Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
“ I love your version of a midnight snack.”
Parker glanced up to find Chelsey standing in the bedroom’s doorway. It didn’t matter that her curly hair was piled on top of her head in a messy ponytail and her face was scrubbed free of makeup. Nor did it matter that she was wearing the hotel’s white terry cloth robe that was too big. She was still the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on.
He smiled as she walked toward him. “Hey, sleepyhead. Hungry?”
Her timing was perfect. He had ordered room service and a few additional items that were delivered a few minutes ago. He hadn’t been sure if she’d sleep through the night but just in case, Parker had wanted to have food for them.
“This all looks delicious.” She bent down and kissed him before dropping onto the sofa next to him. “Wait. You got me flowers? How?” She leaned forward, burying her nose into the two-dozen pink and red roses, and inhaled deeply.
Chelsey loved fresh flowers, and since they’d started dating, Parker tried to surprise her with some at least once or twice a month. Considering how she was gushing over these, maybe he should consider giving her some more often.
“Instead of the red wine we picked up earlier, I ordered a bottle of Jack Daniels, and it was delivered right after the food arrived. It’s amazing how helpful a concierge can be.”
Parker had set everything out on the cocktail table in front of the sofa. Their choices included a charcuterie board loaded with cheeses, crackers, meat, strawberries, and chocolate.
“I’m clearly in love with a romantic,” Chelsey said as she munched on a strawberry. She picked up another one and held it to his lips.
Parker met her gaze and when she smiled, he couldn’t help but smile back. As he stared into her eyes, he opened his mouth and let her feed him. When he bit into the red, juicy fruit, a little juice drizzled along the corner of his mouth. But before he could wipe it away, Chelsey leaned forward and ran her tongue across his lower lip, effectively lapping up the excess. Then she lovingly kissed him.
This woman...
This incredibly beautiful woman was all his, and she was like a balm to his weather-beaten spirit. Since they’d started dating, Chelsey had breathed life into him. He’d been living a lonely existence, going to work, hanging with the guys and their families, and then spending way too much time by himself at home.
But Chelsey…
She had become the light to his darkness, bringing sunshine, humor, and joy to his world. Telling her he loved her wasn’t adequate enough to express what he truly felt. She would never fully understand how depressing and lacking his life had been after his mother passed. Each time he thought back on those dark years, he was glad he hadn’t given up. Otherwise, he would’ve missed out on the best thing that ever happened to him.
When the kiss ended and they came up for air, Parker gave her another quick peck before he removed the silver domes from the other dishes. There were three types of wings and an order of potato skins.
“I’ve decided that whenever we travel, we’re staying at hotels with concierges and twenty-four-hour room service.”
“Agreed,” Chelsey said as she fixed a plate. “But if we keep eating like this, I’m going to have to double the miles that I run every day. Otherwise, I won’t be able to burn up all these calories I keep taking in.”
Parker wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tugged her close, and kissed the side of her head. “I can help with burning the calories while also keeping your muscles loose and limber,” he said suggestively and nuzzled her scented neck. She smelled like vanilla and lavender and good enough to eat.
Chelsey laughed. “I know you can, and I like your form of working out even better than running.”
As they talked, laughed, and munched on the snacks, it was the most relaxed Parker had felt since arriving in town. Sitting and chatting with Chelsey was one of his favorite pastimes, and this was what he wanted every day.
“Are you ready to tell me what you and Mason talked about?” she asked.
“Sure. The conversation surprised me. Mason and Hamilton have been thinking about opening a Supreme satellite office in Miami. He also said he wasn’t surprised by Rock’s request, and he agreed that I’d be great as head of security.”
“Really? Wow, that’s high praise coming from Mason.”
“I know, right? It kind of caught me off guard.”
She glanced at him with her eyebrows pinched together. “Why is that? We all know that you’re a leader. It’s not a stretch for you to lead a group of security specialists, even with all Rock has going on. You’ve been taught by the best. I have no doubt that if you take Rock up on his proposal, you’ll exceed his expectations.”
Parker’s heart thumped a little harder at her words and confidence in him. He believed he could handle the job, but hearing how those who meant the most to him also believed, made his chest tighten.
“Does Mason think you should accept the job? Or does he want you to run Supreme’s Miami office?”
“He told me the decision is mine, but he reminded me that if I decide to accept Rock’s help with Wolf, I need to make sure everything is done legit. For me, that’s a no-brainer. Not only that, but if I accept his proposal, I’ll want everything in writing.”
No way would he take a job with the man unless everything was on the up-and-up and in writing. No contract. No deal.
