Page 128 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
"Falling in love all over again." I leaned down and kissed her softly a few times. "Adam seems to think that you wouldn't turn me down if I proposed. Is he right?" She stiffened and I wrapped my arms around her and forced myself to laugh. "I told him it wasn't happening soon. He's just a dreamer."
She pulled back a little and studied my face. "I'm not sure I could tell you no."
"Good to know." I pulled her in for a long hug and melted against her, molding myself to her and letting myself dream.
The sound of Christmas carols and the smell of pine filled my senses, and I couldn't help but miss my mother. The holidays were her favorite time of the year. She's what made my father's house a home. Rebecca would do the same for us.
* * *
"I'm going check out the workout room. I'll meet you back in the room?" Rebecca slid off the stool next to mine and moved up to give me a quick kiss.
"I'll come with you." I started to get down, but she stopped me.
"No. Enjoy your beer. You just got it. I'll see you back in the room."
"You want me to go?" Parker lifted his empty mug and wagged his eyebrows. The poor guy was blitzed, and we were all having a little too much fun watching him.
"Nope. You need to have Adam help you back to your room though." Rebecca gave him a knowing look and turned to walk toward the hallway.
"I can go with her if you want?" Natalie spoke up and I nodded.
"Yeah. I'd like that. You need to get to know her better anyway. She's your future sister-in-law." I smiled like a tomcat.
Nat rolled her eyes. "You have to let your balls descend so you can ask her first."
"Not very nice, Nat," I called after her as Adam and Parker chuckled.
"Dude." Parker leaned across the table, his eyes big and glossy. "Are you seriously going to ask Becca to marry you?"
I smiled. "One day, man. Not today."
"Wow. I love it." Parker sat back and let out a long sigh. "I was married. Twice. Both of those whores cheated on me, but I guess in some ways, I deserved it."
Adam took a long swig from his beer and set the mug down. "No one deserves to be cheated on, man."
"I agree." I picked up a French fry from the mound of them that still remained in the center of the table. We'd decided on bar food, which had turned out to be delicious. "You're going to find the right girl, you just gotta stop sleeping around and start looking again."
"How long has it been?" Adam glanced between me and Parker.
"Nine months." He shrugged. "I went through my divorce right after Jason and Becca got together. He was good to me."
I nodded, knowing exactly what he was talking about. "You needed Becca, and I knew that. You guys have been friends since you were kids."
"Right, but most men wouldn't have cared." He lifted his empty glass toward me, gave it a dirty look, most likely for being empty, and chuckled. "To one of the best guys I know. I hope when you do finally ask that she says yes. I'd be all for it."
I hit his glass with mine and motioned for Adam to do the same. "Why didn't you and Rebecca ever end up together?" Adam asked.
"We're too close." Parker turned and lifted his glass toward the bar.
A pretty blond with big blue eyes moved up between him and Adam and smiled at Parker. "You sure you can handle another one?"
"Baby, I can handle everything," Parker slurred.
"Cream soda." I winked at the girl and nodded toward Parker's glass.
She smiled and patted Parker on the back. "Coming right up, handsome."
Parker laughed and turned to face me. "She called me handsome. She's a keeper."
