Chapter Ten
Audrey
“P ower’s out,” Anson says as everyone huddles in the kitchen. “I’ll get us some towels.”
He removes his shoes and drops his rain-soaked jacket on the tiled floor. Then, he heads down the hallway to the linen closet while we all start peeling off our outer layers.
He returns with a stack of bath towels and sets them on the kitchen island. Parker grabs one and runs it over his head.
“We need to call Sabel,” Avie says.
Sebastian pulls his phone out, and the two of them place a call to check in on his grandparents and their daughter.
Anson gathers our wet garments and hangs them over the back of the barstools and kitchen chairs to dry while Parker walks to the gas fireplace and flips it on. The flames flicker to life.
He glances back at Heather and me standing by the door, shivering. He tosses the towel over the coffee table and motions for us to join him.
“Come sit here by the fire.”
We both claim a towel and wrap our dripping hair, and then we take the seat he offered while he goes to the kitchen pantry to find candles and matches.
“How’s everything at Sebby’s?” I ask as Avie comes and sits beside us.
“They’re fine. Sebby fired up the generator, and Sabel and Leia are watching a Disney movie.”
“That’s good.”
She smiles a tight smile. “I guess. I wish Leia was here with us. This is the first big storm we’ve faced since moving here. I don’t want her to be scared.”
“Sounds to me like her grandparents have things under control. This isn’t their first rodeo with Mother Nature,” I state.
“You’re right. They’re great, and if we can’t be with her, I’m glad it’s Sebby and Sabel.”
“I think it’s best if you all hunker down here tonight. Sebastian and Avie can take Anson’s room, and you girls can have mine. Anson and I will bunk out here,” Parker calls, as he looks at his phone.
“You don’t think we can make it home after the worst passes?” Avie asks.
“Another emergency alert just came in. It’s reporting that the storm has stalled over us. I don’t think you should risk it,” he replies.
Her worried eyes go to Sebastian.
“She’ll be okay. Gramps and Nana will make it an adventure and we’ll get to her first thing in the morning. Besides, they’re safer on that side of the island,” Sebastian assures her.
Avie nods, then moves her attention back to Parker. “We don’t want to put you out of your beds,” she says.
“We don’t mind. We fall asleep out here in the recliners all the time,” he assures her.
“Yeah, besides, we need help eating all this food,” Anson says. I turn to see him shining a flashlight inside the darkened fridge.
Thunder booms outside and shakes the walls.
Avie’s wide eyes come to mine. “I guess we’re having a sleepover.”
How did this happen? I was having a pleasant evening, enjoying a night of turtle watching, and now, I’m sitting in Parker Alston’s living room in the dark, planning a slumber party.
Fuck my life.
Avie must sense my feelings. “I’m sorry you guys got caught up in the chaos tonight. I should have never taken off on that ATV. I knew the storm was coming in too fast, but I was worried about the eggs. They’re permeable, so if the sand washes away and exposes them, the gases and water go in and out of the egg membrane and kill the babies inside.”
“I would have gone too,” Heather says.
“Me three, and at least we know the hatchlings made it to the ocean,” I say.
“They did?” Avie asks, her eyes welling with tears.
“They sure did. They started digging out just as the guys ordered everyone off the beach. Then, Parker and Anson stayed and helped us guide them. The waves were rocky, but they made it,” Heather tells her.
“That’s what counts. If they were able to get beneath the water and to the current, they have a fighting chance.”
“And I checked the nest before we left to make sure there were no more coming,” I add.
“Oh, that’s good—so good,” Avie cries. “I’ll go back and conduct an evacuation in a couple of days and count the eggshells.”
Parker lights candles on the island and dining table, and Anson starts pulling cheese, cold cuts, yogurt, and fruit from the fridge and placing them on paper plates. Sebastian finds crackers and chips in the pantry and slices up the loaf of sourdough sitting on the counter.
“You guys need help?” Avie asks.
“No. You ladies just warm up. We got it,” Sebastian says.
Heather leans over and whispers, “This is kind of nice. I’m used to being the one waiting on others, not the one being waited on.”
“They’re all a bunch of softies,” Avie whispers in return.
I glance over my shoulder and watch the three move around the small kitchen. Parker’s eyes meet mine, and he holds my stare as he laughs at something Anson said.
I was so worried when he jumped on that ATV tonight. My heart was in my stomach the entire drive as the wind jerked him all over the road.
I didn’t like it, and I don’t like the way him watching me right now makes me feel either.
But I don’t look away.
After we eat, Anson tries to talk us into playing strip poker by candlelight.
“My wife is not taking a thread of clothing off for you, asshat,” Sebastian says.
“Hey, who says I’d be the one losing?” Avie asks, clearly offended by her husband’s assumption.
