Chapter 16
PARKER
“And then there was the big love of his life in college,” Beck said.
We were hanging around the kitchen island, Delaney sitting next to me on a stool, Pia wrapped in Mason’s arms as they leaned against one of the counters, and Cole and Beck sitting on the other stools.
Pia tried to get us into the great room, “beautiful roaring fireplace” and all, but not surprisingly, no one wanted to leave the drinks and snacks.
When I’d be in charge of my own home-building business, talking clients into bigger kitchens if they entertained would be a priority.
“Cut me some slack,” I warned him, not wanting to scare Delaney away. Especially after that kiss.
“Sophomore year of college, he talked us into this community service project, helping to rebuild homes that were hit hard by an ice storm.”
“We weren’t easy to convince,” Mason added. “Half the time they wanted us on Sundays?—”
“Which cut into our recovery time.”
“Recovery from what?” Pia asked, looking up at him.
“Partying,” Cole said dryly. “Something these guys took seriously in college.”
“None of us more so than Beck.” Mason took a swig of his beer.
“Anyway.” Beck shifted on his stool. “We were working on a house, and an elderly couple lived next door. Mr. Johnson’s health wasn’t great, and his wife was doing her best to upkeep the house and take care of him.”
“She came out whenever we were there,” Mason said. “Even made us cookies.”
“So of course”—Cole swirled the Scotch in his glass—“one thing led to another, and Parker started doing odd jobs around her house, even after the project was finished.”
“Like what?” Delaney asked him.
“Mowing her lawn, fixing a leaky faucet… Things like that.”
“She adored him,” Mason said.
“I adored her too.” I could still see that bright pink lipstick smile clearly in my mind. “She was a retired nurse, so caring for her husband came naturally. Maintaining the house did not.”
“If Parker wasn’t in class or drinking with us, he was at the Johnsons’ house either fixing something or picking up food,” Beck said. “We definitely ate better after Parker met his girlfriend.”
“Scandalous.” Delaney smiled at me. “Since she was already married.”
“Unfortunately her husband passed a few months after we first met.”
“For almost year”—Beck headed to the fridge and pulled out another beer—“he helped her around the house. Even took her to dinner a few times. Anyone need one?”
“I’ll take one,” Mason said.
“Unfortunately,” I said as Beck handed Mason a beer, “she passed too. Wasn’t really even sick, but I think living without him was just too hard. They were married for over sixty years.”
“Oh, man,” Delaney said. “I’m so sorry.”
I took a sip of my drink, knowing if I responded my voice would betray the ache in my chest for a woman who wasn’t even related to me but whose death had hit hard. I hadn’t lost anyone at that point in my life so had no idea how to cope.
“It’s not like you to bring the vibe down,” Pia teased Beck.
“Sorry, but Delaney has to know all of Parker’s past girlfriends.”
He was jumping the gun a bit, but I didn’t say that. It was hard to hide the fact that I was into Delaney, and it seemed she reciprocated. “Pretty sure she doesn’t,” I countered.
“Speaking of the hot tub,” Beck said, cheeky as ever, “how was it? I’m thinking it’s time to check it out.”
“Great,” Delaney said. “I mean…” She tried not to smile. “It was fine.”
“Fine, huh?” I asked, wanting to say more but also not wanting to embarrass her.
“Good enough for me. Who’s in?”
“Shit.” Everyone looked at Cole, who was staring at his phone.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Apparently we’re getting some snow now tomorrow. No idea where that came from.”
“How long have you lived up here?” Mason asked. Since he’d grown up with Cole in Cedar Falls, it was a rhetorical question that Mason knew the answer to already.
“Snow storms and upstate New York are pretty much a thing,” Beck added, just in case Cole didn’t already know that.
I smiled at the look Cole gave him, as if Beck was a wayward child and Cole was his father.
Usually after a few drinks he was warmed up pretty good and let loose a bit, but uptight Cole returned pretty quickly.
I snuck a glance at Delaney next to me. She’d changed out of her bathing suit into leggings and a sweatshirt. Hair in a messy bun, the casual look suited her. Very well, actually.
She caught me staring. Delaney’s thick lashes framed the most beautiful big eyes that had begun to soften toward me, and the corners of her lips turned up ever so slightly.
A half smile that was part pleasure, part allure.
It was as if she was remembering that kiss.
Not that I blamed her. Who could forget it?
Coming back to the conversation, I picked up that a storm was coming late morning tomorrow. Cole worried about getting back to the city in time for a Tuesday-morning class since the snow was apparently going to last all day.
“I’m already off tomorrow,” I said. “You head out in the morning. At least I’ll know what I’m talking about with the roofing guys.”
“You sure?” Cole asked.
“Positive.” I gestured to the house. “Forced to stay here another night? It’s not much of a hardship, trust me.”
Cole turned to Mason and Pia. “You guys okay with heading out on the earlier side? I’ll drop you off at the inn and hit the road from there.”
“This is why you need to move back,” Beck said, relentless in his pursuit to have all four of us together, as if staying at the inn was a permanent thing. Eventually Mason and Pia would get married, the inn’s updates would be complete, and there would be no good reason to stay.
“Be serious,” Cole said.
“Why?” Beck asked.
“It’s no problem,” Pia interjected. “We can be up and Adam whatever time you want.”
“Up and Adam?” Mason asked. “Who says that?”
“I do,” she insisted.
“That alright with you?” Cole asked Delaney.
She looked at me.
It was her slight hesitation that told me to go for it. “Not sure what time you work on Tuesday, but maybe we can even get in our ski day after I meet with the roofer. Maybe crash another night and head out Tuesday morning.”
“Actually,” she said, “I’m closing Tuesday and don’t go in until one.”
“Perfect, but it’s up to you.”
Every single person in the kitchen turned to poor Delaney.
“You don’t have to decide right this second,” I said, letting her off the hook. “Let me know.”
“Whelp,” Beck said, heading toward the fridge. “I for one am making use of the hot tub.” He took out a beer. “Come on, party pooper,” he said to Cole. “Refill your drink and get the hell out there.”
Cole rolled his eyes. “It’s like dealing with a fifteen-year-old,” he said to no one in particular.
“And you’re like dealing with an eighty-year-old. Let’s go.”
The two of them headed upstairs to change, leaving the four of us in the kitchen.
“Gotta pee. Be right back,” Pia said to Mason.
I turned to Delaney. Hopeful, but knowing that a kiss was one thing, an overnight alone… completely another.
“You sure you don’t mind some company tomorrow night?” she asked.
In response, I got off the stool, took her glass as if to refill her drink but used the opportunity to whisper into her ear so that Mason couldn’t hear me.
“Just the opposite, cupcake. I’m very much looking forward to it.”