7. Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Cashlynn
“Our dog had babies, but Parker went to school and told everyone she had rabies and he was going to give them to his friends.” Penn finishes his story, making everyone around the fire laugh.
Parker comes up behind me, placing his hand on the back of my chair. For a second, I wish he’d touch me again, but I can tell that he’s been tense all evening while putting on this act, with the exception of when he put his arm around me at dinner, that is.
A shiver runs through my body at the memory.
Parker adjusts his glasses on his nose as he looks across the fire at his brother. “Ha. Ha. I’m so glad everyone is getting a laugh at my expense.”
“It’s kind of ironic, though,” Dallas interjects. “You ended up being a vet, so I sincerely hope you know the difference between babies and rabies now.”
“He certainly didn’t know the difference between a human and animal breast pump in the baby store that day,” Grady chimes in. Penn and Dallas fall apart with laughter.
“ I feel like that’s the next story I need to hear,” I say, trying to hide my amusement, but Parker glares down at me.
“Knock it off, boys,” Katherine admonishes, shaking her head at her sons and Grady, who might as well be one of them.
“Hey, he was laughing plenty when Penn was sharing stories about me to Willow,” Dallas whines, sounding more like a child than a grown man.
I guess siblings never stop making fun of one another. I’m speculating here, of course, since I never had this—siblings to tease or to share the heat when you’re in trouble. As much as I love my dad, sometimes being an only child sucks. Maybe that’s why I can’t bring myself to tell him the truth about my plans yet.
Parker flips Dallas off. I reach back behind me and grab his hand, squeezing it while looking up at him and whisper, “I think it’s cute.”
“The rabies part, I assume?”
Giggling, I nod. “Yeah, but now I have questions about the breast pump.”
His eyes dip down and find mine, a soft smile playing on his lips. “At least someone finds it cute.” Then he leans down and lowers his voice. “You doing okay?”
Our eyes lock, and for a second, I imagine closing the space between us and kissing him, just to see how he’d react. But I chicken out. “Yep,” I reply simply.
“So, Cashlynn, are you ready to tell me about your business idea?” Willow asks as she stands from her chair, rubbing her growing belly and pulling me from my moment with my fake fiancé.
“Oh, uh, sure.”
“Let’s go inside so we can talk,” she suggests, gesturing toward the house. As I stand to follow, Parker stops me, catching my hand.
“ Willow is smart and very financially savvy. Don’t be afraid to ask her any questions you have, okay?”
“I won’t.”
He leans forward and kisses me on the temple, taking me by surprise. But then I remember our agreement about touching—only in front of others. I remind myself it’s all part of the act. Still, the flutter in my chest feels too real.
“I’ll be out here if you need me.”
Releasing his grip on my hand, he takes the seat I just vacated as I head inside, willing my heart to slow down. I find Willow sitting on the couch. “I hope you don’t mind being pulled away from the fun outside,” she says as she eases down, adjusting herself. “The couch is just so much more comfortable.”
“Not at all. How far along are you, if you don’t mind my asking?” I take a seat on the opposite end of the couch.
“Seven months,” she replies, smoothing her hand over her stomach again. “I’m due in the beginning of May, but most days I feel that if I get any bigger, this kid might fall out of my vagina before then.” We both laugh. “So, I hope you don’t mind, but Dallas told me a little bit about your and Parker’s arrangement.”
Nerves race through me. “Oh.”
Willow holds up a hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not judging at all. And your secret is safe with me,” she says with a wink. “But when you mentioned a business idea, I actually got really excited. I’ve invested in a few businesses since I moved here two years ago, and I love supporting other women with great ideas who want to be their own bosses.”
I take a deep breath. “Well, I think my idea is solid, and there’s certainly a need for what I want to do here in Carrington Cove, so…”
“Then tell me what you’re envisioning.”
I s pend the next several minutes explaining my ideas to Willow. By the time I’m done, I don’t recall if she said one word while I was rambling. For a second, I feel like I got too excited, but then she clears her throat, and shocks me. “I’m in.”
