14. Parker Cain
14
PARKER CAIN
I was at Sebastian Courtland’s house with Declan, because the damn man had sucked and fucked my brain right out of my body. There wasn’t a single drop of common sense left in me. When morning had come and those first cries from Joy had stretched from the baby monitor, I’d scarcely gotten out of bed. My legs had been jelly and my head full of fuzz.
Declan had given me a quick kiss and admonished me to get dressed. He was going to get Joy and meet me downstairs for breakfast.
“But she’s going to have a full diaper!” I’d called after him, trying to will my poor legs to chase after him. Screw him for being so awake and clear-headed after sucking me off!
“I’ve got it. I’ve been practicing,” Declan had replied, leaving me sitting on the edge of the bed. What the fuck had happened? Had I woken up in the Twilight Zone?
Wait! How the fuck had he practiced?
My Saturday had sort of rolled along like that, with me barely keeping up. We’d debated Sebastian’s dinner party most of the afternoon. I’d told him to go without me. He’d argued that all three of us would go, which was silly. This was a rich, unmarried-guys dinner party. There were going to be no other kids. Bringing a baby was insane. The second I’d tried to back out, Declan had announced he was staying home as well.
Of course, Franks had sailed in at the perfect moment to offer to babysit with Donovan’s help.
It was hard to turn him down. He knew all Joy’s quirks and preferences, not to mention she was comfortable with Franks and Donovan. They’d both helped me more than once during the day with her.
Declan had glanced at me and smirked. I’d had no arguments left.
“You know, maybe we should have brought Joy,” I announced as he drove up Sebastian’s ridiculously long driveway.
“Why’s that? You don’t think the five hundred pictures on your phone will be enough to prove that she’s the cutest baby in the entire world?”
“Nowhere near enough,” I hissed at him. “But that’s not what I mean. With a baby, you’ve always got a ready excuse to leave early.”
Declan looked at me, his brow furrowing before he returned his eyes to the road. “Why do you need an excuse? Leave when you want to leave.”
“And this is why you’re perfect,” I muttered, rocking my head back and forth on the cushioned support.
He didn’t look convinced, and that was fine. Since moving in with Declan, I was noticing too many things that were making my heart give these annoying skips, which was a bad idea. We had a good thing going as friends and occasional fuck-buddies. Me catching feelings for a sexy-ass rich boy was not a good idea.
“My friends can be a bit much. If you want to leave, tell me and we’ll leave,” Declan reassured.
“Nah, it’s fine. I haven’t been out and social in a while; I might be rusty.” I reached over and poked him in the arm. “ Plus, the only rich person I know is you, so I’m not up on any of the yachting, golfing, polo chitchat.”
Declan snorted. “When have you ever heard me mention any of that?”
“Never.”
“And you never will.” He pulled his shiny black Porsche in to park next to a Mercedes, and what I swore had to be a Lamborghini. Really, I was outclassed already, and we hadn’t even gotten out of the car. But with Declan staring at me, a challenging look in his eyes, I felt like I could fucking handle anything. Declan was a “give no shits, take no prisoners” kind of guy. I’d follow his lead.
“So, you went to college with Rome and Sebastian?” I asked as he climbed the wide stairs. Of course, Sebastian Courtland had one of those colossal mansions, but where Declan’s was purely modern, Sebastian’s had a very classical, old-money kind of feel.
“I attended high school with Sebastian. Rome and Pierce, I met in college.” He stopped and grabbed my elbow, holding me back. His expression became grim, and I stepped closer.
“What?” I demanded in a whisper.
“Simon Miller will be here. In college, we were all friends with Sawyer Miller, but he died prior to the start of our senior year in a swimming accident. Simon is his younger brother.”
While everything he said made sense, there was something heavy in his tone that indicated that there was a hell of a lot more that he wasn’t telling me. But now wasn’t the time to go digging into all that. I got the hint. Don’t ask too many questions. Keep to safe topics like the weather and the local sports teams.
“Gotcha!” I gave him a finger gun and a wink, trying to wipe the worried look from his face. It earned me an eye roll, which was as good as a laugh in my book.
