Chapter 13
Watching Genna struggle to decide whether or not she wanted to go camping, Parker tried to contain his own eagerness. As soon as he’d come up with the idea, he’d realized how much this outing meant to him.
He’d watched Genna’s tension and stress spiral, helpless to do anything to make it go away. When the idea of taking her away from it all had first occurred to him, he’d felt a sense of relief.
Except he remembered her saying that hiking wasn’t her thing. She’d said something along the lines of never going hiking, so he wasn’t sure she’d even go for the idea.
“It’s fine if you’re not into it,” he said. “We can figure out something else we can do.”
She locked gazes with him and then slowly nodded. “You know what? I do need to get away. And maybe it’s time for me to try something new. So, yes, I’d very much like to go camping with you.”
He couldn’t help but grin. “Hiking, too?”
“Hiking, too.” She smiled back.
“How do you feel about fishing?” he asked. “I know where the best spots are.”
Lifting her chin, her smile widened. “I used to be pretty good at fishing. My dad took me a lot growing up. But it’s been a long time.”
And then, before he could express his happiness about that revelation, she grabbed him and pulled him to her.
“Kiss me,” she ordered.
Needing no second urging, he did exactly that.
They managed to peel themselves off each other and head home. As soon as they took care of feeding the dogs, they kissed again.
They ended up in his bed, their lovemaking as wild and passionate as ever.
Later, as she dozed in his arms amid the tangled sheets, he found himself hoping that she might stay the entire night.
But sometime later, while he slept, she got up and went to her own room.
He’d only realized that when he’d reached for her and come up empty.
He managed to fall back asleep, knowing he’d see her again once he woke.
Sunday morning dawned sunny and bright. Humming under his breath, he got up and showered before making coffee.
When Genna came out to the kitchen for her own coffee, her lack of a smile and tight expression revealed her nervousness.
She made her coffee and carried it over to the table.
He’d already taken both dogs out and fed them their breakfast.
Sensing Genna’s nervousness, June Bug immediately went to her and demanded petting. Genna’s expression softened as she gathered her dog close.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m not sure about this,” she admitted. “I’m all for socializing with my coworkers, it’s the rest of your family that worries me. Everyone seems determined to make something out of nothing.”
Her words hurt him, though he took care not to show it. “Define ‘nothing,’” he said.
She gave him a sheepish look. “You know what I mean.”
Since now was not the time to ask her to put labels on their relationship, he let her off the hook.
“Just have fun with it. You already know most of them anyway. I’ve got your back, Spence and Hetty do, too.
And you’ve already talked to Lakin and Kansas and Eli.
That leaves my brother Mitchell, if he even shows up. ”
“And your parents and aunt and uncle,” she said. “I guess I’m a little worried about seeing them again, that’s all. Do you think they’ve heard the gossip about me staying with you?”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Since Aunt Abby is a reporter for the newspaper, I’m sure she has. And since she and Uncle Ryan are super close with my mom and dad, it’s likely they’ve heard the speculation.”
“I see.” She took another large gulp of her coffee.
“Do you mind if I ask why this bothers you so much?” he asked, even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear her answer.
When she lifted her gaze to his, the anguish he saw in her eyes made his chest ache.
“I don’t want them to think I’m taking advantage of you,” she said.
“You’ve been kind enough to let me stay here until I’m ready to go home.
If I’ve overstayed my welcome, I need you to say so.
Because I’m still not comfortable with being alone in my parents’ house.
I won’t until whoever has been breaking in is caught. ”
Reaching across the table, he covered her hand with his. “No one will think that,” he said. “They know me. I asked you to stay. I’m enjoying having you here.”
A ghost of a smile flitted across her face. “It’s the sex, isn’t it?”
“That, too,” he agreed, smiling just a little. “But it’s been awesome getting to know you. I like you, Genna.”
Some of the tension seemed to leave her. “I like you, too, Parker. I’m really looking forward to going camping with you.” She took a long drink of her coffee. “But first, we’ve got to get through the cookout. Speaking of that, I’m going to go make sure I look presentable.”
After she went back to her bedroom and closed the door, he decided he’d better do the same. A quick shower and a change of clothes later, he figured he was as ready as he was going to be.
