“I know… he left me a message. Said you’ve met someone. Have you?” she asks sounding a little hurt.
“Yes.” I answer without thinking. Liz’s eyes on me are wide and thoughtful. I shift to lie down, facing her.
“Oh. Is it serious?” My mom asks and I smile.
“Yes.” Hell Yes!
“Oh.”
“Mom….”
“Why don’t you bring her...for a visit?” My mom suggests, and I can hear the hope in her voice. She’s probably dreaming of wedding and grandbabies as we speak and weirdly I’m okay with that.
“Mom….”
“Please. Your sisters will be out here next week. Why not come out, bring her. Your dad would love to see you,” she says sweetly, in only a way a mom could to guilt you into feeling like you should agree.
“How is he?”
“He’s okay. He’s very tan. He says his golf game will always be shit, no matter the coast, but he’s tan and relaxed,” she says with a giggle in her voice.
“That’s good, mom. Are you doing okay?”
“Yes, honey. I won’t push, but I miss you. I’d like to meet her… she’s the only girl you’ve said you were serious about.” My mom tells me and I look at Liz. Her dark eyes are curious, a smile playing on her lips.
“Okay, mom. I’ll talk to her and see if she can get time off from work.”
“Oh she works?” My mom asks sounding surprised and it makes me wonder about the women she thinks I date.
“Yeah,” I answer smiling at how big Liz’ eyes go, as she figures out my mom knows about her.
“What does she do?”
“She owns the best bakery in Southern California.”
“Bakery?” My mom says as if I just told her Liz solved world hunger, “You must love that.” She giggles.
“I do. She’s amazing.” I say more to myself, not really realizing or caring that my mom is on the line and Liz is right in front of me. I caress Liz’s face. “Look mom, I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know if we can make it.
“Okay, honey. Dad sends his love.”
“Send mine back. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too, honey.” She says ending the call.
Liz sits up, biting her lip.
“What time is it?” She asks and I see it in her eyes, but I stay calm.
“A little after nine,” I tell her sitting up, my back against the headboard. She’s about to freak out. I can see it happening. I can feel her anxiety creeping into her.
“Wow. I should probably umm…,” she starts to say, getting off the bed, looking for her clothes.
“What are you doing?” I ask her not able to help being amused at how adorable she is acting.
“I need to make breakfast then umm go to the bakery…,” she says picking up my dress shirt from the night before.
“Bakery?” I repeat watching her nervously start to button up my shirt, placing my own hands on my lap.
“Yeah… I should check in...Do the inventory and umm….”
“Liz?”
“Yeah?” She says looking up at me as she hooks the last button on the black wrinkly dress shirt that had been on the floor.
“Why are you freaking out?” I ask smiling at her.
“I’m not.” She scowls, standing straight, her hands at her sides in fists and I smile.
“Oh yeah... you are.” I say shuffling out of the bed, grabbing her around the waist bringing her back onto the bed with me.
I shift us around so that she is beneath me, her eyes widen.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your mom knows about me!” She shrieks and I smile.
“Yeah, my grandfather told her.”
“Your grandfather?” she asks her eyes looking confused, “How does your granddad know about me?”
“He’s nosey. My assistant was talking to me about some ideas of where to take you and we didn’t realize he was in my office.”
“Oh.” she says, raising an eyebrow, “You were asking your assistant for love advice?”
“She’s been married for over forty years. She knows a little about relationships and has gone on a plethora of dates.”
This earned me a smile, a really all out bright one. One that I know is just for me.
“Oh,” she says softly, her hand going to my cheek.
“My sisters are visiting my mom next weekend and she wants to know if we can be there.”
“Where, San Diego?”
“No baby, Miami.” I clarify.
“Miami?” She frowns.
“My parents live in Miami.”
“They do? But I thought you were from San Diego?” She asks adorably and I cannot help it.
I laugh at the confused expression, and I realize I haven’t shared a lot about me.
“We lived in San Diego. My parents moved about three years ago to Miami. My sister Callie, the one that decorated this place in your favorite color grey, as you know lives in Boston right now, and my other sister Maggie is in Seattle.”
“Oh…,” she says just as I lean my head in to kiss her neck.
“Jill’s the oldest.” I whisper against her ear and feel her body shiver.
“Another sister?” She asks her voice soft, her breathing off I smile against her skin, “Where does she live?”
“Miami.” I open my mouth and lick.
“Oh.”
“Mmm, yeah and there is also Evan.”
“Evan?” She asks. I know she’s trying to pay attention but I’m very good at distracting her.
“My brother,” I tell her kissing the soft spot at her neck. I am wishing that she wasn’t wearing my shirt because of the way her body arches to get closer to me.
“Shit. That’s...umm...Park, stop kissing me I can’t think.”
I laugh against her collarbone and groan. Shifting us so that she’s on top of me.
“There are five of us, Jill, Evan, Maggie, Callie and Me.” Her eyes enlarge as she takes in what I am saying.
“That’s really large!” Her eyes widen, as she realizes how big my family is.
