by Lorenz Font
This had always been her refuge, a place where she could think and be herself without fear of being watched. Kelly stopped and picked up a tiny rock that caught her attention. Wiping the sand away, she slid it into her pocket to be added later to her growing collection.
She thought of Parker while she walked back to her house. The man still had no idea who she was, and her warning bells told her she should confess soon. Would it matter to him if he found out the truth? Only he could answer that question. When she got home, she took a long, luxurious bath and pondered her personal dilemma.
Her life was under intense scrutiny, and that was something she had no control over. Now she had a man who wanted to control yet another aspect of her life, and in the one place she’d thought she was free to express herself. Kelly wanted to deny what he’d asked of her, but if she were honest with herself, she’d have to admit the man also filled a void in her heart. As strange as it sounded, the more time she spent with him, the more she realized she couldn’t live without him. She wanted Parker as he was and let him lead her into what promised to be an amazing relationship.
Since she had the afternoon all to herself, Kelly lounged on the veranda and read over a script her agent, Connor, had asked her to review. Recently, she had accepted roles based on her willingness to get away, to forget. Out-of-town filming was more to her liking, but with Parker worming his way into her heart, filming in South Africa had lost its initial appeal. After an hour or so of reading, she gave up on the script and decided to call Jessica and meet up for dinner. Kelly drove up to Chateau Marmont in her Range Rover, not even bothering with disguising herself. She was much too happy to even care.
When the valet opened her door, she pasted on a smile and braced herself. Flash after flash snapped in her eyes, and rounds of questions, both hurtful and inane, came her way. She shielded her eyes from the blinding lights and hurried into the lobby.
Jessica waved at her from where she was already lounging with a drink, looking chic in a white cotton tunic and body-hugging jeans. “They’ll seat us in fifteen minutes. I took the liberty of ordering you a glass of wine. Cab, as you prefer.”
They hugged and sat down. The famous landmark hotel was humming with activity, which was to be expected from a place where entertainment celebrities and famous athletes hung out.
“Thank you. It’s a little rough out there.” Kelly glanced one more time at the flood of paparazzi with their long lenses, trying to peek through the glass doors to get a picture of anyone they could capitalize on.
Jessica scowled, her usual reaction to Kelly’s plight. “Some stupid one asked the same question again?”
Kelly nodded and took a big sip of wine. “It’ll never end. They’ll never let me forget. It hurts, you know. I just wish I’d never met Matthew and lost …” She took a gulp this time, wishing she could forget the past, along with its ugliness and sorrows.
“Hey, now. No need to think of the past. We’re here so we can catch up.” Jessica reached out and touched her hand. “Tell me, what have you been up to since you came back from Milan?”
Being the new face of Gucci, Kelly had been attending advertising campaigns and one soiree after another to promote their newest line of handbags—a welcome distraction for her. Moreover, the traveling, though exhausting, had kept her from thinking about her loss.
“Well, I sent a limo to pick up Parker, and we spent the night together.” She giggled like a silly school girl, feeling the blush rising up to her cheeks.
Jessica almost choked on her wine and glared at her. “And you still haven’t told the poor man who you are?”
Her smile faded. “No … but I will. I just haven’t found the right time.” Kelly paused, unsure why she wanted to keep this little detail to herself.
Jessica narrowed her eyes, a surefire way to keep her talking. “Kelly? What else are you holding back?”
“To be honest, it feels like you’re reading my mind.” Kelly took another sip and dabbed a napkin on her lips. “It’s refreshing to have someone attracted to me without knowing who I am. I can be myself and not worry that he is taking advantage of me.”
Her best friend let out a sigh. “How many times do I have to tell you this isn’t a game for Parker? You think you’re being yourself by concealing your true identity? Don’t you think you’re carrying this attraction or … or this game of yours a little too far?”
Groaning, she leaned forward and nudged Jessica. “It’s not a game. Granted, it started out as a mere attraction, but I’m not playing now. I think I’m falling …”
“You’re falling for him, aren’t you?”
All Kelly could do was nod.
“You’re going at this all wrong.” Jessica shook her head.
“As crazy as it sounds, I want him for all the right reasons.”
“Which are?” Jessica prodded, raising her eyebrows.
“He’s smart, independent, amazing, and he sees me as a real person.”
“You sound like you’re in advertising,” she said dryly.
Kelly laughed. “He said the same thing.”
Her friend turned somber. “I just worry about you. You seem to like the guy, but you’re not being fair to him by withholding a very important detail.”
Kelly knew she was cornered. “Can you, for just one moment, not be my conscience? Yes, I’ve thought about the stuff you said, but I’m not sure I can trust him yet.”
“I know you have trust issues given what happened between you and that good-for-nothing leech. But you’re making things worse by stalling. Just don’t hurt the man. He seems nice.” Jessica fished for something inside her purse and shoved a magazine on the table.
Kelly stared at it. Parker was on the cover of Health and Fitness, and his smile, as always, made her feel warm inside. “Where did you get this?” she asked.
“Believe it or not, when I recognized the gleam in your eyes, I made it a point to find out more about the man.” Jessica gave her a knowing look.
