Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
PARKER
What about your mom?
This conversation had started to feel like a confessional. But I figured it made sense for us to get the heavy stuff out of the way. Of course, Luna couldn’t know she’d just landed on the deepest wound in my heart.
Mentally marshaling myself, I barreled ahead.
“My mom left. The whole reason I didn’t know I had a sister was because my mom didn’t tell my dad she got pregnant and had me.
My dad was the classic young and dumb guy.
Like with my mom, he and Stella’s mom hooked up.
Don’t think he was too big on birth control.
My dad didn’t stay anywhere long back then.
Stella’s mom did the sensible thing and steered clear of him, and I don’t blame her.
When I was six, my mom decided she was done with the parenting gig and dropped me off with him.
” I tried to ignore the pain that burned in my heart.
I was in kindergarten when that happened, old enough to have a few memories of my mom. The whole thing sucked.”
Luna held my gaze from across the table, sadness flickering in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” She reached over, curling her hand over mine and squeezing.
My throat felt tight, and my heart gave an achy beat. “Thank you.”
The waiter stopped to check in with us, refilling our water and moving along. I was grateful, mostly because I needed the interruption.
“Are you okay?” Luna asked.
“It’s not like this is news to me. Have we covered all the heavy stuff yet?” I needed to make light of this, if only because letting it weigh on me could suffocate me.
Her eyes were warm. “I think we have.” She took a bite of pizza, letting out a satisfied sigh after she finished chewing.
“I never forgot you. That day, I wanted to tell you my name wasn’t Jane.
My parents had drilled it into my head that I couldn’t do that, so I didn’t.
” She shook her head, her curls swinging.
My heart felt squeezed tight for a moment as I held her gaze. “I’m really glad I saw you again. I feel ridiculous that I didn’t connect the dots sooner. I kept looking at you, thinking you looked familiar, but it’s been, what?”
“A decade,” Luna supplied helpfully.
My lips curled in a smile as I nodded. “It’s been a minute. The different name and your curly hair threw me off.”
Her smile was slow as she nodded. “So, you’re a firefighter now, do you like it?” she asked.
“I really do. It’s not a lifelong job, mostly because it’s so physically demanding, but I love it for now. You’re a baker and make the best donuts I’ve ever had.” I grinned over at her. “How did you get into that?”
Luna’s eyes sparkled. “My grandmother taught me to bake, and it was the only thing I had for myself. Oddly, my parents never wanted to make content from me baking. I guess maybe there are too many baking shows online. I would practice little recipes in the tiny oven in the RV. Once I moved out on my own, I took a job at a small bakery in Juneau and learned a lot more. After I moved back here, my grandmother helped. She’s good friends with Janet.
Janet told me I could use the ovens at the café before they were open, and she’d sell them. That’s been working out really well.”
We stared at each other, and I felt downright goofy looking back at her.
There was a lightness to Luna. As cynical as she sounded when she spoke about her childhood, there was almost a purity to her, and I loved it.
Maybe that’s what I’d been drawn to that afternoon years ago.
No matter what, I knew I wanted more with her—more time, more anything she’d give me.
“How’s Fuzzy?” Her question punctured my train of thought.
I chuckled because I usually did when I thought of my goofy dog. “He’s good. He’ll be sad when I get home tonight. He’s always a good dog, but he’s a little passive aggressive when I’m not home.”
“When you’ve gone out of town for work before, who took care of him?”
“Before I moved here, I had a friend from another crew who was always willing to help out. But now, I know he loves you, and you offered so...” I waggled my brows before adding, “If that’s a big ask, just say so.”
“Not at all. I love dogs, and I already offered.”
When I drove her home a little while later, my mind spun.
I wanted all kinds of things with her. And yet, I didn’t want to push too far and too fast. Falling in love and getting serious with anyone was something I’d never even contemplated.
With one exception. Luna. My memories of that afternoon with her shined so bright, a corner of my mind always wondered if I’d ever see her again.
I rolled to a stop in front of her place. The small A-frame home was tucked into the trees. Luna smiled over at me in the truck, the porch light catching on her curls and shimmering. “Do you want to come in? Just for a few minutes,” she added hurriedly.
“I’d love that.” I didn’t want to leave. At all. I wanted time with her to unspool without end.
When I walked inside with her, I glanced around, again taking in the small space.
It had an open layout, but felt cozy. When I’d been here the other day, I wasn’t focused on looking around.
The hardwood floor had colorful rugs scattered over it.
The space felt comfortable and whimsical.
There was a couch with cushions and a TV on a low table to the side.
There was a single door at the back of the kitchen, which I presumed led to a bathroom.
Luna set her purse on a table by the door and turned to face me, suddenly looking uncertain.
“What is it?” I asked.
Her fingers curled on the hem of her lightweight sweater, rubbing along the edge. “I don’t know. I just got nervous.”
“I can go,” I said quickly, even though I really didn’t want to leave. More than that, I didn’t want her to feel nervous around me.
Her curls swung as she shook her head quickly. “Please don’t go.”
We had entered through the back into the kitchen, and we were standing beside her kitchen island. She startled me when she reached out, catching my hand with hers.
“The last time I spent a few hours with you, I kissed you before I had to go,” she said, her voice throaty.
Her words were like a gust of air blown into a low-burning fire, the rush of oxygen sending the flames flickering high. Her hand was cold, and I instinctively curled mine around it.
I had to clear my throat to speak, and my voice came out gruff. “You did.”
I wanted to kiss her more than I wanted to breathe, but I waited.
I needed for this to be something she wanted.
She took a step closer. Just like all those years ago, her palm landed in the center of my chest. My pulse lunged and my heart felt physically pulled forward again, as if reaching for the connection.
Her pink flush deepened, and I wanted to count every freckle scattered across her nose and cheeks.
I could barely think over the sound of my pulse pounding.
When she leaned forward and pressed a kiss in the divot at the base of my throat, it felt like a drop of lava.
The heat of it slid directly into the liquid need humming through me.
The threads of desire were spinning tighter and tighter inside.
Luna leaned back, lifting her head and taking another step closer.
It felt as if a force field was vibrating around us.
She blinked, drawing my gaze to her thick lashes and the way they curled against her cheeks.
I wanted to tangle my hand in her hair and kiss her.
I needed something I couldn’t even define, but it was all wrapped up in Luna.
Her breasts rose to press against my chest with her breath as her hand slipped around the back of my neck to pull me closer.
Our kiss was a brushing, slow touch at first. When she sighed against my lips, I finally gave in, dropping her hand and sliding mine into her curls as I angled my head to the side and claimed her mouth in a deep, devouring kiss.
I had no idea how long that kiss lasted, but it went wild the moment her tongue darted out to meet mine.
We took deep sips from each other. I dusted kisses on each corner of her mouth before catching her bottom lip with my teeth and savored the way she let out a needy whimper when I dove back into her mouth.
We finally broke apart and stared at each other. I was tied up in knots, all for her. She blinked before whispering, “Please…”