“Well thank you, baby.” I tell her, with a smile on my face, and at the same time wagging my eyebrows as I buck up against her center, as she laughs.
“Big family I meant.”
“Oh…yeah, angel, we are a big family.” I stroke her face with my fingers.
“They’re all going to be at your parents place?”
“Evan’s a maybe. He lives in Florida too, but he’s kind of in and out of the state for business.”
“Wow…!”
“So?”
“So?” She asks, rolling her hips down, and I close my eyes at the heat of her entrance almost right where I need her.
“Go with me to Miami next weekend.” I whisper against her lips. “I want you to meet them.”
“I’ll talk to Tess,” she says smiling a faint blush on her cheeks.
“Good!” I growl flipping her under me. I show her exactly how happy that made me for the next couple of hours.
Needless to say, we ended up skipping breakfast and going out for brunch.
Chapter Seventeen
Liz
I’ve never done the meet the parents’ thing.
Jake wasn't close to his, or at least that is what he had told me. For all I knew they had never even heard of me. Even after three years together, I had never met his family, not once. All I knew about Jake’s family was that he had two sisters, one was married, had a couple of kids and his parents were still together. But I never met them. At the time I didn’t think anything of it, nor did it bother me. I was okay with whatever emotional scraps Jake wanted to give me. Not that emotionally I had actually let him all the way in.
In hindsight, I can see all I had wanted was to belong to someone. To have someone that needed me and wanted me to be with them. So Jake not getting alone with his family worked for me. It made him need me, especially after his scholarship was taken away and he needed to continue school. It d
idn’t take a shrink to figure out why. We were both young and had done some stupid things. He used me, but I let him.
Yet, Parker and I have been seeing one another for a total of less than two months and here I am, on the other side of the country about to meet his family. I had even taken time off from work to do this. When I had mentioned the trip to the girls, Lucy looked so excited I worried that she would literally pass out. Carrie smiled knowingly, but Tess looked at me in surprise. Even surprised she had still given me the green light.
We’d flown into Miami, early on Friday afternoon, and checked into the Hotel Urbano at Brikell. It’s a beautiful bright colored modern hotel that has lounges that showcases art from different local artists. It’s beautiful and perfect.
Our room is spacious and airy, with a balcony and view of the pool and private cabanas. The first thing we decided to do was swim and then have lunch in one of the private white pool cabanas. That is where I learned that Parker was a little bit of an exhibitionist. I also learned that I could actually be quiet while he showed me exactly how happy he was that I’d taken time off from work this weekend. When we finally made it back to our room, he gave me a full body massage. It was to thank me for working late every night this week to make sure that all of the cakes that had been ordered would be done and delivered on time this weekend.
Now I’m in the beautifully decorated bathroom, staring at my reflection. My problem is, I don't recognize the genuinely happy looking woman that I see reflected in the mirror. My long dark hair is smooth and straight and my bronzed skin has a pink glow. My makeup’s done in a barely there way and I’m dressed in a black body hugging dress with a sweetheart neckline that makes the girls look bigger and perkier than they are. The dress was something I had splurged on when Lucy had showed up for lunch on Wednesday, then rushed me away to some boutique she was raving about. I’d also bought a couple of other dresses and special lingerie sets for the trip.
Long dangle gold earrings, a substantial amount of thin gold and jade bangles on one wrist, with teal suede peep toe four inch heels completing the look. I looked in the mirror one last time, giving my lips a coat of the strawberry clear lip gloss that I like, and take a deep breath.
I try to shake away my nervousness of meeting his family tomorrow. Maybe if I don’t think about it I will be okay? But tonight, tonight I’m determined to have a great time with Parker.
****
He can’t be real.
No way, no how can this man be mine. This has to be some kind of prank, with cameras hiding in the shadows. A host of some reality show is going to jump out and start laughing at me for believing that Parker could somehow be real. That’s all I can think of as I look at what’s in front of me.
I can’t even look away from him to see if I can find the little red lights from the hidden cameras. It’s as if my feet are glued to the floor. Somehow I turn to look behind me. His strong tall body is standing there. He is dressed in black dress pants that fit him perfectly. A crisp bright blue dress shirt that has the first two buttons undone, so that a sprinkling of the dark hair on his chest is peeking through. His wide shoulders are incased in a suit jacket that is tailor made for him. I’m not sure what’s more beautiful the man behind me or the scene in front of me. He smiles at me and my breath hitches. It hitches more than it normally does when I look at him. Warmth spreads all through my chest, a tickling ache stirs at my heart.
“How?” I ask him, not able to put in words what I’m looking at. The scene in front of me is something from a movie or a reality dating show, except better, because it is very, very real.
Rustic wooden torches intricately decorated with cast iron twining up the wood, holding candle lit lanterns that guide our path down to the shore. Only to stop at a rustic wooden pergola that holds lush, oversized lounge furniture with brightly colored throw pillows of all sizes. Some are solid pinks, oranges, yellows and teals while others are in the same colors but tribal like patterns. It’s bright and happy, and so damn perfect I can’t seem to get my feet to take another step. Almost as if I’m afraid it’s a mirage. That I’ll wake up from some deep sleep and find out all of this is made up. It is just a dream.
