Page 71 of Sheltering His Second Chance

“It’s okay. I’ll go make some coffee while you two talk.” Parker offered, not even looking at Raven.

His heart filled with…what? She could be angry because every time they started to get close someone interrupted. Were the heavens working against them?

Once he was alone with Ophelia, he said to her, “I’m sure you know that Jamie has been arrested by now, but if you have any questions, you should speak to Bend—”

“My brother hasn’t been arrested. He ran away. Camp and I have called him a dozen times but he won’t answer. We’ve looked for him everywhere and we can’t find him. Bend is looking too. I’m worried, Raven. I know you’re angry with him—the entire town will be—but he’s my brother. He could be in danger. He could do anything.”

Running his palms down his face, he nodded. “Let me get my things together and I’ll help you look.”

“Thank you so much.” Ophelia’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.

He strode into the kitchen and Parker had her back facing him. He walked up, wrapped his arms around her waist and she relaxed against him. “I have a feeling this is goodbye again.”

“Not because I want to.” He kissed the top of her head. She smelled like his sandalwood soap and something about that made him feel very protective over her.

She sighed. “It’s okay. Duty calls. Is there anything I can do?”

“Not at this moment, but later, yes. Will you stay here and wait for me?” He hoped she would.

She twirled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I bet you’ll be gone for a while, and I have some work to finish up. I promise if you let me know when you’re done, I’ll come back.” She gave him a quick kiss.

He groaned. “Since I have no choice, I’ll have to live with that.”

He dragged himself away from her and at the doorway, he turned and said, “I’ll text just as soon as I’m done.”

Chapter Twenty

Bonnie was in the farmhouse kitchen slicing blueberry cake when Parker walked in.

“It smells like a bakery in here.”

Bonnie’s rich laugh filled the room. She seemed happier. “I’ve always loved to bake.” She placed a slice of the bread on a napkin and slid it across the counter for Parker. “There you go. Tell me what you think.”

Parker wasn’t very hungry, but she couldn’t resist the offering. She bit into the moist, sweet cake and rolled her eyes. “Oh. My. Gosh. Delicious.” She licked a crumb off her finger. She couldn’t seem to get her mind off the situation with Jamie Watson. Poor Ophelia must be so worried.

“What’s wrong? You look like you have something worrying you.” Bonnie sat down on a bar stool.

Parker took the available stool. She slumped her shoulders. “Nothing at all. Just trying to keep things straight inside my head. Bonnie, do you feel like I’ve failed you?”

“You haven’t failed me. Think about it, you came to convince me to sell and because of you I’m taking on a partner to help run the greenhouse and floral business.”

“Wait…what?” She pinched off a bit of the cake and popped it in her mouth.

“I’m taking your advice and asking Ophelia.”

Remembering how frantic the woman seemed at Ryde Hard, Parker hoped this didn’t have any influence on the future of Bonnie’s Bluebonnets. “I’m happy for you. I truly believe that will resuscitate the business.”

“Things work out when they’re meant to be.” Her chin-length bob swished around her cheeks. “Now I don’t know a thing about marketing, but I know a good marketer when I see one. You are amazing. Maybe it’s time you become your own boss. Don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind.”

She played with the crumbs on the napkin. “I have, but it takes time to build clients.”

“Right. You’ve told me that.” She winked.

“I guess I have, haven’t I?”

“Thank you for everything, Parker. What will you do now?”

“I guess I’ll go home and start my next chapter.”

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