“Nice speech, doc.”
“I’ve given it enough times.” He stood. “Now about that shot.”
Isla tried to pull up her sleeve, but the cuff was too tight. “I guess I’ll have to take it off.”
With his back to his mother, Parker grinned. “Guess so.” He grabbed his medical bag, caught her uninjured hand, and led her through the house and up the stairs. He tugged her into his room then closed the door. He smiled like a little boy holding a bag of candy. “Begin the striptease.”
She cocked her hip, letting her shoulders droop. “Okay. Have it your way.” Isla pushed him so that he plopped back onto the bed. She wiggled her hips, then instead of pulling off her sweater, she pulled her arm out of the sleeve. “How’d I do?”
Parker screwed his mouth to one side. “It needs work.” He laughed.
Parker gave Isla the shot. Securing a bandage on the site, he said, “Good as new.” He held up the sweater sleeve for her.
“No kiss?”
He took her head in his hands and kissed her lips like he never wanted to stop.
She pulled back. “I meant my booboo.”
“I know what you meant.” He smiled, then reconnected his mouth to hers.
His intensity was something she had never known. There was hunger, but there was also a hint of irritation. As if he was savoring her lips and enjoying the feel of her in his arms with reluctance.
Confusion and curiosity mixed with the excitement he created in her. She wanted him. She was desperate to have him. If he tossed her on the bed, she wouldn’t stop him. In fact, she would get there before he did.
He jerked her to arm’s length. “I have to go. Let me know if you have any pain.” He left, closing the door a bit too firmly.
Sparkle peeked over the lampshade. “Wow, that was hot.”
Isla scowled. “I thought you weren’t watching.”
“I would not have missed that kiss for the world. Glitter and fairy dust, you two would have burned the house down if you kept that up.”
“Sparkle.”
The fairy flew up to Isla. “What? I’m just saying, that was something.”
Isla touched her lips. “It was something all right.”
“Girl, don’t go falling in love on me.”
“What? I’m not falling anywhere.”
“You sure? Remember, I’m not using my magic in all this. This is strictly you. And him.” Sparkle fanned her face with her hand. “And by the looks of it, you don’t need me.”
“I always need you.”
“Yeah, you do. But right now, I’m talking about you and Parker.” Sparkle landed on her shoulder. “It might be fun. A little roll in the sheets. How long has it been? Like forever.”
“All right, that’s enough.” Isla brushed Sparkle off her shoulder. “Be nice to me, or you’re not getting any turkey.”
“I’ll just have to come down in the middle of dinner and take it.”
“Hilarious. You know very well that if anyone finds out what you are, we both get in serious trouble.”
“The fairy council would be pissed. Even turkey dinner wouldn’t be a good enough excuse.” Sparkle put her finger to her cheek. “But maybe with extenuating circumstances.”
“Good-bye,” Isla said as she closed the door.
The rest of the food preparation went without incident. Lorna and Isla kept the conversation general and pleasant.
They had just finished when Ted came into the kitchen, rubbing his hands together. “I’m just about ready to start on the bird. What’s the status in the kitchen?”
“We’re ready.” Lorna flipped her hair. “Sarah and the kids should be here soon.”
“I’ll get my coat.” Isla came back a minute later, buttoning her peacoat.
“Do you have a hat and gloves? The beach is chilly.” Ted wagged his finger. “And rain boots.” He looked to Lorna. “Do we have extra boots?”
“We might,” Lorna said, “But they’re going to be big.”
“That’s all right,” Isla said. “I don’t mind clomping around. Lead on.”
Isla followed Ted out the kitchen door. They walked toward the water, the cobblestone patio became sand pebbles then sand. The seagrass rose high on either side of the path. The sun was full and bright, the sound of gulls mixed with a gentle lap of small waves at the shoreline.
“This is beautiful,” Isla said. “What a peaceful place.”
“I enjoy sitting out here, especially in the fall and spring.”
