Unexpected Delivery (Paradise Place Book 8)

by Natalie Ann

  “Next time,” he said panting out. “I need to get you there again.”

  “Keep that up and it won’t be much longer.”

  His hips were moving faster now, his breath coming out in pants. That sweat that had started to chill earlier was now gushing down his back.

  When her hand went between her lower lips and started to touch herself, he held himself deep inside of her and watched her work herself back up.

  It was a sight he might not ever unsee and he was completely fine with it being the last vision he’d ever have.

  Her eyes were shut like she was concentrating, her hips twitching, the muscles around his cock even flexing. This was a woman who knew her body and knew how to get what she wanted.

  When her hand dropped away he took that as a sign to go to town and it was exactly what he did.

  He was moving fast, he was pounding into her, the bed was squeaking and her eyes popped open. They were darker than night and fixed on his.

  “Keep going,” she screeched. “Oh God, I’m right there.”

  His hand moved back to her clit and flicked at it once, then twice and her body tensed as a long moan escaped from her lips. Not a victory cry this time, but one just as primal that he felt in his own chest.

  He couldn’t stop though to explore it. He was pulsing and releasing and the urge to keep going and empty more was greater than ever before. Until it was like he hit a concrete wall and collapsed on her.

  It seemed she hesitated a second, then her arms went around his waist in what he’d like to think of as a hug, then a gentle kiss on his shoulder.

  Yeah. He was long gone.

  21

  No Regrets

  The next morning, Parker rolled over before her alarm went off. The last thing she thought was that Evan would spend the night, but here he was still in her bed on his stomach, his arm hanging off the side and she had no regrets he was there.

  This weekend had been a rollercoaster of emotions she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  Anger at her mother for what she stood for. Just what she brought out of everyone.

  Guilt that she wasn’t there for her father when he seemed to need it more than the rest of them.

  Annoyance over her brothers coming over yesterday and trying to intimidate her boyfriend.

  Shock that she was actually willing to at least admit to herself she had a boyfriend.

  Joy over the fact that Evan was everything she thought he’d be and what she wanted in a man without even knowing.

  Exhaustion from the night in her bed because he couldn’t stop at that one time, but had to do it again before they both passed out.

  And now love. Maybe? She wasn’t sure because she’d never felt it much with another man before. But if anyone could get her there—and especially this fast—it was Evan Butler.

  She noticed it was barely five and needed to be on the road by six thirty, so she slid out of bed quietly and made her way to the bathroom. Her closet was off the bathroom, so no reason to even turn a light on and wake Evan up.

  By the time she was dressed in pants and a silk top, she opened the door and noticed the bed was empty. She stopped to listen and didn’t hear any sounds. She didn’t think he’d leave without at least saying goodbye.

  Rather than look for her shoes now, she went downstairs to see if she could seek him out, but didn’t even get to the top of the stairs when the aroma of coffee hit her hard enough to stop her in her tracks and appreciate she didn’t have to make it herself.

  She moved down and into the kitchen to see him sitting on a stool by the counter with a cup in his hand, his short hair standing up in all directions, his facial hair a little longer than normal. Must be he trimmed it every few days, but for some reason she noticed it more today. Or maybe it was the whisker burns still tingling on her inner thighs.

  “Morning,” she said.

  “Hey. Hope it was okay to help myself.”

  “Always,” she said. “You helped yourself to plenty last night without asking first.”

  He grinned at her, his eyes light and sparkling. If she wasn’t careful he might get up and carry her back upstairs. Or maybe that was wishful thinking on her part.

  “I did,” he agreed. “I’ll get out of your way and make the long trek back home.”

  “Was your house even locked up?” she asked.

  “It always is, but I can lock it on my phone if I need to. I didn’t think I’d spend the night but could barely move to get up.”

  “No worries,” she said. “I’d offer you the shower, but as you said, it’s not that far across the street.”

  “Hopefully none of the neighbors are up early enough to see or don’t you care?” he asked.

  She wasn’t sure where he was going with this. If it was for her or him. “I’m not sure it’s much of a secret if people have seen you over here anyway. Unless you’d rather not have it known.”

  “My family knows and that is all I care about. Or my sister and brother do. By now I’m sure my parents do too. I’ve got no problem with it.”

  “Since my brothers know, they are the only ones I care about.”

  “Will they tell your parents?” he asked.

  “No. They know I will at some point and I’m still annoyed with my mother so that isn’t happening. I might say something to my father if I see him tomorrow.”

  He nodded his head. When she was getting her own coffee, he asked, “So, what does your week look like?”

  “I’d have to look at my calendar on my phone. I’m flexible when I make it, but once I do, I set up appointments as much as I can or just know I’ve got certain places so many times a month. I don’t normally have to bring in too many new clients, but still do.”

  “Do you like your job?” he asked.

  She hesitated. “I did when I started.”

