by Jill Sanders
“Well, see you tomorrow. I hope your lady didn’t get too upset over all this. It’s probably just kids or an ex.” He shrugged. “My ex-wife stalked me for a while, until she found a new man.”
He drove home with Toby’s head resting in his lap. He was going to be lonely without Sara next to him in his bed.
He thought about driving by her place but she was probably staying at her parents’ house for the night. So, instead, he crawled into bed with Toby and got a few hours of sleep before his alarm went off.
When he arrived at the restaurant the next morning, he was surprised to see Sara’s brother, Matt, dropping her off until he remembered that her Jeep was still parked in the same spot it had been in for two days.
Parking beside Matt’s shiny car, he jumped out and opened Sara’s door. She had a carrier full of coffee cups and a box of what he hoped were donuts.
“Morning,” he said cheerfully.
She smiled up at him. “Morning,” she said back, a little too cheerfully. He could tell that she had gotten as much sleep as he had.
“Thanks, Matt. See you tonight.” She shut the door and waved as her brother drove away.
He took the container of coffee cups from her and walked with her towards the front door.
“What’s tonight?” he asked, after she’d opened the door and flipped on the lights.
“Wow, this is a lot easier.” She nodded towards the simple light switches.
He smiled. “Changing the subject?” He set the coffee down on the bar.
“Maybe.” She opened the box of donuts. “Matt stopped by Sara’s Nook and I thought your guys would like some coffee and donuts.”
He grabbed a donut and a cup, then leaned closer, blocking her from leaving. “Tonight?”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “My parents would like to formally extend an invitation to you for dinner tonight.”
“What time?” He smiled when he noticed her cheeks turning pink.
“Seven.”
“What time do you get off?”
“Five.” She smiled. “I moved things around so Damion will close up tonight.” She reached into the box and grabbed a donut for herself. He watched her nibble it and was mesmerized.
“I’ll be there,” he said softly as he took a sip of the liquid to try and cool himself down.
“Good.” She ducked around him with a chuckle. “See you then.”
“Sara.” He stopped her before she walked out. “We’ll need to talk about this.”
Instead of answering, she nodded slightly and left.
He committed himself fully to his work, letting his mind clear as he pounded away at the stones. Within an hour the rest of the stones were down, and they were left with the bare bones of the fireplace. It took the rest of the day for him and another crew member to haul out the heavy pieces. Meanwhile, the rest of his team worked on tearing out the back wall, which would become the entrance to the new deck overlooking the waterfront.
He had eaten his lunch with the rest of the crew since Sara had gone out to run errands during his break.
It was almost as if she was avoiding him and he was determined to get in her way as much as he could. At some point, they were going to talk about her safety. And he wanted her thoughts on who could have left the message last night.
When he finished cleaning up for the day, he went to search for her with no luck. He ran home, took Toby for a run on the beach, then showered. When he was done, it was time to head to Sara’s folks’ place.
He hated wearing ties but took one in the truck with him just in case he decided when he got there he wanted one.
He couldn’t count the times he’d met a woman’s parents, starting way back in junior high when he’d asked Darcy Robins to his first dance. As he parked his truck behind Sara’s Jeep, his palms were as sweaty as they had been back then.
It didn’t make him feel any more relaxed knowing he had already met them. He sat in his truck, the engine off, staring at the massive place in front of him.
The large white two-story house had beautiful flowers surrounding it in neatly kept flower beds. The house itself was in perfect condition with long green shutters on either side of the picture windows that lined the front of the house. There was a long porch with cozy chairs and a bench swing.
The front door was painted bright red and had stained-glass windows on either side.
He was sitting in the truck debating if he wanted to strap on the tie or not when a light knock on his window jolted him.
Sara chuckled as he opened the door.
“Sorry,” she said. His eyes ran over her and he decided the tie wasn’t needed and tossed it on the seat next to him before jumping out.
She was wearing an old pair of faded jeans, open-toe sandals, and a flowing cream top. He imagined in the right light, the top would be see-through.
Leaning in, he gave her a soft kiss before she could move away from him.
“There.” He smiled down at her, taking her hand in his. “Now I won’t be kicking myself all the way through the meal for not doing that.”
They walked up the front stairs together, but she stopped him before reaching the door.
“My family…” She sighed. “They…”
“Relax,” he said, realizing she was just as nervous as he was. “I’ve met both your mom and dad before.”
“You have?” Her eyes narrowed, and he realized his mistake too late.
“I ran into them in town one day,” he quickly recovered.
“Oh.” She frowned a little. “I’m sorry if they did or said anything—”
He leaned in again and kissed her. This time, however, she pushed her body against his and wrapped her arms around him. He sank into the kiss, losing himself in the feeling of her against his body.
Neither of them heard when the front door opened, but they did hear when someone cleared their throat directly beside them.
Parker jumped away from Sara, almost falling over backwards.
Matt stood leaning against the door frame, arms crossed over his chest as he chuckled.
