with your wife. Which is ridiculous because I hate cheaters and according to your own admission, you’ve been crossing the cheating line with me since day one. I should have celebrated your sex with Sabrina.”
She laced her fingers on top of her head and stared out the window at Rags chasing a butterfly in the yard. “Why, why didn’t I celebrate the sacred union of your love? I’m all for that … like I’m so into that kind of beautiful monogamy. Yay monogamy!” Parker’s hands shot above her head like her team scored a touchdown.
As quickly as her hands reached for the ceiling, they flopped back down to her sides, and she turned to face Gus again.
“Yay monogamy.” He gave her a weak thumbs-up.
“I think things were better between us when I hated you a little.”
“Despicable me?”
“Yes.”
“I’m pretty sure I offered to be that person so you could feel better about yourself.” He tossed his empty cup in the garbage. “In fact, I worked my ass off to be the guy you hated. And that’s not easy for me because by nature I’m a pretty nice guy.”
“Nice self-assessment.” She rocked back and forth on her heels, staring at her toenails that she hid behind a dense layer of pink polish so Dr. Good Feet wouldn’t inspect them too much. “Do you think you’ll leave her?”
“Sabrina?”
“Yes. And I’m not asking if you think you’ll leave her for someone else, and definitely not me. We both know I have the leg doctor now. Who could compete with that?” Parker peeked up at him.
A crooked smile touched his lips, and it made her feel connected. That scared her. Gus was not someone she needed to feel any connection to, yet that’s exactly what she felt every time they were in the same room.
“He basically treats fungus all day. Good catch, Parker.”
“Thanks, Mr. Westman.”
He glanced at his phone and sighed as tension drew his brow tight. “My parents have been married for forty years. Both sets of my grandparents made it past their sixtieth anniversaries. I think they all attributed the longevity of their marriages to passion. Live to love. Fight to keep the love. Make up to do it all over again. It’s hard to love someone when they reject your love. It’s hard to fight when they won’t speak. And it’s even harder to make up when you don’t even know what you’re fighting for.”
Gus infuriated Parker ninety percent of the time. He spent the other ten percent breaking her heart. She found herself drawn to his imperfections and captivated by the man who wanted nothing more than to love a woman. It made her angry and incredibly envious of Sabrina.
After a minute or so of silence, Gus cleared his throat and glanced at his phone again. “You need to take me to the station to get my van. They’re done servicing it.”
“I need to?”
He grabbed the list off the counter and pointed to the top. “See. Take Gus to pick up his van.”
She snatched it from him. “That’s not Sabrina’s handwriting, and she doesn’t call you Gus.”
Gus nodded toward the door. “Come on. I’ll buy you a tank of gas and a donut at the station. And for the record, Sabrina does call me Gus when we’re being very … monogamous.”
“Fuck you, August.”
“That’s the spirit, Parker.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Hey, Gus! Your van is parked out back. Pam has the keys and your bill,” Stu, the owner of the station, said as he helped a young girl add air to her tires. He ended his days with as much grease on his blue pants and matching shirt as any of
his employees.
“Thanks, Stu. I appreciate it. I’ll be adding this tank of gas to my bill too.” Gus grinned at Parker as he topped off the tank to Old Blue, a Chevrolet two-door pick-up truck. It wasn’t as old as her farmhouse—but close.
“And a donut.” She pulled her hair back into a ponytail.
“And a donut.” Gus screwed on the gas cap. He couldn’t remember the last time Sabrina ate a donut or anything fried or frosted. He couldn’t say anything to guilt Parker, who had the attention of every guy in the station with her snug, white tank top and gray shorts—very short shorts. Nothing more than miles of tan legs and defined arms.
“Hey, Gus. How’s it going?” The bell on the station door chimed as Pam called from the register. “Who’s your friend?”
“Pam, this is Parker, my ride and Sabrina’s assistant.”
“B-team assistant,” Parker mumbled, inspecting the remaining donuts and the rotating display of hot food.
“Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” Parker shot her a quick smile before returning her attention to the overcooked food and slim pick of donuts.
“Add the gas on pump six to my bill too, please.”
“You got it. Anything else?”
“And a donut,” Gus said.
“Two.” Parker fished out two donuts with the clear tongs. “And a slice of sausage pizza.”
“Anything else?” Gus eyed her, having trouble hiding his grin.
With the slice of pizza in one hand and the bakery bag pinched between her teeth, she grabbed a blue sports drink out of the cooler. “And this,” she mumbled, holding up the bottle as she walked toward the register.
He tossed down his credit card, giving Parker a perked eyebrow. “You’re an expensive ride.”
She shrugged. “You’re cutting into my lunch break.”
Gus pressed the home button to his phone. “It’s ten forty-five.”
“I skipped breakfast and burned a lot of calories last night. Remember?”
Gus coughed into his fist, hiding his expression from Pam’s curious eyes.
“Need a bag for your stuff, honey?” Pam asked.
“No thanks.” Parker headed to the door, folding the piece of pizza in half and shoving a third of it into her mouth. “Gus, grab my donuts and drink. Thanks,” she mumbled over a mouthful of pizza.