by Unknown
“Let me grab my dressing gown,” Alice said as she turned back to the bed. She felt so grateful that Maria had insisted that she brought down some of her belongings to Parker’s room.
Slipping on her dressing gown, she turned back to Parker and Nicole and gave them a smile.
“Ready,” Parker asked, giving her another smile as he held out his hand to her.
“As I’ll ever be,” Alice said as she reached for his hand and took it firmly.
Nicole squealed excitedly as she hurried for the door and down along the corridor to where her parents were waiting.
Alice could hear Nicole talk excitedly as Parker led her along the hallway, and it made her feel happy that she had at least one of Parker’s family in her corner.
“Mom, Dad,” Parker said as they reached the living room. Alice could hear the nervousness in his voice, and she instantly gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “This is Alice; Alice, this is my mom and dad.”
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Alice greeted Parker’s mother and father with the friendliest smile she could.
A look of surprise filled Eleanor O’Neill’s face, and Robert released a breath he had been holding.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Alice,” Robert said as he offered her his hand. Alice took it and smiled as she shook it firmly.
“You too,” she replied, feeling like her heart was about to beat its way out of her chest.
“My poor girl,” Eleanor exclaimed as Alice turned to her, and much to Alice’s surprise, the woman, wrapped her arms around her, and hugged her tightly, before she released her and held her at arms-length. “You must have gotten such a fright when that dreadful man came at you yesterday.”
“It was pretty scary,” Alice replied giving the woman a genuine smile. She liked Eleanor O’Neill. She reminded her of her own mother in so many ways, Alice wanted to hug her again, and just hold her forever.
“I do hope my son is taking good care of you,” Eleanor said as she glanced at Parker and gave him a smile.
“He has been…awesome,” Alice said as she too looked at Parker. It was the truth, despite their rocky start, the last two days, Parker couldn’t have been any more thoughtful and caring than he was. She had seen a different side of him, one she knew had been there beneath the surface from the first time he walked into the coffee shop.
“I’m glad to hear it,” Eleanor said as she led Alice to the sofa, still holding her hand. “Sit down, Darling Girl. You should be resting.”
Alice sat down next to Parker’s mother, and for the first time since this whole crazy thing started, she actually believed that they could really pull this off.
Chapter 15
Parker
“Will we be seeing you tomorrow?” Robert asked as Parker walked his family to the door a couple of hours later. “Because if you need more time with Alice, I totally understand.”
“She wants to go visit her grandmother tomorrow,” Parker replied with a sigh. He hadn’t discussed it with her yet, but there was no way he would allow her to go there on her own again. At least not until he figured out a way to ensure her safety. He knew she would not be happy when he told her that like it or not; he was going with her. Parker was just waiting for the right time. “I don’t think it’s wise for her to go back there alone.”
“I agree,” Eleanor said in a hushed voice. “That poor girl must have gotten the fright of her life; you need to make sure she is safe. It’s your job to protect her now, Son.”
“I know, Mom,” Parker said as he leaned forward and kissed his mother’s cheek. “And that’s what I intend to do.”
“Good,” Eleanor beamed up at her son, and for the first time in a long time, Parker could see hope in his mother’s eyes. “It’s good to see you happy, Sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Parker replied and kissed her again.
“I think you need to consider more security now, Parker,” Robert said in his familiar, father knows best, tone of voice. “You have always been too blasé about the whole thing. This world isn’t always a good place, and you are a wealthy young man. There are people out there that would happily take advantage of that fact; and now that you have Alice, that’s an added weakness…”
“So we are a weakness?” Eleanor asked, giving her husband a surprised look.
“You know what I mean, Eleanor,” Robert sighed as he turned to his wife. “What I am trying to say is, having this belief that you are somehow indestructible is fine, albeit a bit foolish, when you’re a single man. But now he has Alice; he needs to change his thinking.”
“That’s not what you said, though,” Nicole said with a mischievous grin, and Parker couldn’t help but smile at the girl. She was more like him than he sometimes realised.
“Don’t you start, young lady,” Robert smiled, knowing he was now outnumbered. He turned back to Parker and gave him another smile. “You take as long as you need, Parker. Just please, consider what I have said.”
“I will, Dad,” Parker replied as his father reached for the handle of the door.
“We still have to have dinner,” Eleanor said as she kissed her son on the cheek. “Maybe Friday, if you’re free, and Alice is feeling up to it?”
“I think that sounds like a good plan,” Parker replied feeling happy that his family seemed to have taken to Alice. He tried to tell himself it was because they were buying his rouse, but deep inside he knew it was more than that.
After kissing his little sister goodbye, he stood and watched as they all stepped into the elevator. He waited for the elevator doors to slide shut before he stepped back into his hallway and smiled to himself as he closed the door. For the first time in such a long time, he felt happy. He had no idea why, but in his heart, he felt like his life was finally going somewhere he had never imagined, and he felt good about it.
He turned and walked back into the living room, to where he had left Alice. Eleanor had insisted Alice didn’t walk them to the door; that she looked tired, and needed to take care of herself.
