Page 82 of To Hold and Protect

Everly froze. “Miss Willow?”

“Yes. Surprise!”

Everly screamed as she shot out of the chair and right into Willow’s arms. “Miss Willow. You’re here! I missed you so much. Are you coming home? You have to. Say yes. I’ve been drawing pictures for you.”

As words flew out of his daughter’s mouth, Willow smiled at him over Everly’s head. He smiled back, and now that all was right in his world, he went downstairs to mingle. The sooner he could get this show over with, the sooner he could have his arms around her again.

Parker closed the door to Willow’s hotel room and turned the dead bolt. The family dinner had been great, with amazing food and lots of laughter. He loved how well she fit in with the people he loved. They’d all gone back to the brownstone, and it had taken longer than he had patience for to get Everly to go to sleep. She’d refused to let Willow out of her sight.

Finally, he had Willow all to himself. She stood in the middle of the room, looking at him, waiting for him to make his move. He moved. “You have two choices. A shower. With me. Or a shower with me.”

She tapped her finger against her lips. “Hmm, I think I’ll go with the first choice.”

“I was hoping you’d choose that one.” He trailed his knuckles down her cleavage. “This outfit is sexy as fuck but take it off.” He unbuttoned his shirt, loving the way her eyes followed his fingers as more of his chest was revealed with each button freed. “Willow.”

Her gaze shot up to his. “What?”

“Your clothes. Take them off.” He let his shirt slide down his arms and to the floor.

“I would if you’d stop distracting me.”

“How am I distracting you?” He unbuttoned his pants, then slid down his zipper, and now he was amused and more than a little turned on by the way her eyes were locked on his every move. But his amusement only went so far, since distracting her was keeping her from taking her own clothes off. And he really, really wanted them off.

She huffed. “Because you’re almost naked. It’s distracting.”

He dropped his pants, and her gaze went straight to his groin where his boxer briefs were tented, and he couldn’t stop his grin. “Willow, clothes off before I tear them off.”

“Don’t you dare. I love this outfit.”

“I would dare. I want you naked. Now. You have thirty seconds before what you have on isn’t fit for anything but the trash.”

That threat did the trick, and as soon as she was down to her beautiful naked self, he lost his briefs, scooped her up, and took them to the shower. The thing he decided he loved most about the Four Seasons, there was no end to the warm water. It wasn’t until he’d made her come with his mouth, after she’d returned the favor, and after he’d kissed every spot on her body and was ready to bury himself deep inside her that he realized the condoms were in his pants in the other room.

“Condom. Don’t have one in here,” he said.

“I’m on birth control, and I’m clean.”

“So am I. I want inside you right here, right now, but only if you’re sure that’s okay.” He nuzzled her neck.

“I’m sure.”

“Thank God.” He slid into her wet heat and groaned. “Home. I’ve found my home, Willow, and it’s you.”

“Welcome home then, love,” she said.

And he was never leaving.

Epilogue

Parker sat on the deck of the beach house he’d bought as a wedding present to Willow. Over the past year, he’d taken her to different beaches for long weekends, and she’d fallen in love with the small town of Mexico Beach, Florida, with the sugar white sand and the crystal clear waters of the Gulf. He hadn’t told her they’d been house shopping, and she still didn’t know this house was hers. As far as she knew, he’d rented it for a week.

Although it was her wedding present, he intended the house to also be used by his brothers and their soon-to-be wives. By soon-to-be, he meant today at sunset when he and his brothers would marry the women who owned their hearts.

Yep, it was a triple wedding, and they’d told no one that they were eloping. Miss Mabel wasn’t going to be happy about that, but a reception was planned for when they returned, which would mollify her. Not that they were doing it specifically for her, but for the brides’ families.

Skylar’s parents, Harper’s father, and Willow’s parents and sister would all be at the reception. The decision to elope and have a private triple wedding had been agreed on by all of them when Willow’s mother had tried to take over the wedding planning, insisting on an extravagant affair that was worthy of Park C. That was a big no, and fortunately Willow had agreed.

Parker had instantly liked Willow’s father, who was, like her, a free spirit. Her mother had made him uncomfortable in the beginning with the way she’d gushed and fluttered over him. After being around her a few times, she’d settled down and was treating him somewhat normally. As for Willow’s sister, he was trying to like her. It might take some time.

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