As we resumed our approach to the front doors, they opened to reveal a man in a navy suit who nodded to Declan .
“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Foster. It has been too long.”
“Thank you, Wilkins. This is my…my…” Declan uncharacteristically stammered. It was only now that I realized we’d forgotten to discuss how he would introduce me. Most people wouldn’t lead with fuck-buddy. At least, not for that initial introduction.
“I’m his new roommate!” I blurted out, thrusting my hand at what I assumed was Sebastian’s butler. “Parker Cain. A pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh. I-I, yes, a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Cain. I’m Wilkins, Master Sebastian’s assistant.” He took my hand and gave a quick shake, recovering from his shock pretty damn fast.
I glanced over at Declan, who was glaring at me, seeming to debate whether he wanted to strangle me now or wait until we got home. A big grin flashed across my lips, and my heart skipped. This was going to be a damn interesting night.
We followed Wilkins through the beautiful house to a large room with floor-to-ceiling windows, expensive furniture, and a stylish bar with shining black marble. Elegant and somehow masculine. There was only one person in the room I didn’t recognize, but part of me relaxed the moment I saw Byron’s face light up. He hurried away from the bar, Sebastian trailing behind him. Yes, I recognized Sebastian from the company website, but seeing him in person was startling. The pictures somehow didn’t come close to capturing the essence and life of this man.
“Declan! Parker! It’s so great to see you,” Byron greeted. He shook Declan’s hand, but as he came to me, Byron took an extra second and used both of his hands when he shook mine. An excited gleam flashed in his dark eyes, and I didn’t know whether to take this as a warning or something else.
I looked up as Declan had finished greeting Sebastian and the CEO was now staring at me expectantly .
“We’re just roommates,” I said with an extra wide grin.
Sebastian’s expression froze and his eyes blinked. It was like I could see his brain going all blue screen of death from that unexpected input.
“But he tells me you’ve known each other since high school,” I continued. Sebastian’s warm smile unfroze, and he nodded. I’d put him on familiar ground.
“Yes! I think he hated me back then because I was such an annoying snot, but I won him over,” Sebastian replied.
“Sebastian, this is Parker Cain. He’s an artist and brilliant with numbers,” Declan cut in.
Sebastian’s face swung to Declan, his nose scrunching up. “Numbers and art? That’s different. I didn’t think those usually went together.” He looked at me again, his smile almost blinding as he stuck out his hand. “You must be a genius.”
“Not even close, but I’ve learned to get by. My parents were worried about me making a career of art, so they pushed me to get a normal, useful degree. It just happened that I’m naturally good at math, so I got an undergraduate degree in finance and art. At least I’m somewhat employable.”
“I was lucky enough to see a sketch of a mural he’s planning to do for Declan,” Byron chimed in. “It’s gorgeous. Art is definitely your thing.”
“This is what I get for sending you to scout for me.” Sebastian threw an arm around Byron’s shoulders and pulled him in so that Byron’s smaller frame was wrapped up in Sebastian’s larger body. “You see art and meet a baby, but come home with no good dirt. Speaking of…you didn’t bring her?” Sebastian made a show of searching as if he were expecting the baby to pop out from wherever we were hiding her.
“We didn’t feel bringing a baby to the dinner party was appropriate. We won’t be staying late this evening since she is with a sitter,” Declan explained, which made Sebastian’s blond eyebrows inch toward his hairline .
“Parker! Let me introduce you to the rest of our friends,” Byron injected suddenly and loudly.
It was becoming hard not to laugh in their faces. I could see with every awkward silence, long stare, and muscle twitch that Sebastian was holding in a hundred pointed questions about who I was and what my place was in Declan’s life. It didn’t take a fucking rocket scientist to see that Declan wasn’t the type to date or take in a roommate, let alone one with a baby. I was wondering how long it would be before someone broke and who it was going to be.
We strolled across the room where Rome and another tall, slender man were standing at the bar. The stranger reminded me of Declan in a way, with his icy glare, but where my Sexy Beast was a blond bruiser, this new guy was several inches taller with swarthy skin and dark hair.
“I believe you’ve met Rome Ashbridge,” Byron introduced.
