Chapter 13
Afew days ago, he was just steady old Heath, with not much more going on than shoveling and work and a banister to rebuild.
Today, he had a Christmas tree, company to share his frozen pizzas, and a hot cowboy at the top of his to-do list.
Who was he?
Like really, who the hell was he?
This couldn’t be real, but he was pretty sure it was.
“Earth to Heath.”
He blinked at Beckett. “Oh. Sorry, I was thinking.” He looked back down at his laptop and tapped a few keys to make it look like he was doing something.
“About what? You’d checked out, man.”
He sighed. “I did. You’re right. I think I’m… I don’t know.”
Beckett pushed his chair back. “You know what, we’re done. I’ll send the agreement off tomorrow, and then we’re off until after New Year’s.”
“Yeah? Cool.” He closed the laptop and set it aside.
“So you’re what? Tired?” Beckett gave him a knowing grin.
“Did Parker—?”
“Parker told Sky.”
“And Skyler—”
“Told me of course.” Beckett grinned at him. “You dawg.”
He shook his head. “It’s not like that. I just like him.”
“He’s a good guy. He’s amazing with the kids. What’s he up to this afternoon?”
“Christmas shopping with Charlie.” Parker had been texting and sending pictures.
“Again? Well, they’ll be back by grill time. Lucky thing we got his truck working.”
“Yeah, great timing. Although I can’t say I mind him being stuck at my place.” He didn’t mind at all. “I’m mean, this is kind of new, you know?”
“Sure, and he’s different from most guys around here…” Becket winked at him.
“Thank God for that.” Parker wasn’t like anyone around here. Or anyone he’d been with before, either. “He’s…fucking fun, man.”
“Yeah. Yeah, he has a hell of a sense of humor too. You coming to our house for Christmas morning, do you think? There’ll be cinnamon rolls.”
“I can’t, but Parker will be. I’ve got my nephews, my niece. You know. Mom would flip. Parker might join me later. I invited him.”
“Good deal. He’ll be done with us by…oh…seven a.m.”
“Seven? Good Lord.” If that was the case, he probably could come. “He better sleep here Christmas Eve.”
“Whatever you guys decide. Honestly. The kids will only be focused on Santa.”
“That’s gotta be fun. I remember back when my sister’s twins were little…so cute.” He’d never been there for the dawn wake-up calls, but he remembered how Christmas was magic to them.
“Oh God, yes. Especially now that Charlie cares about buying presents for her sibs. It’s adorable.”
“I think it’s good for Parker too. The shopping, the uncle time. He loves your kids.”
“He does. He has never once missed a birthday. Not once. Even if he had to run home immediately after.”
He did that too, but he didn’t have to fly hundreds of miles to do it. “Family first.”
Skyler poked his head into Beckett’s home office. “Hey. You guys done? It’s time to get the grill going.”
Beckett beamed and stood up. “I’m on it.”
“Is Parker back?”
Skyler chuckled. “Charlie conned him into buying fudge for everyone in Vermont.”
“She’s a girl after my own heart. Did she bring butterscotch?” He followed Beckett out of the room.
“Butterscotch. Penuche. Peanut butter. Rocky Road. Chocolate. Caramel. Vanilla. Butter pecan. Walnut.”
Beckett’s eyes just kept getting bigger.
“I see tummy aches in your future, buddy.” He shook his head. Parker was going to be in so much trouble. “Charlie! Let me take some of that butterscotch fudge off your hands.”
“It’s so yummy! Uncle Parker let me taste a nibble of all of them before we bought!” She was flying.
Flying.
“Good work, Uncle Parker. You’re going to be so popular with her dads.” But he dug right into the fudge himself, didn’t he?
“I know. It’s worth it.” Parker licked chocolate off his fingers.
Beckett went stomping by in his boots and coat and slipped out the back door to the deck.
Parker opened the penuche and offered him a bite. “He’s good on the grill. I guess you know that.”
“Actually, I didn’t know that. I’d never been here for dinner until the night you showed up.” He and Beckett did happy hour, and Sky would join them in Burlington for dinner sometimes, but he hadn’t ever been in their house for a meal.
“No? Wild! Have you had them to yours, yet?”
“Never. We’ve always been go out to dinner types.” He shrugged. It didn’t feel weird to him; he and Beckett were colleagues. Work friends.
“That’s cool. Seriously. No judgment. I don’t have a house. Or an office.” Parker winked at him.
