Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Tristan
I watched as Parker fiddled with the flowers she’d put in a vase I didn’t know I owned.
Her apron was lower than her very short black skirt and for a flash, I wondered if we were a real couple, was this the time—just minutes before guests arrived—when I’d sneak up behind her, smooth my palm up her inside thigh, push my fingers into her folds, and take her right up to the brink before the doorbell went.
She’d have to spend the rest of the evening wondering when she’d finally get her orgasm.
“What are you thinking?” she asked. “What have I forgotten?”
I wasn’t about to confess I was wondering how easy it would be to bring her to the edge of her climax. “The table looks great. You need me to help with anything?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You didn’t need to go to all this effort, you know.
” She’d spent most of the day cooking while I worked.
I’d offered to help but I got the impression cooking was how she worked things out.
That and eating chocolate-covered raisins.
“We could have called caterers. Maybe you’re a bit more like Lauren than you think. ”
“Believe me, if Lauren was hosting this dinner party, there would be an ice sculpture somewhere and we’d be having at least five courses. I’ve made soup and roast chicken. No one’s going to be impressed.”
“I will be. My friends won’t care what we serve, and their wives and girlfriends will just want to snoop around my house. They always complain they don’t ever get invited over.”
She nodded and tucked her hair behind her ear, betraying her nerves. “At least we don’t have to pretend.”
“Right. It’s not like anyone is going to ask us about wedding planning.
” Last Saturday at her parents’ place was the first time I saw Parker really wound up.
Her mother and Lauren had acted like it was their wedding.
I didn’t ask why they had to be involved at all, since it was clear they had more than an equal say in the wedding.
Didn’t make much sense to me, but I stayed quiet because it wasn’t my battle to fight.
She groaned. “Speaking of, Lauren called me today to ask me if we wanted to do a tasting of the canapes being served at the party.”
“Okay,” I said, treading carefully. “You want me to come with you?”
She shook her head and peeled off her apron. “No. I told her to send us the menu. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to just pick whatever we need without tasting. Does anyone really care what canapes taste like? It’s one mouthful.”
She’d read my mind.
“If you don’t care what they taste like, you could tell her you value her input and ask her to pick for you.”
“Which she will do anyway unless I’m prepared to throw down.”
“Exactly. Save your energy for your charity and compliment her at the same time.”
“I’d like to, but I’ve not been in the office for a week now. Can I go back in on Monday?”
Lucky for me, before I could answer, there was a knock at the door. “Our guests,” I said.
“Tristan. Can I go back in on Monday?” She followed me down the hallway.
The fact was I’d not discovered anything more about the fraudulent withdrawals from the charity account or the potential break-in at her flat.
I’d broken into the local street CCTV and next door’s cameras, and nothing looked odd or out of place.
Either there was nothing to worry about because the payments and the incident at her flat were coincidences, or the fact that everything looked like a series of coincidences was cause for serious concern.
Someone could be going to great lengths to maintain Parker’s illusion of safety while behind the scenes, they chipped away at the charity she’d worked so hard to support.
Either way, I couldn’t keep her a prisoner at my place any longer.
“Tristan,” she said as I reached the door. “Don’t ignore me. I want an answer.”
“Yes,” I said. “Yes, you can go back to work.”
She grinned up at me and lust crawled up my spine. That smile. That red lipstick. That beautiful mouth.
“Thank you. You see? Our first engaged-couple spat and we came out the other end. Oh hang on. Shoes. They’re going to think we’re the most ridiculously ill-matched couple.” She slipped into higher-than-high, shiny black shoes and finally gave me the nod to open the front door.
“Hello!” Hollie said. “You must be Tristan’s fiancée.” She completely ignored me, pushed past me, and flung her arms around Parker. “I’m Hollie. And you’re a shortie, too. These men are so tall. It’s insane. I have a permanent crick in my neck.”
“We’re all the same height lying down,” Dexter called from behind Hollie. “Let her go. She’s British and not used to all your American effervescence.”
Hollie released Parker and Dexter leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m Dexter.”
“Hi, both of you. Oh, and Dexter, you’re the man to thank for the ring. It’s going to be hard to give up when the time comes.”
“If,” Hollie said.
“I’m sorry? I didn’t hear you,” Parker said.
Did Hollie just say “if” as in if the time comes? Had Dexter not told her our arrangement?
