24. 24
P arker weaves through the tables of the resort restaurant. A few heads turn, following him through the space, and I can’t blame them. The energy that pulses off of him demands attention. Pair that with his imposing frame and rugged good looks, and he’s bound to draw a few gazes.
I’ve had to work the entire day to keep my eyes from falling on him every time he was nearby.
“Are you nervous?” I ask Charlie as she and Courtney join me for a moment. The restaurant gave us a section of tables and all the remaining guests are moving around and mingling as the evening starts to wind down. My feet throb in time with my pulse and I can’t wait to get these shoes off when I get back to the room .
“The only thing I’m nervous about is crying off my makeup,” she says with a smile. I watch Alec and Lorelei talk to Charlie’s parents, and the conversation has brought out the groom’s smile.
“While we have a second, I just want to thank you, personally, for letting me come. This place is amazing and I’m honored to get to be a part of your special day.”
“I’m glad we have a chance to get to know you better,” Charlie says. “Lore only has good things to say.”
“Especially since Parker is head over heels for you,” Courtney says, smiling as she takes a sip of her drink.
“Courtney!” Charlie exclaims.
“He’s not head over heels for me.”
The girls look at each other, the look they share saying more than words ever could. Charlie sighs as they look back at me.
“Anastasia, listen, Parker didn’t tell me what happened between you until I pushed and even then all he said was he was a world class asshole.” I shift my weight back and forth as she takes a hold of my hand. Her blue eyes hold me prisoner. “I know I’m his best friend, so you might not believe me and I wouldn’t blame you, but I have to help him if it’s in my power. I can see how he looks at you. And I can see the connection between you both.
“Whatever he said, probably hurt. And I’m not dismissing your very real pain or saying that you don’t deserve an apology. But what I am saying is that in all the years I have known Parker, I have known him to be an incredibly kind, compassionate, loving man.
“There are things in his past—”
“I know about Brittany leaving him,” I say, trying to get this conversation to end because I know she’s right about the man Parker is. But that doesn’t mean his words didn’t cut me .
“He has been working so hard to get past that and he’s not perfect. I have a feeling that whatever happened, it tied back to that for him. All I want is for you to give him a chance to apologize. That’s it. If you don’t want to have anything to do with him after that, then everyone will respect your choice. We won’t try to force you into the same room together.
“And just so you know, I was in your place, so I know how it feels. When Alec and I started, he said some things that hurt more than I’d like to admit and yet here we are. If you still care for Parker, I promise you that he can be the best thing that’s ever come into your life. I know he is for me. We wouldn’t be standing here right now if Parker hadn’t stepped in to help me. I hope you won’t hold it against me that I’m doing the same.”
A lump forms in my throat at the bright love in her eyes for Parker and I know she’s right. We need to talk. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust the man I have seen in every other moment since I met him. But he definitely has some groveling to do first.
I open my mouth to agree to giving him a chance to apologize until Lorelei lets out an ear-splitting squeal.
Charlie drops my hand as we look around for the reason behind her reaction and that’s when I see Tank hobbling across the restaurant on crutches with a boot on one leg. Lorelei runs to him, weaving her arms around his midsection, giving him a hug. They talk for a moment before coming back to join the rest of us.
Charlie, Courtney, and I push up from the table and go to meet everyone in our group.
“What did you do?” Alec says.
“One of the guys stepped on my foot just right and somehow broke a bone in my foot. The doctors said it’ll heal just fine and there shouldn’t be any lasting issues, but I can’t bear weight on it right now so I can’t play. Since I’m on the DL, the coaching staff was okay with me flying out here for your wedding and not being on the sideline.”
“We are so glad you’re here, Tank!” Charlie says, giving him a hug.
“Sorry, about the foot, Bruiser,” Courtney says.
Everyone mingles for a second as I make my way over to Lore, grabbing her hand.
“Hey, I’m going to go talk to the front desk and see if I can get my own room so you two can have some privacy,” I tell her in a hushed tone.
“What? No! You don’t have to do that. You’re welcome to stay with us.”
“Yeah, Anya. I’m not kicking you out. I can get a cot or something,” Tank says, his arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“You’re going to sleep on a cot with a broken leg? Not on my watch. I’ll just go talk to them,” I say, folding my arms over my chest.
“I’ll go with you,” Lorelei says.
We say our goodbyes to the group and start to make our way out of the restaurant. Right as we are about to cross the threshold, Charlie yells at us to wait, and makes her way to join us.
“I’m coming, too, and don’t even say anything. I’m the bride and I can do what I want.”
She links her arms with both of us and we all traipse through the resort to the front desk. I was worried I’d feel like an outsider at such an intimate affair, but everyone has been so phenomenal at including me. Especially Charlie.
A waterfall is in the middle of the open-air reception, the sound tranquil. Palm trees dance in the slight breeze and music from a luau carries through the night air. All the receptionists are in cream-colored flower shirts and the women have their hair pinned back on one side, a flower tucked behind their ears.
“Hello. How may I help you?” one says, her teeth perfectly white and even in her perfectly placid smile.
“Hi, my name is Charlie. I’m the bride for the Price/King wedding. We have a bit of a situation with an extra guest showing up and we need to play musical rooms just a bit. Do you have any rooms available we could rent for the weekend?” the beautiful redhead asks, her voice and body pulling the attention of the male receptionists.
“Unfortunately, we are all booked up this weekend with four different weddings and various other groups. We would be happy to arrange other accommodation on the island on your guest’s behalf if that is something they would prefer?” the woman says, her sanguine smile not budging an inch.
“No, that’s alright. We want our family to all be here together. Thank you, anyway.”
We all move off to the side so other guests can be assisted and huddle in a small circle.
