Page 28 of Hers to Marry
“Like what? She already has a house, from what I can remember.”
A house her friend didn’t know she was close to losing if she didn’t pay back her bank loan. Irritation rose slightly, but Drew ignored it. It was clear Kat and Parker weren’t as close as they had been. “I want to help her establish her own bakery,” he said with resolution.
Parker gave him a side-glance. “Kat doesn’t want a bakery. She wants to travel.”
“I’m pretty sure she wants to own a bakery.”
Parker snorted loudly. “I think I know what my best friend wants more than you.”
“Is that right? Kat and I were friends long before you entered the picture.”
“Are you saying you know her better than me? That your relationship with her is stronger than mine?”
That’s exactly what I’m saying.“I don’t want to argue,” came out instead.
“Well, I wouldn’t waste your time or any more of our money,” she said in a cold tone.
“It wouldn’t beourmoney. It would come from the company.”
“Are you going to make her apply just like everyone else? You don’t want anyone accusing you of showing favorites because you two were friends at five years old or something.”
He caught the jab, but she had a point. He had offered to pay for her bakery because he genuinely wanted to see her succeed. But she would have to go through the same application process as everyone else, and she might not get approved. “Let me handle that.”
Parker shrugged. “It’s not my decision.”
“And how do you know Kat wants to travel? Did she say that? Did she say she didn’t want to open a bakery?” He lengthened his stride to keep up with Parker.
“She said she wanted to travel. How could she do that and run a bakery? I’ll tell you how, she won’t.”
They entered the bank, and Parker sat in the waiting area with her legs and arms crossed and a scowl marring her features. Drew hated to hurry the associate along, but he did and received a couple of concerned looks.
With the money secure, he could go ahead and give the all clear for the projects to begin. In a few short months, projects for a local vet, a senior citizen, and a children’s park would be either in the final stages or finished. He hoped to break ground on his and Parker’s home and have it at least halfway finished.
Speaking of home… “Parker, I’d like to show you the spot I was talking about.”
“What spot?” she asked when they entered Drew’s rental vehicle.
“You know, the place where I’d like to build a home for us.”
She leaned back, looking at him like she hadn’t seen him before today. “We’re not living here, Drew. I thought I’d made that clear.”
“Youmade that clear?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes! I said we could get married here, but no way we’re staying.”
“Parker, your job has a satellite office here. You could still go to—”
“Drew, Itoldyou that I’m in line to be president soon. I can’t be stationed at asatelliteoffice.” She laughed as though that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. “I have to be in New York or an international office.”
Drew pinched the bridge of his nose. “Wait a minute. You didn’t say you were in line for president,” he said quietly. “You’re the VP.”
She rolled her eyes and let out a sound of frustration. “And what’s the obvious next step? President!”
“Parker.” He looked her straight in the eyes. “For the next several months, I have to oversee projects here.”
“Sweetie, that’s fine.” She cupped his face. “You can be here and manage them. I don’t have a problem with that. I’ll probably be in London anyway overseeing the international division. When you’re done, you can join me.”
“In London?” he cried.
