Page 78 of Desired Hearts
But there was no denying that I was falling in love with Parker Scott. Every time we were together I found something new to adore. His smile. His laugh. The little thoughtful things that made me wonder, still, if the guy was for real. It felt as if I could tell him anything. There were no judgments with him, ever.
And the sex.
Dear lord, Parker’s dirty talking had only gotten dirtier. Filthy, really. And he could back it up.
“Alright. If you ladies are ready”—Pia crumpled her napkin and put it on the empty plate where her muffin had been—“who’s ready for Sunday Funday?”
“Let’s do this.” Jules stood.
“Me,” I said as my phone buzzed. I took it out from my jeans back pocket.
It was Parker.
29
PARKER
Hanging up with Beck, I called Delaney next. It rang twice before she answered just as I pulled onto the highway.
“Hey.” Delaney’s voice was like the first warm day of spring.
“Hey, yourself. I didn’t expect to hear from you until later.” I’d been planning to head straight to her house from Rochester.
“Slight change of plans. Have you talked to Mason yet?”
“Not yet. We’re just leaving The Coffee Cabin now. Apparently he’s going to be our chauffeur today.”
“He’ll tell you more but… do you mind if we meet at the inn instead of your house later?”
“Not at all. Is everything okay?”
“That depends on your definition of okay. I just got a call from Beck. He’s… distraught.”
She was clearly confused, but it was a long story. “Beck is distraught so we’re meeting at the inn?”
“Basically. If you don’t mind. He didn’t say it outright, but I know him pretty well. I think he could use some company tonight. I already talked to Mason, and he said they’ll be around later too, after your girls’ day.”
“Of course, that’s not a problem at all. I’m glad the workshop went well. I’m excited to hear all about it.”
We’d been texting all weekend, though this was the first we’d talked.
“I’m not sure how excited you’ll be if I actually ran you through the details of log cabin building and marketing.”
“I want to hear them either way. I’m jumping in Mason’s truck now and will ask him what’s going on.”
“Sounds good. Later, cupcake.”
“Bye, Parker.”
The drive back seemed somehow longer than the drive to Rochester. If I thought before this weekend things were going well between us and that she was different than my past relationships, not seeing her for two and a half days solidified that fact.
Finally, after what felt like ten hours, I pulled into the inn and all but ran inside. As usual, everyone was gathered in the kitchen.
Not intending to be subtle about it, seeing Delaney casually standing there with a glass of wine in her hands, I walked straight up to her and kissed her like I’d imagined doing the whole way home.
Ignoring taunts like “get a room” and “enough already” from Beck and Mason, I stopped only when getting hard and being unable to walk to the fridge became a real possibility.
“Taste,” she said, handing me the glass. “It’s a new one from Golden Grove.”
