Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
MADDIE
J ust as I’m closing up for the evening, the bell on the door rings again. I poke my head around the door to my office and gulp when I see Parker walking down the aisle, heading right for me.
“Hi,” he greets as he gets to the counter. “I just finished work and wanted to see if you’d changed your mind about Christmas yet?”
His smirk makes my knees weak, and I have to clutch the doorframe to stop from keeling over. He’s gorgeous in a ‘I’m a pretty boy’ kind of way. His eyes crinkle at the corners as he smiles, and his salt and pepper hair gives him that older man vibe that has my clit pulsing.
“You can view that as highly unlikely.” I laugh, walking toward the counter. “You can come in here every day, and my answer will still be the same.”
It might not be, but he doesn’t need to know that.
He crosses his arms over his chest, the fabric straining against his muscles. I swallow as he chuckles. “I might just do that, sweetheart.”
The nickname catches me off guard. It makes my skin tingle and my breath hitch. I shouldn’t like it, but I really do.
“Is there any particular reason you're here other than to annoy me, Parker?” I tease, trying not to let him know how much he affects me.
“I was hoping to take you for a hot chocolate.” He grins. “See if I can get you into the Christmas mood.”
My first instinct is to say no. I don’t want hot chocolate, and I certainly don’t want to get into the Christmas mood, but I did say I’d try . He’s looking at me with hope shining in his eyes, and for the life of me, I can’t say no to him.
“Okay.”
His face falls, and I immediately think I’ve done something wrong, until he says, “Wait, seriously? You’re not saying no to me?”
“Do your worst,” I retort, wondering who this person is that’s taken over my body. Narrowing my eyes and pointing a finger at him, I say, “Just don’t go getting your hopes up when it doesn’t happen.”
“We’ll see,” he replies before jerking his head toward the office. “Get your coat, then.”
I huff, wanting to be annoyed with him, but for some unknown reason, it doesn’t come. Instead, I’m filled with a slight warmth in my chest. It feels altogether wrong but right at the same time. I ignore it and grab my coat from the hook, turning off the lights as I follow him to the shop door.
Once I’ve locked everything up for the night, I turn and ask, “Where to?”
“I thought we could wander down to the park? They have a Christmas market tonight. One of the stalls does the best hot chocolate you’ll find.”
I fall into step with him. For every step of his, I have to take two, but he notices and slows down to match me .
“Erm, have you lived here long?” I ask, feeling awkward.
“A couple of years now. My daughter and I moved here from the city.” He rubs the back of his neck, a sheepish look on his face. “My divorce was finalized, so we wanted a fresh start.”
“Oh, you were married?”
I should have known that a man as alluring as Parker would have had at least one serious relationship. He’s a lot older than me, for starters, so it would stand to reason. I just don’t understand the wave of jealousy that hits me at the thought.
“Yeah, eleven years.” He nods, a sad look on his face. “Got married as soon as we found out my ex was pregnant.”
I don’t know what to say. I don’t have a great track record with relationships, but I’ve also never been in one as serious as marriage.
“How old is your daughter?” I ask.
Is it weird that it's kinda hot he’s a single dad?
Parker beams, all sadness gone and in its place pride. “Thirteen going on thirty. That girl has more sense than I do most days.”
“Kids scare me,” I blurt. He gives me a weird look, which makes me rush to clarify, “I’ve never been around them, so I don’t know what to do with them.”
Well, that’s a lie. I’m not weird around Amelia. I think she’s the only kid I feel comfortable with.
He gives me a crooked smile before leaning in and whispering, “Wanna know a secret?”
“Hmm,” I mumble, concentrating on the light reflecting in his eyes.
“I have my own child, and even I don’t know what to do with her half the time. I’m just winging it every day.” He draws back, and I chuckle.
Snow starts falling gently as we walk along the brightly lit streets. The closer we get to the park, the louder the Christmas music gets, and it takes everything in me not to shiver at the sound.
“Are you going to tell me why you don’t like Christmas?” he asks, nudging my shoulder.
I tense before shrugging. “I just don’t.”
Parker gives me an appraising look, like he knows I’m not telling him the truth but respects me for it anyway.
We walk the rest of the way to the park in silence. It’s not far away, probably only about thirty yards ahead, when a bundle of colorfulness comes bounding up to us.
“Dad!” the bundle shouts.
He smiles widely, embracing the heap of winter clothing as they throw themselves into his arms. “Hey, squirt.”
I watch, fascinated by the interaction, but I’m taken aback when the bundle looks at me.
“Amelia?”
“Hi, Maddie.” She grins. “I’m glad you could make it.”
I glance at Parker, confused. “You know Amelia?”
“Amelia’s my daughter,” Parker declares, a look of adoration on his face as he gazes down at her still wrapped in his arms.
My eyebrows shoot to my forehead. “Daughter?” My eyes dart between the two of them. “Amelia’s your daughter?”
“Yup, he’s my dad.” Amelia giggles. “Come on, Grandma’s waiting for us.”
It all makes so much sense now.
“Wait, Samantha’s here, too?” I ask, still in shock. “Are there any more of your family members I’m yet to meet?”
Parker gives a deep, throaty laugh. “Just my dad. ”
“Uh huh.”
I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Amelia is Parker’s daughter.
However, I’m not hating the idea as I kind of like her.
If anything, I’m glad it’s her. She’s someone I genuinely enjoy spending time with, especially because she shares my love for books.
And anyone who gets that kind of joy from reading is someone I want to be around.
I follow them through the throngs of people. For a small town, there’s a large crowd here. The wooden cabins fill nearly the entire park, each one full of Christmassy trinkets—ornaments, stocking fillers, and even Christmas trees for sale.
The hustle and bustle of the town causes anxiety to pool deep in my chest. My breathing becomes quicker, and spots dance around in my vision.
Oh shit, no.
I stop in the middle of the makeshift walkway, trying to catch my breath, and my hands feel clammy as sweat beads on my forehead.
I can’t do this. What was I thinking?
There’s so many people here I can’t think straight. Coupled with the Christmassy mood, I hate every moment of it. This is so much worse than when the Christmas lights were turned on. I was out of the way there, but here? It’s too much.
Parker turns to look at Amelia, and when his back is turned to me, I make a decision.
I give him one last glance, then run toward the way we came in, moving as fast as I can through the crowds of people.
Pushing and shoving my way through, disgruntled shouts fill my ears as I run past, but I can’t stop. I won’t stop.
Not until I get away.