Page 49 of Resisting Temptation

“You were watching us eat lunch?” I whisper. I never posted about going to lunch at the café yesterday. Did he follow me there from the flower shop?

His guilty eyes run over me. “I needed to make sure you were safe. Someone has to look after you.”

“Noah.” I gasp. “That’s not your job.” My heart kicks up a beat, racing with uncertainty and confusion. He looks at me like I’m his entire world, like he would do anything for me. But he left me anyway. Back then, I would’ve given him my whole heart. I toldhim how I felt. I have never loved anyone the way I loved him. The way I think I still do. But I can’t. My heart wouldn’t survive him leaving me again.

His thumb gently brushes over the marks my father left as though he’s trying to take away my pain. “We can’t keep doing this,” I whisper, having trouble getting the words to cross my lips because they’re not the words I want to say.

He doesn’t hide the hurt in his eyes. But he did this to us, not me. “What were you and Beckett talking about huddled together earlier?” he growls, his words dripping with contempt.

“None of your business,” I snap, pulling out of his grip on me. He can’t be jealous of Beckett, he’s my boss and that’s it. I’m not even going to have this conversation with him.

“Is something going on between the two of you? Is that why you’re walking away from me?”

“No,” I cry, exhausted, “I’ve had enough of this.” I head for the door, needing to distance myself so I can think straight. Because I certainly can’t do that in this man’s presence.

“Be careful, you can’t trust him, Paisley,” he says, his words strained. “You can’t trust anyone; I’m not messing around.” His words hold a serious edge that scares me. But I know this is just his jealousy shining through, because Beckett would never do anything to hurt me. As strange as it is to say, I think we’re friends, and I’m kinda grateful for that.

I glare back at him, a sassy smile coming over my lips. “You don’t have to worry about me. I don’t trust men. Any of them. You taught me that lesson.” I shove open the door and stride away from him as quickly as I can. Shoulders back, head held high, and the clickity clack of my heels on the linoleum floor. I can pretend I’m okay, I’ve done it for a long time. It’s easy really, just smile and no one will know I’m dying inside, because the last thing I wanted to do was walk away from Noah right now. With everything going on with my father, the shop, and even thecampaign, I needed him just like I did three years ago. But it’s hopeless, I can’t escape one problem with another one. It’s time to pull up my big girl panties and get on with it alone.

Margo rounds the corner of the building, looking frantic. Her worried eyes meet mine, and she looks me over with a scrutiny I don’t appreciate. I get it, Miss Perfect, you don’t like me. You have made that perfectly clear.

“Miss Whittaker, umm, have you seen Noah?” she asks, her voice uncertain.

“In the kitchen,” I grumble and point her in the general direction. I hate that she’s his manager, shy, way too young, and pretty. Just his type, I’m sure. And I have probably just sent him into her arms by walking away. But I have to protect myself because I learned that lesson the hard way. No one else will. And while Noah is making a fantastic show of chasing me this time around, I have to remind myself, games are his thing. Once he has the prize, he will discard me like last time. But I’m no one’s game, and I won’t be played so easily.

Chapter 28

Paisley

Just before six, I arrive at the rundown shack Parker is calling a home while he fixes it up. I’m here to pick him up for the grand opening of The Alexander Hotel. As I step onto the front porch, the weathered wood slats creak beneath my feet, and I jump back, worried I’m about to fall through.

He swings open the front door, and I eye the porch with suspicion. “Is it safe to walk on these?” I ask, my voice tinged with weariness. The last thing I need is to slip and fall before the night even begins.

“It should be,” he replies casually, but he’s not wearing heels.

“That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence,” I quip, chuckling nervously as I cautiously make my way toward him, stepping only on the planks that look extra supported. The wind gets under the house, and they whistle, but I safely make it to the entry in one piece.

“Wanna come in for a sec before we head out to the hotel?” he offers, and from his serious expression, I know it wasn’t really a question. He’s got something on his mind.

“Sure,” I agree, trailing behind him into the foyer. I settle onto his plush leather sofa, but the serious expression on his face immediately puts me on edge. “What’s going on?”

He looks me over, his eyes full of brotherly concern. “I need to say something.” He pauses, his eyes meeting mine, and a sadness washes over him. “I didn’t know, and I’m so sorry, Paisley. I should have protected you from him. Me leaving to shield myself was selfish, but if I thought for a second…” His voice breaks, and I feel terrible for him.

“Parker. I’m okay. He never hurt me the way he did you, just a few bruises. I understood why you had to get out of there. I hated him for the way he treated you after Mom left.”

“I shouldn’t have left you behind. Until Noah explained what happened between our father and him last week, I didn’t realize he had been hurting you as well.” His voice is strained; it’s obvious how heavily this has been weighing on him.

“How could you know? I didn’t come to you, and maybe I should have, but our family didn’t work like that. I’m glad we have a closer relationship now. We didn’t let our parents ruin it for us.” I take his hand in mine and offer a squeeze of comfort. “Noah shouldn’t have stepped in. It wasn’t his place to cause such a scene and have him arrested.”

He gazes at me with a serious expression. “He would do anything for you. He did for me when I needed him. I haven’t told you this, but it was him who got me out of there the night Dad beat the shit out of me. If Noah wasn’t there, who knows how far he would have gone. I’d never seen him so angry.”

I suspected as much after the story Noah told me. “Is that why Dad hates him so much? Because he knew the way he treated you?”

“Probably. Noah pulled him off me and fought back. Something I never had the guts to do.” His head drops, sadness washing over him.

“Parker, you were a kid who respected your dad, we both did. He was scary as fuck, and we didn’t have anywhere else to go. What choice did we have? You did what you had to, to survive living with him. When I heard he was arrested, I wasn’t even sad for him. All I could think was I hope they lock him up and throw away the key,” I admit, sadness filling me for the little girl who just wanted a normal family. One with a loving mother and father, one where they actually cared about us.”

“He was dead to me a long time ago. If he goes to prison, it will change nothing, but I’m glad this town finally knows who he really is.” He pulls me in close to him, hugging me. But I know it’s more for me than him. He’s distant like he’s detached from reality. It makes me worry for him and wonder what happened to him while he was away. He hasn’t been the same since.

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