When he came out to the living room, he found Genna already there, dressed and pacing.
“There you are!” she exclaimed, coming to a stop. “Are you ready to go?”
Surprised, he checked his fitness watch. “Sure, but we’d be way too early. It doesn’t even start for another hour.”
“True.” She resumed taking laps around the room. “I definitely don’t want to be the first ones there. But I don’t want to be late, either. That will draw too much attention.”
“Genna.”
Stopping a few feet away, she looked at him. “What?”
“Come here.” He held out his arms.
She walked right into them without hesitation. Wrapping her up and holding her close, he kissed the top of her head. “It’s only a cookout. Don’t make too much of it.”
Face pressed against his chest, she sighed.
“I know. I’m not generally so high-strung.
Usually, a social get-together like this would be something I’d enjoy.
But with the feeling that someone is always watching me and might jump out from the shadows at any moment, it’s hard to feel even remotely normal.
It feels like anxiety simmers just under the surface in everything I do. ”
“I get it. If you’d rather we cancel, we don’t have to go.” He kissed her again, loving the way she clung to him, and aware in that moment he’d do anything to make her happy.
She shook her head. “No. A cookout will be fun. I’ll be fine. I want to see everyone.”
Though everything she said sounded like well-rehearsed reasons she’d used to convince herself, he simply nodded.
“Up to you,” he said. “But I think if we get there a few minutes after the start time, that’ll be when everyone else is arriving.
Except maybe Lakin. She’s been known to be fashionably late. ”
This made Genna laugh. She moved away from him and went into the kitchen to grab a bottled water. “Thank you,” she told him when she returned. “I’m all packed for the camping trip, too.”
“Great. After the cookout, we’ll come back here, collect the dogs and our stuff, and head out.”
She nodded and then frowned thoughtfully. “Are you sure Revis is up for a hike?”
“He’ll love it,” he assured her. “I’ve taken him out a couple times and he truly enjoys it. We’re not doing anything too strenuous, so he’ll be fine.”
“Good.” Clearly relieved, she picked up her little JB, who’d come running over the moment Genna said Revis’s name. “I’ll be carrying her. I want to keep her close because I don’t want to risk her getting eaten by something.”
When the time came to leave for RTA, Genna appeared much calmer, even though she’d changed.
“You look great,” he said, admiring her yellow sundress.
“Thanks. I changed four times.” Her self-depreciating smile made him want to kiss her.
“I even put on makeup,” she continued. “Which means no kisses, or you’ll be wearing my red lipstick.”
He held out his hand and she took it. They walked out to his truck together.
Genna had been instructed to bring chips, so she carried a cloth tote with four bags of them.
“They didn’t want me cooking,” she said.
“Which is fine, since they don’t know me yet.
There’ll surely come a time when they’ll be begging me to make my signature cheesecake. ”
Since the drive to headquarters wasn’t long, he took his time. Unusually quiet, Genna kept her head turned so she could watch the landscape out the passenger’s-side window.
When they turned onto RTA’s long driveway, they could see the parking area already had numerous vehicles. A large sign had been hung from the covered porch: Closed to the Public. Private Party in Progress.
“Just in case,” Parker said, finding a spot and pulling into it. “You never know when some customer is going to take it upon themselves to just show up and expect to be included in the festivities.”
“Seriously?” She shook her head. “Has that actually happened?”
“More than once,” he replied. “We treat our customers like family, so sometimes they actually think they are. That’s why we’ve learned to put up a sign to discourage them.”
Once he’d killed the engine, he went around to her side to help her out. The sun blazed up above from a blue sky, with little wisps of perfect white clouds dotting it like fat, woolly sheep in a field.
“Do you want to go in together?” he asked, guessing she wouldn’t want to hold hands as that would be making too much of a statement. The scent of meat on the grill filled the air.
Glancing sideways at him, she nodded. “Of course.”
Relieved, he took her arm. “Then let’s do this.”
“Okay,” she replied.
Though they kept moving forward, he squeezed her arm. “Nervous?”
“Surprisingly, not really.”
“Good,” he said.