Isla spotted the Adirondack chairs, each one painted a different color. “I think I would, too.” She sat in the blue chair. Ted had the turkey fryer set up beside the green chair. A bottle of wine was poking out of the sand, four plastic stemless wine glasses were on a side table near his chair.
Ted lit the propane burner under the pot of oil. He looked at his watch. “This will take about forty-five minutes. Wine?”
“Sure.”
Ted poured two glasses then handed her one. “What happened to your finger?”
Isla told him.
It pays to have a doctor in the family.” Ted sat.
Contentment filtered into every cell in her body. She inhaled a long breath of river scented air, the sun warmed her, the house and seagrass shielded them from much of the breeze. She could have fallen asleep like a baby in its mother’s arms.
Ted talked about the many years he fried a turkey on the beach in between sips of wine.
The commotion of voices and squeals came down the path ending with the unified scream of ‘Grandpa.’
“Mom told us you were down here already.”
Ted grabbed his two grandsons in a bearhug. The boys laughed and shrieked. “I missed you guys.” He stood and made the introductions.
“Nice to meet you, Margo,” Sarah said. “My brother finally found someone to bring home.” She leaned to Margo. “Has Mom tried to set a wedding date yet?”
“Sarah,” Ted said, “your mother isn’t that bad. Besides, she just wants Parker to be as happy as you are. Her heart is in the right place.”
Isla thought Sarah’s silence and bland expression were puzzling. Was she reacting to Ted’s pronouncement that she was happy or that Lorna’s prodding came from a place of support?
“There you are,” Parker said, coming through the path.
The boys yelled his name then charged him like football defensive ends. There were a few minutes of roughhousing and rolling in the sand. Ted played referee.
The scene was greeting card heartwarming.
“It’s like this every holiday,” Sarah said to Isla. “The boys wrestle with their uncle every minute they can. Bruce, my husband, is not the wrestling type. He is the computer guy. When they want to play videogames, it’s Dad. When they want to get physical, it’s those two.” Sarah indicated her father and brother.
“We each have our talents.”
“Tell me about the lady my brother finally thought enough of to bring home.” Sarah cocked her hip. “Or I could ask a million questions.”
Isla put her hands in her pockets then gave a concise, simple biography that was a composite of her life and what Parker had told her about Margo. “Is your husband inside?”
“He’s coming from the office, so we took separate cars. He’ll be here soon.”
“Working on Thanksgiving morning?”
“That’s my husband.” Sarah looked at her phone. She raised her voice, “Hey guys, Mom wanted me to tell you that the appetizers are ready and waiting.”
Parker came up to them. “I see you two have met.” He looked at his sister. “Don’t go telling all my secrets there, sis.”
“Only you would think that we would be talking about you. Men.”
“You and Dad take the boys up for some food. Margo and I can watch the fryer.” Parker winked. “We can make out on the beach.” He put his arm around Isla and tucked her against his hip.
Isla kissed Parker’s cheek.
“Go on,” Parker said to Sara
h, “or we’re going to start making out, and you’ll have to explain to the boys why I’m unbuttoning her coat then putting my hand up her sweater.”
“Jeez bro, you are still as gross as you were when you were ten.”
“What did I miss?” Ted asked.
Parker, Sarah, and Isla said ‘nothing’ at the same time.
Ted stared at them a moment. “Oooookay.” He raised his voice. “Boys, let’s grab some grub.” Ted put an arm around each boy then steered them toward the house.
Sarah followed behind them, shaking her head.
Once they were out of sight, Isla looked up at Parker. “You’re trying too hard to sell this.”
He turned her to face him. “Or maybe, I’m looking for an excuse to kiss you again.”
As he slowly tipped her chin and lowered his mouth to hers, Isla’s pulse raced, her knees weakened, and her thoughts dizzied. She plunged her tongue into his mouth first. His reaction was swift and deep. Parker took her head in his hands and savored her mouth. He moved his hands, holding the back of her head with one and pressing her to him with the other. When Isla was breathless, Parker pulled back. “Wow.”