“It’s a good thing I was the one who opened the door instead of Dad,” Matt joked.
“Dad knows I kiss boys,” Sara said easily, walking past her brother.
Parker was left standing there, facing her brother, unsure of his next move.
Thankfully, Matt reached out his hand and gave him a smile. “Well, come on in. I know I could use a beer.”
Parker relaxed and shook the man’s hand. Matt glanced behind him. “You didn’t bring Toby?”
He smiled. “No, he’s still mad at me for letting the doctor do unthinkable things to his manhood.”
Matt chuckled. “Responsible pet owner. I can see why my folks like you.”
He walked through the front door and glanced around.
A beautiful dark wood curved staircase sat directly in the entryway. A large chandelier hung from the top floor over the staircase.
French doors sat on either side of the hallway. He followed Matt down the hallway towards the back of the house, passing a cozy study on one side and a formal dining room with a maple table already set for dinner on the other side.
He stopped just inside the doorway to the kitchen. Matt walked over to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers and handed one to him. Parker noticed that Sara’s father was already sipping one as he leaned against the counter, one arm wrapped over his daughter’s shoulders.
Sara’s mom, Megan, stood at an oversized white stove, stirring something that smelled delicious.
“Hope you like Corona, since we’re having chicken enchiladas. My mom likes to keep the entire meal in sync.” Matt chuckled.
He took a swallow and nodded. “I’m not picky when it comes to free food.” He smiled at Sara. “And good company.”
“Kiss up,” Matt said softly before taking a drink of his beer.
“Leave him alone.” Sara walked over to the fridge and pulled out her own beer. “I hear he’ll
be working for you on your new house.” He could tell that Sara had meant to start something, since her eyes darted between her parents and her brother.
“You’re too late, kiddo.” Matt smiled. “They already know and approve.”
Sara frowned and walked over to where he stood.
“Approve, yes. Agree that it was a good choice to buy a home that’s falling in on itself, no,” Todd added.
“Parker’s going to help me fix it up. Besides, I’ll bet it has a solid foundation.”
“I’ll know more during the inspection,” Parker added.
“You’ll let me know if there’s anything… off,” Todd said to him.
“I’ll have a complete list of repairs needed.”
“Which he will then give to the owner of the home,” Matt warned. “It’s my business what needs to be done, not yours.”
Todd walked over and wrapped an arm around his son. “Just because you are old enough to buy a home on your own doesn’t mean I will ever stop worrying about you.”
“Why don’t we move this into the dining room? The food is ready,” Megan said, pulling a pan of enchiladas out of the oven. “Matt, you can help me take all this in. Everyone else, go on in.”
Over dinner, he watched the family very closely and realized he had never really had a family before. His grandmother had tried, but it took more than what she could have ever given him. Part of him was jealous of what Matt and Sara had grown up having. Part of him longed to make this for himself and in his imagination, it was Sara he was building that family with.
12
There was so much Sara was thankful for. Her family had always topped that list. Dinner was just what she had needed after the past couple days.
Somehow, her father had not only found out about what had been painted on the container, but also about her being locked in the freezer.
She should have known that it wouldn’t remain a secret for long. Nothing ever did in Pride. Still, she had been a little shocked at his laid-back approach to the situation.
Her family wasn’t one to freak out, but she expected her father to have more to say on the subject of his oldest daughter being locked in a freezer and almost turned into a Popsicle. The talk would probably come when Parker wasn’t present.
After her mother’s fabulous enchiladas, they made their way to the front porch and enjoyed the light breeze coming off the water.
It had been a while since she’d sat out here with her family. Her parents sat on the swing, her father’s arm draped over her mother’s shoulders as they rocked lightly. She couldn’t count how many times she’d seen them just like that or how many times she’d dreamed she’d find someone she could spend her life with doing the same thing.
Her brother had left shortly after dinner, claiming he had to hop on a plane to California first thing in the morning. Since Matt had started taking over more of her father’s responsibilities, she’d noticed a change in her dad. He was more relaxed and spent a lot more time working with his mom on the cabins or just taking walks on the beach.
She had known several couples where retirement had led to divorce. It was usually because the couple found out after spending more time with one another that they couldn’t stand each other. Her parents weren’t having that problem. Actually, she was pretty sure that her parents were falling in love all over again.
Her mother laid her head on her dad’s shoulder, and Sara recognized the signal that she was tired. Standing up, she pulled Parker up with her.
“How about a walk on the beach?” she asked, heading towards the stairs. Parker stopped and turned to her parents.
“Thank you for dinner. Everything was wonderful. It was really nice seeing both of you again.”
“Just because you’re dating our daughter, doesn’t mean you have to become a stranger.” Her father added, “Thanks for watching out for her.”
Parker glanced at her sideways as he gave her father a nod. “Night.”
They walked in silence down the lit pathway that passed the cabins and headed towards the beach. When they hit the soft sand, she pulled off her sandals, setting them aside and taking Parker’s hand.
