by Lacey Baker
“It is not,” Drew chastised him.
“What does your mother think about this?” he asked when they’d been silent a few seconds.
To that, Drew sighed.
“I think she likes the idea of a grandchild, but the rest, I’m not entirely sure.”
“The rest being me as the father of said grandchild.”
“You know, Parker, I don’t even think it’s just that with my mother. She’s still so wrapped up in her grief over losing my father I don’t think she sees relationships or marriages the same anymore. And as far as becoming a grandparent, well, Mr. Sylvester talks about it much more than she does.”
“Mr. Sylvester talks about everything much more than everyone does,” Parker replied.
Drew nodded. “Yes, that’s true. But he means well.”
“Yeah, he does. I don’t think his health is doing too good, though. I’m going to talk to Quinn when we get back about seeing if he can get him to come in for a physical.”
“That’s a good idea. I noticed he was moving a little slower when I was there the other day.”
The silence returned, and Drew figured she’d go ahead and get the next question out of the way.
“Are you going to be arrested for hitting Jared? Is that why we came to the city?”
Parker shifted, propping his head on his arm as he looked down at her. “I gave a statement. But if Jared wants to press charges, yes, I can be arrested.”
She let out a breath. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of that to happen.”
He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “And it wasn’t your fault that it did. Jared was out of line, and I could have taken a deep breath or counted to three thousand before deciding to slug him.” He shrugged. “But what’s done is done, and I’ll go back to Sweetland and deal with it. I don’t want you worrying about Jared or anything else.”
“I hope he’s gone when we get back,” she admitted.
Parker pulled her into his arms and settled them both back in a lying position. She curled into him as if this had been the way they’d slept for years and years. As he pulled the sheets up over them, he kissed the top of her head. “All I want you to worry about is finding an assistant to help you at the flower shop so you and our daughter can get plenty of rest.”
“Our daughter,” Drew whispered, letting her eyes close, her cheek pressed against his chest. “I like the sound of that.”
* * *
Drew’s new assistant, at least for the time being, turned out to be Parker. The morning after they returned to Sweetland and every day that followed that entire week, Parker and Rufus showed up at her back door, usually carrying some sort of breakfast sent to her by Michelle, so she didn’t argue their appearance.
They waited while she dressed, and all went down with her as she opened the shop. Parker handled the deliveries and some of the packing, although he was horrible with tissue paper. Drew joked that the soft lavender sheets of paper were just too dainty for the big bad cop to handle. To that Parker snarled and ripped another sheet in half.
For his part, Rufus roamed around the shop until Drew took him out back and let him run around in the yard. He was leashed, of course, because she didn’t want him attacking her flowers, nor did she want him running off again.
The routine had been so easy to slip into that she didn’t think twice about it as Parker headed over to The Marina to deliver the arrangements she’d made for their front lobby. The big grand opening was this weekend, so they’d wanted something extra big and extra splashy, which to Drew had translated as extra expensive.
“I don’t know how much I like the idea of you working for the enemy,” Parker complained as he hefted one of the large pots onto the back of Caleb Brockington’s pickup truck.
On Tuesday, Parker had showed up with the truck, explaining that he’d asked Nikki’s brother if he could borrow it during the day. Since Caleb worked at the fire department with his father and brother Brad during the day, he’d agreed.
“It’s business, Parker. And with this little one coming, I’ve got to make sure I keep this business in the black,” was her reply.
He looked at her for a moment, and Drew thought maybe she’d said something wrong. Then he gave her that smirk. “The Redlings are still enemies to the Cantrells.”
“They’re competition, not enemies,” she corrected while handing him a smaller arrangement to load. “And actually, Lillian Beasley and her granddaughter Emily were in here yesterday afternoon talking about how big and formidable The Marina looked. They think it’s an eyesore and would much rather have the quaint cuteness of The Silver Spoon. That’s why Lillian said she recommended The Silver Spoon for their family reunion venue next summer.”