“You made it a memorable trip to the grocery store,” I teased as he shook his head.
“Yeah, that sounds about par for the course.” Rome sighed, but he was still smirking, as if he didn’t mind a little ribbing.
“And this is Pierce Sutton,” Byron continued.
“Parker Cain, good to meet you.” I held out my hand to the man, whose lips twisted into a half smile.
“So, are you really just roommates, or are you fucking him too?” Pierce inquired with a lazy drawl as he took my hand.
“Jesus fuck, Pierce! You can at least pretend for five damn minutes to be civilized!” Sebastian roared from the other side of the room.
“Actually, he’s fucking me. Has been for almost a year now,” I replied without missing a beat. I released Pierce’s hand and placed it on my almost flat stomach. “How else would we have a baby together? You’ll have to forgive me. I’m still trying to lose the baby weight. ”
Rome tumbled off the stool he was perched on, his back shaking with choked laughter. Pierce glared at me for a second before his cold facade cracked with a huffed chuckle. Byron looked as if he were trying not to laugh, but his shoulders were trembling and he was hiding his face behind his hand.
There was no chance to add to my nonsense. An arm reached past me to rest on the bar and the delicious, cool scent of very expensive cologne wrapped around me. Declan was barely touching me, but it felt like I was cocooned in him.
“Parker is my friend,” Declan stated, and it sort of felt like God had descended to lay down a new commandment. The last of the giggles stopped, and a couple of people cleared their throats.
“Who needs a drink? Parker, you drinking? Dec?” Sebastian asked, shattering the silence as he moved behind the bar with Pierce.
“Iced tea, please,” Declan requested.
“Same.”
The hand Declan had resting on the bar moved to touch my arm lightly. “Are you sure? You can have a drink. I’m driving.”
“I know, but I’m still breastfeeding. It’s not good for the baby.” I grinned at Declan’s warning glare, but it was Rome choking on his drink that won the moment.
“Please stop trying to kill Rome,” Declan grumbled. “He’s annoying but useful.”
“Oh, my God!” Rome shouted between choking coughs. “Not only does Declan have a funny friend, but he’s also cracking jokes. I have died.” Rome straightened and looked at Declan expectantly but rolled his eyes in the end. “Not even a smirk. Come on! Gimme a little smile!” I glanced over to see Declan staring at Rome, his expression blank.
Someone bumped my arm, and I turned my gaze to Rome, who was smiling at me like a lunatic. “The man can’t smile. I swear, I think his face would break if he did. ”
“Of course he can smile,” I snapped, fighting the urge to flick Rome in the center of his broad forehead.
“You’ve seen it? Really? You’ve seen Declan smile?” Pierce demanded, sounding utterly disbelieving.
“Yes, I’ve seen him smile. I’m shocked you haven’t.” I leaned my elbow on the bar and tipped my face up to Pierce, then looked at Rome. “Naturally, most of the smiles have come after he’s fucked me through the mattress, while shouting my name until he’s hoarse.”
And I’d silenced the room for a second time. They fucking deserved it. How dare his so-called friend demand he smile on cue as though he were a trained monkey! Declan didn’t have to fucking smile for anyone.
A tug on my hair got me to straighten and half turn toward Declan. I expected to see him angry, but one corner of his mouth tilted higher in an unmistakable smirk. “You’re right. You are out of practice.” To further stun me, the man kissed the side of my jaw. “Play nice.”
“You win!” Pierce was the first to throw up his hands. “We surrender. We’ll stop being nosy. How about you show me pictures of this adorable baby?”
He was not the one I’d expected to ask about Joy, but I was more than happy to show off the perfection that was my snuggle bug. Pierce moved out from behind the bar, and I pulled up pictures of my daughter on my phone to show off. Declan remained close, his hand coming to rest on my hip as he watched over my shoulder. More than once, that devil complained that my picture of the moment wasn’t good enough, and he pulled out his own phone to show the pictures he’d taken of her.
My heart melted. One big puddle in my fucking shoes.
I mean, come on! He was showing off my baby girl with such obvious pride. The reticent man began telling elaborate stories of dinners and how she was days away from speaking in full sentences, although I was still trying to get “Dada” out of her. If I didn’t know better, I would have guessed that he was already working on her application for Harvard.
