Envy(119)
The older man hesitated, glanced at Maris, then nodded and went inside.
Once they were alone, Maris raised her hands in a helpless shrug. “Explain to me what just happened.”
“When?”
“Just now. Between you and Mike.”
“Nothing.”
“Parker,” she cried softly.
He blinked innocently. “Nothing.”
She stared him down, but he didn’t relent. Vexed over being totally shut out, she got up from the swing. “Fine. Play word games. But play them without me. Good night.”
“Don’t go away mad.”
“Then don’t talk down to me. I hate being patronized.”
He dragged his hands down his face. “And you should. I’m sorry.” He sucked in a breath of the sultry air and turned his head away to stare out at the row of live oaks.
“It’s this… this thing between Mike and me. Sometimes he sees a darkness creeping over me. A mean ugliness. Like I was when he found me. It scares him, I guess. He’s afraid I’ll drop back into that abyss. He yanks me out of it before I can sink too far.”
Turning back, he fixed his eyes on her. “Something like that.”
“Thank you.”
They simply looked at one another for several moments, then he smiled crookedly. “It’s been a roller-coaster evening.”
“Yes, it has. But I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.”
He reached out, encircled her wrist with his fingers, and gave it a tug. She moved nearer, but not close enough to suit him. He curved an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Hooking the other hand around the back of her neck, he drew her down for a kiss. She placed her hands on his hard cheeks. Their mouths melded and tongues plundered in a delirium of longing.
When at last they pulled apart, he pressed his face into the softness of her middle. “I’ve been craving this all day.”
“There were times when I thought you’d forgotten about last night.”
He gave a soft, harsh laugh. “Not f*cking hardly.”
His head nudged her breasts through the silk cloth of her dress. His humid breath filtered through it to her skin. He cupped her bottom in his hands, buried his face deeper into her.
Threading her fingers through his hair, she sighed, “Ah, Parker, please.”
“Yes. Anything. Just ask.”
“I… um…”
“What?”
“I can’t do this.”
“You can. You have. You did. Last night. Remember?” One hand found bare skin beneath her skirt, warmth between her thighs.
Her knees went weak, but she pushed his hand down and stepped out of his reach. “I can’t. We can’t.”
He gulped a breath and blinked her into focus. “Why not?”
She licked her lips, tasted him. “I’m worried about my father.”
“Your father?” He seemed to grope for a definition of the word. “Your father? You’re afraid that he wouldn’t approve? That he’d come after me with a shotgun? What?”
She smiled and shook her head. “No, nothing like that. I’ve been trying to reach him all day.”
She gave him a quick summary of her attempts. “Finally, just before dinner, I tracked our housekeeper Maxine to her sister’s house. She stays with her when she takes a day off. Which is rarely.
“Anyhow, she told me that Dad had gone to our country house in western Massachusetts for the weekend. He and Noah. They insisted she stay behind. They wanted to go by themselves.”
“So? They’re big boys. What does their leaving New York for the weekend have to do with us necking here on the veranda?”
“Nothing. Directly.”
“Then I don’t get it.”
“Maxine watches Dad like a hawk. Or a mother hen. I wouldn’t be worried if she were with him. I don’t like the idea of his being alone.”
“He’s not.”
No, he was alone with Noah.
What she didn’t tell Parker was that Noah had assured Maxine that Maris was aware of their weekend plans, that she had sanctioned them. The loyal employee had been distraught to learn that Maris had not been consulted. “Why did Mr. Reed mislead me?”
Why indeed?
Maxine had then told her that Daniel had entertained a guest for breakfast.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.” She explained about the errand he’d sent her on. “I think Mr. Matherly dreamed up a reason to get me out of the house. When I got back, he was washing dishes.”
“Washing dishes?”
“He didn’t want me to know that two place settings had been used. When I questioned him about it, he got defensive and said that they were his dishes and that if he wanted to use a dozen place settings at breakfast, he could. It was all nonsense, Maris. He apologized for it later. The important thing is that someone definitely came to the house while I was out, and he didn’t want anyone to know about it.”
“Did he seem upset?”
“No. In fact, he seemed very upbeat and eager to be off when Mr. Reed arrived to pick him up.”
“Then I’m sure we’re worrying over nothing.”
Maris hoped her assurances sounded sincere to the anxious housekeeper. To her own ears they rang hollow, even as she repeated them to Parker now. “I’m relieved to know where he is, and I’m sure he’s all right. But I’ll feel better once I talk to him.”