Parker looked over his shoulder at that comment. “Really? She said that?”
Drew nodded. “She did. And it just so happened that I have Silver Spoon brochures and business cards sitting right on the counter near the cash register now. The new design Nikki and Quinn came up with is absolutely lovely. Taking a picture of Ms. Cleo with the puppies all lounging on the porch was brilliant. Anyway, Lillian said she was going to call Nikki first thing this morning to get the ball rolling.”
Parker jumped off the truck, grabbed her by the shoulders, and gave her a very loud and very public kiss. “Welcome to the family!” he exclaimed.
Drew could only smile as she swatted him away. “Go, make the delivery,” she told him as she moved back into the store.
She needed a moment to compose herself. Parker had just told her she was a part of his family.
He’d pulled off by the time she’d made it all the way to the stool behind the register. Parker had brought the stool over from the meeting area, so she wouldn’t have to stand all day. He was very thoughtful like that, she thought as she put her elbows up on the counter, staring at absolutely nothing.
That’s how Diana McCann found her when she bounced in. The normally regal, sedate, and snobbish Diana moved with a certain air of happiness today, which should have been warning enough for Drew. Instead, wrapped up in her own state of euphoria, Drew was caught off guard.
“I’ve been told to order whatever I want,” Diana began instantly.
No “Good afternoon,” “Hello,” “Hey, Drew, how are you?”
“So I want some of these, and a bunch of those, and yes, these too because I love yellow. This is horrible. And roses, yes, I must absolutely have roses,” she continued, moving about the shop, touching the flowers she wanted, frowning at others she didn’t.
She wore a purple-and-red straight printed dress, a thin purple belt cinched tight at her waist. Her heels were purple, as were the bangle bracelets at her arm and the earrings dangling from her ears. Her strawberry-blond hair was pulled up tightly in a Grace Kelly style, and she carried a purple snakeskin bag that was big enough to fit a bowling ball inside.
“Will this be a handheld arrangement or would you like to pick out a vase?” Drew asked, slipping into her professional mode, since obviously that’s where Diana was today.
Diana turned to Drew as if Drew had somehow reached across the room and slapped her. “That’s your job! Or should I go someplace where there’s actually a florist and not a tramp that specializes in trapping men?”
Diana’s words were spoken so viciously, Drew reeled back as if she’d been hit. “Excuse me?” she finally managed to ask.
“Oh, you need more than excusing. First, you try to ruin Jared’s career, then you run away to Sweetland, where you wait ever so patiently until the next prospect shows up. And here comes Parker returning to his hometown and unsuspectingly walks right into your clutches. Tell me, don’t you feel stupid that you managed to get pregnant by the now unemployed ex-cop instead of the star major league ballplayer?”
Drew’s heart beat rapidly, her palms were sweating, and she felt the urge to hit something, or someone. How dared Diana come into her place of business and start hurling insults! For all that Drew had tried to remai
n a peaceful citizen of Sweetland, she wasn’t about to become a doormat for anyone.
“First of all, Diana, if you’d like to place an order, you are welcome to do so. Select your vase and your flowers and I’ll arrange them for you.”
Diana took a step forward, opening her mouth as if she planned to say something else. Drew gave one quick shake of her head that stopped her, then continued to talk.
“Next, if you have something to say to me on a personal level, then you can address me woman to woman. But don’t come in here tossing insults at me in the hopes of getting some type of rise out of me, not while I’m at my place of business.” Even though Drew was afraid Diana had partially achieved that task. She was beyond pissed off.
Diana had the audacity to laugh at that. “Business? Is that what you call this? The only ones hiring you are the Cantrells and that’s only because you’re sleeping with Parker. But let me just inform you of one thing, honey—I’ve known Parker for a long time and you are definitely not his type. Not the keeping type, I mean.”
Diana stood right across from Drew at the counter now, hoping that her closeness would further intimidate Drew. Oh, how wrong she was. Drew squared her shoulders and stared Diana directly in the sea-green eye contacts she wore.
