Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

She didn’t know what to make of him tagging along with her or even remaining in Colorado when he had a life waiting for him in New York City.

She and Harper were discussing expanding again, Harper pushing for it, Emily hedging because she just didn’t think she could get a loan from the bank. All the while, Parker listened intently.

She also worried about what would become of the town if her father sold, but she had to worry about her dad first and foremost and she didn’t mention that thought out loud. Her priority was getting her dad to Florida. He’d had pneumonia this year and she wanted him where it was warm and he could be healthy.

“So how’d it go last night?” Harper asked when they were finished talking about expanding and going into business together, or rather, according to Harper, had put the discussion on hold.

Emily shot her friend a warning glance. She hadn’t told Parker why she’d gone out with Matt because, for now, letting him think she’d wanted the date served her purpose, helping to keep him at a safe emotional distance.

“It sucked,” Parker said, answering for her. “The asshole didn’t realize she didn’t eat and she was starving when she got home.” He folded his arms across his broad chest. “Don’t worry. I fed her.”

Emily bit down on the inside of her cheek, hard, before coming to Matt’s defense in front of Harper. “Matt’s not an asshole!”

“He’s not,” Harper added. “He must have had a lot on his mind.” But her friend’s expression turned gleeful as she said,

“I guess it’s a good thing she only went out with him to let him down gently then.” She leaned in on her elbows. “You know, because she didn’t want to humiliate him in front of you when he asked her out.”

Emily shut her eyes and groaned, shaking her head at her friend’s obvious meddling in her life.

“Really,” Parker said, eyeing Emily in a way that promised retribution. “You mean she went on a date and let me go crazy with jealousy … on purpose?”

Had he actually admitted to being jealous? Shock settled inside her but Harper’s next words brought her back to what she needed to focus on.

“That’s our girl,” Harper said without a hint of remorse for betraying Emily. Her best friend. Or former best friend, because Emily was going to disown her after this, for sure.

“I’m right here,” she felt compelled to remind them both as they spoke about her as if she were invisible.

“Oh, I know. Believe me,” Parker said. He looked delicious, wearing a pair of dark jeans, work boots, and a white knitted sweater. His blue eyes pinned her in place and she knew she was in trouble when they were alone.

Not the kind of trouble she’d have been in with Rex, with a barrage of humiliating words aimed to hit her where they hurt and belittled her … no, something told her she was going to like Parker’s form of punishment.

She squirmed in her chair, her body alive with possibilities, as he merely stared, his sexy mouth turning up in a grin.

“Excuse me.” A man about Parker’s age walked over to the table. “I’m sorry to bother you but you look familiar. Are you Parker Knight?”

Parker nodded, rising to his feet, his face coming alive with recognition. “Caleb Benson!” He walked over to the other man and gave him a man-type hug followed by a slap on the back. “How the hell are you?”

“Great. Married with two kids and I run a ski shop nearby.”

“Yeah? How’s business?” Parker asked.

“Great. We’re right off the highway and we get a lot of traffic. I love it. It’s everything I wanted and I’d even expand if I could, but I can barely keep up with the business I do have.”

Parker nodded. “I’m thrilled for you.” Knowing what it was like to be doing something he didn’t love, he liked seeing a man find success and happiness at the same time.

“You should stop in.”

“I will.”

Emily rose from her seat just as Parker had turned her way. “Emily Stevens and Harper Sanders, this is–”

“Caleb Benson.” Emily smiled. “Small town,” she reminded Parker. “But how do you two know each other?”

Caleb’s brown eyes opened wide. “Parker here was the Alpine Ski World Cup Men’s Champion back in our prime days. If you didn’t know about his mad skills, how do you know Parker?”

Emily glanced at Parker in shock. The man was full of surprises. “Parker came by the inn the other day when his car broke down. I don’t know him that well.”

He stepped closer, until their bodies touched and she was reminded that he wanted something to exist between them.

“She knows enough,” Parker said on a growl, then glanced at Caleb. “I don’t normally talk about those days.” His voice dropped as did his gaze. Something about that time caused him a world of hurt.