Page 26 of Mother Parker
“Ah, sorry. I just remembered I…uh…I left the stove on upstairs. Give me…give me two seconds,” I said, struggling to pry my eyes away from Mr. Dorothy—Parker.
I walked backward to the back door, and once they were all finally out of view, I collapsed against the wall, closing my eyes and willing the hard-on away.
Way to make a fool of yourself, Hwanchan.
I took a deep breath, followed by another.
Parker was Autumn’s brother?
I knew he was due on the island any day, but I hadn’t thought he was here or that he’d bethatman.
Mr. Dorothy.
What the hell was he doing here?
Wait a—
Had Autumn said he was here to work for me?
Shit. What? Why?
I inhaled, exhaled, picked myself up from the floor, and turned the corner to meet my friends again. And Parker.
“False alarm,” I chuckled and approached them.
I did my best to keep my eyes on Autumn even though I could feel Parker’s presence scorching the edges of my vision.
“Did you say he’s here to work for me? I thought Ash was going to…erm, help me out.”
Autumn smiled and twirled the end of her ponytail, looking from me to her brother and back to me.
“He was—” she said.
“Parker offered to do it instead. Since he’s new to the island and has nothing to do yet,” Wyatt said.
I turned to him and nodded, remembering to smile as well. Pretending that my insides weren’t about to implode while standing in front of Parker’s intense gaze.
“Way to make me sound pathetic.” I heard his growly voice, and my stomach lurched.
I still resisted looking at him.
“You’re not pathetic. He just said you’re new to the island. Gee, Parker,” Autumn said.
He had offered to work for me? He’d offered to protect me?
When Wyatt had come in with this crazy proposal to have someone help out with the shop, I’d dismissed him and told him just because someone put a rock through my door didn’t mean I was in danger. But somehow, he convinced me it was best to be cautious.
Especially considering the last occupants of this place had been criminals.
But I didn’t expect to have this man—Mr. Dorothy—work with me.
How was I supposed to function around him? I could barely function or look at him without dreaming of all the things he could do to me.
“If you prefer Ash, that’s…fine,” he said, but there was a bit of a huff with the last word, and I’d be damned if that didn’t make me catch my breath.
What was wrong with me? Why was I souncontrollablyattracted to a man who couldn’t even speak a sentence without grumbling?
Come on, Hwanchan. Act professional!
