Page 48 of Lovers at Seaside
PARKER AND SKY talked while Christmas played along the pond’s edge, hurling himself at birds and barking when they flew away. Sky had surprised Parker that morning when she’d dropped by to give her a framed copy of theUs Weeklykiss, and they’d ended up spending the day together. They’d gone shopping, and Parker had found a cute pair of pink panties that saidTakenacross the front, which she’d changed into to surprise Grayson later. After having lunch at a café, they’d gone back to Grayson’s cottage, and they’d been sitting on the dock chatting ever since.
Parker told Sky about what happened with Abe and how wonderful Grayson was through the whole thing. Sky told her about how depressed she’d been after she’d lost her mother.
“If Pete hadn’t come to stay with me, I’m not sure how long it would have taken for me to come up for air,” Sky said.
“I think Grayson did for me what Pete did for you,” Parker confided. “I don’t think I realized it at the time, but during all those months we were emailing, he’d become as important to me as Bert was. And after I lost Bert, I cut myself off from everyone—including him. And then, there he was, in the middle of my sugar-infused, tequila-laced nightmare. Like a knight in shining armor.” He’d become such a big part of her life. Regardless of what she was doing—studying the script, talking to her agent, discussing press with Luce, or hanging out with Sky and the girls—she felt like Grayson was right there with her.
At the sound of tires on gravel, Christmas took off for the cottage to greet one of his favorite humans. Parker’s heartbeat quickened. It always did when Grayson was around. He knelt to love up Christmas and waved to them.
“Speak of the devil.” Sky waved as she pushed to her feet. “He wasn’t your knight in shining armor, because you didn’t need to be rescued.” Her colorful skirt swished around her legs as they headed up to greet Grayson. She lowered her voice as Grayson approached with his four-legged buddy trotting happily beside him and a beautiful bouquet of flowers in his hand. “You needed to be loved so you could heal, and he wasready.”
Before Parker could ask what she meant, Grayson closed the remaining distance between them and slipped an arm around her waist, kissing her softly and handing her the pretty bouquet.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
“They’re so beautiful. Thank you.”
“Told you he was ready,” Sky said with a knowing smile.
“Ready for?” Grayson gave her a quizzical look.
“Oh, nothing.” Sky pointed at them. “I love seeing you two like this. It’s as if the universe knew exactly when to swoop in and bring you together.”
“Because you believe nothing happens by coincidence,” Grayson said as they headed for the cottage.
“You should listen to me. I know what I’m talking about.” Sky hugged Parker and Grayson and petted Christmas. “I’ll see you guys later. I’ve got a date with my fiancé.” She walked backward toward her car and called out, “We’re wedding planning!”
“About time,” Grayson called, then to Parker, “Hey, be my date for the wedding?”
“You don’t even know when it is,” she said as he held the door open for her.
“It doesn’t matter when. I know we’ll be together.”
Her mind skidded with the realization that she knew it, too. They’d been staying at his place for only a few days, but it already felt like home. She didn’t miss her lonely house on the bay one bit. The railing Grayson was making would make it feel homier, which would be wonderful for the kids visiting through the foundation. But she knew it would never feel like home to her the way his cottage did. How could it, when the man she loved had built his life here, taking every day as it came?
They went inside, and Christmas plopped down in front of the fireplace. Grayson grabbed a vase from the floor by the hearth and filled it with water. “Sweetheart, the wedding? Would you rather I ask someone else?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I want. Some other woman’s hands on you.” She pushed between him and the sink. “You better not.”
“Never.” He pressed his lips to hers.
“Not even when we’re apart for long spans of time? You’re a guy. You have needs.”
He lifted her in his arms, and her legs wound around his waist. “The only woman allowed to satisfy my needs is right here in my arms.” His brows knitted. “What about you?”
“I don’t need a woman to satisfy my needs, but thanks for asking.”
He nipped at her lower lip, making her laugh.
He placed the flowers in the vase and set it on the counter, then carried her over to the couch.
“I know I said we’d figure out each day as it came, but not talking about the future is eating me alive.” He laid her on her back and came down over her. “There are a few things we need to clarify.”
“So you’re trapping me beneath you like a prisoner?” she teased.
“What was it that Abe said? Control? Confidence?”
“You’ve got those down pat.”In more ways than one.