“Apparently you weren’t even the one-night-stand type for Parker. I wonder how that makes you feel?” she countered.
Diana frowned, her lips thinning to a straight line. Her cheeks were already covered in a pale pink blush, but now they turned ruby red, her eyes closing to slits as she glared at Drew.
“Ready yet, babe?”
Both women turned to the male voice coming through the front door. Diana melted. Drew seethed.
It was Jared.
Chapter 16
“So wait a minute, let me get this straight,” Savannah said as Drew sat on the front porch with her, Michelle, Heaven, and Raine.
Delia’s shop had been swamped with customers after Drew had shut down the flower shop and barged in there. She’d left before Delia could see her for fear her friend would put all her customers out to see what was bothering her. Instead she returned to the flower shop, went out the back door to her car, and drove to The Silver Spoon. She hadn’t known where else to turn.
“Jared Mansfield’s a sexual-assaulting bastard, in addition to being an arrogant jerk, and now he’s sleeping with Diana McCann?” Savannah continued with a combined baffled and disgusted look on her face.
At the far end of the porch, there was a swing. Drew sat there with Heaven beside her, holding her hand. Michelle and Raine sat in the Adirondack chairs while Savannah sat on the railing, with half her profile to them and the other half to anyone so blessed enough to walk by.
“That sums it up about right,” Drew murmured, shaking her head. “I mean, I’m not jealous by any means. She can certainly have Jared. But why did he have to come here, and why is he still here? And why does she have to be such a bitch about everything?”
Michelle waved a hand. “Diana’s been a bitch all her life, because according to her she was born into the wrong family. She’s wanted to be a Fitzgerald so she could walk around acting as if she owned the entire town. Instead, she’s a Bellmont, which is still pretty close to royalty around here. Unfortunately, close just isn’t good enough for her.”
“Then there’s the fact that Parker turned her down,” Raine added in her quiet voice.
“He turned her down numerous times,” Savannah added with satisfaction. “That’s because Parker has taste and can see the totally classless even when they’re busy pushing their C-cups up in his face.”
“She accused me of trapping Parker the same way I tried to trap Jared. I can’t believe he told her that,” Drew continued.
“Oh, believe it, honey. Diana’s as nasty as they come,” Heaven told her. “She tried to make me believe Preston had wanted her but she’d wanted Parker. There are no limits to how low she’ll stoop to get the desired results.”
“Well, I didn’t have a meltdown. I barely blinked when Jared walked in and put his arm around her. I know he wanted me to say something, but I refused. Just told them both they could leave.”
“You didn’t sell her the arrangement?” Raine asked.
“Hell no, she didn’t sell that witch anything! She should have selected a vase and whacked her over the head with it,” was Savannah’s next contribution to the conversation.
Michelle and Heaven laughed, nodding in agreement. Raine shook her head.
“I was just thinking that business is business. The personal needs to stand on its own,” Raine continued.
“You’re right,” Drew said. “I just needed both of them to get as far away from me as they could before I did reach out and hit one of them.”
“Well, I’m just glad Jared came to his senses and decided not to press charges against Parker,” Michelle added.
Heaven spoke up. “Oh, that’s because Parker ran a background check on Jared and found out he was just as dirty as Drew already knew. Since he’s been with the MLB there’ve been more than fifteen complaints about harassment and sexual assault on females. Most of the cases were kept quiet and Jared paid them off, that’s why it was never in the news.”
“I’m not surprised,” Drew said. She wasn’t surprised by Jared’s criminal record, but she was surprised that Parker had him investigated and didn’t bother to tell her. And what was that about Parker being unemployed?
“Carl said as long as there were no complaints about his behavior he wouldn’t chase Jared out of town,” Heaven continued.
Savannah chuckled. “Carl can’t chase his own daddy out of that sheriff’s chair. How does he think he’s going to chase a man like Jared out of Sweetland? The press would love that.”
