Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

Emily blew out a huge breath, her shoulders dropping in relief as the bells rang above the door, signaling he was gone.

“Oh, honey! I hate that asshole.” Harper pulled Emily into a huge hug and quickly released her.

“Thanks for having my back,” she said to her friend.

“Any time and you know it. I have to get back to work.” Harper rushed back behind the counter and Emily turned her gaze on Parker.

“Don’t say it,” Parker said before she could turn her wrath on him. “I shouldn’t have made any proclamations or decisions about whether or not he could stay. That was your choice to make.”

A more relaxed smile edged her lips. “Who said you weren’t teachable?” she asked and he was happy to see the visit hadn’t left her on edge and irritable. She blew out a long breath. “I appreciate you saying that.”

He nodded. “So…” He met her gaze, then had to state what was on his mind. “You’re married?”

* * *

Hearing Parker say the word married, Emily winced. “Legally separated. And though I probably should have mentioned it to you, I honestly try not to think about Rex or anything having to do with my life or time with him. I’m just counting down the days until the divorce becomes final.”

“He doesn’t want to let go,” Parker said.

“He’s like a dog with a bone. He got his teeth into me and has claimed me as his own. What I don’t understand is why?”

A soft expression took over his features. “Because you’re everything a man could want,” he told her and her body went warm all over.

“Except I’m not what he wants, something he never failed to remind me of. You heard him. He wanted to change me from the day we met… Still does. And I let him.”

She looked away, embarrassed by how weak she’d been when it came to Rex. But she’d been a small-town girl alone in the big city, thinking that’s what she wanted. Then she met an exciting man who swept her off her feet and she hadn’t realized she was turning into his vision of her until the deed was done.

“I’d expect him to take one look at me now and think he was lucky to be done with me.” She gestured to her appearance, hair in a messy updo, sweats, very little makeup. And yeah, the extra weight she’d put on when she’d been pregnant with his baby, something she did not want to get into with Parker. At least not now. “He wants me back the way things were.”

“And that’s not happening.” Parker pulled her into his arms and she hated to admit she felt safe there.

Once she’d seen Parker side-by-side with Rex, the differences had been stark. Her city boy was a sexy guy with nice clothes, an amazing personality, and a tendency to exert his will on occasion. But he never failed to look at her as if she were the most beautiful woman on the planet, no matter what she wore, and he never once belittled her. Rex had made sure to get in his digs, even today during his pitiful attempt to get her back into his world. A place she wasn’t going. No matter what.

When they arrived back at the inn, her father was waiting in the main room, pacing and looking unhappy.

“Dad?” She stepped toward him, not holding a grudge or wanting to fight with him over the inn. “I’m sorry I lost my temper,” she said.

He held out his arms and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. “I know. It’s all good. We’ll work it out,” he promised her. Only once she’d stepped away did he sigh and say, “Rex was here earlier.”

Behind her, a silent Parker stiffened at the mere mention of the man’s name.

She nodded. “He found me in town.”

“I didn’t tell him where you were. Not that I knew. But I assumed you went to Harper’s. Did he bother you? Because he tried to get me to let him stay here and I told him absolutely not.” Her father rubbed his hands together nervously.

“It’s fine, Dad. I’m fine.”

“We handled him,” Parker said, coming up behind her and wrapping an arm around her waist.

She didn’t know what to make of his possessiveness. He was staying for a while but they both knew it was temporary. But after her revelation today about the differences between him and Rex, and his obvious dedication to her family, she was going to indulge for the time he was here, and she leaned back into him.

Her father seemed to relax at their words and the fact that they presented a united front.

She hoped he wasn’t too disappointed when Parker left after he finished helping with the inn. It was going to be hard enough for her to get over him without adding her dad’s feelings to the mix.