Chapter 28 #2
The little bell over the door jingled and in came Lina.
“You guys won’t believe what just arrived at my house.
” She took in the flowers, the women pulling books from the shelves like game contestants.
Her gaze drifted to where Parker stood with Alice, who was still half-hidden behind her enormous floral arrangement.
“I guess you would. Parker, you’re a real romance hero now. ”
“I’m working on it,” he said as Bettina set an armload of books next to the register.
Nola was right behind her with some selections of her own.
“Clock’s ticking,” called Jay.
“For what?” Bettina demanded.
“You’ll see,” Parker told her. “Start ringing these up.”
“This is going to cost you a fortune,” Nola warned him.
“Not half as much as it was going to cost me if I lost Alice from my life.” He turned to her. “Can we talk after this?”
“And then watch a sports movie?” she suggested, and he grinned as Nola kept tallying up his order and handing over books to
go in the wheelbarrow.
His credit card bill was going to be through the roof. It would be the best money he’d ever spent.
The wheelbarrow was full by the time Olivia arrived with her crew. “Wait for my signal,” Parker said to Jay and met her outside
the bookstore.
“What are you up to now, Parker? This had better be good,” she told him.
“Human interest story,” he said.
She cocked an eyebrow. “You’re human?”
“Just start filming,” he said.
Her camera person got busy, and she began her spiel. “I’m here in front of a bookstore, which only a few weeks ago was the
scene of a failed Valentine strike. And where, many of you know, KWOW’s favorite sports shock jock and misogynist was doing
time for bad behavior. Now he’s back again, with a public announcement. What have you got to say, Parker?” she asked, tipping
her mike to him.”
“This is more like a public service announcement,” Parker said. “You know guys, we’ve talked a lot on my show about sports.”
“And other things,” put in Olivia.
“And other things. And I still believe a man has to be strong.” He knew it was all Olivia could do not to roll her eyes. “But
he also has to be willing to see the other side of things sometimes and admit when he’s wrong.”
“Parker, are you admitting you’re wrong?” she asked with a grin. Yep, Olivia was enjoying this moment.
“About a lot of things. I’m here today to publicly apologize to the owners of HEA Books for how much I’ve tipped their lives
upside down these past few weeks. Especially Alice. She’s been a good sport, and I hope she can forgive me for all the spitballs
I’ve thrown at her.”
Olivia took the mike away. “So, there you have it.”
Parker pulled it back. “We’re not done. I need to apologize to all the women out there for dissing what you like to read.
Maybe it’s okay to expect us men to be the good guys in your life.”
“Parker, a lot of your fans will say you’re turning in your man card,” Olivia taunted.
“Hey, real men admit when they’re off track.” He thumped on the door, and on cue Bettina opened it with a flourish, enjoying
her moment of fame. Behind her came Jay with the wheelbarrow. “I’ve bought a wheelbarrow full of books. Anyone who wants a
free one, come on down to HEA Books tomorrow. Good while supplies last.”
“Will you be here after your show to talk to readers?” Olivia asked.
Even heroes had their limits. And if they didn’t, they should. “Can’t make any promises,” he said. “But enjoy a free book
on me.”
“So, Parker Black is a new convert to romance,” Olivia finished. “Come on down to HEA Books in West Seattle, ladies, and get your free book.”
“And then go down the street to Flowers L’Amour for a free rose on me,” Parker added. In for a penny, in for a pound, as the
saying went. Or a few hundred.
“Okay, what’s the angle?” Olivia asked after they’d finished filming.
“I had a change of heart,” he said with a shrug.
“Or you grew one. Anything to do with someone inside the store?”
“If it does you won’t be the first to know,” he said. “You got your story.”
“Always interesting when you’re involved, Parker. I hope you don’t lose listeners over switching sides.”
He hoped he didn’t, too. But if he did, it was a small price to pay for winning Alice’s respect. And for respecting himself
a little more. Time to be better, not bitter.
“Seriously, what changed you?”
Jay, who’d been standing nearby, answered for him. “A four-letter word, Olivia. Love.”
Love. Yeah, maybe it was. Otherwise, Parker was completely out of his mind.
He left Olivia and Jay and went back inside the bookstore. “Watch the news tonight, ladies,” he said. Then, to Alice. “Want
to come over to my place and watch it with me? Pizza and Coke?”
She beamed at him. “Pizza and Coke. And a movie.”
Later, as they sat cuddled on his couch, watching him do his best not to look like a fool talking to Olivia, she hugged his
arm. “Parker, this cost you a fortune.”
“You’re worth it, aren’t you?” he responded.
She bit her lip and her gaze dropped. “It’s a lot. And your book deal.”
“I’ll get another.”
“Are you going to lose listeners over this?”
“You know, I don’t think so. A lot of my listeners have become fans of Alice Willoughby. But if I do, I don’t care.”
“I don’t want you to lose your job, your career.”
“A man can lose things more important than that, like his self-respect. And the important people in his life. Alice, I want
you in my life. I’d rather lose all of that than lose out on a chance of being with you. I hope this proves it. Am I a Mr.
Darcy now?”
“Oh, my gosh, you’re worth ten of him,” she said. Then, she did it again. She surprised him, wrapped her arms around his neck
and gave him an Alice lip smash.
The kiss could have gone on longer if not for the fact that he started laughing.
She looked at him, surprised and a little hurt. “What?”
“Oh, Alice, you amaze me,” he said.
“Not half as much as you’ve amazed me,” she said softly. “Parker, you’re a real-life hero.”
“Am I your hero?” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” she said, and kissed him again.
Who’d have thought it? Parker Black, with his pirate good looks and bad-boy reputation, wanted her. “I can’t believe you gave
up so much,” she said when he finally nestled her against his chest as they got ready to watch Draft Day.
“Don’t make me more than I am. I needed to change my trajectory. And it was you who made me realize it. I can’t promise to
be perfect,” he added.
“Even book boyfriends aren’t perfect,” she said with a smile.
And they weren’t real, either. Parker was real. He’d probably always have strong opinions. And he’d want her to come to love sports the way he did. Baseball season would soon be in full swing.
“I hope you’re going to take me to a Mariners game,” she said.
He grinned. “I’m going to take you anyplace you want to go.”
“The only place I want to go is to a happily-ever-after,” she said. “But I think I’m already there,” she added.
He smiled at her, a genuine, tender smile to match the look in his eyes. “Me, too,” he said. “Alice, thanks for being my heroine.
Thanks for bringing out the Mr. Darcy in me,” he murmured. Then he threaded his fingers through her hair, looked at her lips
like they were candy. “I think the movie can wait for a while. What do you think?”
“I think you’re right,” she said.
And the gates to happily-ever-after swung open wide.