Chapter 16 #3
Once she was alone, Genna sagged in her chair, a wave of exhaustion washing over her.
Her stomach growled, reminding her she needed to eat to keep her strength up.
And the burger smelled mouthwatering. She unwrapped it and took a tiny bite, and then another.
She didn’t want to eat the entire thing while Lakin was out back.
A moment later, both Lakin and June Bug returned. “She was a good girl,” Lakin said, smiling. “What a special little dog you’ve got there.”
This compliment made Genna grin. “Thanks. I love her.”
“She loves you, too, I can tell.” She gestured at the unwrapped burger. “Does it taste all right? It doesn’t look like you’ve eaten much of it.”
“It’s delicious,” Genna replied. “I’ve been trying to wait until you came back.”
“No need. Go for it.”
Lakin chatted about her hotel renovations while Genna practically inhaled her burger. “This is so good,” she said, trying not to talk with her mouth full. “Thank you for bringing it. First, Eli got us pizza, and now you…”
“I talked to Eli this morning,” Lakin said. “It seems they brought your ex-husband in for questioning. Kansas is handling the case.”
Genna went still. “Chad? They think Chad had something to do with this.” Then, without waiting for a response, she shook her head.
“I knew it. When he showed up at my hospital room, I wondered how he’d gotten there so quickly.
And how he’d known that I’d been injured.
He must have been there with Ann in the woods, waiting for me. ”
Patting Genna’s hand, Lakin grimaced. “I’m sorry all that happened to you. What an awful lot to have to go through.”
“Thanks. I don’t know how I would have made it without Parker’s help. He’s been amazing.”
Lakin’s gaze sharpened. “He might be my brother, but I agree. He’s pretty special.” She gave Genna a thoughtful look. “I take it you two are getting along pretty well?”
“We are.” Genna could have elaborated but didn’t want to open the door to questions about the two of them and their relationship. Not yet. Especially since Parker had no idea how she felt about him.
Luckily, Lakin didn’t press. “I should be going,” she said. “But I wanted to make sure you were doing okay. Please, and I mean this, call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”
“Thanks.” Genna smiled. One thing about the Coltons, once they decided they liked you, they had your back. No matter what.
After Lakin left, Genna stretched out on the couch to nap again. She couldn’t seem to get enough sleep. Why not embrace it?
Some time later, her phone rang. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and squinted at the screen. Caller ID showed it was Kansas.
“I have news,” Kansas declared. “And I wanted you to be the first to know. We’ve arrested Chad, too. He’s being charged as an accessory to murder. Ann admitted he was there with her. She seemed rather proud of that, claiming it proved he loved her the most since he wanted you dead.”
Genna shuddered. “But why? That’s what I don’t understand. I moved away. Got out of their lives. What did I ever do to make them hate me so much?”
“We’re trying to get to the bottom of that now and establish motive. Ann claims that Chad never stopped talking about you and comparing Ann to you. Apparently, that was one of the numerous things that sent her over the edge, though between you and me, she was already there.”
“I’ll say,” Genna replied. “Chad was a serial philanderer. He left me for Ann, someone I thought was my best friend. And then he claimed he left her for another woman.”
“Claudia. That’s the name he keeps saying, but he can’t provide any specifics. I’m beginning to wonder if he made her up.” Kansas paused. “We’ll get this all sorted out. But I thought you’d want to know that they’re both in custody.”
“For how long?”
“Well, once the judge sets bail, they’ll have to stay here until they can make it. Attempted murder usually carries a pretty high dollar amount. And then they need to find someone to pay their bond. Do they have family around here?”
“Ann’s family is pretty wealthy,” Genna said. “They’ve been really good about getting her out of trouble in the past. Who knows though? They might have finally reached their limit.”
“You never know.” After asking Genna if she needed anything, Kansas said she had to go.
Parker swept in around five, bringing takeout. Apparently, the Coltons believed a good meal went a long way to fixing what ailed a person.
“Chinese,” he said, holding up a large paper bag. “I got us a little of everything.”
Revis pranced over to JB and sniffed her before coming to greet Genna. Parker took the food into the kitchen. When he returned, he leaned against the wall. “How was your day?” he asked. “Kansas told me both Ann and Chad have been charged.”
“Yes and they’re in custody. So at least I don’t have to worry about them for a while.”
“I know.” His smile widened. “Kansas thinks their bond will be set really high. At least there’s that.”
