One Good Reason (Boston Love #3)(83)
Every moment with him matters.
On our fifth day out at sea, we’re lying in bed after an afternoon session between the sheets when his phone rings. The chime is a harsh intrusion into our bubble of solitude; until I hear its piercing toll, I’d nearly forgotten the world existed outside this narrow pillar of stone.
“Nate?” Parker says into the speaker, forehead creasing in a frown. “What is it?”
Reality rushes back in a snap — Lancaster, the case, my trashed apartment. I can’t believe I’d nearly forgotten, lost out here in the throes of lust and isolation.
“You’re sure?” Parker asks, his tone serious. “Okay. Fine. See you soon.”
My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I watch him hang up the phone.
When his eyes meet mine, there’s a serious look in their depths.
“Agent Gallagher came through. Robert Lancaster was just arrested. So was Linus, his Head of Security – according to Nate, the f*cker has a Southie accent, which means he was probably the one who attacked you last week.” Parker’s expression darkens. “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure he faces assault charges for laying a f*cking hand on you.”
“What about the other charges?” I ask, eyes wide. “The factory workers…”
“Their case has been passed over to the DA. Nate says any family suffering from any kind of health issue related to the asbestos poisoning will be part of a class action lawsuit against Lancaster Consolidated. It’ll be a billion-dollar case.”
“And the doctor?” I ask. “Charles Birkin?”
“Apparently he took his payoff and fled the country. No one has seen him in days, though Nate won’t stop looking until he finds him. You can count on it.”
I suck in a breath. “So it’s over?”
A slow, sexy grin breaks across Parker’s face. “It’s over.”
“Wow.” I tilt my head. “Is it wrong that I’m a little disappointed?”
“What do you mean?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I just feel like we missed out on the action.”
“Adrenaline junkie,” he says accusingly.
“Takes one to know one.”
“Touché.” He smiles. “But, honestly, I refuse to be sorry that we missed the action if it means you’re safe.”
“And there will be more cases, right?” I ask.
“Of course, darling. Thought I’d prefer it if you’d give up trying to tackle every criminal in Boston single-handed. You’re very little, and it worries me.”
“But it’s not single-handed.” My lips twist. “I have you. And Luca. And, if I accept his job offer, I’ll have Nate, plus all his boys. That’s basically a posse of badass macho men to help me kick ass. I’m like Scarlet Johansson in The Avengers, surrounded by a group of superheroes.”
His eyes get warm. “Does this mean you’ll be modeling a tight spandex leather suit for me? Because, I have to tell you, I’m still having fantasies about that black wig you were wearing when we first met…”
“You’re gross. For the record.”
“Noted.” He cracks a grin. “You ready to go home, Superwoman? I have a feeling there are some people who want to see us.”
“Funny. I have a feeling those people are your sisters.”
His smile turns to a smirk. “Not just my sisters. Doesn’t Luca have a fight tomorrow night?”
“Shit!” I scowl. “I’d nearly forgotten.”
“It’s a big one, if my bookie is even remotely correct.” Parker collapses back against the pillows, pulling me down on top of him. “I don’t particularly like the guy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect his fighting skills. And I’m sure he’d be happy to have you there in the crowd, cheering him on.”
I sigh. “He’s my family. Sometimes I don’t like him, but I always love him.”
“I know.” Parker kisses my forehead. “This is me playing the supportive boyfriend. How am I doing?”
I raise my eyebrows. “Boyfriend, huh?”
He grins. “You caught that, did you?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Freaking out?”
“Surprisingly no.”
“Good.” He kisses me. “What do you say we hide out here for one more night and sail back in the morning?”
I run my hand down his bare chest, loving the way his muscles tense beneath my touch. Pressing my lips to his skin, I follow the same path with my mouth and revel in the sharp intake of air that escapes him.
“I think,” I murmur, pressing kisses along the trail of hair leading south of his belly button. “If we only have one more night….” My hand wraps around his length and I guide him toward my mouth. “…We’ll have to make the most of it.”
He groans. “You’re evil.”
I grin. “Honey… I’m just getting started.”
* * *
We don’t talk much as we sail back to Boston.
I breathe in the arctic salt air as I watch our lighthouse grow smaller and smaller on the distant horizon before disappearing entirely.
“Don’t worry.” Parker wraps an arm around my waist and presses a kiss to my temple. “That lighthouse has been there a couple hundred years. It isn’t going anywhere.”