Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

He stared at her for so long she grew uncomfortable. There was something going on behind those piercing blue eyes and she couldn’t figure out what it was. And that made her nervous. She couldn’t deny the attraction between them was mutual. He was an extremely good-looking man and she’d be lying if she said otherwise. But the last thing she needed was another overly confident male in her life who swooped in and thought he knew what was best.

Time to put him on the defensive, she thought. “So what are you avoiding back home, city boy?”

Those clear eyes shuttered quickly, confirming her suspicions. He had problems and secrets of his own.

“Not so interested in me digging into your issues, now are you? I’ll make you a deal.”

He reached across the table and slid a strand of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail off her face, his fingertips trailing over her cheek, leaving goose bumps in their wake. In fact, he woke up parts of her that had gone dead and dormant after Rex had gotten through with her. Her nipples pebbled beneath her shirt and awareness tingled between her thighs.

“What did you have in mind?” he asked, taking her thoughts off of the things he did to her body, but the physical remnants of her need remained.

“You stay out of my family’s business and I’ll stay out of yours.”

“Coffee!” Harper said, returning with his cup before he could respond.

Emily took that as her cue to leave. “I need to get going. It was … interesting talking to you, Parker.” She rose to her feet. “Bye, Harper.”

“But–”

“Talk to you later!” she trilled. Having had the last word, she headed for the door in order to escape.

Except when she got to her car and turned on the ignition, it chugged and chugged and didn’t come to life.

“So much for a grand exit.” She put her head in her hands on the wheel and groaned.

* * *

“Struck out?” Harper asked Parker as she sank into the seat Emily had vacated seconds before.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he lied. It was obvious to anyone within a twelve-foot radius of him and Emily that there was some serious chemistry arcing between them.

Harper laughed.

He glanced at the gorgeous brunette who, with her voluptuous curves and easy disposition, was exactly his type. So why did he find himself attracted instead to the willowy blonde determined to keep him at arm’s length?

“Don’t pay her any mind. She’s been through a lot in the last few years. She’s wary of strangers.”

More like she was wary of something about the kind of man she thought him to be. But he wouldn’t push her friend for answers.

“Are you the type to give up easily?” Harper asked him.

He appreciated her directness. “Not a chance in hell,” he said with a grin.

“Good. Just one thing.”

Parker tipped his head. “Yes?”

“Hurt her and I’ll make the Lorena Bobbitt story sound like a fairy tale.”

He winced and had to physically stop himself from cupping his dick in his hands. Still, he admired the loyalty and protectiveness of the women’s friendship.

He glanced out the window only to see Emily climb out of her car and kick the wheel with her foot. He narrowed his gaze and was rising from his seat before he could think it through.

“I take it you aren’t going to be drinking that?” Harper asked, chuckling.

“Sorry. Rain check?” he asked, sliding his hand into his pants for his wallet.

She waved her hand through the air. “Don’t worry about it. I told you it was on the house. Go help her,” she said, her gaze falling on Emily through the window. “Trust me, you’ll want to get there before Matt does.”

“He’s interested?” he asked, not surprised based on the look in the man’s eyes when he’d dropped Parker off at the inn yesterday.

“And persistent.”

Parker caught something in Harper’s voice and glanced up in time to see disappointment in her gaze. “You like Matt?”

“Does it matter? He’s got a thing for my best friend.”

“His loss,” Parker assured her.

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Taking Harper’s words to heart, though, he rushed out of the coffee shop and onto the street.

He walked up to Emily mid-curse. “Problem?”

“My car won’t start.” She glared at the vehicle. The navy Jeep looked well maintained on the outside but it was obviously old.

“Does it give you a hard time often?” he asked.

“Not really. I baby it. Living here, I don’t go long distances. I just need to be able to navigate in any kind of weather. I didn’t need a brand-new car, just a reliable one.”

“Tell you what. Why don’t we go across the street to Matt, leave him the keys, and I’ll drive you home?”

This way he could stake a claim of his own on this unpredictable woman and let Matt know if she hadn’t said yes before now, she wouldn’t be agreeing to date him any time in the near future.