“Agreed.” She put her forehead to his chin, catching her breath. “If you’re not careful, you might forget this is a trick and start falling for me.”
“Nah, I’m not the marrying kind remember?” He connected the kiss again, igniting the same passion, causing the same stir deep inside her body. She didn’t realize her coat was open until his hand was inside her sweater.
Isla pushed on his chest. “If this is all an act, you could do it with less conviction.” He may not have conviction, but she was ready for him to unhook her bra, for his warm hand cupping her breast, his fingers fluttering her nipple to hardness. Hell’s bells, she was ready to hide in the seagrass and drop her pants. Letting him take her from behind would require minimal shifting of clothes and maximum acceleration to heaven. His hand was gone. His lips were gone. The warmth of his body was gone. She opened her eyes.
“Okay, that’s it. We have to stop. You’re right. This is a business arrangement, and since no one is here, there is no reason to play the game.” He walked over to the green Adirondack chair and plopped down with resolve. He stared at the river.
“I’ll wait with you.”
“No.”
“It will look bad if I go back in alone.”
“Then just sit there.”
His posture was stiff, his expression tense.
“O-okay. Fine.” She took the blue chair.
When Ted returned with a plate of food, the air between Isla and Parker was below freezing.
Isla stood. “I guess I’ll get some food.”
“I’ll be there in a few,” Parker said. He heard Isla walking away. Good lord, he had to stop doing that. Her lips were too delicious, and her body molded too precisely with his. Every kiss hardened him to readiness. When her tongue started jousting with his, all he wanted to do was yank her into the tall grass and make love to her. Taking her from behind would have been easy and fantastic. He could tell from her reaction that she was more than ready to let him. Entering her would be effortless. She was wet and swollen, he was certain of it. These thoughts hardened him all over again.
“How’s it going, son?” Ted sat in the chair next to Parker.
“Fine, Dad.”
“Your lady is nice. I can see why you’re attracted to her.” When Parker didn’t react, Ted added, “She makes a congenial addition to the holiday.”
“Yes, Dad.”
“The fact that she’s even here suggests to me that she means a lot to you.”
“She does.”
“You seem different. I have to assume it’s because of Margo.”
“Yes, Dad.”
Ted paused. “What is it, son?”
Parker leaned back. “Nothing, Dad. She is different. I like her. I like being with her.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It is.” Except that she is not Margo, and this is a ruse. Parker stood. “I’m ready for some food. You okay here by yourself?”
“Of course.” Ted poured another glass of wine.
“I’ll be back. Need anything?”
His father held up his plate. “No, I’m good.”
Parker walked back to the path, confusion swirling, tension easing, and his mood shredded. This ploy to get his mother to ease off the nagging may come with a heavy price.
Chapter 5
Isla sat back, unable to eat another bite.
Dinner was abundant and delicious. The table was spread end to end with all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Sarah’s husband arrived just before dinner, mouthing apologies in between bites of appetizers, and insisting he was ready for turkey.
The boys kept up a conversation about school and sports. Ted and Parker debated the winners of the pro football games. Sarah talked about school functions, and Bruce talked about computers.
Isla imagined this was what Thanksgiving was like for most people. Families crammed around a table talking over one another, arguing, laughing, passing judgment as they passed the stuffing. Part of her heart was warmed, part felt cheated at all she had missed growing up, and part was already sad that she would never be at this table again.
“More turkey?” Lorna asked.
“Hmm?” Isla asked, returning from her thoughts. “Oh, sorry. No, I could not eat another bite. Everything was amazing.”
“Best turkey yet, Dad,” Parker said.
“You say that every year, Dear,” Lorna said, then added, “The stuffing was a bit dry.”
“And you say that every year, Mom,” Sarah said.