“Oh nothing. I didn’t get to see the ring.” Hollie glanced down at Parker’s hand. “You don’t have it on?”
I began to usher everyone through to the kitchen. “Everyone here tonight knows the deal. Parker doesn’t need to wear the ring. She’s among friends.”
“Of course she is,” Hollie replied. “But why wouldn’t she wear the ring? It’s gorgeous. And she’s your fiancée.”
Parker glanced back at me and I rolled my eyes. “Ignore her.”
“Do you know,” Dexter said, “you’re going to be the third guy in our group to get married, despite Gabriel, Joshua, and Andrew being engaged for longer.”
We arrived in the kitchen and Parker handed out glasses of champagne. We were celebrating, after all. Sort of.
“Well, they’ve always been a little slow,” I said.
“Apparently Hartford and Joshua want a venue that’s booked up two years in advance,” Dexter said.
“You mean Joshua does. Why doesn’t he pay someone to cancel?” I asked.
“The kind of people who have their wedding at Claridge’s don’t appreciate a payoff,” Dexter replied. “No one in June would move, apparently.”
“London is nice in June,” Dexter said. “Not too hot. Less chance of rain. People haven’t started taking their summer holidays. June is good. I suppose that’s why everyone wants it.” Dexter nudged Parker. “Honestly, looking back, I wish we’d just eloped. Planning is so bloody stressful.”
Parker groaned. “Tell me about it. We’re not even properly getting married and it’s already too much.”
I shrugged. “Happy to elope.”
Dexter chuckled. “Words I never thought I’d hear coming out of your mouth.”
“Exceptional circumstance,” I muttered.
“Yes,” Hollie said. “You’re an exceptional man for an exceptional woman.” She turned to Parker. “You’re gorgeous, by the way. That blunt black bob and red lip combo is hot as.”
I leaned over to Parker to loud whisper in her ear. “American. She can’t help it.”
“Hey, Tristan,” Hollie said, glaring at me. “I hope to God you’re not saying that Parker isn’t gorgeous and I know for a fact you’re a sucker for red lipstick.”
Hollie had backed me into a corner and she knew it.
Of course Parker was gorgeous but to admit that would be playing into Hollie’s hands.
Before I knew it, she’d be trying to turn my fake relationship into something real.
But if I denied it, I’d be lying and might upset Parker—neither of which I wanted to do.
“I’m not saying another word about anything because I know you’ll use it against me.” The doorbell went. “Saved by the bell.”
I glanced over at Parker to check she was okay that I left her to fend for herself. She nodded, her nervous tic—tucking her hair behind her ears—noticeably absent. I headed back out into the hall. Sofia, Andrew, Joshua, and Harford were on the step.
“Remember, we’re doing this so you’re all introduced before the wedding party so it doesn’t look weird that my friends don’t know her. You’re not meeting my fiancée.”
Andrew barged past me, not saying a word, and Sofia followed. “It’ll be fine, Tristan. You don’t have to explain anything to us. We’re going to make your girlfriend feel super-welcome.”
I groaned. Had they not all read the memo? Parker and I weren’t really together. This was not a real thing.
“She cooked, Tristan. Did you see this?” Hollie said.
“This is like the second time I’ve been over the threshold in your house and the first time it didn’t really count because I let myself in to get that tool thingy Dexter wanted.
This time, not only have you invited me, but I’m getting fed and being handed wine.
I always knew you’d mature as soon as you got a serious girlfriend. ”
I wondered if it was even worth responding. I needed to distract them all so they weren’t focusing on me and Parker.
“How’s the baby?” I asked Sofia.
“Urgh. I hate being pregnant. My feet are swelling and so is my ass.”
“You look fantastic,” Andrew barked, rubbing his hand over Sofia’s ever-expanding stomach. “Went for a scan today. She looks bloody beautiful even now.”
“When are you due?” Parker asked, handing Andrew a glass of champagne and Sofia a glass of something nonalcoholic she’d had delivered by Uber Eats about an hour ago after I’d mentioned that Sofia was pregnant.
“I have four and a half months to go. Can you believe it? Already some days I want to reach in there and get her out already.”
“It will go by in a flash,” Parker said.
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me,” Sofia said. “Hopefully the wedding will distract me. It’s only five weeks away. You’re both coming, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” I said. Five weeks? Parker and I would probably be married before Andrew and Sofia.