“What?”
“I love it, Cashlynn.” Her eyes light up. “Small coastal towns like this need a space like you are envisioning. I think it’s perfect for locals and tourists alike.”
“Really?”
She nods. “Absolutely. In fact, I can connect you with Pam over at Cove Realty tomorrow so you can start looking at properties. And you already know if you need any renovations, Penn’s your guy. I have a background in advertising and multiple friends in marketing, so we can discuss those things once you have a space.”
My jaw nearly hits the floor. “You’re serious? You’re willing to invest in me just like that?” I say, snapping my fingers in the air.
Willow reaches for my hand. “Yes. I may not know you on a personal level, but I trust my gut. You’ve clearly put thought into this, and I can tell you’re determined. Plus, I could use the distraction while waiting for this baby to make an appearance,” she explains, rubbing her stomach again.
I sink back into the cushion, still trying to process my shock. “I…don’t even know what to say. Seriously, I can’t thank you enough.”
She winks again. “I’m just as excited about this as you are.” Then her smile falters, and her tone shifts. “Now, what’s really going on between you and Parker?”
Before I can answer, Hazel’s voice cuts in, startling us both. “Yes, please. I need your version—because the one I got from my brother was full of grunting and denial.”
I stare up at the youngest Sheppard sibling. “What do you mean?”
Haz el rolls her eyes and moves to sit on the loveseat next to the couch. “I know my brother well enough to know he wouldn’t just show up out of the blue with a fiancé. Although that little display of affection out there?” she says, pointing outside. “That was pretty convincing. Did you have to coach my brother on that?”
I dart my eyes back and forth between Willow and Hazel, then let out a heavy sigh. “It’s complicated.”
Willow takes a sip from her glass of water. “Cashlynn, if there’s one thing we understand, it’s complicated relationships. You should hear the story sometime of how Dallas and I met.”
Hazel nods. “It’s a doozy. And Penn and Astrid take the cake, literally and figuratively, with their unrequited, friends-to-lovers tale,” she says through a laugh. “Grady and Scottie weren’t much better—surprise pregnancy, her son breaking into his garage…” Hazel shakes her head with a laugh. “Believe me, whatever you and Parker have going on? You’re in good company.”
I take in her words, stunned by the amount of drama this family seems to attract. Hazel smirks and leans forward. “Now, me , on the other hand? I could regale you with terrible dating stories all night. My love life is a dumpster fire.” She pauses dramatically. “I’ve only had one real boyfriend, and he was more into chasing girls at the gym than me.”
“I, uh…” Words evade me as I contemplate what to say.
Hazel doesn’t let up, though. “Come on. There has to be more than either of you is letting on.” She waggles her eyebrows. “You didn’t just come here for your dad and this business venture, did you?”
I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Honestly, I don’t know what I was expecting, but it sure as hell wasn’t pretending to be Parker’s fian cée.”
“We know how that came to be, but what about the two of you? I mean, this isn’t some cut and dry business transaction. You guys slept together when you met, right?” Willow says. “So, why’d it end there?”
I close my eyes and blow out a breath. “I ran off afterward.”
Hazel tries to hide her laugh. “Oh God, I’m afraid to ask because it’s my brother, but…was it…bad?”
Shooting up from my seat, I say, “No! Not at all. Quite the opposite actually. I’m not usually the one-night-stand type of girl, and with him, it was…” I glance away, remembering how insane our chemistry was, how strong and viral he felt as our bodies writhed against one another, how he made me feel safe both on the plane and in bed.
Willow clears her throat, pulling me from my thoughts. “So, do you want more with him?”
I shrug, not wanting to let on just how much being near him again has stirred up feelings I’ve been trying to ignore. Denying these feelings has felt more overwhelming than all of the other choices hovering over me. “Parker has made it clear he’s unavailable and just doing this to help me, so…”
Hazel scoffs. “Sorry, Cashlynn, but my brother wouldn’t even be able to admit to himself if he had feelings for you, let alone anyone else, even if they were holding a match to his balls.” Willow snorts. “Has he told you much about his past?”