Ted laughed. “She does. The game is about to start. Are you guys ready?”
The boys cheered and jumped up.
Sarah pointed at her sons. “After you help bring everything from the table to the kitchen. All of you.”
The dining room table was cleared in under a minute. The men went to the living room. The ladies started putting away the leftovers.
Parker settled on the couch, feeling stuffed. After repositioning his belt buckle, he exhaled a long breath. The plan was working, even if it was crazy and had his head spinning. An hour or two of football, goodbyes when his mother pulled out the pies, and he was home free. Peace would reign at family holidays over the next few years.
The doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” Sarah said, from the kitchen.
A few moments later, a woman’s voice echoed from the hallway. “Hello, I’m looking for Parker Coles.”
“Shit.” Parker bolted from his seat.
“What is going on?” Ted asked. He followed Parker into the hallway.
Parker saw his mother coming in from the kitchen. “Hello, Happy Thanksgiving,” his mother said.
The entire family crowded into the space. Sarah was glaring at Parker. Parker stared in horror at Margo. Margo looked around the hallway, her expression bewildered delight.
There was silence.
“Parker. I wasn’t sure I had the right house, but it’s just as I imagined from your description.” She gestured around the hallway. “And this is your family. Hello.” She smiled and waved. “I’m Margo Pike, Parker’s girlfriend.”
Every face registered shock as they stared at her.
There was a pause before Ted said, “If this is Margo, who did you bring for Thanksgiving, son?”
Parker cursed again. “Oh boy.”
“Parker?” Margo said. “What is your father talking about?”
“It seems our son hasn’t been entirely honest with us,” Ted said, scratching his head. “We have been entertaining a ‘Margo’ all day.”
“Who did you bring?” Margo asked.
Everyone looked at everyone else.
“Where did Margo go?” Lorna asked.
“Upstairs,” James replied, pointing at the staircase.
“Margo. Who is this Margo?”
Parker held up his hands. “Everyone,
I can explain,” he said before turning to take the stairs two at a time.
“That’s a good idea,” Ted said.
“That’s a great idea,” Margo added.
“Just give me a minute,” Parker yelled from the landing.
When he reached his room, Isla was stuffing clothes into her bag.
“Isla.”
“I have to go.”
“Wait.” He grabbed her arm.
She yanked it back. “I’ll go down the back steps and get a cab.”
“Just wait.”
“It’s better if I leave. This was a terrible idea. Forget about the money.”
“No, we had a deal.”
“If it worked, but it didn’t.” Isla grabbed her bag and her purse. “Please thank your parents for me. And tell them, I’m sorry. Good luck.” She ran out of the room and down the back staircase.
Parker ran after her, but she was halfway down the back steps when his mother and father stopped him on the landing.
“Parker,” his mother said, “what in the world is going on?”
“It’s complicated, Mom.”
“Sounds like it,” Ted said.
“Just give me a minute.” He ran down the back steps and out the side door. Isla was nowhere in sight. “Shit,” he whispered. “Dammit.” He ran his hand through his hair, took one last look at the road, then let his shoulders droop. He looked at the house. “You’re in it now, Parker,” he whispered.
He walked in the front door to see everyone still looking at Margo in disbelief.
Margo turned to him. “What is going on?”
“Uncle Parker brought another lady named Margo to Thanksgiving,” Johnny said.
“Oh dear,” Sarah said before putting her arms around each of the boys and guiding them toward the living room. “This is none of our business. Let’s go watch the football.” She looked at her husband. “You, too.”
His parents were back, his father looked amused, his mother looked ready to fire off a hundred questions.
Margo was wide-eyed. “Parker? Seriously? You brought someone else here today?”
“Well, it was last night, actually,” Ted said.
“What?” Margo asked.
“You said she was your girlfriend.” His mother slapped Parker’s upper arm. “And you slept with her.”
A Fairy Crazy Thanksgiving Page 5