With a nod, Parker closes his laptop and follows me out the door. William was standing outside the door with Nate.
“We’ll take my car, you’ll follow.”
Nate and William nodded and followed closely behind us as we waited for the valet to bring Parker’s car around.
The closer we got to the grocery store, the more excited I became. I can’t remember the last time I made something in thekitchen that didn’t require being heated for three minutes on high in the microwave.
The Woods hosted weekly Sunday dinners when they didn’t have any social engagements. The twins had informed me how seriously they took these dinners. It was a time for them to reconnect with each other.
I completely understood that because that was the way I had grown up, too. Every Sunday without fail, we would congregate at my mother’s home or Celeste’s. Whether the table was filled with family or friends, it was tradition to break bread and share laughs each Sunday.
There was pot roast and collard greens instead of Bistec Encebollado and Curry Goat, but it was basically the same. Although the twins, Parker and Mrs. Woods, had welcomed me with open arms, the tension and obvious dislike for me always seemed to be present with Mr. Woods.
The grocery store we pulled into was actually a Trader Joe's on steroids. The produce was so vibrant and fresh. Tonight I’d be making Escovitch fish and curry shrimp with white rice and steamed vegetables. Aja was apparently trying her luck at being a vegetarian for the sixth time, Parker had mentioned. I had a feeling they would enjoy all the flavors of this meal.
I grabbed all the things we needed as Parker drove the cart down the aisles in record time. Although I was excited, I was nervous about how the food would come out. The pool house was equipped with high-end appliances that had settings I’d never heard of.
When we returned, I rushed to my room to change, hiking the black shift dress I was wearing over my head. I was stepping into a pair of biker shorts when I heard a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called out as I looked in the drawer for a tank top.
A shirtless Parker walked into the room with his dimples on full display. He was still in his dress pants with the belt hanging loosely from his waist.
He paused briefly, just looking me over. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, I walked into his arms. Parker smelled like cedarwood and vanilla. The feeling of his warm skin against mine brought me comfort. I didn’t feel any shame as I pressed my face into his firm chest, breathing in his delicious scent. He just chuckled and tightened his arms around my waist, doing the same to my hair.
“Am I terrible for wanting to keep you to myself?” He questioned as he bit his lip, looking down at the black sheer balconette bra that covered my chest.
“Not at all,” I said, trailing a finger over his tattooed chest. “I’m not too keen on sharing you either.”
His hands trailed down my waist as he pulled our bodies closer together, his hands resting on my ass.
“I’m yours, you don’t have to worry about that.”
Mine.
I like the sound of that.
Rising on my toes, I planted my lips on his.
Parker deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue into my mouth with a moan.
I could feel his hard length pressing against the apex of my thigh, and need pooled between my legs.
Parker walked me backwards until the back of my knees hit the bed, and we fell, tumbling onto it. For a short period, I wasn’t here. The one face that I never wanted to see flickered into view.
“It didn’t have to be this way, Ev. We could’ve been a real family.” He choked out as he stood unbuckling his pants.
All I had were silent pleas. I knew what he was going to do next, and I knew that I had no power to stop it.
“Evelyn. Come back to me.”
I breathed in sharply as Parker’s concerned face replaced his again.
“Fuck.” I covered my face, mortified. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
This was what I was afraid of—maybe I wasn’t ready for this after all. I tried to roll away from beneath him, exhaling out a frustrated breath, but he stopped me with a hand on my hip.
“Don’t run from me, Ev. Talk to me. Please.”