I look between her and Willow. “Only that he was engaged once and it didn’t work out.”
Hazel sighs. “Well, at least he admitted that much.”
“Is there more I should know?”
Willow looks at Hazel and then directs her gaze back to me. “It’s not our story to tell, and I wasn’t around when it happened, but I can tell you that Parker was scarred from that relationship. Dallas worries about him a lot—says he’s not the same person he was before. If you do want more with him, it’s going to require some patience.”
I shake my head, not liking where this conversation is headed, letting my guilt for talking him into this consume me even more. As soon as Parker agreed to this fake engagement, I told myself to shove down the feelings I’ve been denying for a year, especially every time my father brought Parker up in conversation.
I never should have slept with him. I should have thanked him for comforting me and walked away, pretending I never knew who he was. But the second he offered to play rock, paper, scissors to hold my hand, I was powerless over what happened next. How can a man that showed such compassion, humor, and lust-filled need like he did, not see that he’s capable and deserving of being in a relationship again?
My focus is supposed to be on my gallery, not my love life. But being Parker’s fake fiancée is making me wonder if I could possibly have it all by making this move—the job and the man.
Could Parker and I turn this into something real? Was our initial connection enough to build a relationship on? Or are we better off just following through with our promises to each other and moving on afterward?
Hazel taps her chin thoughtfully. “No, I think patience will get her nowhere. If she’s going to make him admit that he wants her, she needs to be a little more…direct.”
Willow beams as she looks over at Hazel. “What are you thinking?”
I’m not sure I like where their train of thought is headed. “Look, I know you two are trying to play matchmaker and all, but honestly, I can’t afford to push him away. I need him to keep pretending to be my fiancé until my business is up and running.”
Hazel leans forward in her seat. “My brother wants you, Cashlynn. It’s written all over his face, and don’t take this the wrong way, but you lo ok at him like you want to jump his bones. You two have already slept together, so why not make the most of your arrangement?”
Willow chimes in. “Uh Hazel, it sounds like you’re trying to pimp out your brother right now.”
Hazel shrugs. “I just know what I see. Like with you and Dallas, and Penn and Astrid…” She rolls her eyes dramatically. “Those two gave everyone around them blue balls for years.” Willow laughs. “And now Parker is living with a woman he clearly wants and is trying to be this saint when I know he’s at war inside. I’m tired of him punishing himself for what happened with Sasha.”
“Sasha?” I ask.
“His ex,” she clarifies. And now the ex has a name . “I’m telling you, she did a number on him.” Tilting her head at me, she narrows her eyes. “But I like you. My gut is telling me you’ve got your head on straight, you’re driven, and you can actually take a joke. It’s obvious you care about my brother, and sometimes people need a little push to get out of their own damn way.”
“I appreciate that, but Parker clearly doesn’t feel the same way.”
“I can see why you think that, but I’m telling you, I know my brother.” She winks at me. “Test him. Do something that you know will get a reaction out of him and see how he responds.”
“Like what?” Willow asks before I can.
Hazel hums for a moment and then her eyes light up. “ Accidentally spill something on his floor, and then whip off your shirt to clean it up.”
Willow snorts. “Subtle.”
“He might freak out on me,” I say. “Have you seen his house? It’s so clean, it looks like nobody lives there. He has freaking vacuum lines in his carpet.”
Haz el nods, rolling her eyes. “I’m aware. He has always been a little high strung, but it got worse after Sasha… Like he tried to control everything around him because she left him in a tailspin and he didn’t know which way was up.”
My word. What did this woman do to him?
A slow grin spreads across Willow’s face. “Oh my God. You know what you should do? Unplug all of his appliances when they aren’t being used. It will drive him nuts.”
Hazel tosses her head back in laughter. “Oh fuck, that will send him over the edge, for sure.”
“Tell him it helps conserve energy.” Willow joins in the laughter. “It’s genius.”