“Tristan and Parker first,” Dexter said, reading my thoughts.
He chuckled and helped himself to a top up.
I was being the worst host. I just wasn’t used to people in my house for dinner.
I was used to going to Beck and Stella’s or Gabriel and Autumn’s and having everything laid on.
“And you said you’d never get married. I always knew you were full of shit, Tristan, but this just proves it. ”
“Slightly different circumstances,” I replied.
I’d expected a roasting from my friends about marrying Parker, and I didn’t mind their ribbing.
I just worried Parker would. She didn’t know that taking the piss was Dexter’s love language.
He didn’t need to tell me he loved me for me to know it. Parker didn’t know him like I did.
“Give him a break,” Hartford said as she took a glass of champagne from Parker, who was being the perfect hostess.
It was sweet of Hartford to stick up for me and I winked at her, trying to communicate that their joshing was like water off a duck’s back.
I appreciated her support, but it really wasn’t necessary.
My friends were all incredibly driven, successful people and roasting me was the way they let off steam.
It had been the same since we were all teenagers.
It didn’t bother me one bit. I knew they didn’t mean it and even if they did, I knew most of what they were saying wasn’t true.
“You’re Arthur Frazer’s daughter?” Andrew asked and my jaw tightened. Sometimes Andrew could be fucking insensitive.
“She’s Parker Frazer. Try talking to her to find out who she is rather than who her father is,” I said, shooting Andrew a warning look.
Me, they could pick on. Parker was off limits.
“Don’t mind Andrew, Parker. He’s insensitive to anyone’s emotions and completely focused on himself, but I love him just the same. He’s my Lauren-equivalent.”
Parker gave me a small smile and I pushed a glass of champagne into her hand.
“Yes, I’m Arthur’s daughter,” she said.
Andrew nodded. “He’s a good guy. Came across him a few times over the years.”
“You’re right,” Parker replied. “He is a good guy.”
“And he seems reasonable. Why has he made it a stipulation of your trust that you be married? That seems entirely unreasonable.”
Trust Andrew to be so bloody blunt.
“Andrew,” I said, wanting to distract his attention.
“It’s fine,” Parker said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “He did it a while ago. I had a . . . boyfriend that turned out to be a bit of a shit. I think this was his way of encouraging me not to turn my back on a serious relationship.”
This was the first I was hearing about this. I was pretty sure I’d asked her why Arthur had made the marriage stipulation, but maybe I hadn’t. “You were serious with the guy who was a piece of shit?” I asked.
“Yeah. I mean, he proposed and I said yes and I thought he was going to be the man I’d spend the rest of my life with, so I think that qualifies as serious.”
The room was entirely silent now, everyone’s gaze fixed on Parker. My heart was pounding in my chest for reasons I couldn’t fully explain.
“What happened?” I asked.
She glanced over to the kitchen like she was looking for an excuse not to have to answer any more questions. “Turns out that he was after my money. Or my father’s anyway.”
What?
The cooking timer in the kitchen went off. Parker set down her glass and went to see to the food. I followed. “Why don’t you all take a seat at the table,” I called over my shoulder.
Even though we were only meters away from each other, I wanted to be closer to her—for her to know I was there if old wounds had been opened up.
“You okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” she said, tucking her hair behind her ears and not meeting my eye. “Can you pass me the soup bowls?”
“I didn’t know you were engaged,” I said, setting the soup bowls beside her.
She shrugged. “It was a long time ago. I’m over it.” There was an edge to her voice that told me that wasn’t entirely true.
I searched for some words to make it better. She deserved someone who was with her because she was funny and kind and a great cook. Not someone who was just after her money. “He was clearly an idiot.”
She nodded and began to ladle soup into the bowls.
“You’re better off without him.”
She nodded again and reached for another bowl.
“If you give me his name, I can make life pretty difficult for him. Impossible even.”
She laughed. “Thank you.” She turned and squeezed my arm. “I appreciate that, but really there’s no need.” We locked eyes and it was a moment of such intimacy that it took me by surprise.
She glanced away first. “You mind putting out the soup?”
“Absolutely. Smells delicious.”
In some ways I felt as if I knew Parker better than I knew most people, but I’d just been reminded that there were a lot of things about her I didn’t know. But the more I found out, the more I wanted to know.