I feel the heat from his strong body as he comes closer and stands right behind me. His arms wrap around my waist, while his talented fingers move my hair away from the crook of my neck so he can lean his head into that place. He likes doing that. I like when he does it.
“The how doesn’t matter. Do you like it?” He whispers into my ear even though it’s just the two of us, and I fight against melting against him.
“You seriously didn’t have to…,” I start but he interrupts me.
“Do you like it?” He repeats his whispered question, a clear smile on his lips, and all I can do is nod against him.
“I love it. It’s beautiful.” I admit softly, tears threatening behind my eyes.
“Come on. Let’s eat,” he suggests, straightening his body. His hand intertwines with mine as we walk towards the wooden pergola on the deserted beach.
He’d driven us in the sleek black Jaguar that he owns and keeps parked near the airport for when he visits his parents. He’d told me that he had a surprise planned, so I just went with it. While he drove down the coastal highway, his hand in mine, only moving to shift, we talked as I looked out the window taking in the sights we drove past. I’d tried to hide my nervousness of meeting his family, and he’d graciously let me believe that I was doing a fantastic job of fooling him. But I knew better. Parker was nothing if not perceptive, and he knew I was nervous.
Now walking hand in hand towards the beautiful spot in front of us, I take in the details of the oversized couch with the bright pillows. I’m dying to ask him where I can buy some so I can use them in my apartment, maybe pick up a few for his living room to liven up all the grey. I notice a basket and place settings at a small table made from the same type of rustic wood the pathway lanterns and pergola are made of. There is a bottle of champagne being chilled in a bright orange bowl of ice, with two flutes sitting right next to it. It’s so breathtakingly perfect. God, he can’t be real.
“This is beautiful, Parker.”
“Come,” he says, pulling my body down with his as we get comfortable on the sofa.
“Hungry?”
“Starving,” I say smiling. I watch his grey eyes heat up and I can’t help but laugh, “For food.” I clarify and he dramatically but playfully sighs then gives me a bright genuine Parker smile, his dimple making an appearance right before he leans in to kiss me.
Dinner was great. He’d somehow magically had Cuban food catered to our isolated beach spot. It had been the best Cuban food I’d ever tasted.
Now cuddling against his warm body, his suit jacket is draped over my legs, much like the night of my birthday, we watch the waves crashing on the shore, and everything feels wonderful. Perfect.
“You okay?” He asks and I look at him.
“Yeah,” I say closing my eyes, a smile on my lips as I kiss him.
Pulling back, he brings my body against his, his hand strokes the bare skin on my arm.
“So… are we going to talk about it?” He asks and I tilt my head.
“About?”
“You’re nervous about tomorrow.” He states. It isn’t a question. I knew I wasn’t fooling him.
I stay quiet trying to collect my thoughts and words of how to tell him how I’m feeling, the only sound I can hear is his heart steadily beating against my ear and the waves of the beach in front of us. Taking in a deep breath of the salty air, I begin to explain.
“I’ve never met the parents before.” I admit. There. I’d said it.
“What?” He asks. His body is a little stiffer than it had been.
“I’ve never…”
“You were with Thompson for three years,” he states like fact and I nod.
“Yeah.”
“You two lived together.” He is stating another fact, one I know he didn’t like.
“I know it just…”
He stops stroking my arm, tightening his hold on me.
“Fucking, Jake,” he growls. I can feel his head shaking in disgust.
“Park…”
“You’re kidding right?” He says pulling away from me and I look at him, slightly confused and nervous. Maybe he didn’t want me to meet his family. Maybe he’s starting to realize I’m not…
“Stop whatever you are thinking you’re wrong.” He tells me, confidence oozing from his voice.
“What?” I whisper.
“Jake’s an even bigger jackass than I could have ever thought. Bigger than I could have ever imagined.”
“Why?” I whisper, slightly afraid of his answer. My hands tremble slightly, my eyes burn a little.
“Because I’ve wanted to take you to meet them for a while now and we’ve been together for two months. If I would have had you for three years, no way in hell I would’ve never introduced you to them. But then again, I would’ve never let you go.”
I would have never let you go.
His words are hitting me hard, in one of the most beautiful ways possible. Things with Parker are so different than with anyone else. He wants me around, all the time. He isn’t shy about letting me know it either. With him I know exactly where I stand.
“Oh,” I mumble trying to bite away my tears.
“No tears, angel. I made you a promise. I’m not going to mess this up between us.” He says softly.
“You have me tied to you, honey,” I whisper and a smile plays on his lips. He kisses me and I kiss him. It’s sweet and tender. Slowly, in a beautiful give and take dance that I only want with him. Before the kiss turns heated he pulls back, leaving me a little confused.
“I have another surprise… but we can’t get caught getting hot and heavy, angel… not yet at least.” He winks at me and my heart skips lightly.
Etched in Stone (Six Degrees Series Book 2) Page 19