Kayana was busy mixing cocktails, while Graeme became her assistant and handed her the ingredients for the drinks. Cherie shared a smile with Parker when he came over to stand next to her.
“I see why my cousin is so taken with you,” he said in her ear.
Cherie smiled up at the solidly built man, looking for some resemblance between him and Reese, and could not find any, despite their sharing DNA. His khaki-brown complexion was dotted with a light sprinkling of freckles, and his light-brown eyes were friendly. There was something about his round face that made her think of him as a teddy bear. However, she knew her assessment of him was quite the opposite of reality, because Reese had mentioned he ran the sheriff’s department as if he still were a Marine Corps drill sergeant.
“I happen to like him a lot, too,” she whispered.
Parker put a can of beer to his mouth and took a deep swallow as he stared at Cherie over the rim. “My cousin has survived a lot of losses in his life, so please don’t hurt him, Cherie.”
She went still and met the eyes, which were now anything but friendly. “What makes you think I’ll hurt him?”
Cupping her cupped her elbow, Parker led her out of the kitchen and into the dining area. “Reese is not one to open up about his feelings, but when I asked him about you, he didn’t hold back.”
Cherie’s respiration quickened as she felt her heart rate tick up. “What did he say? Are you or aren’t you going to tell me?” she asked when he hesitated.
Parker stared at something over her head. “He’s falling in love with you. And it’s only when you’re in love that you become vulnerable.”
Her gaze narrowed as her hands fisted. “What makes you think I’m going to hurt him?”
“I don’t know,” Parker admitted.
“Then why mention it?” Cherie struggled not to lose her temper. She resented Parker’s interference, wondering if he’d said what he did to sabotage his younger cousin’s relationship. And if that was his intent, she wanted and needed to know why.
“I’m just trying to look out for my cousin.”
“Really? In case you haven’t noticed, Reese happens to be an adult capable of looking out for himself. And I resent your interference.”
Parker’s broad shoulders slumped. “I’m trying not to interfere, Cherie.”
She bit her lip and counted slowly to five. “Pray tell, exactly whatareyou attempting to do, because right now you’re giving me double messages. Are you saying that you don’t want me involved with your cousin?”
“No, I’m not saying that.”
“Then what is it?” she spat out. Cherie’s frustration with the chief of the sheriff’s department escalated when he didn’t answer her question. “I’m going to say this once, and then I never want you to approach me again with this nonsense. Reese isn’t the first man in my life, and right now, I can honestly say I would like him to be the last one.” She wanted to saybullshitrather thannonsense, yet knew that would make a bad situation worse.
Parker crossed his massive arms over his chest. “You really don’t bite your tongue, do you?”
“You just don’t know the half,” she retorted. The man didn’t know she’d tried to keep her resolution to pause and think before allowing something nasty to come out of her mouth. Bitter, cutting words, once spoken, could not be retracted. She forced a saccharine smile when Reese joined her and Parker.
“It’s nice to see you two getting acquainted,” Reese said as he looped an arm around her waist.
Cherie’s smile didn’t slip when she said, “Your cousin and I were just discussing a few things.”
Parker took another swallow of his beer. “I must say our conversation has been very interesting.”
“Yes, it has,” she confirmed. “Reese, can you please get me something to drink?”
He dropped a kiss on her hair. “What do you want?”
A beat passed. “That’s okay. I’ll get it myself.”
“No, bae. You can stay and continue your conversation with Parker.”
Cherie wanted to tell Reese there was nothing more she wanted to discuss with his cousin. “That’s okay. I think we’ve said enough.”
Reese stared at Cherie’s back as she walked in the direction of the kitchen. He’d felt the tension in her body when he’d put his arm around her waist. “What did you say to her, Parker?”
“I just told her not to hurt you.”