It was no use pretending in front of her friend. “And what did you find out about him?”
“I read some articles about him. He is fascinating, low-key, and well loved by his employees, as well as his clients. If you break his heart, I think a lot of people will be upset and will be coming after you with pitchforks. Many of his admirers are women, young and old, and well-known celebrities who are protective of him. I’m sure you know the rest of what I’m trying to say here.”
Kelly took one last gulp of her wine before answering. “You make me sound like the Wicked Witch of the West.”
She was spared Jessica’s snarky response when the seating hostess announced their table was ready.
They were digging into their shared steamed artichoke and swapping entertainment gossip when someone caught Kelly’s eye. Parker walked into the restaurant, escorting an older but regal woman. Following them were two well-dressed gentlemen—the younger one looked like he could be Parker’s twin. They walked past her table to get to theirs. The younger one caught her looking and held her gaze for a brief moment.
She turned around, heart hammering against her chest. “Oh, no.”
Jessica leaned forward to whisper. “What’s wrong?”
“Parker’s here with his family.”
Chapter 9
“It smells good in here,” Parker said when he pulled the chair out for his mother. He took the seat opposite from her as his father, a tall, dashing man in his early sixties, sat down next to his wife.
Cork settled in next to him. “It must be that woman’s perfume, the one who’s staring at you, Park.”
“What woman?”
It sounded like Cork was turning around to look at something. “Um … oh shit! Are you freakin’ kidding me?”
“Cork, watch your language! You’re never too old for me to wash your mouth out with soap.” The soft reprimand came from their mother, Dorothy.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Cork chuckled, and then jabbed Parker on the arm. “Dude, if I
’m not mistaken, the woman who was staring at you when we walked in is none other than Kelly Storm.” The starstruck awe in Cork’s voice wasn’t hard to miss.
There was a collective rustling between the three, and Parker was almost positive they had all turned around to look at the woman Cork had mistaken for the famous actress.
“Kelly Storm, the actress?” He had no idea which direction to look, so he kept his eyes on his mother’s face. “Dude, if you’re just pulling my leg, you’d better quit, or I’m going to kick your ass.” Parker grabbed his brother by the neck and ruffled his hair, which Cork hated. The guy had always been meticulous about his hair.
“Okay, enough of the teasing, boys. I’m not going to sit here and listen to you children cursing or threatening to kick each other’s behind.” That was their mothers “no nonsense” voice, the one that meant they’d better watch their words or else a pinch to the ear would follow.
Tyler Davis laid a hand on his wife’s shoulder and squeezed. “It’s okay, dear. Let the boys have their fun.”
She shook her head, smiling. “To think we tried to set a good example. Just listen to how they talk and horse around in a formal restaurant.” Dorothy clucked her tongue as she always did. “Why don’t we check out the menu?”
“Wait, I think you should go to her table and introduce yourself, Parker.” Cork sounded amused, and Parker couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It might be a look-alike. How sure are you that it’s her?”
“One hundred percent! See? She’s glancing this way again.” Cork’s enthusiasm was becoming annoying.
“If you’re so interested, why don’t you approach her?”
Parker didn’t bother checking the menu. He had scanned it earlier and already knew what he wanted to order.
“I’m not interested, and anyway, she only has eyes for you. She keeps glancing this way. If you want to know, we passed her table on the way here. Let’s see, about seven tables down, so maybe about ten big steps.”
Parker had no intention of making a fool out of himself in front of a famous actress and whomever else might be watching. Regardless, he was still a tad bit curious why a famous person like her would be checking him out. It must have something to do with his business. Many celebrities were curious about his services, and he’d encountered a few who’d wanted to meet him in person.
If he remembered right, Kelly was quite a stunning woman. She was beautiful, with a beguiling smile, fiery red hair, and a “to die for” figure. In his opinion, she was on the thin side, but she was a definite regular in every man’s fantasy, including his. The woman was gorgeous. He’d seen some of her movies, and her acting wasn’t half-bad. It was unfortunate that Matthew moron had screwed her over. There was no way he would be looking at another woman if he had a Kelly Storm in his life. It didn’t hurt that she was rumored to have a kind heart, too. He’d heard she’d set up a foundation for hungry kids in Africa. Now who in their right mind would let a gem like her go?
“Dude, give it a rest.” Parker turned to address his father, who seemed to be in good spirits. “Dad, why don’t we order a bottle of Dom? Sounds like you and mom have some exciting news.”
“Dom?” Cork sputtered.
Parker turned to his brother. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing … you said something funny.” He cleared his throat. “Just forget about it.”
Tyler laughed. “Sure, son, and yes, there is a bit of good news. I’ll make the announcement when our bottle gets here.”
Parker sought out his mother’s hand. “Are you guys having a baby?” he teased and felt, rather than saw, his mother’s piercing gaze. “Okay, okay, so you’re not having a baby. Then what are you guys up to?”
Cork nudged him in the ribs. “See? You should have gone over there and introduced yourself. Now she’s leaving!”
Parker shook his head, getting a bit irritated by his brother’s persistence. “I’m sure she came here to dine in peace. No one should be pestered while they’re trying to have a cozy dinner. And would you please stop gawking? You’re giving pigs a bad name.”
