Chapter Three
Of all the luck. Emily’s jeep died and the man she was actively trying to avoid because of how much she desired him was walking her across the street to the man who was constantly trying to get her to go on a second date.
She’d only gone on the first one because her father had insisted she get out of the house and he’d done so in front of Matt after he’d asked her to go for dinner. He was a nice guy. They’d gone to school together, had known each other forever, and she enjoyed his company. But she wasn’t sexually attracted to him and she wasn’t looking for a relationship. Two reasons to avoid sending him the wrong message. Harper liking him made him completely off-limits.
Parker was silent as they made their way across the street and walked into the office of Matt’s garage, but she felt his presence beside her every step of the way.
“Hello?” she called out and Matt immediately walked in from the bay area.
“Hey, beautiful.”
She did her best not to cringe at the endearment. Or blush. Or acknowledge it at all. “Hi, Matt. My car died.” She gestured to the vehicle parked on the street in front of Harper’s.
His gaze swept from her to Parker, who he acknowledged with a nod.
Arms folded across his chest, Parker returned the gesture.
Matt glanced out the window as he wiped his hands on a rag, then tucked it into his back pocket. As he did, she couldn’t help but take in the differences between the men. They were both extremely good-looking, both had dark hair, a scruff of beard, and blue eyes. Similar on the surface, but that was all.
The women in town thought Matt was a catch and she agreed. He was well-built, down-to-earth, and rugged in a mountain-man sort of way. If she were looking for a guy, Matt and his laid-back personality was exactly the type she ought to go for. He was nonthreatening to her way of life and what she needed for a peaceful existence. He liked her for who she was and had never tried to change her. The direct opposite of her soon-to-be ex-husband. A man with an imposing presence like Parker had.
Yet it was Parker and his leaner-yet-still-fit body that did it for her. Parker, whose scruff was lighter and more refined, who lit her body up and made her wonder what that facial hair would feel like against her skin, chafing at her thighs. Parker, with his take-charge personality that signaled trouble, that turned her on.
Dammit, this so wasn’t fair.
“Em? I asked if you have the keys for me?” Matt said, breaking into her unwanted thoughts.
“Oh, sure.” She pulled the key chain from the purse hanging on her shoulder and handed them to him.
“I can take a look while you wait,” he said.
“No,” Parker said, obviously deciding for her. “I’m going to take her home. You can call the inn later and let her know what’s wrong. I can bring her back to pick up the car then.” He grasped her elbow, causing a frisson of heat and awareness to sizzle up her arm, making her way too aware of the demanding man by her side.
Matt’s gaze settled on where Parker touched her, his eyes narrowed. “About that dinner we talked about?” he asked her, pushing when she’d been putting him off and trying to be nice about it without having to reject him outright.
Apparently it was time for her to explain to him she only liked him as a friend. But she couldn’t do that in front of Parker. That would only serve to humiliate the man, and she couldn’t do it to him. Nor did he deserve to be treated in that way.
“How about dinner? Friday night?” Matt asked.
Parker’s hand on her arm squeezed tighter. He wasn’t hurting her, rather it was a possessive hold. And though she knew she’d been emotionally beaten down by her ex, he’d never threatened her physically and Parker’s actions didn’t scare her.
Annoy her? Yes. Arouse her thanks to his nearness and the manly smell of him so close to her? Yep, that, too.
She turned her focus to Matt, uncomfortable but knowing she had to deal with the situation once and for all. Harper would appreciate her letting him down gently, and if she happened to put in a good word for her friend and try to open Matt’s eyes … even better.
“Umm … okay,” she said.
No sooner had she spoken than Parker pulled her toward the exit.
“I’ll call you about your car,” Matt said, either clueless to Parker’s reaction or not caring.
Parker pushed open the door and they walked onto the street, his big body vibrating with something she couldn’t quite name, heading straight for her father’s truck, which she hadn’t noticed parked around the corner.