Chapter 10 #2
With a curt nod, Genna turned and disappeared into her bedroom.
To Parker’s surprise, both dogs remained where they were, their attention fixed firmly on Eli, though they turned their heads as Genna walked by.
When she reappeared, she handed Eli a folded piece of notebook paper.
“Here you go. I’ve included their home addresses and cell phone numbers, as well as places of employment. ”
If her thoroughness surprised Eli, he didn’t show it. He tucked the paper in his pocket and thanked her before turning back to Parker and asking a question about RTA.
Taking a seat on one end of the couch, Genna listened.
She made no move to join in the conversation, which would have concerned Parker if not for her relaxed demeanor.
She’d had one hell of a day. More than anything, he wished he could sit down next to her, put his arm around her and pull her close.
But then he could only imagine his brother’s reaction of he did. More fuel for the family gossip.
This made him think of their sister. “Have you talked to Lakin lately?” he asked. “How’s that hotel renovation project going?”
Eli smiled. “She says she’s having a blast. Living the dream, in her own words.”
“Good for her.” Parker glanced again at Genna before turning his attention back to Eli. “I’ve been meaning to go by and take a look at the place. See what they’ve done so far.”
Eli chuckled. “Good luck with that. She told me she doesn’t need me looking over her shoulder.”
“Maybe Genna should go,” Parker said, smiling. “What do you think, Genna? You and Lakin were old friends back in the day.”
Though she smiled back, she chose not to answer the second question.
Instead, she made a noncommittal comment, saying she just might have to pay Lakin’s hotel a visit.
Parker couldn’t tell if she meant it or not.
He hoped she did, because as far as he could tell, Genna kept to her own company.
It might be good for her to have a friend.
Of course, that would be totally up to her.
Eli changed the subject again, telling them a little about the ongoing investigation. What information he could give them was limited, he said, but he promised he and his colleagues were all hard at work on it.
Genna excused herself, heading into the kitchen to get something. Eli took the opportunity to give Parker a look, one brow raised. “Is there something we—meaning the family—need to know?” he asked.
There were several responses Parker could have given. Luckily, he didn’t have to give any of them because Genna returned, carrying a glass of wine.
“Why the serious expressions?” Genna asked, looking from one man to the other. She figured they’d been discussing her and her situation, and she couldn’t blame them.
For whatever reason, giving Eli information on her ex-husband and ex-best friend had made Genna feel conflicted. Almost as if by doing so, she was dragging her old life into her new. Which she most definitely didn’t want to do.
Had she somehow managed to make them think less of her? Surely not, since Parker already knew her story and she and Eli had only just met.
No doubt her moment of self-doubt was all in her head. They’d definitely gone right back to their conversation, a few seconds after a pause that might or might not have been awkward.
Watching as Parker and Eli talked, the way they spoke so affectionately about their sister, made her relax.
Instead of feeling like an outsider, she felt…
accepted. She also appreciated that Eli didn’t make a fuss over her staying with Parker.
Instead, he treated her presence as if it wasn’t a big deal, which she appreciated, since it really wasn’t.
Eli finished his beer and got to his feet. “I’d better go,” he said. “I’ll keep you both posted if there are any new developments on the Fiancée Killer.”
“I hope you get a good lead soon,” Parker said, walking him to the door.
“You and everyone else in Shelby,” Eli replied.
Once the door had closed behind Eli, Parker returned. “How are you feeling?” he asked, settling next to her on the couch.
She shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”
Parker took a deep breath. “I guess I should warn you. My family likes to gossip. I’m sure they’ll be talking about you staying here with me.”
“Why?” she asked. “Surely, once they find out the reason I’m here, they’ll understand.”
He shifted in the seat, clearly uncomfortable. “Yeah, they’ll definitely get it. But that’s not going to stop them from giving me hell. They all want to make this more than it is.”
