Page 138 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
He handed me the ring, and I knew without a doubt that it was the one. It looked like my Rebecca. So beautiful and exquisite. Not too much, and yet it twinkled as I turned it around in my fingers.
"I love it." I glanced up at him and then down to my sister. "You?"
She nodded, tears in her eyes. "Mom would have loved it too."
I smiled. "Then we're getting it. Let's go with a size seven to be safe."
"Excellent. Let me wrap it up for you."
He turned and I pulled Natalie into a warm hug. She was right. Mom would have been proud.
CHAPTER 17
REBECCA
"You really don't look like you feel good. Go back to the room and lie down." I got up and moved over toward Parker as Jason and Natalie disappeared around the corner.
He laid his head on my shoulder and groaned. "We need to start hanging out with people our own age."
"No way," Adam responded and slid off the barstool. "I'm going to go get our snowboards checked out. I'll meet you by the back in a few minutes? Make sure you grab your coat, gloves and face mask." He moved around us and patted Parker on his shoulder. "And get this guy to join us if you can. The cold air will shock him alive."
I smiled. "Sounds great. See you in the back in about ten minutes."
"I'll be there." Adam walked off, and I turned my attention back to Parker.
"You know you hate how you feel when you drink. Why do you keep doing it?"
"Numbs the pain." He glanced up at me with a sad face that quickly morphed into a smile.
"You're the most pathetic person at being depressed. Did you know that?" I brushed his hair back and pressed my cheek to his forehead. He was like a brother to me, and I only wanted him to be happy. It didn't seem like it was going to happen anytime soon, but one could hope.
"I hate being down. It doesn't fit me very well, so fuck it. I'm just going to do what I want to do and the rest of the world can be damned." He moved back and ran his hands down his handsome face. "I'm going back to the room to sleep a little. I might get my own room tonight. I need sex."
I chuckled. "You think Adam would care if you brought someone home with you tonight?"
"Yes, and you weren't supposed to agree with me. You were supposed to do that big sister thing and try and save me from myself." The cheeky grin on his face was beyond cute.
"You're older, asshat, and there is no saving you from anything. That ship sailed a long time ago." I reached up and ran my hand down the back of his head. "What do you suppose that Jason and Natalie are doing this morning?"
"No clue, but you have a skiing date. Walk me to my room and tuck me in before you go?" He hopped off the stool he sat on and reached for my hand.
"You sleep naked. It's not happening." I moved closer and wrapped my cold fingers around his. "There is some woman, somewhere out in the world, that is going to want to do that though."
"Will I have to pay her?" He smirked as I chuckled and moved closer toward him.
"Nope. She's going to fall madly in love with you, but I think you're going to have to work for it."
"Work for sex?"
"No, you idiot." I popped him in the chest. "Work for her love, for her affection. The best relationship for you is going to come out of a lot of effort on your part."
He groaned loudly. "No way. I'm tired of being the one putting in all the effort. I just want to lie back and be loved."
"Not happening. Besides, you love a good challenge. Neither of your wives were one." I reached over and patted his chest as we stopped by the door to his room. "And you deserve a challenge."
"I don't know." He turned to face me. "A lot of times being challenged sucks ass."
"This is true, but it turns you on. That's why you love our business model. You're brought in to work on huge challenges."
