Somebody to Love(89)
His smile dropped. “So you really thought I was complete scum, in other words.”
“You were my father’s favorite person. My father is complete scum. You were scum by association.” She studied her hands. “I was wrong, if it helps.”
He said nothing.
“I figured if you really wanted to date me,” she added quietly, “you would’ve tried harder.”
Women. Honestly. James leaned back in his chair. “I brought you flowers. I came to your house, and you squashed me like a bug. You weren’t going to date me, Parker. I was the help.”
“No. It wasn’t that. It was more like…” She sighed. “I don’t know. I didn’t think you were sincere. I figured you came over to see Harry’s daughter. Not me.” Her cheeks were flushed now, so at least there was that, a little shame thrown in. “If you really wanted something with me, I thought you’d try again. But you didn’t.” She was pinching her pinkie finger. “I guess it was a test or something.”
“See, to me, it didn’t seem like a test. I came over with flowers, and you were armed and ready with the Paragon and your kid and told me I was a drunken mistake. Kinda hard to feel the urge to call you again.”
“That was a rotten thing to say. I’m sorry for that.”
“Well, shit, Parker. I’m sorry I assumed you knew that you were an adult who knew what you wanted. I’m sorry I didn’t read your mind.”
She blinked. Then she swallowed. “You’ve made your point, James,” she said, her voice husky. “And for the record, I wasn’t drunk. I knew what I was doing.”
There it was again, her way of saying something abruptly honest. She was so careful all the time, so vigilant about what she’d tell him, and then bam, she’d say something like that, and it was a sucker punch to the heart.
Also, her eyes were wet.
Their last night together, and he was making her cry.
Shit.
“Don’t cry,” he said, his voice soft.
“I’m not,” she lied. “I’m sorry for how I acted back then. I really am.”
“It’s just that I thought about you. A lot.” He reached for her hand, ran his fingers over the back of it. She didn’t look at him. “For years, if I’m being honest.”
That made her glance up. “Really?”
“Yes. Many thoughts.” He grinned a little.
“What kind of thoughts?” she asked, a smile of her own starting.
“Dirty.”
“Really?”
“Filthy.”
“How filthy?” She was smiling in full now.
“Extremely.”
“Any interest in pursuing those now?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He stood up. “Race you to the house.”
* * *
LATER, AFTER SEX and peach cobbler and another—and possibly last—round of lovemaking, James was still awake, Parker’s head on his shoulder, his fingers in her hair. She was asleep, her breathing soft and slow.
This was it, he guessed. Tomorrow her son would be here, and she was a great mom. She’d focus on him, make Nicky’s transitions easier and all that. The kid didn’t need his mother’s boyfriend in the mix. He couldn’t argue with her there.
It was time to let her go. He’d finish what he started with the house and head back to the real world. Parker had a lot in front of her, and she deserved this time with her son to be uncomplicated and happy.
And if that meant being Thing One again, so be it. The last thing he wanted was to make her life more difficult any more than he had already.
He just hadn’t imagined it would be this hard.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
NOTHING FELT AS good as having her son back in her arms. Nothing.
“I missed you, Mommy,” he said, wrapping both his arms and legs around her.
“Oh, sweetie, I missed you, too. Felt like I was going to pop without you.”
Nicky laughed at that, and Parker breathed in his good Nicky smell, kissed his sweet little neck again. He’d gained two pounds in the three weeks they’d been apart. She could tell. “Let me see your beautiful face,” she said, pulling back. “Oh, my gosh. The handsomest boy in the universe—am I right, Ethan?”
“The image of his father,” he agreed with a grin.
“There’s a dog! You have a dog! Hi, doggy!” He wriggled out of her arms to investigate, and Beauty, who was crouched in the corner, trembled at his approach.
“She’s a surprise for you, honey, but she’s really shy,” Parker said. “Just hold out your hand and let her sniff it.”
Nick obeyed, and, wonder of wonders, Beauty’s tail wagged. “She likes me!” he announced, kneeling down, and sure enough, Beauty licked his hand, then came closer. “Mommy, she’s kissing me! What’s her name? Is she mine? Can I keep her?”
“Her name’s Beauty,” Parker said. “And yes, we’re keeping her.”
“Hi, Beauty! You’re licking me! Do you think I’m lunch?” He petted her on the head as the little dog licked his face. “Ew! She licked my mouth. Mommy, when can I go swimming?”
“We can go later on. Do you have to go to the bathroom?”