His father howled with laughter, and even his mother joined in. He sensed Cork’s embarrassment when he heard his brother clear his throat.
“Fine. You just lost one great opportunity to add another well-known celeb to your client list. I was just looking out for your business.”
“I think I’ll live, Corky. Don’t worry about it. Why don’t you check the menu so we can order?” Parker elbowed his brother. “Changing the subject, why do you sound so happy all of a sudden? You haven’t been this peppy since what’s-her-name.”
Parker guessed that his mother was rolling her eyes at the mention of Cork’s last girlfriend. Dorothy used her as an example of the type of girl she hoped her son would never marry. The woman had treated his brother as if he lacked the ability to think for himself, oftentimes telling him what to do.
Cork punched him in the arm. “Shut up. Why don’t you tell Mom and Dad where you’ve been?” Cork had a cunning way of shifting the attention away from him and onto others, a skill Parker had yet to master.
Tyler jumped into the conversation. “Where were you last night, anyway?”
Parker raised an eyebrow in his father’s direction. “Just out with a friend,” he answered, being vague. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to talk about Ann yet, at least not with his family.
“Would this friend be the same one who had you picked up by a limousine?” Dorothy chimed in, and by the lilt in her voice, she wasn’t going to accept any evasive answers. Parker believed his mother had some sort of seventh sense, if there even was such a thing. He’d given up a long time ago trying to keep things from her. She’d always find a way to get information out of him.
“You’re such a blabbermouth, aren’t you?” He ruffled his brother’s hair again to annoy him and hoped their mother wouldn’t prod anymore.
The arrival of their champagne halted their teasing. When each of them was holding their flutes, Tyler cleared his throat. “Your mom and I bought a house in Hawaii, on Maui. We’re both retiring in three months, so we’re planning on spending half the year there and shuttle back and forth if necessary,” Tyler said with pride, kissing his wife before they toasted.
“That’s wonderful! I know it is something you’ve both talked about for years, though I never thought you’d actually do it.” Cork stood and gave his parents a hug.
Parker shook his father’s hand, and then was pulled into a bear hug by his parents.
“I want you and your brother to visit us. And watch out for Corky. You know he could get lost without his mommy and daddy,” his mother whispered in his ear.
Parker smiled and lifted a hand to Dorothy’s face, seeking the smile he knew was there. “I want you and Dad to enjoy yourselves. Don’t worry about Corky-boy. I’ll keep him in line.” And here he had been thinking his parents would worry about him, yet they were more concerned about his younger brother. How could he not adore these two people, who were adamant in their refusal to let his disability get the best of him?
“You know I’ll be expecting a daily phone call.” Dorothy touched his face the same way, tracing her soft hand over his cheek.
He nodded and kissed her on the forehead. “I will call, Mom.”
“Are you guys talking about me again?” Cork asked.
She sat down and turned to her youngest son. “I’m just telling your brother to make sure you eat your veggies,” Dorothy teased, taking Cork’s hands in hers.
After the congratulatory greetings subsided and questions about their upcoming move were answered, their meals arrived and halted their conversation. Parker dug into his salmon and thought about his time with Ann, relishing the memory of the feel of her body against his and the sound of her laughter.
He shook his head in astonishment at the dawning realization that he could be falling in love with her. The signs were all there and already beginning to engrave themselves into his psy
che. He could no longer deny it, but he’d keep it from her as long as he needed to. A declaration of his love might scare her away, if her agitation on previous occasions was any indication. Just when he thought the questions about Ann had been forgotten, his mother spoke as if she’d read his mind.
“What’s the big secret? Who’s the girl?” Dorothy asked. “Parker, don’t you dare keep secrets from me.”
Groaning, he let out a frustrated sigh. “She’s a client.” Parker kept his answer short, hoping she would be satisfied. He forked another big bite of salmon into his mouth.
“And?” she prodded.
Cork leaned closer and snickered. “This is going to be interesting. C’mon brother, do tell. Don’t leave us groping in the dark.”
“Watch your words, Cork,” their mother warned.
“Aw, c’mon. Park knows I don’t mean anything by it.”
“Mom, it’s okay. I like people not tiptoeing around me. I guess that’s what I like about this girl. She’s not in any way turned off by me or my inability to see her. She’s beautiful—”
Cork cut him off. “How can you tell?”
“I’m not completely blind, you know. I can see the shape of her face. Maybe not the finer details, but I’ve felt her face, and she’s amazing.”
What had started off as a reluctance to divulge any information about his newfound attraction had turned into a full-blown confession. He could sense the interest surging around him in waves.
“I hope she’s beautiful on the inside, too. I think that’s more important.” Parker’s father gave his opinion, which was always insightful. Tyler was a man of few words but rich in wisdom.
“That’s what I’m hoping to discover soon. We’ve just gone out a couple of times. She can be a little jumpy, but maybe that’s because we’re still in the early stages of getting to know each other. I’m not going to lie, I like the girl already, but I’m trying to slow things down. I don’t want to scare her off.” Parker chuckled.