Chapter 12 #2
“You know my entire family is talking about it.” Kansas thought for a moment. “As they should. Do you have any idea how long it’s been since Parker brought anyone to a family function?”
Before Genna could respond, Kansas answered the question herself. “High school. Since he’s a year older than me, and the last girl he brought home was at senior prom, that’s almost ten years.”
Not sure why Kansas had brought this up now, Genna shrugged. “That’s a long time. But Parker isn’t bringing me home to meet the family. I’d think I would know if he was.”
Kansas stared. “He didn’t tell you about the cookout we’re having here on Sunday? RTA is closed for the afternoon and the entire family is coming, along with their significant others.”
“No.” Perplexed, Genna swallowed. “Is Parker the one organizing it?”
For some reason, Kansas found her question amusing. “Parker? No. Have you ever seen a man organize a family get-together?”
Genna couldn’t help but smile. “I guess not.”
“Lakin decided to do this, kind of on the spur of the moment. She’s pretty much ordered everyone to attend. In fact, she started a group chat and is assigning each of us dishes to bring.”
“Weird that she hasn’t mentioned it to me,” Genna said.
Then she pushed to her feet and went to look for her phone.
She’d left it on the shelf under her computer.
The screen showed there was one missed call, a voicemail and several text messages.
She’d heard none of the notifications. Checking, she realized that somehow she’d managed to accidently put her phone in silent mode.
“Lakin has been trying to reach me,” she said, feeling sheepish. “No doubt to invite me to the cookout.”
“I told you.” Kansas kicked back in her chair and took a long drink of water. “I have to say, I’ve never seen Lakin happier. It’s funny how all of this kind of flipped a switch with her.”
Curious, Genna eyed her. “What do you mean?”
“Turned out, she’s always wanted to renovate a hotel. Or so she claims. Either way, she’s in her element. And I think the place will be fabulous when it’s all finished.”
“I’ve been meaning to stop by and take a look at it,” Genna said. “I told Lakin I would.”
“I kind of envy her, just a little,” Kansas admitted. “Relationships are hard.”
Genna nodded. “That, they are. Does that mean you’re seeing someone?”
“Not really. I’m getting pressure from a guy named Scott at work, though he’s in the Wasilla office. But he doesn’t really do anything for me. Not like—” She seemed to catch herself, abruptly going quiet.
Since Genna didn’t want to pry, she simply waited to see if Kansas would continue. When she didn’t, Genna smiled. “I take it you are interested in someone else.”
Kansas’s casual shrug fooled no one. “Not really. I just want to be prepared for when the right person does come along.” She took a deep breath. “How about you?”
“What about me?” Genna asked, making a face. “My divorce was brutal. And he and my ex best friend harassed me so badly that I had to leave Anchorage and come back home to Shelby.” She shuddered. “I’m in no hurry to go through anything like that again.”
“I don’t blame you,” Kansas said. “And that’s why I won’t bug you to try and find out if you have any feelings for Parker. But I can’t speak for the rest of my family. Once we’re all together at that cookout…”
Genna sighed. “Point taken. All I can do is tell them the truth.”
“And what would the truth be?” Kansas leaned forward, her gaze intent. Despite claiming she wouldn’t ask, Genna could tell the other woman really wanted to know. She didn’t mind. In fact, she found the Colton family’s dedication to Parker admirable.
When Genna didn’t immediately answer, Kansas shook her head. “Sorry. I’m not trying to pry, honestly. I’m just curious to hear what you plan to say to the rest of my family.”
“What am I going to tell them?” Genna lifted her chin. “That’s it’s none of their business.”
Both women laughed.
“I like you, Genna MacDougal,” Kansas said. “RTA is lucky to have you.”
“Thanks.” It had been so long since Genna had an actual friend that she wasn’t quite sure how to react.
Early in their relationship, Chad had gradually isolated her from all of her friends except one.
Ann. Now she knew why. By the time they’d dissolved the marriage, Genna hadn’t been able to lean on a single friend, because she’d had none left.
To be honest, since she’d returned to Shelby, she hadn’t made any effort to befriend anyone.
At first, she’d been too busy wallowing in self-pity.
Then she’d gotten this job, realized she had a stalker, and somehow she and Parker had become friends.
With benefits, she thought, glad Kansas couldn’t read her mind.
When she looked up, she realized Kansas was studying her.
“Are you okay?” Kansas asked quietly.
The sound of the front door opening saved Genna from answering. She pushed to her feet. “It sounds like Parker is back.”
Kansas stood also. “I’ll say hi to him, but then I’ve got to run. It was great chatting with you. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“Sunday?” Parker came around the corner. “Hey, Kansas. Did you stop by to tell Genna about the big cookout?”