Thankfully, Sebastian countered with pictures of his niece while Pierce whipped out pictures on his phone of his twin nephews, who had just finished their first summer of Little League and were about to begin the fall soccer season. We might have gotten off to a rough start, but it was ridiculously adorable seeing these uncles gushing about their niece and nephews. Rome seemed left out since he was an only child. Byron didn’t appear to mind not having a niece or nephew and was more than happy to appreciate everyone else’s kids.
“Well, isn’t this an interesting gathering?”
The unfamiliar voice cut through the large room, and we all turned at the same time to find a slender young man with pale-blond hair and a wide grin standing in the doorway with Wilkins a step behind him.
“Simon! You made it!” Sebastian called out. We’d all moved to a collection of sofas and chairs as they shared pictures and chatted. Sebastian jumped up from his chair, Byron trailing a couple of steps behind him. I watched as Sebastian pulled him into a tight hug that Simon returned with a chuckle.
A glance around the room was all it took to see that the vibe of the party had changed yet again, and not for the better. Rome, who had been outgoing and chatty since I arrived, now seemed reserved and subdued. Declan had gotten up to stand beside Pierce’s chair, his hand resting on the tall man’s very tense shoulder. He looked worried, while Pierce was…frightened? Was that the word? I’d almost thought he was hostile, but when I looked into his honey-brown eyes, I realized it was a mix of pain and fear gathering there. How weird…
I would tuck that bit of information away and ask Declan about it the moment we were alone.
Sebastian released the newcomer and smoothly introduced him to Byron. He led Simon into the room, where he introduced us. Simon was and wasn’t what I expected. He appeared to be in his early twenties, not much younger than me, with messily styled blond hair and anime-large blue eyes that dominated his slender face. His clothes were nice, but they didn’t give off that “I spent a year’s salary on this outfit” vibe. Maybe he wasn’t yet another billionaire or trust fund baby, like the rest of this bunch.
As we spoke, there was no missing that his gaze kept sneaking over to Pierce and then snapping back as if he couldn’t control himself. However, he hadn’t spoken directly to the man yet.
“It’s good to see you,” Pierce mumbled.
“Is it?” Simon replied, his voice lilting higher in mocking skepticism.
“What made you choose Cincinnati?” Rome inquired, stepping in before anyone could respond. “I thought I heard you had offers from London and Sydney.”
Simon continued to stare at Pierce for another beat. He sucked in a noisy breath and directed his smile at Rome. “Why wouldn’t I? I have friends in Cincinnati who speak so highly of the city. Besides, it’s just a guest residency for a year. London and Sydney can wait for me.”
“Guest residency? Are you a teacher?” I asked, trying to slice through some of this tension with normal conversation.
A bit of the tension eased from Simon’s expression and his smile became more natural. “No, I’m a professional concert violinist. I was invited to join the London and Sydney symphony orchestras, among others, but I thought I would start with something smaller. Cincinnati’s symphony doesn’t have the same rigorous schedule as those cities, and I was contemplating writing some original work in my spare time.”
“Ahh…so you’re like one of those musical prodigies.”
“Something like that. My parents weren’t thrilled with me pursuing music as a career, but they seemed to have mellowed as I proved myself to be better than average.”
“They only want what’s best for you,” Pierce murmured.
Simon chuckled, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “What’s best for me? Now, doesn’t that cover a multitude of sins? Sort of like good intentions.”
Yeah, there was a whole undertone of past shit I did not understand, but there was no way in hell I was going to wade into that mess.
While Pierce glared at Simon, Sebastian and Rome attempted to steer the conversation in a new direction. It was as if they thought being loud helped to make things less awkward. I glanced over my shoulder at Declan to find that he was watching me with a look of concern. What did I care about their drama? Like it could touch me.
Okay, fine. I cared. I was a nosy little fucker, and I was dying to ask why the air was rippling with unresolved hostility between Pierce and Simon. But at least I had enough common sense to know that I shouldn’t ask while we were standing right there.
No. I waited like a civilized human being.
Until we were alone in his car.