He grins at her. “We all know Anson cheats, baby.”
“For the second time tonight, I do not cheat,” Anson quips.
“Yes, you do,” Parker and Sebastian say in unison.
“Whatever. You guys are just sore losers.”
I let out a yawn, and Avie’s eyes come to me.
“I feel you. It’s been a long, crazy night. I think I’m ready for bed too.”
Parker stands. “Come on. I’ll find you something to wear,” he offers.
I look over at Heather, who has just popped the top off a beer.
“I’m going to hang for a while longer. You go ahead,” she says as she grins mischievously at me.
“O-okay,” I say.
Parker grabs one of the candles on the island, and Sebastian, Avie, and I follow him down the hallway. He points to the door on the left.
“I’m going to apologize in advance for the state of Anson’s bathroom,” he says. “But you should find something clean to sleep in inside the chest of drawers.”
Avie thanks him, and she and Sebastian slip inside and close the door.
His eyes flick to me. “Come on. We’ll get you one of my tees.”
“I’m fine,” I say quickly. Not wanting to sleep while wrapped in one of his shirts.
He turns to face me, his large frame seeming to fill the entire hallway, and I step back until I feel the press of the wall against my backside.
“You’re fine?” he asks, so close that the warmth of his breath tickles my neck.
I swallow hard. “Yeah.”
He reaches out and runs his knuckles over the front of my still-damp sweatshirt.
“Don’t think I can handle the thought of you … wet in my bed,” he murmurs as he steps in closer.
The deep, seductive tone of his voice and the heat of him render me speechless for a few beats.
“What?”
“You heard me, Tiger.”
The sound of his old nickname for me pulls me from my momentary brain fog, and I bring my hands up between us and give him a firm shove.
He doesn’t budge.
“Step back,” I demand. “And save your dirty mouth for someone who would appreciate it.”
“I seem to remember my dirty mouth being one of your favorite things,” he whispers into my ear before he leans back.
The man is walking, talking sex on a stick. Why does he have to be so damn attractive? A gentleman would have gone away for a few years and returned with a beer belly and a receding hairline, but not Parker Alston. No, this asshole came home taller, broader, and with fucking rock-hard abs.
I glance up at him and narrow my eyes at the triumphant grin gracing his stupidly handsome face.
“Yeah, well, I had nothing to compare it to back then. Turns out, that mouth isn’t as talented as I once thought,” I say.
His grin widens. “Oh, trust me, it was talented then, and it’s only gotten better with practice.”
My bravado drops as a shiver runs down my treacherous spine.
“Whatever,” I mumble as I squeeze past him into the dark bedroom.
He follows me inside and sets the candle on the nightstand. Then, he bends and opens a drawer on the side of the bed frame. He pulls out three T-shirts and a pair of sweatpants. He hands a shirt to me and drops the rest on the bed.
He stands and reaches behind him, grabs the neck of his henley, and pulls it over his head, exposing his chiseled chest. He tosses it in the hamper in the corner of the room before pulling on one of the dry tees. Then, he takes the sweatpants in his hand.
I turn and face away from him. “Geezus, Parker.”
“Don’t worry. I’m keeping my pants on. Just taking these with me.”
I let out a breath and turn back to him.
He tucks the pants under his arm and picks up the candle. He walks over and reaches behind me to place it on the mantle above the small fireplace set into the wall. Then his eyes flicker to mine, and his hand comes up to softly brush his knuckles against the side of my face.
His touch lingers on my cheek before his thumb sweeps over my bottom lip. In this moment, I want him to kiss me so badly. My eyes dart between his gaze and his mouth, then back again as he sucks his lip between his teeth and bites down. After holding it for a moment, he releases it.
“Audi,” he murmurs.
“Uh, huh?”
“You need to stop looking at me like that, baby, if you want me to walk out of here.”
I swallow, a small gasp escaping me as he drops his hand.
“Do you need a minute?”
I blink at his question. “What?”
The lust that had filled his gaze is now replaced with smug amusement.
Asshole.
“No. I’m good. You can go,” I snap, and the bastard grins.
“The switch to the right turns on the gas logs if you get cold, and the bathroom is through that door,” he says, as he steps back and points behind me. “There are extra toothbrushes in the top drawer and toothpaste in the cup on the vanity. I’ll leave that candle so you can see,” he says. “That’s for Heather.” He points to the shirt still sitting on the bed.
I try not to think about why he has random spare toothbrushes in his bathroom and curtly thank him.
“Sweet dreams, Audi.”
With that, he turns and disappears, shutting the door behind him.
I brush my teeth quickly and then slip into the soft tee that falls just above my knees. Then, I crawl into Parker’s big bed and snuggle into the covers.
They smell like him.
I close my eyes and let myself imagine what it would be like to be wrapped in his arms.