“I did.” Kansas smiled. “And I’d heard about everything that’s been happening to her, so I wanted to check on her, too.”
He met Genna’s gaze, his expression serious, before looking back at Kansas. “Be honest. You also heard she is staying with me, and you wanted to check out the situation yourself.”
Though Kansas had the grace to look sheepish, she simply shrugged. “Genna was kind enough to humor me.”
“Did she set you straight on the situation?” he asked.
“She did.” Kansas moved toward the break room door. “And now I have to run. I’ll see you both at the cookout.”
They followed Kansas into the front office. Side by side, they watched her drive off.
“How’s it been going today?” Parker asked. “Any more hang-up calls?”
“All morning,” she replied. “I’m even thinking about calling the phone company and having them check to make sure something isn’t wrong with our line.”
“That’s a great idea.” He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
She allowed herself to lean into him, enjoying the comfort of his muscular body.
But then she remembered Spence and his group were due to return soon and stepped away.
The last thing she needed was to give the Colton family anything else to talk about.
She made a call to the phone company. After they promised to check the company phone lines, she hung up. Turning around, she saw Parker had taken the chair in front of the other computer and appeared to be checking the schedule.
“Are you okay?” he asked, glancing at her.
“Yes,” she replied. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Maybe because you seem a little bit jumpy?”
“Do I?” Then, without waiting for an answer, she continued. “You can’t blame me, though. I think anyone would be unsettled with all that I’ve got going on.”
“Agreed.” His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “I have an idea. How would you like to get away for a couple of days? After the cookout, of course.”
Intrigued, she nodded. “Tell me more.”
“We could take one of my favorite hikes,” he said, his smile widening. “Starting on one of the trails I take clients on, but branching off to another where they don’t go. It’s pretty remote. Perfect for camping out. We could spend a couple days out in the wilderness, just the two of us.”
“Isn’t that where the Fiancée Killer is finding his victims?” she asked. “On remote hiking trails?”
“On public land,” he countered. “This is Colton land. And, also, those women were all hiking alone. You’ll be with me. I promise, I’ll protect you.”
Though she’d never been the hiking or camping type, she really liked the idea. Except for one thing. The gossip their going away together would cause.
“You’re worried about my family, aren’t you?”
“Honestly, yes. They’re already talking about us,” she said. “The cookout has the potential to be brutal.”
This comment made him laugh out loud. “Not my family. They’re nosy. They’ll ask a lot of intrusive questions, but all of it will be out of love. Do you really feel you have to worry about what they think?”
“Don’t I?” she asked. “I do work for them, after all.”
“Come on, just think about it.” He got up and stretched, the movement drawing her gaze to the way his shirt stretched across his muscular biceps. “No pressure, but I really think it might do you good to get out of here for a while.”
“You might be right about that,” she admitted. “But we both have to work. I can’t just ask for additional time off when I haven’t been working here that long.”
“You have two days off already scheduled,” he said. “And I’ve moved mine so we’re both off the same time.”
Which explained what he’d been doing on the computer.
“I’ve never been camping,” she admitted, bracing herself for his reaction. This was Alaska, after all.
“Never?” he asked, clearly not sure if she was joking.
“I tried once, when I was in high school and a bunch of us partied a bit too hearty up in Crowder’s Meadow.
They pitched a couple of tents, one for the boys, another for the girls.
But Linda Sudan’s dad showed up and insisted we all load up in the back of his truck. ” She shook her head, remembering.
“Several people got sick on the drive down to town. He woke up everyone’s parents and told them what we’d been up to.”
“Ouch.” Parker covered his mouth with one hand, clearly trying not to laugh. “How old were you?”
“Seventeen. I was a senior. I’d lied and told my parents I was staying at my friend’s house. They were not happy with me.”
“I bet.” His shoulders shook but somehow he managed to keep his face expressionless. “Well, at least you no longer have to worry about someone’s dad. Or a bunch of drunk teenagers. It’ll just be the two of us. We’ll unplug and unwind. It’ll be fun, I promise.”
Seeing the eagerness in his handsome face, her heart squeezed. Though camping had never, not even once, appealed to her, she realized she liked the idea now. With him.
And not just because they were friends, either.
“I’ll go,” she finally said. “As long as you give me a detailed list of what to bring.”
His answering smile felt like the sun coming out at the end of several dull, dreary days. “I’ll take care of everything we need. You just pack a change of clothing and whatever toiletries you need. We’ll plan on leaving right after the cookout.”
And just like that, she realized she was going to go camping.