Page 27 of Knight's Desire

“Your timing is perfect. We were just finishing up. You remember David, don’t you?”

She turned her smile to Parker’s boss as he stood. David Leonard’s welcoming smile was wide, but she thought his eyes seemed hooded. She wondered if he was annoyed at her interruption but was too polite to say so.

“It’s good to see you again, Hope. You’re looking lovely. I have to say, I’m a little envious of Parker here, having someone surprise him with lunch when we’ve barely had time to eat all week.”

Parker spoke before she had a chance to reply to David’s compliment. “I hope your lunch is in that bag too because I can’t think of anything better right now than eating with my girlfriend.”

“I was hoping you’d say that, so I did bring it. But if you need to work during lunch, I understand. I can head back to the Shoppe, and we can talk later.”

“Nonsense,” David returned. “You two enjoy lunch together, and I’ll just get out of your hair. We can talk more later, Parker.”

“Thank you. It was nice seeing you again,” she called after him though she wasn’t sure he heard her in his haste to leave. She didn’t have time to dwell on his sudden departure since Parker touched her elbow to guide her over to the leather sofa in the corner of his office.

“Work can definitely wait for one lunch. I’ve missed you too.”

She spread out their lunch on the coffee table, putting the chicken salad croissant and fruit salad in front of her. Parker grabbed two waters from the mini fridge by the couch and handed her one before he sat down. Unwrapping a plastic fork, she speared a grape and popped it in her mouth. Next went a pineapple chunk. Then a piece of apple. The silence stretched between them, but she couldn’t think of anything to say to break it.

“I’m sorry.” Parker watched her, leaving his sandwich untouched.

She placed her fork in her to-go container. “For what? Do you need me to go?”

“No, I didn’t mean that. I mean I’m sorry that I haven’t been spending time with you. I let work come between us, and now there’s this awkwardness. We can’t even make small talk over lunch.”

She sighed. “No. You have nothing to be sorry for. I canceled plenty of dates when I was getting the Shoppe ready to open. We both value our work. That’s one of the things we bonded over. I just think we’re in a relationship slump right now. I haven’t been understanding of all you’re having to do, and I know that’s not fair. I wanted to do something to show you that I want to be better.”

Parker’s brown eyes softened. His hands reached up to cradle her face. “We’ll both be better. You’re important to me, Hope. I love my work, but I don’t want it to come between us. I like what we have.”

“So do I.”

He lowered his head to kiss her. Their lips molded together, their tongues tangling as they deepened the kiss. When he pulled away, they were both breathless and smiling. Hope felt they’d conquered a major obstacle in their relationship, and for now, it was enough.

Parker dropped his hands when someone knocked on his office door.

“I just set up a meet for the Cleveland Street property. Do you have the file with those specs?”

The woman barged through the doorway while typing out something on her phone. She stopped short of bumping into Parker’s desk and looked up in surprise, as if she expected him to be seated behind it only to discover he wasn’t.

“Naomi,” Parker said with a grin, and Hope realized who the woman was.

Naomi Brown was another realtor in Parker’s real estate firm. Hope knew Naomi and Parker had dated not long after she was hired and several months before he and Hope had even met, but they quickly realized they made better friends and co-workers than significant others. Naomi was an outgoing woman with an abrupt personality. She wore her brown hair in a bun and very little makeup to highlight the sharp angles of her face. Hope smiled when Naomi turned and pierced her with a startled stare.

“Oh! I’m sorry to interrupt. I just need that file, and I’ll get out of your hair.” Naomi’s smile seemed forced to Hope, but she ignored it as she stood.

“Naomi, I’m glad we finally have a chance to meet. I’m Parker’s girlfriend, Hope. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Naomi’s smile widened, and this time there was more feeling behind it. “Oh, Hope. It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you too. I’m sorry to interrupt. I’ve gotten used to Parker working through lunch like me. I should have been paying attention.”

“Oh, no, don’t worry about it. I would invite you to join us, but I only ordered lunch for two. I have an extra cookie if you want that.”

Parker rose to move to his desk. Naomi’s eyes followed him before she remembered to reply to Hope’s offer. “Thank you, but no, I’ll pass. I don’t eat gluten.”

“Here’s the file.” Parker handed a blue folder over to Naomi who accepted it with a sheepish smile.

“Thanks. I’ll let you get back to your lunch. Nice to meet you, Hope.”

“Nice to meet…” Hope’s voice trailed off as Naomi buried her nose in the property specs and left without letting Hope finish.

Hope looked over at Parker who cracked a grin. “Sorry. Naomi has been wanting to meet you though. She’s always asking me how you are and how the Shoppe is doing. She just gets tunnel vision when she’s working.”

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