Page 41 of Wood You Rather?

Beside me, Tucker was fuming. He was so much like Henri already. He was obsessed with fairness and nursing a hero complex. I loved the kid, but he sure took on a lot for a sixth grader.

“Hello,” Mitch said to Parker, his face a mask of smug satisfaction as he gave her a once-over, blatantly checking her out. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

Tightening my grip on her hand, I said, “Parker, this is Mitch Hebert,” and left it at that.

She already knew who he was, and I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of a grand introduction. He was a piece of shit. Though, in a feat of strength, I managed to keep that to myself. I also refrained from throwing a punch. That alone was proof positive that my mother had raised me right.

“Mitch, this is my girlfriend, Parker.”

She took his proffered hand and pulled her shoulders back.

“You’re the one I’ve heard about,” he said, his beady eyes narrowing. “The writer.”

She tilted her head and gave him a smile. “You got me. I’m so fascinated by the timber industry and these small northern towns. Working on a new book series, and everyone here has been so helpful. What a wonderful town Lovewell is!” Every word she spoke was laced with forced pleasantry.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close. “Can’t wait. My girl is so talented.” I planted a kiss on the top of her head. It was dark, but if I hadn’t known better, I’d say she blushed a bit.

Mitch watched us, not smiling, only scrutinizing. Like we were an amusing exhibit at the zoo. He dug into his pocket and produced a business card. “I’d be happy to help you with your research.” He looked directly at Parker, giving her a smarmy smile that made me want to knock his teeth out. Then he angled in, getting far too close for comfort as he tried to cut me out of the conversation. “My company isactuallysuccessful.” He looked down his nose at me. “And I’d be happy to sit down and give you any information you like.”

Instead of drop-kicking him in the nuts, which would have been my preferred response, Parker took the card. “Thanks very much. I’m gonna take you up on that,” she said with feigned enthusiasm.

“Smart girl,” he said, already walking away.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Parker turned and buried her face in my chest. The anger I had felt about Mitch dissipated as I savored the feeling of her crushed up against me.

“You okay?” I asked.

She clutched the fabric of my jacket and looked up at me with a sheepish smile. “I couldn’t hold it in one more second. What an ass. That cologne. That attitude. The whole ‘my company is actually successful.’ Fuck that guy.”

I wrapped an arm around her, keeping her close as I laughed along with her. “He’s horrible.”

“And he has no idea what I’ve got planned for him. He better believe I’ll interview him. And I’ll dig up every fucking detail of his life. I’ll find every single skeleton in his massive closet. That fucker is going down.”

A rush of affection filled my veins, and I was overwhelmed with the desire to kiss her. Her evil grin was somehow simultaneously sexy. Her sass and snark drove me crazy every day, but when aimed at my enemies? Shit, that was a turn-on. I needed to step back before I got a visible erection at a town event while standing feet away from my niece and nephew.

This fake relationship suddenly felt real, and it was truly messing with my head. My brain had abandoned all logic and was spinning out with fantasies about Parker that had no right to tempt me. I had a job to do, and so did she.

How the hell had I gotten myself into this mess? And how could I get myself out of it?

Chapter12

Parker

Iwasn’t much of a cook, but I managed. And given that Paz was usually the one making dinner, it felt like I should chip in. So I had headed to town for groceries between background checks for one of my clients in Portland, and I’d come home with ingredients for a healthy turkey chili recipe I found online.

I had changed into shorts and a T-shirt and was blasting music when he came home. Trust me, the temptation was irresistible. He had one of those Sonos speaker systems wired throughout the house. It was amazing.

My eyes were tearing from the onion chopping and the simultaneous dancing, but I was having fun.

The grumpy finance bro on the other side of the island couldn’t say the same. He had his arms crossed over his chest, and he was wearing a scowl.

“What? No greeting? You could say ‘hello, Parker. You look lovely today, as always. Did you have a productive day?’”

“Or I could come home to a quiet, clean house.”

“Boring. Also. T. Swift is amazing, and this album issogood.”

“I wouldn’t know. Not a big fan.”

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