Watching him, for the first time she realized how powerful he appeared. Despite his broad shoulders and muscular arms, he never made a show of his physical strength. This, combined with his chiseled features and bright blue eyes, made him one of the most appealing men she’d ever met.
But she found the tender gentleness with which he treated her sexier.
Before she let desire take hold of her again, she wanted to get everything straight. “We need to talk,” she declared. Parker stared at her, the expression on his handsome face going from relaxed to wary.
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that,” he said.
Then, before she could say another word, he continued.
“Listen, I understand how you might feel it’s safe for you to go back home now that your stalkers are locked up.
I get it and I agree. Except I really think you ought to consider staying here just a little bit longer. ”
Stung, she swallowed. “Why?”
“Because you need to heal.” He came closer. “Let me help you with that. I’d like to take care of you.”
She pretended to consider. “But you have to work. What’s the difference if I’m alone over here or alone at my parents’ house?”
“You don’t want to stay?”
Since she couldn’t tell if he minded or not, she countered with her own question. “Do you really want me to?”
“Of course,” he answered without the slightest hesitation.
“But only because you think I need to be here until I get better?”
“Do you want the truth?” he asked, dropping down on the couch next to her wheelchair.
Though she suspected it might hurt, she turned her chair around to face him and answered in the affirmative.
“I know you’ve been through a lot,” he said. “And I’m aware you’re not looking for anything serious. But I kind of like having you around.”
She suppressed a smile. “Kind of? I’m touched.”
Clearly frustrated, he dragged his hand through his hair. “Damn it, Genna. I don’t want to scare you away.”
Not sure how to respond to that, she simply waited.
“Do you think you might want to extend this living together thing?” he asked, his casual voice at odds with the intensity in his gaze. “No pressure. Just hanging out with each other and seeing where this might go?”
Looking up at him from her wheelchair, she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to laugh or to cry.
While she’d been fully prepared to tell him how she felt about him, now she’d begun to realize she might have been premature.
Her heart ached and she could barely swallow past the lump in her throat, but she had to know the truth.
If he only wanted to continue the “friends with benefits” situation they had going, this would crush her. Because she wanted more.
And if he didn’t, it was definitely time to move on.
“Why?” she asked. “I need you to be honest with me.”
Instead of answering, he leaned over and kissed her. Not on the cheek this time, but full on the lips. As always, his kiss made her melt.
When he finally stopped, she could easily have dissolved into a puddle.
“Is that enough of a reason?” he asked, smiling slightly.
“No. We have great chemistry together, as you’re fully aware.” She smiled back, hating that she already felt as if her heart were breaking. Bracing herself, she continued. “But what if I want more?”
“Do you?” His expression sharpened, a warm glow making his eyes appear even more blue. “Want more? Because I do, too. I’ve been afraid to ask you, thinking I might scare you away.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m not afraid. Not of you. Never of you.”
Taking a deep breath, she decided the time had come to tell him the truth. “I think I’m falling in love with you, Parker Colton. Actually, I know I am. I love you.”
Keeping her gaze locked on his, she wished she could have taken a step forward. “There, I’ve said it. I love you.”
Heart pounding, she waited for him to respond.
He could have done several things. Walked away. Kissed her again. Or returned her declaration of love.
Instead, he only bowed his head and took several deep, shuddering breaths.
She sat frozen, unsure of what to say or what to do next. The urge to flee was strong, but since she couldn’t, she stiffened her spine and tried to brace herself for whatever Parker would say. No matter how much it might hurt, she refused to regret giving him her truth.
Finally, he raised his head. Were those tears she saw shining in his amazing blue eyes? But then he smiled, his face so full of joy that her heart began to sing.
“I’ve loved you from the first moment I saw you,” he said. “That night a year or so ago when we met in that bar. I kicked myself for losing your number. And then you moved back.”
Moving closer, he knelt down beside her chair and cupped her face with his hands. “And in the time since, working with you, living with you, I’ve gotten to know you. My feelings have only deepened.”
He kissed her, a slow and sensual movement of his lips over hers. Blissful, she let herself lean into the sensations—warmth, desire and love.
When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve been wanting to tell you how I felt for a long time. But I wasn’t sure you were ready to hear me, especially considering everything you were going through.”
“I might not have been,” she admitted. “It took me a while to see that you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“The best thing?” he asked, one brow arched. “What about June Bug?”
As if on cue, the little dog barked in agreement.
They both laughed.
“We’re quite the little family now,” Genna mused.
“Yes we are,” he agreed.
And then he kissed her again.