“So,” she said as they walked. The sun was gone, but the full moon lit their way. “Who do you think painted that message?”
He tugged on her hand, stopping her. She turned towards him, and she could see a worry crease between his eyebrows.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” He took a step closer. “Another old boyfriend? Someone who doesn’t have the local sheriff to vouch for him?”
“If Robert Brogan says Aiden was with him, I believe him.”
Parker nodded. “Sure, I agree. The man isn’t a liar. Can you think of anyone else?”
She bit her bottom lip and looked off to where the dark waves were crashing. The moonlight reflected off the water, making it look like the ocean had a million stars reflected in it. It was almost impossible to tell where the water ended and the sky began.
She thought back to who she had dated before Aiden. “Before Aiden, I dated Joe briefly.”
“Joe? Could he have—”
She stopped him. “No, Joe moved to New York and is now an investor for a top investment firm. He’s happily dating an actress. Before Joe, Roger.” She glanced at him. “Who’s married to one of the librarians in town. They’re expecting their first child this winter.”
He groaned and started walking again. “I don’t suppose your list stops there?”
She chuckled and continued through the list of men she’d tried on in life. None of them could she see painting, “The bitch will get none of it.”
“None of what?” She stopped and sat in the soft sand when they reached the water’s edge.
“Good question,” he said, sitting beside her, his knees spread wide as he rested his elbows on them.
“Maybe we’re looking at this wrong.” She turned slightly towards him. “Maybe it wasn’t aimed at me at all. Maybe one of the employees is having issues? I mean, Connie, our full-time bartender, just got out of a bad relationship.” The woman had come to work with a fat lip. “Maybe it was aimed at her?”
“Think you can do some detective work? Since we cleaned up the mess, I don’t think anyone else knows about it.”
She laughed. “Oh, I guarantee everyone in town knows about it by now.”
He frowned. “Have you told anyone?”
“No,” she answered. “Why?”
“Because, Robert, Donny, and I agreed that until we know more, we are going to keep it hushed. So, unless you’ve talked, it should be our little secret.”
She thought about it. “Unless someone else was driving by and saw it. Still, our chances are good, since it was so late.” She cocked her head to the side and watched the surf for a while. “This could work to our advantage.”
“How so?” he asked.
“If I drop some hints that someone was sneaking around, whoever is afraid could come to me for help. After all, everyone who works there trusts that I have their best interest at heart.”
“Sara,” he started to say, but she had already started forming a plan in her head.
“I’ll snoop around.” She smiled, then leaned closer to him, nudging him back until he lay in the sand with her over him. “Enough shop talk,” she said before she laid her lips over his. “Have you ever made love on the beach under a full moon?” she asked softly.
“I can honestly say that I haven’t.” He chuckled as she started tugging his clothes away.
Sara had always imagined that making love on the beach would be like so many movies had shown. In truth, it was nothing like it. Sand got everywhere, sticking to their heated skin, falling in her mouth and eyes, blinding her and making her cough. In the end, they gathered their things and rushed towards the cabin.
After enjoying a long hot shower, they fell in bed together, the perfect end to the night.
“So, that didn’t go as planned,” Parker joked as he ran his fingers through
her long wet hair.
She leaned up and looked down at him. “So, how is it that it looks so easy in the movies?”
He chuckled again. “They’re actors and aren’t really… doing what we were.” His smile grew.
“Is it strange that I’m not tired now?” She laid her head back on his chest, loving the sound of his heartbeat against her ear.
“No.” He ran his fingers gently over her bare shoulder. “You will be once your heartbeat settles. I can still hear it pounding away.”
“That’s not mine.” She smiled. “Yours is like a running horse.”
His answer was a chuckle.
She listened for a while and heard it slow down, then realized her own had matched the beat.
“As much as I would love to fall asleep with you in my arms tonight, Toby is alone in my house,” he said, jolting her out of a near sleep.
She sat up slowly. “I understand.” His hands cupped her face and he placed a soft kiss on her lips.
“I really want to stay,” he said against her lips.
“Go. We can plan for me to come over tomorrow night,” she promised, knowing she would be stuck at the restaurant late once again, and he would no doubt talk her into letting him take her home.
“Promise?” he asked.
“Yes.” She kissed him again. “Don’t expect me to walk you to your truck.” She lay back down and watched him slip on his jeans.
“Damn.” He groaned. “Now I’ll need another shower. There was a pile of sand in these.”
She chuckled and he turned back towards her. She noticed the moment his eyes went from aggravation to desire. She was laying on top of the sheets, naked, her arms above her head, playing with her hair as it spread out on the sheets.
“Maybe I could—”
“No, you’re not bringing that sandy butt in my bed.” She moved up and placed her hands on his chest. “Go, we’ll have tomorrow night.”
He groaned and reached for his shoes.
Once he was fully dressed, he leaned down and kissed her again before leaving.
She lay in bed, listening to the silence of the night as the past hour played over in her mind. She didn’t think she could deny it much longer. She was falling for Parker, and falling hard.