Page 136 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
A chuckle bubbled up inside of me at the picture Adam sent over of Parker singing at karaoke night in the bar. He had a strand of red Christmas tinsel around his neck, and he was giving it his all.
"Baby?" Rebecca's voice was thick with sleep.
"Yeah. I'm here." I set the phone down and moved back over to her before turning on the TV. "I guess we slept right through the night."
She stiffened before glancing up toward me. "Seriously? It's Wednesday already?"
"Yep. Guess we did a little too much yesterday. Sad, right?" I ran my hand down her hair and over her back.
She tugged at the covers and yawned. "That's what you get for being in an office all the time and not moving much. We should join a gym."
"Or start jogging in the mornings out at your place. The lake is beautiful, but there's a lot of country out there to see." I leaned down and kissed her forehead as she snuggled against me. Nothing could have been more perfect.
"That means you're going to have to be there every morning. Routine is important."
I smiled. "You asking me to move in with you, beautiful?"
"And if I was? What would your answer be?" Her chin lifted and she gave me an inquisitive look.
The little tart already knew my answer, but I could play her games.
"Only if I get to ravage this hot body a few times a week." I moved down and pulled her flush against me.
"Couple of times a week? I was hoping for daily." She laughed as I rolled us and pinned her beneath me.
"I love you so much. You know that?" I leaned down and pressed my face to the side of her neck, breathing her in deeply.
"Yes, and I'm grateful." She ran her feet down the sides of my legs and pulled me in for a long kiss. Waking up early was perfect. A slow roll in the sheets and we were back to sleep.
* * *
"So, wait. I missed you singing Pat Benatar last night?" Rebecca snorted then laughed at Parker, who looked like hammered shit. "I'm really upset about this."
"No worries." Adam lifted his head and poked at something on his plate. "I got a video of the entire thing. We're good to go. Blackmail for the rest of old Parker's life."
"You're not going to want to miss out on getting your hands on that thing." Natalie tilted her head and smiled. The gesture reached her eyes, and my heart warmed. She was having fun. She needed to. Life hadn't been too kind to her since Mom died.
"Excellent. He's pretty incorrigible, so it's hard to get anything on him." Becca laughed and picked up her orange juice. "You're not going to join in, Park?"
"Aww... my fucking head feels like it's going to split open any minute. I'm not the young buck I was once. This drinking thing is for the birds." He ran his fingers through his unruly mop of blond hair.
"What are everyone's plans today?" I glanced around the table at my friends, knowing that my top priority was to visit the jewelry shop. I'd have to take Nat with me. She'd never forgive me if I didn't.
"Skiing." Adam lifted his coffee cup. "You want to come with me?"
"Yeah, later. I was going to ask Nat to come spend some time with me." I glanced over at Rebecca before reaching out and grabbing her hand. The look of love in her eyes when she turned her face my way left my heart racing. She was breaking down where I was concerned. Whatever fear she had before we came on the trip was finally starting to dissipate. I could only hope that it would continue to heal her from Kade. It had to be him. Or maybe losing her father.
"I'm free this morning, but I want to get in a few runs on the slopes before the Christmas program thing tonight." My sister picked up a piece of bacon and nibbled on the end of it.
"You're going to that thing?" Parker's attention was on Natalie.
"Absolutely. Those kids worked hard on the program. I had to do those dumb things when I was little. I remember." She smirked and folded up the bacon, shoving the rest in her mouth.
"Here. Here." Adam lifted his coffee again, and we all laughed. It was obvious that someone was spending a little too much time at the bar.
"And you guys?" I looked over at Becca and Parker.
"Sleep. I'm going back to bed." Parker yawned loudly as if on cue.