  “I didn’t expect you to say that,” he said, sipping his coffee. “What don’t you like now?”

  “I think owning a home made me realize everything I’ve got to do now. More than living in an apartment. I can pay someone and will for snow removal, but it’s all the other things to think and worry about.” There was no reason to say her mother made a comment about her settling down at some point. Evan wouldn’t want to hear that and she wasn’t ready to admit it to herself let alone the guy she was dating.

  Didn’t want to scare him off!

  “Being a homeowner is a big commitment. I’ve seen a lot get in over their head in more ways than one. So if you didn’t do this job, what would you do?”

  Should she mention the job she was considering applying for? She wouldn’t do it to see his thoughts. She’d make those decisions on her own. But they were only talking so it wouldn’t hurt.

  “I’m not completely sure. I might not have been even thinking of it if someone hadn’t approached me last week about a job opening they thought I’d be a good fit for.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Director of Development at St. Peter’s.”

  “Where your brother works?” he asked. “Did he bring it up to you?”

  “Yes, Jeremy works there, and no, it wasn’t him. It was someone else I’m in contact with. They said they’d put in a good word. I don’t normally care, but in a position like this, that is how it happens. You need someone in your corner and this person is pretty high up.”

  “That’s great,” he said. “I’m sure knowing you, you’d put in just as many hours. You’d probably be on the road and schmoozing with people but at least locally.”

  “Yeah,” she said. “I don’t mind sales, obviously. This wouldn’t be a good position if I wasn’t liked. I know that.”

  “I think you are liked more than you care to admit.”

  “I think so. Or I try. But then I wonder if people knew about Erin if that would hurt me.”

  He tilted his head. “First off, you said not many knew. Second of all, if that makes a difference then it’s not the place or people for you. Your brother works there. Do you
think it would affect him if anyone knew?”

  “You’re right,” she said. “I know you are. I’m not sure why I even said what I did.”

  “Because you say Erin would have been embarrassed if people knew, but I think it’s you that is.”

  She knew that Evan wasn’t trying to hit below the belt, but it felt like a sucker punch to her. “Maybe. I can’t believe the sister I knew and loved so much fell for it.”

  “I don’t think it’s for you or anyone else to judge how someone falls for anything in life,” he said. “We may not agree or even understand, but it happened and you can’t change that.”

  She put her coffee down and walked over to him. He pulled her close and into his arms. “It still amazes me how smart you are.”

  “I think I amaze myself at times. There have been plenty of instances I’ve judged people in my life for not being like me. It was wrong and I stopped it.”

  “Why and when?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. Like you, we’ve all been judged.”

  “Because of what your family has?” she asked.

  “Mainly. I’ve been told I was cocky and arrogant and had my family’s money behind my name to be that way.”

  “I don’t think money has anything to do with it. It’s who you are and would be regardless of the zeroes in your bank account.”

  “I think so too. Then I found I didn’t care all that much anymore. I knew or know who I am and what I am. I can go to bed at night and sleep well. Most of the time. Though I slept much better last night.”

  “Me too,” she said, giving him a kiss on the cheek, then moving a step back. “But it’s not going to be a habit.”

  He laughed. “I get it. You’re busy. I’m busy.” He put his cup in the dishwasher and she wasn’t surprised he rinsed it out first. “And that is my cue to leave and go shower. Don’t be a stranger this week.”

  “I won’t be,” she said. “The same goes for you.”

  Evan let himself into his house and walked up to his room to get some clothes and shower.

  No, he hadn’t planned on staying the night in Parker’s bed but was glad he did.

  He got to see her drop her guard down and be more human than she appeared at other times.

  It seemed like the more he was around her, the more he learned about not only her, but himself too.

  Once he was out of the shower and in the kitchen again, he looked around for something to eat and settled on scrambling some eggs while he threw together a lunch to keep in a cooler in his truck. He was moving around so much that it was easy to keep that stocked.

  He’d found it funny that Parker did the same as him when he mentioned her carrying it from her car the other day.

  He wasn’t sure what to think of her looking for another job. He was shocked she’d brought it up to him.

  Actually, he did know what he thought of it. He thought it was great, but he wasn’t going to comment either way. It was her life and it’s not like he had any say in what she did with her career. He wouldn’t want anyone telling him he couldn’t work for his family or commit to his job as he had.

  Wasn’t that something that was a problem for him in the past? That too many women hated he was never around. Even on weekends he was normally doing something, though he was finding more time now that he was older to relax.

  He might not be old, but he knew if he didn’t cut back and have some fun, he’d give himself a heart attack with the stress.

  His father and uncle had both been married with kids in their mid-twenties and yet Ryan was the youngest male and the first to settle down. He suspected a baby would be on the horizon soon enough too.

  Could he see himself settling down with a family? A few years ago he would have said no. Even a few months ago when he was having Easter at Kaelyn’s and was busting on Harris’s sister about her older boyfriend that was more than a half a dozen years past her.