“Okay, what are the options. I’m trying to think if anyone booked a two-bed room that maybe we could move around,” Charlie says, tapping her finger to his lips.
“I don’t want to inconvenience anyone. I wasn’t supposed to be here, anyway. I can go to the other hotel, hang out, and then meet up to go back home. I really don’t mind.”
“No, absolutely not,” Charlie says, her tone stubborn.
“There’s always Tank’s cot idea,” Lorelei says.
“Parker,” Charlie says .
I hesitate. Charlie’s words from earlier run through my head and I realize how perfect of an opportunity it would be if we could have some privacy to talk.
“If you don’t think he’ll mind…” I say, trailing off. Part of me wants to still go to the other hotel, but the thought of being able to talk, to finally get past this, is too attractive.
“He wouldn’t mind.” She pulls out her phone and taps in a number before holding it up to her ear. I don’t know if I’m more impressed she actually has someone’s phone number memorized in this day and age or if I’m mortified that I’m basically forcing myself on him. She makes a noise of annoyance as I hear his voice mail click in, her call unanswered.
“Damn Viking. I’ll text him. In the meantime, let’s go get your stuff.”
Like a puppy, I follow them back to our room, Charlie tapping away on her phone.
“Any luck?” Tank asks from our couch, his leg propped up on the coffee table.
“No. I’m going to have her room with Parker,” Charlie says, not taking her eyes from her phone.
Tank snorts a laugh and mumbles something I think sounds like “This should be interesting” but I’m not sure. I make my way to my luggage and begin repacking all of my clothes and toiletries. One thing Mom taught me growing up was to never leave a suitcase packed when you get to your destination. That causes wrinkles and just delays your ability to get dressed and move on to the fun part of the day.
As I pull the zipper around, Charlie moves to me and hands me a key .
“He’s in one of the small villas over on the ocean side. Room 1217. Do you need me to show you?”
“No, I know where those are. You’re sure he’ll be good with it?”
“Trust me, he’d be offended if we didn’t let him help when he’s in the position to do so.” She opens the door for me.
“I’ll see you all tomorrow, then. Have a good night.”
“You too! And tell Parker to call me in the morning when he’s awake.”
“Will do,” I say.
I make my way through the resort, pulling my suitcase behind me, following the signs to the villas, until I find his room. Knocking to warn him I’m coming in, I insert my key and push through the door. The first thing I notice is the sound of the waves crashing against the shore through the open wall. Floor to ceiling glass panels are pushed over the left. Two chairs are out on the lanai for relaxing during the day. A sumptuous couch faces a blank wall except for a console table that, if I had to guess, holds the TV. Moving toward the living room, I pass a partially open door.
The sound of grunts meet my ears.
“Hello,” I call out, but no one responds. “Parker?” Wondering if I’m somehow in the wrong room, I push open the door, and come face to face with Parker’s naked, beautiful ass.
His back muscles move and flex as he strokes himself aggressively. His moans are sexy and more intoxicating than all the alcohol I had at dinner. Eyes shut, his mouth hangs open as I watch him pleasure himself in the mirror, the sight the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen. I wonder who he’s thinking about, what made him so ravenous he had to take care of himself, and a small, infinitesimal part of me hopes it was me .
“That feels so good. Don’t stop,” he moans. Giving himself a few more strokes, with a groan, he comes.
The handle of my bag drops from my fingers as I watch him, my thighs slick with my wanting, but at the sound, his green eyes snap open, finding me.
“What the fuck!” he says, ripping a towel off the counter and wrapping it around his waist.
“Sorry, I, well, you see, Tank, he. And I. So here. That looked like it felt good.” I feel my face heat at that honesty and babble some more. “I’ll give you a minute to…” I gesture at him before deciding the best thing I can do is shut the fuck up and go wait for him.
Water starts to run as, I assume, he washes his hands and before I can get myself back under control, he’s standing in front of me, his naked chest a complete distraction.
“What are you doing in my room, Anastasia?” he asks, his voice curious.
“Did you not get Charlie’s texts? She tried calling and texting you.”
My heart is racing so hard I’m afraid I’m going to pass out. It takes every single iota of self-control I possess to not jump him right here and now.
“No, I hadn’t seen them.”
“Well, sure, your hands, or hand really, was full.”
“Jesus. Why are you here?” he asks, his tone merely curious. His arms flex as he pulls his hair up, tying it into a bun at the base of his neck, a single strand hanging loose and covering his face. My hands want to tuck it away. They also want to take off his towel, and so I wrap them around myself to keep from doing either of those things.
“Tank showed up. He broke his foot and now he’s here and I was going to stay with Lorelei this weekend but he’s here and he can’t sleep on a cot and I’m not entirely sure I want to sleep in a bed with both of them although they are both very attractive and that wouldn’t be a bad thing if this was a porn but it’s not, a porn that is, and so Charlie said you wouldn’t mind if I stayed with you,” I ramble.
“You want to stay with me because this isn’t a porn?” I can see him trying not to laugh, so I close my eyes and take a deep breath and try to bring my racing heart under control. And to banish the attraction coursing through my blood like I just downed eight espressos in one go. Once I feel like I’m semi back on solid ground, I open my eyes again.
“Charlie suggested, since you have this room to yourself, I could stay with you. If that’s okay.”
“Oh, well,” he scratches the back of his neck and looks around, obviously uncomfortable with the entire situation.
“I could sleep on the couch!” I offer. “It looks comfortable enough.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you’re not going to sleep on the couch. You can sleep in the bed. With me.”
We make eye contact and my stomach floats. This is a bad idea, I know it is, but my stupid, traitorous mouth simply says, “Okay.”