Chapter 34
"You’re going to want to see the kitchen." ~ Jeremy
Jeremy
“You have a deal.” I shake hands with Jade.
“I can’t believe you chose a house this quick.”
I shrug. “When I know what I want, I go after it.”
The same way I went after Parker when I realized she’s the one I want. It took me a while to let go of my prejudices about women. But she showed me not all women are after my money.
I can’t wait to show her this house. It’s perfect for a family. And it’s a short bike ride from the bakery.
“Did you want to view those business listings I sent you now?”
“No need. I decided to buy the large lot of land near the distillery.”
“You’re going to build?”
“It’s the only way to ensure I get exactly what I want.” Apparoo has very specific requirements – climate-controlled rooms, plenty of electrical outlets with surge protection, security with biometrics, to name a few – that I won’t find in an abandoned warehouse or former garage.
“Understood. I’ll draw up the paperwork for both transactions.”
“Thanks, Jade.”
I wait until she locks up the house and then walk her to her car.
With all my business wrapped up, I settle in my new car – I can’t be bothered to have my car shipped across the country – and make my way to the bakery.
The windows of Pirate’s Pastries are dark, and it’s all closed up for the day. Parker said she usually stays open longer during the holiday season. Maybe she sold out early. Good for her.
As I climb the stairs to the loft, anticipation and excitement fill me. It’s only been a few days since I saw Parker but I missed her. I missed her more than I expected I would.
I plan to spend as few nights away from her as possible from now on. It’ll be difficult the first year as Apparoo transitions to Smuggler’s Hideaway, but I don’t mind working hard for what I want. And Parker is what I want.
“Parker,” I holler as I knock on the door. When she doesn’t answer, I frown. She said she’d be home tonight waiting for me.
Waiting for me. Maybe she has a fun surprise planned. A surprise including sexy lingerie and a big bed. My cock twitches. I dig my keys out and unlock the door.
Parker is slumped on the floor. Fear ricochets through my body as I rush to her.
“What’s wrong, Princess? Are you injured? Do you need the hospital?”
She lifts her head to meet my gaze and my heart stops at her tear-stained face. I don’t hesitate. I gather her into my arms and settle on the bed with her.
“What happened, Princess?” I brush the hair off her face.
“M-m-my parents.”
I grind my teeth. “What did they do now?”
“They showed me a newspaper clipping. It was a picture of you with another woman.”
Fuck. I cup her face. “I promise I haven’t been with another woman since we met. I’m not a cheater.”
“I know.”
Relief fills me. She believes me. She didn’t question who the woman was or what happened. She believes me. End of question. Damn, I love this woman.
“Then, why all the tears?”
“My parents showed me the clipping to deliberately hurt me. They will never love me. They’re never going to invite me to enjoy the holidays with them. It doesn’t matter if I pay them back or not. It won’t change anything.”
Her parents are assholes. Who hurts their child this way?
“You don’t need them. We’ll build our own family.”
She blinks. “Our own family?”
“I love you, and I want to build a family with you.”
“You love me?”
“Why do you think I bought a house on the island and am moving the headquarters of Apparoo to Smuggler’s Hideaway?”
Her mouth gapes open. “What?”
“It’s a good investment.”
“It’s a good investment?”
“Yes. Between the lower operating costs and tax incentives, the company will earn the money back from the move in less than two years.”
Her brow wrinkles. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I don’t want you to feel guilty that I moved my entire company across the country to be with you.”
“Y-y-ou did what?”
I caress her cheek. “I love you. I’m not living apart from you.”
“You love me?”
I smile. “Yes.”
“Phew. I thought the love train was one-sided.”
“Love train?”
She giggles. “I love you, too.”
Heat radiates through my chest. She loves me. Parker Shaw loves me. I don’t enjoy the sound of her name. Parker Holland sounds better. I’ll make it happen.
I meld my lips to hers. She tastes of salt from her tears and I release her with a growl.
“I don’t want you to ever cry over your parents again.”
She rolls her eyes. “You can’t order me not to cry over my parents.”
“Yes, I can. I just did.”
“I’m not one of your employees.” She clears her throat. “Are you seriously moving your company to Smuggler’s Hideaway?”
“Yep. I bought the land today.”
“You bought the land already? You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
“I told you I am not living apart from you. I figured I’d need some time to get you to fall in love with me but you already love me, so we’re good.”
“We’re good?”
“Yep. How many children do you want?”
“Whoa. You need to slow down.”
“Okay.” I nod. “I’ll slow down.” Not much, but I can pretend. “We won’t move into our new house together immediately.”
“Our new house?”
“I bought it today. Do you want to see pictures?” I dig out my phone. “It’s a Cape Cod with a wraparound porch.”
She gasps at the picture. “I love this house.”
“You know it?”
“Yeah. I used to bike past it on my way to school every morning. An elderly couple lived there and they’d be sitting on the porch drinking their coffee. If I recall, they died recently but none of their children wanted the house. They all moved away from the island.”
“Have you ever been inside?” She shakes her head.
“You’re going to love it. The first floor is all open concept.
Wherever you are, you can look out of the big windows and view the ocean.
The kitchen needs renovating. You’re in charge there.
I want you to have everything you need to bake cookies with our children on Saturday mornings. ”
“So much for slowing down on the kids thing,” she mutters.
I grin. “You need to know what the kitchen will be used for before you design it.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Crazy in love with you.”
She giggles. “Who knew Scrooge could fall in love?”
“And without those scary ghosts visiting me, too.”
She wags her finger. “It’s not Christmas Eve yet. Maybe they’ll still come.”
I groan. “You’re going to dress up as a ghost and scare me, aren’t you?”
“Not now since you figured out my plan.”
I dive for her ribs. She bats my hands away. “I’m not ticklish.”
“Maybe I haven’t found your ticklish spot yet. I’m willing to put in the work to find it.” I waggle my eyebrows.
Her breath hitches. “We’re really doing this?”
“Planning a life together? Hell, yeah, we are.”
“But we’ve only known each other a month.”
“Don’t care. When I know what I want, I go for it.”
“And you want me?”
I kiss her hair. “I love you, Princess. I want to spend my life with you. I want to spend every night wrapped around you. Spend every morning drinking coffee with you. I can’t wait until you agree to move into our house. Although, I need to add extra smoke alarms first.”
She slaps at my chest. “I don’t cause fires all the time!”
“And I don’t have the Smuggler’s Hideaway Fire Department on speed dial.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “Now, you’ve done it.”
She dives for my ribs. Unlike her, I am ticklish. I manage to shackle her hands and roll her over until I’m looming above her. Her chest heaves as she stares up at me. Her love for me is clear to see in her blue eyes. Blue eyes, I hope our children inherit.
“I love you, Princess. I can’t wait to start our life together.”
She wraps her legs around my waist and rubs herself against my cock. “Why wait?”
“Fair warning. I will use sex to convince you to move in with me and have my babies.”
She smirks. “You can try.”
I plan to try over and over again. Until I’ve wrung every orgasm possible out of her body. Until we’re both sated. For the moment. I will never be completely sated when it comes to Parker.
“I love you,” I whisper before I press my lips to hers.