Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

Emily knew about hurt and loss. She knew about pushing the pain so far down and deep she didn’t have to think about it on a daily basis. Except it was always there, on the edges, threatening to come back and make her cry at the oddest possible times. And Parker had that same look in his eyes now that she saw in the mirror at her most vulnerable points.

“I’m sorry, man. I forgot,” Caleb said, wincing. He obviously knew and felt bad. “That was insensitive of me. Anyway, it was good to see you. And the offer to stop by still stands.”

Parker’s expression relaxed and he smiled. “I’ll be there. It’ll be good to catch up.”

Caleb nodded, smiled at Harper, then Emily, and walked away.

“Well, that was interesting,” Harper said, as Parker held out Emily’s chair for her to sit back down before joining her.

Emily frowned. “I’m sure it was good to see an old friend,” she said to Parker, not wanting to force him to focus on whatever Caleb had touched on that was so sensitive for him.

“It was. Caleb and I skied together. He never medaled but he was good.”

“Unlike you, Mr. Champion,” Emily said, impressed with what she’d learned about him. “So you aren’t just a corporate mogul but you’re a ski champ. What other secrets are you hiding?” she teased him.

“None you want to know about. Now are you ready to get your car?” He pushed back his chair, a sure sign he was finished with the conversation.

She’d obviously treaded too close to his private pain. She hadn’t meant to. “I am.”

“And I need to get back to work. Text ya later,” Harper said to Emily. “Bye, Parker. Be good.” She winked at him and headed back around the counter.

Emily turned to Parker, who looked bothered, like he suddenly had more on his mind than he’d had since arriving at the inn. “Listen, you can head home. I’ll just get my car and meet you there.”

“I’ll go with you. Make sure Matt heard you loud and clear last night.” Parker placed a hand on her back and she shivered at his warm touch, which she felt through the light sweater she wore.

She didn’t need him making a point with Matt, but by the look on his face, she knew better than to make a scene. He wanted to join her? Let him.

One thing she’d learned this morning, there was a lot she didn’t know about Parker Knight.

The question was, did she want to learn when doing so involved them getting closer?

* * *

After an uncomfortable trip to the garage, where Parker hovered and Matt definitely realized he was the odd man out, Emily drove her car home. Parker disappeared with her dad, who wanted to give him a tour of the property, and she spent the day relaxing by the fire with a good book.

Later on, she headed to the kitchen to make dinner, a plain roasted chicken with vegetables and red potatoes. Then she decided a pie was in order and found herself peeling apples for a good part of her afternoon. Parker seemed to be busy, maybe with work, because he was on the phone when he returned with her dad, joined them for dinner, where he raved over her food, and then disappeared into his room again, saying he had calls to make.

The next couple of days were business as usual. Emily woke up early, baked, and Parker showed up to help her load the car and take her goods to Harper’s. Sometimes they stayed and shared a cup of coffee, sometimes they went back to the inn, where she prepped for the next day.

Both he and her dad seemed busy, but where Parker was concerned, she minded her own business. He was here taking a break from his reality and he deserved not to be bothered by the people surrounding him. Even if she was insanely curious as to who he was talking to and what he was doing. In fact, the more he kept to himself, leaving her alone and not backing her against cars to kiss her, the crazier she became.

What happened to the man who’d told her he was jealous of her date with Matt? Who’d sat next to her at Harper’s and gotten close enough to drive her insane with his hot body and masculine scent? Who’d said there was a lot to like here?

She glanced down at the bowl she’d been mixing … and had gotten lost in thought and forgotten to continue. “Dammit!”

Why did she care if the man was all but ignoring her? She didn’t want him in her life, right? He was a city guy who liked to control things around him and she was finished with men like that. He’d be leaving eventually and she didn’t need to get attached and end up with a broken heart.