Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

He narrowed his gaze, a flush rising to his face. “I told the rental company to come deal with it on their time.”

“Because you’re staying here for a while.”

He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. “Yes … you knew that.”

“But I didn’t know you were giving my father money to fix this place!” She raised her hand toward the top of the inn, where men were working and banging as they put on an entirely new roof. And that was just the beginning of Lord knew what her father had in mind. Or Parker, for that matter. She had no idea how involved he was in this whole venture.

He groaned. “I didn’t think it was my place to tell you. It was your father’s.”

“Then how about it wasn’t your place to offer him the money to begin with?”

“Why not?” He leaned against the car as he studied her. “Because what you want for your father isn’t what he wants for himself?”

Put that way, she didn’t like how it sounded. “I just want what’s best for him. Did he tell you he had a bad case of pneumonia this year that put him in the hospital?”

“No.”

“Did he discuss his plans for how he would run the place once you fund it? Who would cook, clean, take care of the guests alongside him?”

“Well … no. But I assumed he had a plan that was in place when he bought the inn with your mom. And he seems pretty damned healthy to me. People get sick but they don’t always die.”

She narrowed her gaze. “You suck.” Hurt and angry, knowing he’d hit on her greatest fear for her father, she spun and started to walk down the road, needing to be alone.

“Emily!”

He called her name but she didn’t turn around.

“Emily, wait.” He rushed after her, catching up to her easily.

She headed down a path she’d discovered when she needed a break from taking care of her mom and walked on. Parker kept pace beside her, not talking but not letting her be alone, either.

Suddenly and without warning, with memories of her mom’s illness and fear of losing her father overwhelming her, she started to cry.

Chapter Five

Parker walked beside Emily, her anger obvious with each step she took. As much as he’d anticipated upsetting her, he felt bad anyway. Family was a touchy subject. He understood that more than most. Still, he was taken off guard when he heard the first sniffle beside him, then glanced over and realized she’d started crying.

“Hey.” He grasped her elbow and pulled her to a stop. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“It’s not that. Well, not directly.” She brushed at her damp cheeks. “It’s more about my mother. And worrying about my father. It all comes back to overwhelm me at the oddest times. And it forces me to act in a way I think is protecting him.” She pulled in a deep breath. “I don’t expect you to understand.”

“Actually, I do. It’s cold. Let’s go inside and talk.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s noisy inside. Let’s go to Harper’s. I’ll text her, she’ll save us a table, we can get some hot chocolate and talk.”

He liked the fact that she wasn’t holding a grudge. She wasn’t happy with him but she was open to talking.

A little while later, they were at a private table in the corner of the coffee shop, the usually nosey Harper keeping to herself behind the counter.

Two hot chocolates sat in front of them loaded with whipped cream, and from the way Emily’s eyes opened wide, Harper knew her friend well.

She dipped her finger into the whipped cream and sucked the tip into her mouth, causing Parker to groan.

Her gaze flew to his and a blush stained her cheeks. “Oops.”

He laughed but sobered, not wanting to let the serious moment of earlier go. Not when he thought she needed to talk about her mom and her grief … and the unfair expectations she was placing on her father as a result.

He placed a hand on hers, causing her gaze to come to his. “About your mom … have you ever had a good cry? Or did you hold it in to protect your father?” he asked quietly.

She swallowed hard. “I cried. We’re on opposite sides of the house, Dad and I, so it was okay. And I had Harper to listen to me when I needed to talk or vent. And Dad likes talking about Mom and good memories.”

He nodded. “That’s good.” Unlike his brother, who didn’t want his dead wife’s name even mentioned … but then again, Mandy had betrayed him. It wasn’t even in the same ballpark as what had happened to James and Emily.

“Look, I know you lost your mom when you were younger,” she said. “It wasn’t fair of me to say that you wouldn’t understand.” She blinked, her lashes damp with unshed tears, and his stomach clenched at the sight.