“I do have a Christmas tree to show off now though. Oh—speaking of which, Beckett says their whole Christmas thing is done by like seven a.m., so I could come, and then we could head over to my mom’s at like nine or ten. What do you think?”
“I love that. I found her a nice basket with goodies and wine.” Parker sucked a pecan clean of fudge.
“That’s totally unnecessary, and she will love it.” He winked at Parker. “Thank you.”
“I want them to know I’m a good guy.”
Yeah, he could see how that was super important to Parker. The man traded hard on his charisma.
He bumped shoulders with Parker. “I like my housewarming gift better.”
Parker tilted his head, obviously confused. “What did you get, honey?”
He lowered his voice and leaned very close to Parker. Charlie had wandered off with the chocolate marshmallow fudge, but he still didn’t need anyone overhearing. “Kitchen sex. Best gift ever.”
“Ooh…” Parker leaned too. “Wait for bent-over-the-sofa sex.”
Parker was too much fun. “Can I make a reservation for tonight?”
Those gorgeous eyes lit up. “I am absolutely sure I have an…opening.”
“Free parking?” He was really trying not to laugh.
“Oh, no. No way.” Parker winked at him. “I’m pricey.”
“Damn. Well, I think I have the funds, and at least I know there’s no valet.” There was such a thing as carrying a metaphor too far, and he was pretty sure they were there.
Parker snorted and leaned in, kissing him softly, so warm and quick.
He smiled. “The butterscotch is—”
“I saw that,” Beckett said passing by them and getting a tray of steaks out of the fridge.
“The fudge is good, huh?” Butter wouldn’t melt in Parker’s mouth.
“Best fudge ever.”
“I’m so glad you both…enjoy sweets.” Beckett laughed and took the steaks back out to the deck.
“So this is an official thing then? Beckett says you’re coming for Christmas morning, and then going to Heath’s mom’s. She’s a nice lady; you’ll like her.” Skyler wandered in with Sierra on one hip.
Sierra reached for Parker, and Parker took her without hesitation.
“I think we’re in the vicinity of thing, right, honey?”
“Well, I don’t want you to leave, and you don’t want to go, so I think we’re some kind of thing.” Heath nodded and took Parker’s hand. It seemed important to make sure Parker knew he wasn’t afraid of being acknowledged.
Parker smiled at him and held on, the touch sweet and solid. “There you go. We’re a thing.”
Skyler’s smile was wide. “Excellent. We like seeing our friends happy.”
Sierra was quiet and snuggled into Parker. It was so cute, and Parker was completely comfortable with it. “You have a good day, kiddo? You getting ready for Santa?”
“Santa!”
“That’s right. It’s getting close.”
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. That came up fast. We tend to lay low because Christmas Day is a bit wild around here. What are your plans?”
Heath looked at Parker and nodded. “Lay low.”
Parker nodded. “Look at the pretty lights and watch Elf.”
“We have a road trip after Christmas so it will be good to just chill for a while.”
Sky’s eyes lit up. “You’re really going to get Sheila?”
Parker glanced to him, then the man nodded. “Looks like it. She’s my dog.”
“I’m just going to be company on the road. And backup if needed. It’ll be fun. Parker is well-traveled, but I never go anywhere.”
“I’ll give him the goofy sh-tuff tour of the Midwest.”
“Ah, Cleveland, Terre Haute, St. Louis. Lots of goofiness on that trip.” Sky beamed at them, looking like a weird bobble head doll.
“Can I help with dinner? Set the table or…anything not-cooking related?” Heath shrugged. “You don’t want me cooking.”
“Sure. You can help Charlie. She’s on table setting duties this week.”
“I can’t wait until you aren’t worried Sierra will break the plates,” she called out, and Heath swore Sierra winked.
“Your assistant is on the way!” Heath dared to give Parker a peck on the cheek. “I’ll be back.”
Sierra kissed Parker’s other cheek and waved at Heath. “Bye!”
He waved back, and something inside him, for the very first time in his entire life whispered, “You’d be a great dad.”
He’d never considered it. Never even mused about it.
And today, two days before Christmas, at the beginning of a relationship that shouldn’t be feeling anything like forever yet but felt that way anyway, was not the time to listen too hard to random whispers.
But just as there were things he couldn’t unsee, this was something he couldn’t…unthink.
Damn.
Parker was so sweet with that little girl, though.