Page 33 of Hers to Marry
“I…”
“Katrina, look at me.”
Inwardly she fought against his command. If she opened her eyes now, she’d never go back. And what if he did marry Parker? How would she be able to live with that? Her boyfriend dumped her, drowning her under a mountain of debt, and now she was baking the cake for her childhood friend and secret love. What if Parker expected her to be with her in London to cater? She’d be with her and Drew like a third wheel. That was too much to handle in a year.
It had to stop. She had to move on and create the life she wanted.
But how?
By facing her fears. Facing life and doing something different. Not being the scared little girl her father had always said she was. She’d never been as confident and as assertive as either of her sisters. They had the guts to leave home and pursue their dreams. She was trying to make her dreams a reality, but she was hitting wall after brick wall.
And now she was up against a hard, warm, wonderfully gorgeous wall of man she could drag herself all over all day long.
No!She couldn’t avoid this. Her father had instilled a terribly healthy phobia of jumping. Like when she and Drew would climb up the trees at the lake and jump off their branches into the water. Where had that fearless girl gone?
Taking a chance, she opened her eyes.
“Tell me not to marry her, and I won’t.”
Oh, no.He was ready to jump, and she wasn’t. When they were kids, it was the other way around.
She wanted to take control, and Drew handed her the controls. Could she do that to Parker? Tell the man Parker loved not to marry her? They were already not on the same page. Parker seemed determined to do what she wanted, go where she wanted to go, and live where she wanted to live. Drew was stubborn, but he’d met his match in Parker.
A voice inside told her Parker wasn’t right for Drew. Now was the time to face that fact. But what kind of friend would she be if she agreed? Colluding behind Parker’s back to break off her engagement? This wasn’t her responsibility. It was Drew and Parker’s.
“I can’t,” Kat whispered. “You and Parker have to work this out for yourselves.”
He nodded. “I know. And that’s why this is all wrong.”
“I don’t understand.”
He leaned down. “I’m beginning to…”
The words kissed her lips. Kat’s heavy lids drifted shut. She couldn’t deny that she hadn’t thought about kissing her once-childhood friend. From the moment he had walked back into her shop, it had plagued her mind. His image had invaded her dreams. She didn’t fight his arms circling her waist and drawing her into his warm embrace. Even told the angel inside of her to pipe down so she could hear the metaphorical symphony that was supposed to play whenever you kiss the right man.
“What is this?”
Not the symphony.
Parker’s screeching voice.
Kat wrenched free from Drew’s embrace. Shame flooded her insides, and embarrassment heated her face.
Parker stood with hands digging into her hips, her hair slicked painfully back into a bun that only sharpened the appearance of her her already angled cheekbones. In a coal-black pantsuit, she looked like the grim reaper, ready to suck the life out of Kat.
And she deserved it. “Parker—”
“Don’t!” She held up a hand, halting Kat’s steps forward.
Drew dragged a hand down over his eyes. Why didn’t he look embarrassed? “Parker. You finally show up,” Drew said testily.
Kat’s head snapped in his direction. He wasn’t even the least bit sorry?
“Not late enough, it seems.” Her angry gaze vaulted from Drew to Kat. “Some friend you are, trying to steal my man.”
Drew sighed, signs of weariness marring his handsome face. “Parker, we need to talk.”
“No? Looks like you’re more in the mood to make out with my best friend!” she yelled.
