11. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
Madison
“ Y ou should really cancel that taxi,” Parker said, as we stopped next to his sleek black car.
“I didn’t need your help.”
“I never said you did. But you were relieved when I showed up,” he shot back, opening the passenger door for me. “Don’t deny it.” His smirk was infuriatingly smug as he motioned for me to get in.
I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to accept his offer. But in the end, I slid into the seat and ran a hand over the smooth leather beneath me.
As Parker settled into the driver’s side, the faint smell of his expensive cologne lingered in the air. He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot and I canceled the taxi I had ordered. The silence between us was uncomfortable, at least to me, so I asked, “How long have you been living at The Gem?”
“Four years.”
His answer gave rise to a bunch of other questions. He looked around my age, which meant he was too young to have been able to build The Gemstone on his own from the ground. The land alone would cost a fortune. Was he born into a wealthy family? Had he inherited the property?
“How old are you?” I asked.
“You are on fire tonight, Ms. Hartley,” a slow smirk formed on his lips. “First you told me I was engaging, and now you’re asking me a personal question.”
“Don’t read too much into it. I have an agenda.”
“I’m not surprised.” His smirk transformed into one of his rare genuine smiles, and I felt my own lips twitch.
We remained silent for a while. I was aware he hadn’t answered my question, but I didn’t want to seem too eager to find out, so I just watched out my window.
“Why was your mother on your date?”
So he hadn’t figured out it was a blind date yet.
“Hum?” I asked, buying time.
“You were on a date with George and your mother. What was that about?”
Usually I could be quick with a lie on my tongue, but I hadn’t forgotten the revelation that Parker and my brother Tyler had some kind of friendship thing going on. Who knew if Tyler wouldn’t use me as a joke at their next get together and tell him about my mother’s desire to marry me off to the first single man that said hello?
“How about we play a game, then?” Parker asked. “You will answer a question of mine for every answer I give you. ”
“And if I don’t answer?”
“You won’t be able to ask me any more questions until you do. And vice versa, of course. Deal?”
“I guess,” I hesitated.
“Ask me something.”
“How old are you?” I repeated my question from a few minutes ago. I figured I could set the tone of the questions, since I was the first to ask.
“Thirty-five. What was your mother doing on your date?”
My hope of keeping the questions light went out the window. “She’s trying to set me up with someone. Did you build and develop the hotel on your own?”
“No,” he said nonchalantly, but I saw the muscle that ticked on his jaw. “Why is your mother trying to set you up with someone?”
“She wants me to get married and start popping out babies like my siblings,” I said and didn’t feel an ounce of embarrassment. I liked this game. “What’s the story with The Gem?”
“What do you mean?” He cut short our quick exchange, which only meant one thing. There was something he didn’t want to discuss, and it involved the hotel.
“You don’t fit the stereotypical image of a wealthy, entitled man born into privilege. And you seem too young to have achieved such financial success.”
“You have a weird way of making a compliment sound like an insult. And your mother wonders why you’re still single.”
“Oh, she doesn’t wonder, believe me.”
There was a beat of silence before he answered my question. “I inherited The Gem. ”
There was something in his tone that made me wonder if he was lying, but I couldn’t prove it even if he was, so I let it slide and reminded him. “Your turn.”
He acted like he hadn’t heard me for a while. I guessed I really had stepped on a minefield with the questions about The Gem.
“Don’t you want to get married and have babies like your siblings?” Parker asked, eventually.
“No.”
“Why?”
It was my turn to ask a question, but I didn’t care. I answered anyway. “I don’t believe in marriage.”
He snorted. “You’re a wedding planner.”
“It’s just a job I’m good at.”
“Good at? Annie freaking Foster wants you to plan her wedding. I’m not an expert, but it seems like you are more than just good at it.” He shot me a look. “And that’s how you make a compliment.”
I finally allowed my lips to curve into a smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He said nothing, but I felt the need to fill the silence after all the nice things he said about me.
“There is a difference between a wedding and a marriage.”
He thought about it for a moment, then said. “That is quite true.”
We didn’t speak for the rest of the drive back to The Gem. He parked the car, and we both exited it.
“Do you sleep in the main building, too?” I asked.
“No,” he cleared his throat before continuing. “I’m in The Blue Diamond.”
I nodded in understanding. “That’s how you caught me in the hot tub. ”
“And that’s why I keep the Pink Diamond empty. I like my privacy.”
We walked into the lobby in silence. Thankfully, Melany wasn’t on shift that night. I wondered if he was two-timing her and Jessica or if I misinterpreted something.
Parker followed me all the way to my room. When I unlocked the door and turned to face him, I caught him glancing inside. Then his gaze fell on mine.