“I thought we were trying to get him to admit he wants me, not kill me?”
Hazel waves me off. “Same thing. Haven’t you ever had hate sex?”
Heat rises to my cheeks and I drop my gaze to the floor. Yeah, I’m not going there . “I don’t want him to dislike me any more than he already does.”
“He doesn’t. But getting under his skin is going to make him snap. And once he does, he might finally admit to himself that he wouldn’t have agreed to this if deep down, he didn’t care. Plus, you’ll benefit from his frustration.” She bounces her eyebrows again.
“I don’t know…”
Hazel throws her hands up in defeat. “Look, do what you want, but I’m telling you, I know my brother.” She leans forward again. “And I just want to see him happy.”
“Want to see who happy?”
All three of us whip around to see Parker standing in the doorway, his hand on the knob and an unreadable expression on his face.
“ You, big brother!” Hazel exclaims, jumping up from her seat a little too enthusiastically. “I can’t believe you’ve been hiding this girl from us for the past year. You two are obviously so in love and I’m happy for you!”
Parker looks at his sister as if she’s grown two heads. “Well…”
Willow stands up now, arching her back so she doesn’t topple over. “And her business idea is genius, Parker.” She winks at him. “Looks like your future wife is beautiful and intelligent.”
Our eyes meet and I feel my cheeks heat again.
Parker clears his throat as he adjusts his glasses. “Uh, yeah. I told her the idea was good.”
“It is. I’m already convinced and told Cashlynn that I’d contact Pam at Cove Realty tomorrow so she can start looking at spaces.”
He nods, though his shoulders remain tense, like he’s still unsure about the conversation he walked in on.
“I appreciate that, Willow,” he says, moving around the couch to me, wrapping his arm around my waist like it’s the most natural thing in the world. The warmth of his touch sends a shiver down my spine. “Are you guys done talking?” he asks me.
“Um, yeah.”
“Good. I was thinking we could get out of here. I want to show you something.”
I catch Hazel and Willow exchanging knowing glances, but I quickly turn my attention back to Parker. “Okay.”
Parker turns to his sister. “Tell everyone we had to leave, okay?”
“Sure,” she replies, rocking back and forth on her feet. “Have fun, you two. Use protection! No need for babies yet. Or rabies, right, Parker?”
Par ker shakes his head as he leads me to the front door with his hand on the small of my back. Once we’re outside, he asks, “They didn’t scar you for life, did they?”
“How would they do that?”
He keeps his hand on my back as we walk to his car.
“By asking inappropriate questions…telling you more stories about me.” He opens the car door for me, waiting as I settle inside before shutting it and moving to his side.
“What kind of stories would they tell?” I ask as he starts the car.
He gives me a pointed look from the driver’s seat as he starts the engine. “Nice try,” he says, turning onto the road.
I laugh. “They were very welcoming, actually. Your entire family was.”
“Yeah, they’re not too bad,” he says as if it pains him to admit it.
“You’re lucky, Parker. You have so many people who love you, who accept you and genuinely want you to be happy.”
He eyes me for a few moments, his expression unreadable, before focusing back on the road. He doesn’t say anything else as we drive into town. I’ve only been here once, but as we close in on the cove that gives this town its name, my heart beats faster as I take in the view.
The streetlights cast soft reflections on the water, golden sparks dotting the surface of the ocean. A few people are strolling along the boardwalk, their coats pulled tight against the chill in the air.
Parker stops the car and steps out, moving around to my side. He helps me out and then takes my hand, lacing his fingers through mine as he leads me toward the boardwalk.
“Where are we going?” I ask as he pulls me past a row of softly lit storefronts. Behind them is another row of small businesses—an ice cream parlor, a pet store, and then we come to a small, vacant space with a For Lease sign in the window.
Par ker stops in front of it, turning to face me. “I think this space would be perfect for your gallery.”
I blink up at him and then turn to the empty windows that are, unfortunately, lined with brown paper so I can’t see what’s inside. “What?”