Parker knew his mother liked Alice. He knew it the moment she saw her and saw that she was not some airhead bimbo. He knew that was what she was expecting because, in the past, that’s what he had been drawn to.
It wasn’t that they were really his type; if he was honest, he didn’t know what his type was. He liked them because they were uncomplicated. They never expected anything in return, and that suited him.
Alice was different, though. She had changed something inside him, and as much as that thought scared him, it excited him too.
When he reached the living room, he wasn’t that surprised to find Alice already fast asleep on the sofa. He knew she was getting tired, but she hadn’t wanted to be rude and return to the bedroom.
He watched her sleep for a moment, and something inside him made his heart race a little. He told himself that he was being foolish, but he knew somehow, it was more than that.
Finally, he carefully scooped her up into his arms and made his way back to his bedroom. Once there, he gently set her down on the bed, where she instantly snuggled into the pillow, still fast asleep.
Parker lay down on the bed next to her and watched her sleep.
He thought back to the first day he had met her. The day she gave him the biscotti. He hadn’t even noticed her really until she had set the plate down in front of him.
As he thought of that day, he remembered that when he arrived there, she asked if he wanted his usual. She knew what coffee he liked. She had remembered it; she had remembered him.
He had been going to that coffee shop since he had moved into his apartment, over a year before. Had he really been so self-absorbed that he hadn’t noticed her for a whole year?
He watched her as she slept and he was blown away by just how beautiful she really was. He just had never seen it before. How had he been so blind?
Suddenly she moved, and Parker panicked. How would he explain what the hell he was doing if she woke up and saw him lying there, sta
ring at her?
But she didn’t wake up. Instead, she released a contented sigh and breathed out his name in a bear whisper.
Parker froze instantly when he heard his name. She was dreaming about him. He held his breath and waited, hoping there would be something more, but she just sighed again before she settled into a deeper sleep.
Parker could feel his eyes grow heavy. He knew he should get up from the bed and give Alice her space, and he would, in a few moments. It just felt so nice lying there next to Alice. The scent of her perfume filled his senses, and it was strangely comforting. He felt like this was where he was meant to be. Like he had come home.
He allowed his eyes to close, telling himself it was only for a moment. He just wanted to lie there, for a few moments longer.
Parker slowly opened his eyes and was met with a pair of dark green eyes staring back at him.
“Hey,” Parker said with a cautious smile, unsure of what Alice’s reaction would be to him being there on the bed with her. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but he had. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better,” she replied giving him a strange look. Parker had no idea what was going through her mind right at that moment.
“Are you sure?” Parker asked sensing something was wrong with her. “You look, I don’t know, upset.”
“I’m fine,” she assured him but something told Parker, she was holding something back.
“Really?” Parker asked as he leaned up on his elbow and looked down at her. “Because it seems like you’re not. Have I upset you? I’m sorry for being on the bed. I just lay down for a second but…”
“I’m fine,” she repeated, cutting him off mid-sentence as she suddenly pushed up from the bed. “It’s just I… I’ve got to go get ready. I need to go see Gram today; she will be worried about me if I don’t. I told her I would be there yesterday, so…”
“Alice,” Parker said as he sat up on the bed and watched her as she climbed from the bed and walked across the room towards the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said with a smile, but she didn’t meet his gaze. “I’m just going to go get ready.”
“It doesn’t feel like nothing,” he said as he pushed up from the bed too and followed her to the door. He took hold of her hand and stopped her from leaving. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s just,” she said as she slowly lifted her eyes and looked at him. “I think that tonight I should go back to my own room. I think it’s best that we keep this thing between us as simple as possible.”
Parker looked at her for a moment, trying to think of how he should reply, but he didn’t know how he felt, much less what to say. Maybe she was upset he had fallen asleep on the bed, but somehow it seemed more than that.
“I really should go and get ready,” Alice said finally letting her eyes meet his. Parker was surprised to see she was upset, but he had no idea why.
“Well then,” he said without engaging his brain before he opened his mouth. “I will get ready too because you’re not going to the nursing home alone; not anymore. I will find a more permanent solution, but for today you will have to make do with me.”
“You....you’re coming with me?” Alice asked as she turned back to Parker, and looked at him in disbelief, then to Parker’s surprise, she laughed.
“Yes,” Parker said waiting for her to argue with him. “Until I figure out a way to keep you safe, I don’t want you going anywhere without me. If anything else were to happen…”
“It’s fine,” Alice said cutting him off. “If you want to come, then that’s fine.”
She looked up at him and smiled, but Parker knew it was a smile she didn’t mean. He stared at her for a moment, wishing he could just look inside her head and figure out what the hell was going through her mind.
Part of him had hoped she would argue with him, but there was a look in her eyes that concerned him. Like she had suddenly lost the fight inside her.
He released her hand and gave her a smile.
Alice turned and reached for the handle, but she stopped and turned back to look at Parker.