  But now, he wasn’t sure where his head was at.

  When he saw a reflection on the window and looked out to see Parker pulling away, he realized that, no, that was wrong. He knew where his head was.

  It was right on Parker Reed and it wasn’t moving anytime soon. He just had to figure out a way to get her on the same page as him.

  22

  Make A Good Impression

  “What time should I show up?” Parker asked Evan when he was getting ready to leave. She’d spent the night at his house, just like they’d been taking turns doing on the weekends for the past month. They had somewhat of a normal relationship going though many might not think it.

  During the week they barely saw each other, or if they did it was for an hour or less. They texted and they talked a few times but not much more.

  She’d spent time with her father a few weeks ago, they’d chatted and she’d felt horrible he didn’t feel like he could express what he was feeling to anyone before that. He’d even fought to do it then, but he finally dropped his guard a little and the two of them had a good cry.

  She hadn’t had one since but had a feeling one might be coming soon if her suspicions were true. No, no. Pushing them from her mind today.

  It was the Paradise Place picnic and her first one. She would be meeting Evan’s family for the first time too and she wanted to make a good impression.

  Evan looked at his watch when she’d asked that question. “It starts around noon. It’s only nine. I’ve got to get there and help set up with the rest of the family but come anytime you want. You might want to come earlier to meet everyone first.”

  “Or not if they are going to be busy,” she said.

  “Your choice,” he said, pulling her closer and giving her a kiss. He was always reaching for her and touching or hugging her. She found she enjoyed it when she never had with anyone else before.

  “I’ll go make my potato salad. Are you sure that is all I’ve got to bring?”

  “Everyone brings either a salad or dessert. Something that can be shared. There will be tons of stuff. I’m going to my grandparents to get the grill with my father and uncle and we’ll set that up. My mother and aunt have all the burgers and dogs and rolls.”

  “So your father and uncle do all the cooking?” she asked again, surprised to hear this.

  “It’s burgers and dogs,” he said. “It’s like an assembly line. We eat around three, so they start cooking about two thirty. The grill is massive and they are able to get tons out at once. There are plenty that end up helping even though no one asks them to.”

  “I’ve found this neighborhood is good that way.”

  Every time she ran, people were waving to her. She’d run by the park a few times and loved how big, open, and well maintained it was. There were no HOA fees here so that meant the Butler’s did it all on their own dime.

  “It is. I’ve got to go. Come any time you want. Text me or just show up. Or I can come back and get you. How about that?” he asked. “Then we don’t have both our vehicles there.”

  “I could walk too,” she said laughing.

  “You want to walk over two miles carrying a pan of potato salad?”

  “Good point. It will take me about an hour to make it and get it somewhat chilled. How about if you get a break, you just come back and get me when you can. I’ll be ready.”

  “Deal,” he said, kissing her one more time. She walked down the driveway and made her way home to get started. Evan had told her to make that because he liked her recipe from when she made it weeks ago when her brothers were here. She’d made a lot of different things since then, but he kept talking about her potato salad.

  She found it funny but kind of sweet at the same time.

  When she was home alone, she got the potatoes in the water and set to boil along with the eggs in another. Then she found herself pacing around the kitchen and finally said screw it and went to her room to pull out the pregnancy test she’d bought a few days ago.

  She’d never been late and she was close to two weeks at this point. She and Evan
always used condoms. She always had since she’d been sexually active.

  And if this turned out positive she was sure she was going to burst into tears. By her calculation, it probably happened the first time they had sex on his kitchen counter.

  Hadn’t she said it was a bigger mess than normal? She’d been joking, but maybe it wasn’t just from her. Maybe the condom had leaked a little with neither of them knowing it.

  She took the test out of the package, read the directions and then did her business, setting it down and going back downstairs to check on the potatoes.

  When the time was up, she couldn’t get her legs to move toward the stairs again and finished up with the salad.

  After thirty minutes, she finally told herself to man up. There was a dread in her stomach churning enough to make her gag because she was positive of the results.

  It wasn’t just the late period but the queasiness at odd times too. Nothing ever seemed to bother her before, but lately it would pop up at the strangest of things.

  She stood outside the bathroom door and took a deep breath with everything going through her mind that could change or be jeopardized if she was.

  She’d gone on two interviews for the development position already. They were moving fast and last week was the second interview. She’d been told on Thursday that someone would be in contact early next week for the final stage with the board of trustees to vet out the top two candidates.

  When she was done with the first interview, she’d walked out of there feeling like she’d nailed it. The second interview, she wasn’t so confident. Especially when her time on Survivor was brought up. Here she thought she’d managed to not do anything negative on national TV.

  There were a few older men in the room who didn’t get it and thought it was bad press, but there were plenty more who loved it and said it’d work in the hospital’s favor. She didn’t want that either. That her actions on that show could determine her future.