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 spend 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?”
Hazel 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 fiancée.”
“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. ”