“I guess you should probably meet Gram now, anyway,” Alice said surprising Parker. “I mean, she knows about you. Well kind of…”
“Kind of?” Parker asked, confused by her response.
“She thinks we had this crazy relationship, and I married you,” Alice explained. “She thinks that I left you, so the fact you’re with me, will take some explaining, but she knows nothing about the money and I want it to stay like that.”
“Okay,” Parker replied, still watching her closely.
“She is going to freak out when she hears I’ve been hurt,” Alice sighed as if the thought hadn’t occurred to her before now. “Maybe I can fix my hair, so she doesn’t notice.”
“I think she will spot the dressing on your forehead,” Parker said with a smile, as he pointed toward the white dressing that was covering the bump on her head. Alice instinctively reached up and touched it.
“I guess she will,” she sighed and stared into space for a moment before she turned, and without saying another word, she left the room, closing the door behind her.
Parker stood for a moment, unsure of what the hell had just happened.
The night before, when his parents were there, she had seemed so happy and even comfortable in their company. What the hell had changed in the few hours they were both asleep.
He sighed as he walked to his nightstand and picked up his phone. Bringing up his phonebook, he brought up Jensen’s number and quickly hit dial.
“Parker,” Jensen said when he answered the phone after just two rings. “How’s Alice.”
“I’m not really sure,” Parker replied honestly as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “She was fine last night, but she woke up today, and something is wrong; I’m not sure what, but she seems very down.”
“Can you blame her?” Jensen asked his friend. “In just two short weeks, her entire world has been turned upside down, not to mention the fact some scumbag scared the crap out of her, and she was hurt. Parker, that’s a lot for anyone to take in.”
“I guess you’re right,” Parker sighed as he scrubbed his face with his hand. “Look, I was thinking, maybe you guys could stop by this evening. Maybe I could call Jenny and ask her to come. We could just get some takeout, and have a few beers.”
“Do you think she is up for visitors?” Jensen asked.
“I think it’s just what she needs,” Parker replied. “She needs to learn to let her hair down and have a little fun, even if it’s with you losers.”
“Thanks for that, Buddy,” Jensen laughed.
“Will you call Harrison,” Parker asked Jensen. “And I’ll call Little Miss Sunshine.”
“Come on, Parks,” Jensen laughed. “Jenny isn’t that bad, not to mention, she is kind of hot.”
“Come on, Jensen,” Parker sighed. “Tell me you don’t have a thing for Alice’s best friend?”
“I wouldn’t say a thing exactly,” Jensen replied, and Parker could hear the smile in his voice. “But she has something about her.”
“Yes,” Parker laughed. “But I am sure they have medication to cure it.”
“Charming,” Jensen replied, as he too laughed. “I will call Harri. Try and stay out of trouble till I see you later.”
“I’ll try, Dad,” Parker sighed and rolled his eyes before he hung up his phone. He set the phone back down on the nightstand before he flopped back onto the bed. He hoped that bringing their friends around that night would be enough to lift Alice’s spirit, even if it was just for a short while.
Chapter 16
Alice
When she reached her bedroom, Alice locked the door, then hurried to her bed and buried her face in the pillows, before she released the sob she had been choking back. She had no idea why she was so upset, but she was.
She knew she was being ridiculous, but she couldn’t help it.
Alice had dreamt abou
t Parker. He had told her that he loved her and that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He had been perfect and charming, loving and tender, just like she had imagined all the times she pictured herself with him. He had held her close to him as he slowly made love to her. It was perfect.
When she woke suddenly and found him lying in bed next to her, she felt confused for a moment. She wasn’t sure if she had been dreaming, or if they really have made love. But as the fog of sleep lifted, Alice realised she had just been dreaming, and she was surprised by how disappointed she felt.
As she lay there in the quiet of the room, her face barely inches from his, she realised that her feelings for him had changed.
He was no longer Coffee Guy, the man that she had secretly been in love with for thirteen months. Nor was he her fake asshole husband; the spoiled, entitled brat that believed he was above everyone else.
He was just Parker. The sweet man who had come after her when she had told him to go to hell. He was the one that rushed to the hospital when she was hurt because he wanted to be sure she was okay. He was the one who had swept her up in his arms and carried her to his bed when she was too weak to walk anymore; and the one who hadn’t left her side since.
As she lay there and watched him sleep; listening to his, slow even breaths, she realised that she was falling in love with him, completely and utterly.
And the worst part of it all was, she knew in her heart that he would never feel the same way about her.
Alice had no idea why Parker was the way he was. If she was honest, everything about him confused the hell out of her. He was so kind and caring, but then he could be cold and callous. She didn’t know what had made him like this, and something told her, she never would. There was something sad about Parker O’Neill, something that she knew he had locked away deep inside, and she doubted anyone would ever be allowed to truly know that part of him.
Still, none of that changed how she felt. As much as she tried to reason that she was just emotional over everything that had happened; that she was just feeling that way about Parker because he was the one who was there for her when she needed it, deep inside she knew it was something more.