He clears his throat. “After we talked about your gallery idea yesterday, I remembered this space was available. It’s close to the boardwalk, so you’d get a lot of foot traffic. It used to be a clothing store, and from what I remember, there’s plenty of space inside. I think you should look at it.”
“You brought me all the way out here to show me this space?” I whisper, staring up at him again in disbelief.
He nods. “Yeah, and to give you this.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring.
I gasp and my stomach flips. “Oh my God, Parker.”
His hands are trembling slightly as he holds it between two fingers, and I realize how offering this ring to me must make him feel. He never wanted to do this again—be engaged or even consider the idea of marriage—until I put him in this position.
But Parker bought me a ring, a gorgeous princess cut diamond flanked by amber stones. It’s stunning, unique, and something I would have picked out myself. And it’s too much.
“I—I can’t accept this, Parker.”
His brow furrows. “Why not?”
“Because it’s too much. It’s expensive and gorgeous and…” I take a step back from him as my stomach churns and my heart races. “I just assumed we’d pick out a simple silver band that I would pay for since this was my idea.”
He closes the space between us that I just created, his jaw tight as he reaches for my left hand and slides the ring onto my finger. “There’s no way my fiancée would be walking around without a ring. And this one just…called to me. Besides, I don’t want anyone to question that this is real, okay?”
I look down at the ring, the diamonds catching the light like tiny stars. This isn’t some cheap placeholder. This is a real ring—thoughtfully chosen, breathtakingly beautiful, and way too much for what we are.
“Are you sure?” I whisper, my voice barely audible.
His eyes bounce between mine. “It’s done. Plus, I can’t return it, so you have to wear it.” The corner of his mouth lifts, putting me a little more at ease.
I nod shakily. Parker Sheppard, the man who claims to have sworn off relationships, bought me a diamond ring. He willingly picked it out, spent a fortune, and is now sliding it onto my finger like it’s no big deal.
I glance back up at him, at the guarded look in his eyes, and it hits me that Parker doesn’t do anything halfway. He committed to this arrangement just like he commits to everything else in his life—with his whole damn heart, even if he won’t admit it to himself.
“It truly is beautiful. I love the amber gemstones on the sides. It’s so unique. What made you pick this one?”
His gaze softens as he reaches up to push a strand of hair behind my ear, sending goosebumps down my neck. “The stones reminded me of your eyes.”
Oh. My. God.
I think my ovaries just wept.
I shouldn’t be thinking about how badly I want this man or how I’ll never forget the way he made me feel that night. How he acts so gruff on the outside but on the inside, he’s been hurt so badly that he’s determined to keep himself closed off.
But on some level, I feel like he is opening up to me.
“That’s either incredibly romantic, or mildly disturbing.”
His lips curl up more now. “I thought it was very Bridgerton-like, actually.”
Chuckling, I look down at the ring that feels foreign but spectacular as well. “When did you get this?”
“This morning, when I was running errands.”
I nod, remembering he was gone for a while earlier today, leaving me alone at his house. I had the strongest desire to snoop but talked myself out of it. I wasn’t sure I’d find anything anyway since his house is so bare.
“Well, it’s more than I could have ever imagined.” I look back up, into his eyes. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“You’ve said that, Cashlynn.”
“I know, but—”
“I’m in this, okay? I know a thing or two about wanting something so badly you feel like you would do anything to make it work.”
He takes my hand and leads me back to the car, effectively ending our conversation. And even though I want to press him further, I decide against it. He may not be saying much about where his head is at, but his actions speak volumes.
As we head home, I stare at the ring on my finger, turning over the possibilities in my mind. Would I be a fool not to explore this thing between us while I have the chance?
What if he doesn’t feel the same way I do? What if it ends horribly, and then we have to see each other everywhere in this small town?
But taking risks is why I’m here—risking my career, my dreams, and maybe even my heart.
Maybe Hazel’s right and it’s time to test the waters. I’m tired of not living, not chasing what I want. So here goes nothing.
Let the games begin.