While she could have pretended not to understand, she did. Slowly, she got to her feet, scooping up JB. “I’m sorry that my being here is such an inconvenience. Give me a few minutes to get packed and I’ll go stay in my own home.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he protested.
Ignoring him, she carried her dog into her room.
Revis lifted his head as they passed, but made no move to follow.
As she set JB down on top of the bed and reached into her closet for her duffel bag, she realized she was crying.
Tears streamed down her face. Furiously wiping them away with the back of her hand, she wondered what the hell was wrong with her.
Usually, she considered herself even-keeled.
“Genna, please. I don’t want you to leave. I really don’t.” Parker stood in her doorway, clearly keeping his distance.
She couldn’t blame him. She was a hot mess right now. Keeping her face averted so he wouldn’t see, she tried to pretend she was fine. “It’s all good…” she began. To her absolute horror, her voice broke. “There’s just been a lot lately.”
“It’s me,” he said, gently pulling her into his arms. “Not you. That was my awkward attempt to let you know that my family will be giving both of us a hard time, even though it’s completely unwarranted.”
Though she held herself stiffly, she didn’t pull out of his embrace. He smelled good, a combination of mint and outdoors. And the Parker she’d come to know would never be so callous. Clearly, she might possibly have misunderstood.
“Why?” she asked, finally lifting her face to his. “Why would it bother you so much if your family teases us?”
“You’re crying!” Gently, he smoothed her hair back, using his finger to awkwardly wipe away her tears. “Genna, I never meant to hurt you. I just wasn’t sure how to handle it. Obviously, I handled it wrong.”
She didn’t get a chance to respond, because he covered her mouth with his and kissed her. The kind of kiss that made her entire being melt. Deep and slow and sure, he showed her more than words ever could how much he wanted her.
When she finally broke away, they were both breathing heavily. “I was mistaken, wasn’t I?” she asked.
“Yes.” He nodded, a slight smile playing about his mouth. “I meant well, but completely botched things. What I need you to understand is that I don’t want you to leave.”
Since she didn’t really want to, for a multitude of reasons, some of which she had no reason thinking, she bobbed her head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.” His smile made his blue eyes sparkle. “It’s not safe.”
It felt like he’d tacked that last statement on for good effect. Since it happened to be exactly what she’d needed to hear, she smiled back.
“Come here,” she told him.
She didn’t have to ask him twice.
Kissing, caressing, they helped each other shed their clothing as they made their way to her bed. Just like before, when they came together, the explosive passion made her forget everything but Parker.
Afterward, he continued to hold her close. She liked that he didn’t immediately jump up, but treated her as if he thought her precious.
The realization stunned her. So much so, she pushed herself away from him and went to clean up.
After that, she told him good-night, waiting while he headed into his own room to sleep.
The moment he left, JB jumped up onto her bed to sleep.
The little dog raised her head when Genna got in, her tail wagging.
The next morning, Genna got up and began a routine that had started to feel comfortable and familiar. She met Parker in the kitchen and nearly laughed out loud when he handed her a mug of coffee, already fixed the way she liked it.
“Thanks,” she said, her heart light. Honestly, the roller coaster of emotions that had been buffeting her almost gave her whiplash.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, drinking from his own mug. Revis lay curled up at his feet. “Are you glad to return to work?”
“I am.” She glanced at her bedroom door, wondering when JB would stir her little self. As if thinking about her had summoned her, the small dog came trotting out to the kitchen, tail wagging. She and Revis touched noses before Genna took JB outside for her morning constitutional.
When she returned, Parker had placed two toasted bagels and a tub of strawberry cream cheese on the table. “Breakfast,” he said. He looked so pleased with himself that she wanted to kiss him.
Better if she didn’t. Instead, she fed JB and, once her dog had eaten, sat down at the table to break her own fast. Funny how making love the night before could improve one’s outlook on life.
They decided to ride into work together. Once both dogs were in his truck, Revis in the back and JB in Genna’s lap, they headed to the office.
When they arrived, they walked in together, both dogs trotting along side-by-side.