“What will your mother do now?”
I shrugged as if I had no clue, but he raised a brow in disbelief. When I remained silent, he said, “Humor me.”
“She will pester me for a while and then she will find someone else to set me up with.”
“Hmm.”
“What?”
“I wonder how we could solve this problem.”
“We’re not solving anything.”
“You can’t present a problem in front of a man and expect him not to try to solve it.”
“I already have a meddling mom. I don’t need a meddling boss.”
He just grinned. “What you need is a boyfriend, Miss Hartley.”
“Yeah. I don’t want one. Good night,” I pushed the door open and when I turned to close it, he was walking backwards, still looking at me. “Why are you so weird?” I asked.
He grinned, turned his back to me, and walked away.
I kicked off my shoes, peeled off my dress and gathered my hair in a messy bun on top of my head, because I didn’t feel like washing it that night .
A knock on my door stopped my pre-shower routine. I didn’t have to look to know it was Parker on the other side. I put a robe on and opened the door.
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.” I let him in and closed the door behind him.
His gaze dropped to my chest for a moment and hoped I wasn’t going to blush again like I did in the restaurant. He kept one of his hands behind his back. “I have an idea of how to deal with your mother.”
“What are you hiding back there?”
“A prop.”
“Should I be scared?” I teased.
“Terrified,” he released a feral grin and finally showed me what he had been hiding. A white rose. He had probably taken it from one of the million vases that covered the lobby and the corridors. He twirled the stem between his fingers. “Remember that thing you told Roger? About the roses and the confidentiality. Sub rosa?”
“Yes?”
“We seem to always get tangled in a deal, you and I. Clementine’s wedding. The contract of employment. Our new game of questions. It seems to work for us. Having clear expectations of one another. Right?”
“I guess.”
“I want to offer you something. One more deal. A deal that will be our secret. And it will get your mother off your back.”
“My mother?” I asked, confused.
“We can make her stop asking you about marriage and kids.”
I placed my hands on my hips, heavily confused. “Look. My mother is not your problem. And there is nothing you can do to distract her from her goal. I inherited my go-getter drive from her. ”
“I assume she would calm down a little if you were in a steady, healthy relationship with a, how did you put it, wealthy and successful man?” He offered me the rose, and I took it. “It will be our little secret. No one else would know.”
“Know what?”
“That we are faking it.”
“You want to pretend to be my boyfriend?”
“Yes. I need a hobby. I tried fishing. It was a disaster.”
“What?” I asked, staring at him in disbelief.
Pretend to be in a relationship with Parker? The idea seemed absurd, but then again, it might just be crazy enough to work. If my mother thought I was happily involved with someone like Parker, she would finally back off and let me live my life on my own terms. At least I hoped so.
Parker stood there, his gaze steady and expectant, waiting for my response.
After a moment of internal debate, I let out a nervous laugh. “You’re serious about this?”
He nodded, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Completely serious. Think about it - no more blind dates, no more pressure from your mother.”
“It won’t be enough for my mother to hear we’re together. You’ll have to make the occasional appearance.”
“I assumed as much,” he nodded, his voice oozing with confidence. “I can handle a few public appearances.”
His alpha male attitude would appeal to my mother, but could I stomach it long enough for her to believe we were an item? My mother’s constant nagging about marriage and kids had become unbearable. But what would Parker gain out of this charade? Did he have some ulterior motive behind his proposal ?
“What’s in it for you?” I asked, needing to understand.
Parker’s smirk widened into a full-fledged grin. “Apart from the thrill of spending more time with you?” he teased. “I told you. I need a distraction. Fishing is not my thing. And I don’t want to own a fucking boat or play golf. And you hate me. I hate you. There is no risk of falling for each other.” Despite his charming facade, there was a complexity to Parker that intrigued me and set off warning bells simultaneously. “Just imagine a world where your mother doesn’t ambush you with dudes like George. You could be here for a while. Five weddings, remember?”
The possibility of this evening with George happening again with every single man my mother found eligible made me extend my hand in Parker’s direction. He took it, his hand engulfing mine in a firm, yet surprisingly gentle grip. I was acutely aware of the heat that transferred from his palm to mine. My heart raced, but I played it off with a nonchalant smile.
“Fine. Let’s do it,” I agreed, surprising even myself with the decision. “But remember, this is just another deal.”
“Of course,” Parker replied smoothly, his intense gaze locking with mine. “Strictly business.” But there was a glint in his eyes that hinted at a deeper understanding between us. One that could end up in a friendship. Then he let loose a charming smile. “Should I hang the rose from the ceiling?”