“Sweetland would get tons of publicity, though,” Raine added. “The connection to Parker and The Silver Spoon would be mentioned. More exposure for us.”
“Way to think about the positive side to all this, sis,” Savannah quipped.
“There is no positive side,” Drew said with a sigh.
“Sure there is,” Michelle offered. “Jared apparently got the hint that he needs to stay away from you. So if he wants to go around spending his time with opportunistic Diana, let him go right ahead. You have better things to worry about, like what we’re going to have on the menu at your baby shower.”
Drew couldn’t help laughing at that. Instead of running a B&B, the Cantrell sisters should be in the business of event planning. They’d worked on the Bay Day celebration and the Labor Day events, and Raine had already mentioned something about the Winter Wonderland Dance in a couple of months. In addition, they were planning two weddings. It was no wonder they were more than happy to add a baby shower to their repertoire.
“It doesn’t really matter,” Drew said nonchalantly.
“Of course it matters,” Michelle chided her. “This is the first Cantrell grandbaby, we have to do something special.”
“Special would be if that baby shower turned into a wedding as well,” Mr. Sylvester added, stepping slowly up onto the porch.
Drew wanted to lower her head into her lap or disappear, whichever would be easier. She did not want to talk about her relationship with Parker with his family and definitely not with Mr. Sylvester.
“We’ve got enough weddings going on around here for the moment, Mr. Sylvester,” Heaven said while squeezing Drew’s hand.
Mr. Sylvester eyed the two of them, then shook his head. “Never too many weddings. Some folk wait too long to get hitched to the one they belong with. Next thing you know, it’s too late.”
He was inside the house, the screened door closing behind him before any of them could respond. It was probably for the best, since they knew he’d been speaking of himself and Mrs. Cantrell. He’d been in love with her and she’d passed away before they could make their union official. For the rest of the evening, Drew could think of nothing else but love lost and love wasted and why Parker hadn’t told her about his investi
gation of Jared.
* * *
“Looks like a ghost town out there,” Parker said when Drew opened the back door for him the next morning.
She’d half expected him to come by last night. A part of her longed for another candlelight dinner and night of lovemaking like they’d had in Baltimore. Another part of her was banking its anger about the Jared situation. Rufus knew his way around now, and instead of going upstairs he headed straight toward the shop, where he liked to sit in the window and look at the passersby on the street.
“The Marina’s having that breakfast and balloon lift at nine,” she said sort of absently as they took the stairs.
“Yeah, Nikki and Raine were getting dressed to head over there this morning. Savannah refused to go and volunteered to work the front desk at the inn for the entire day.”
Drew paused once they were in the kitchen. “Hmmm, Savannah and Michelle in the house together all day, that might not go too well.”
“And Mr. Sylvester wasn’t feeling well this morning. Michelle was taking him tea and toast when I left.”
Parker talked while moving around the kitchen. He had cups from Jana’s Java and what smelled like blueberry muffins. She’d already had a bowl of watermelon this morning, as she’d awakened feeling a little queasy. Crackers and tea didn’t really work for her; instead she craved cool and sweet, which seemed to be the best remedy.
“He’s been looking a little tired lately,” she added. “Did you talk to Quinn about taking a look at him yet?”
Parker met her back at the table, placing a cup in front of her as she took a seat. “Yeah, he’s going to stop by to see him before he joins Nikki at The Marina.”
She nodded, thinking that was a good idea. “So all of you are going to The Marina today to have a look?”
“That was the original plan. Now, they’re all going in intervals so it doesn’t seem too obvious. I opted to visit you instead.”
“Like nobody from town is going to notice the Cantrells at The Marina,” she said, deciding to downplay the fact that he wanted to be with her instead of with his family staking out their competition. “You know Louisa and Marabelle will have a lot to say about their attendance,” she finished, reaching for her cup and taking off the lid. There was only a small frown when she realized it was hot chocolate and not her favored caramel latte.