“I have the first excursion of the morning,” Parker said, his boyish smile tugging at her heart. “I’m taking a large group out fishing. That’s perfect for an overcast sky like it is now.”
He stretched, drawing her gaze. Then, realizing where her thoughts had inevitably gone, she shook her head at herself and blushed.
“Well then, we’d better get busy,” she said, making her voice brisk.
“Let me get signed into my computer so I can get everyone checked in and you all can be on your way.”
Not five minutes after that, a private bus pulled in and parked. At least fifteen people got out, all rushing for the front door. Though the sign clearly asked people to form a single line, several of new arrivals rushed the counter, all talking at once.
Though this sort of thing tried her patience, Genna got everyone sorted out, politely insisting they all wait their turn.
It turned out most of folks were guests of one man named Miles Franklin, who owned a large vacation property in town.
He’d booked the fishing trip as a treat, one last thing to do before his guests left.
He insisted on being first, and since he’d paid, Genna figured that made sense.
He had an exaggerated sense of self-importance, but aside from that, he seemed decent.
Either way, she treated each person the same way, with her usual mix of friendly efficiency. They all seemed excited about the possibility of catching fish and a few confessed they’d never been fishing before.
Once she’d checked everyone in, Parker took over, shepherding everyone outside and down the path that led to the boat docks.
Watching them go, Genna breathed a sigh of relief.
This particular group seemed as if they might be a bit challenging and, honestly, if she’d been Parker, she would have enlisted Spence’s help.
But Parker hadn’t appeared concerned and he’d been doing this long enough to know what he could and couldn’t handle.
Spence arrived about an hour after Parker had left. “Good morning,” he said, heading directly to the break room to grab a cup of coffee. When he returned, he settled in one of the office chairs and rolled up next to Genna.
“I checked the bookings today. Parker has a large group right now, doesn’t he?” He grinned. “We switched. I get tired of taking people fishing. So he’s doing that and I’m taking the next group on a nature hike.”
Though she hadn’t known that, she nodded. “Well, your group isn’t too shabby, either. You leave in twenty minutes, right?”
“Yep.” He glanced at the parking lot, which so far only contained the private bus from earlier. “If they show up, that is.”
Almost as if his words had summoned them, several cars turned into the drive. As they parked, Genna opened the check-in software. “I’m ready,” she told Spence. “I’ll get them logged in and turned over to you in a hurry.”
As people filed in through the front door and arranged themselves in a single line, she processed each one. Marveling at the difference between the two groups, she processed them quickly.
Once the last person had been logged, she gestured to Spence. With very little fanfare, he herded them outside and they started on the path that went up the mountain.
A short time later, Parker and his group returned. Just like before, they pushed through the front door, jockeying to be the first at the counter. Their mood seemed markedly different, and she caught herself glancing at Parker several times, just in case he wanted to give her a hint.
Instead, he crossed his arms and watched from the back of the room, his smile decidedly forced. Several of the customers grumbled loudly while waiting in line.
This time, Miles Franklin hung back, letting all his guests check out before him and sending them all out one by one to wait on the bus.
Finally, he was the only one of the group left inside. “I’d like a full refund,” he demanded, glaring at Genna. “Not a single person in my party caught a fish.”
Since this request had come up before, as unbelievable as it seemed, Genna had her answer prepared. “I’m so sorry, sir, but the agreement you signed clearly states that catching a fish is not guaranteed. We are not responsible for nature.”
As she finished speaking, his expression darkened. “I don’t care. I paid you people a lot of money to make sure my friends had a good time. We’ve already informed my cook that we are having a fish fry tonight. How can we do that if we don’t have any fish?”
The anger simmering underneath his measured tone sent a chill through her.
She glanced at Parker, very glad he was there.
He watched silently, arms still crossed, but, judging by his intent expression, she could tell he’d jump into action if the situation got out of control and turned into something she couldn’t handle.
She could only hope it didn’t go that far.