“ Sooo , what are you going to do?”
“I want to know what you think, because I’d only consider his proposal if you’ll be with me.”
She turned slightly to better face him and gave him a smile before gazing down at her almost empty plate.
If Parker said yes to Rock’s proposal, and Chelsey agreed to follow him to Miami, she’d be giving up a lot. Even if her sisters, their families, and her father no longer lived in Atlanta, Kenton and his family did. Despite their recent disagreement, she and her brother were very close. Would she leave them behind?
Chelsey set her plate on the table and her gaze met his again. “I never imagined leaving Atlanta, but I wouldn’t rule it out. I’m behind you one hundred percent, Parker, and I want to be wherever you are.”
“And I want you to be wherever I am. I know asking you to leave the life you’ve built in Atlanta is asking a lot, but I’m seriously considering saying yes to Rock. I just need you to think about what you’re agreeing to.”
Parker removed his arm from around her shoulders and dug into the front pocket of his jeans.
“While you’re thinking about that, think about this, too.” He got down on one knee next to the sofa. “Think about marrying me.”
Chelsey looked at him, her head slightly tilted as she frowned. When he pulled the black velvet box from behind his back and opened the lid, her eyes went wide.
He had purchased the ring earlier in the year, because he knew he’d one day ask her to be his wife. He just hadn’t planned on proposing like this.
Actually he had no idea when or how he’d propose. He just knew that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
“Oh. My. God,” she said, her eyes as round as dinner plates. “Is that…are you… Oh. My. God.”
Parker couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. Rarely was she at a loss for words, and he was glad he could catch her off guard.
“I have never loved a woman the way I love you, Chelsey. And when I think about my future, I see you all up in it. Your sass, your wit, your take-no-bullshit attitude, your big heart, and your ability to make me want to be a better man, is what I want in my life. You’re my best friend. My heart. My love. Sweetheart, I don’t want to walk through life without you by my side.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, will you spend the rest of your life with me? Will you marry me and be my wife?”
Tears trekked slowly down her cheeks and her hand covered her mouth as she nodded.
Parker grinned. “I need a yes or a no, sweetheart.”
“Yes,” she whispered and started crying outright. “Yes, baby, I’ll marry you. Oh my goodness. I can’t believe this.”
She lurched forward and threw herself into his arms, but it caught Parker off guard. He held on tight to her as he fell backward with her on top of him.
They both laughed and again, where she was concerned, Parker felt like the luckiest man in the world. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her head then rocked back and forth with her. His heart was so full, it felt as if it would burst right out of his chest.
Still laying on his back with Chelsey on top of him, he patted his hand around on the floor for the ring box that he had dropped. When he found it, he pulled out the ring.
“So that we can make this official, give me your left hand.” When she did, he slid it onto her finger.
Chelsey sat up and straddled him. With her arm stretched out in front of her, she gazed at the ring and smiled. “It’s absolutely stunning.” She bent down and pressed her lips to his in a slow, drugging kiss. “I can’t wait to be your wife,” she whispered.
“Same, sweetheart. Just so you know, the ring has been outfitted with a tracking device.”
Chelsey nodded as she stared down at the jewelry. He assured her that he wouldn’t be tracking her. She knew all the wives of Atlanta’s Finest had jewelry with tracking devices. Most of them had received theirs because of trouble that they’d had, like kidnappings or attempted kidnappings. Parker only got Chelsey’s ring outfitted with the chip as a precaution.
“Thank you,” she said. “Even though you know I can take care of myself, it does feel good to know that if ever anything happened to me, you’d find me.”
“Always,” he said and kissed her again.
When they made it back up to the sofa, Parker picked up where they left off in their earlier conversation. “I don’t think I can take Wolf down without Rock’s help. As long as you’re on board, I’m thinking about accepting his proposal, but with a few tweaks.
“Even though Mason told me that I don’t owe him anything, I’m not ready to completely walk away from Supreme. He might not be old enough to be my father, but Mason has been a father figure for almost half my life. I can’t just walk away. I’m going to suggest to Rock that we set up some type of partnership with Supreme. Or work with them in some way.”
“I love that idea. Even though Mason and the guys will always only be a phone call away, a partnership of sorts will keep you close to them.”
Parker nodded. That was exactly what he was thinking. He was also thinking that he’d want to build his team from people from Supreme. He wasn’t sure what that would look like yet, but it would be the start of negotiations.
The more he and Chelsey talked, the better he felt about moving forward with Rock. He just hoped his decision didn’t come back to bite him in the ass.