Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

Which was a good thing. Although she had a bathroom in her room, he didn’t, which meant there was a good possibility she’d pass him in the hall on the way to or from the shower. Her body came alive at the possibility, despite the fact that the man wouldn’t roam the halls naked.

“He’s fine,” Emily muttered, because her friend wouldn’t give up until she got an answer.

“Fine.” Harper drummed her fingertips on the table, clearly not satisfied with the one-word answer.

Emily nodded. And Harper stared her down, wanting her to elaborate.

“You know you’re a pain in the ass, right?”

Harper chuckled. “That’s my job as your best friend.”

Emily covered her face with her hands. “Okay! He’s sexy, all right? Those blue eyes, strong jaw, and full, kissable lips.”

Harper glanced behind her, eyes suddenly wide.

“Kissable, huh?” a familiar male voice asked.

Shit and shit, Emily thought, blushing hard as she met Parker’s grin. As embarrassed as she was, she wouldn’t let him get to her or think she liked him. “He’s also nosey, frustrating, and arrogant,” she added for good measure.

Parker burst out laughing and the genuine sound went straight through her. “I can’t say you’re the only one to call me the last two but nosey? Now that’s a first.”

Without asking permission, he pulled out the chair beside her, turned it backwards, and sat down, joining them.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Emily muttered.

It was warmer today than it had been yesterday, and wherever he was from, he’d obviously prepared for the variable Colorado weather. Warm one day, below freezing the next. He wore a hunter-green Henley shirt, the three buttons on the flat collar open, revealing a smattering of dark chest hair. The fit of the shirt showed her muscles she’d been wondering if he possessed, definition that could only be gotten at the gym. She swallowed a groan at the fact that not only was he hot, he had a great body, too.

“How did you get into town?” she asked, knowing his car was in for repair across the street.

“Your father lent me his truck. He needed a few things from the hardware store and I picked them up for him before coming in here.”

“Well, it’s good to see you,” Harper said. “Can I get you a coffee? On the house?” She smiled at Parker, disloyal bitch that she was.

“I’d love a cup. Black is good.”

Harper jumped up. “I’ll be back.”

Emily knew her friend was matchmaking and would inevitably take her time, and she wanted to strangle her.

“Too much caffeine isn’t good for you,” Emily said to Parker, wrapping her hands around the cooled cup of coffee.

“Then it’s a good thing I didn’t finish mine this morning. So how did your sales go today?” he asked, sounding truly interested.

After the boiler had been fixed – luckily it hadn’t been anything horrendously expensive – the heat had kicked back on, making her baking easier. He’d gone to shower and returned as she was finishing, packing her items to bring into town. He’d insisted on helping her, carrying her packed and covered baked goods out to the car and loading up the trunk.

“We had a good morning. Banana muffins sold out,” she said with pride.

“Cool. I’ll have to get one tomorrow before that happens.”

“You’ll still be here tomorrow?” she asked.

He nodded. “I called Matt this morning and he’s waiting for a ship date.”

“You could … you know, arrange for a ride back to wherever you came from?” She raised her eyebrows at him hopefully.

Taking her by surprise, he rose, flipped the chair, and sat down again, this time leaning close. “But what kind of vacation would that be? I like this small town, the proximity to the mountains, and I’m relaxed for the first time in … forever. So I figured what’s the rush?”

She blinked at him in surprise. He wasn’t leaving any time soon?

“Besides, your father said he has no problem with me staying. And I can help him with some things around the lodge.”

She unclenched her jaw enough to say, “Swell.”

She glanced around enough to know they were still alone. Harper was in the back, stalling in her making of a basic cup of coffee.

“Look,” she said, leaning forward, too close to the man. He smelled good, woodsy, musky, manly, she thought, doing her best not to squirm in her seat. “You might think the lodge is a fun project while you’re here and taking a break from whatever you’re running from at home, but this is our lives.”

“I respect that, Emily,” he said, his tone serious.

“Then respect the fact that my father doesn’t need you feeding him hope about the lodge. It’s falling apart, we don’t have the money to fix it, and he needs to go live with my sister in Florida, where he can take it easy and enjoy life. I’m this close to convincing him.” She elaborated on her words by gesturing with her thumb and forefinger. “So please, for the love of God, don’t give him hope we really don’t have.”