Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)

Parker shook his head in understanding. “No, it doesn’t.”

James drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “I haven’t told Emily, but I’ve gotten pressure from a big corporation to sell and it’s for good money.”

Parker narrowed his gaze. “But?” He picked up on the other man’s reluctance.

“This is a small town. We pride ourselves on our identity. If I sell to a conglomerate, they’re going to build a slick, high-end resort. It’ll put the little guy out of business. Harper’s Coffee? It’ll become a Starbucks. The Corner Store? A Target or Walmart. Or worse, some upscale store nobody who lives here can afford. I don’t want to be responsible for that kind of destruction.” He shook his head. “No way, no how. But I know Emily will see it as my way out. It’d hurt her to hurt her town, her friends, but if she thinks it’ll keep me around longer? She’ll push for it.”

“James, are you sick?” Parker couldn’t help but ask.

The man shook his lightly graying head. “No. But we both learned cancer doesn’t discriminate and she’s a scared little girl inside. So I haven’t told her about the offer.”

Parker got it. And despite the fact that lying never sat well with him, he understood why James was withholding the information from his daughter.

“On the other hand, if I can get this place up and running with a full house on a regular basis, especially in season, all the smaller businesses would profit from the tourists spending money in town. Not to mention how much this place meant to my wife. It was our dream. I want it to live on. I want to leave it to my daughter one day.”

As he listened to James’ explanation, the wheels in Parker’s head began to turn and excitement filled him for the first time in forever. He could do this. Help them, both financially and with the physical labor necessary on smaller fixes. It’d been a long time since he felt useful. Yeah, he worked for the family business but Ethan didn’t need him. It was more a place to park his ass when everything else had fallen apart.

He needed enjoyment in his life. Excitement. To feel like he was making a difference. And, he realized, he could do that here.

“I’ll tell you what,” he said to James. “I’ll front you the money.” He knew better than to say he’d just outright pay for it. The man had pride and Parker wouldn’t step on it. “And I’ll stick around to help fix things for as long as it takes.”

James’ mouth opened and closed in obvious surprise.

As if sensing the enormity of the moment, Parker’s cell rang. He’d changed Ethan’s ring so he’d recognize if he wanted to avoid his brother’s call. “Sorry,” he said to James. “It’s my oldest brother.”

“Take it,” James said. “I’m going to start cleaning.”

Parker knew he had to face the music sooner or later at home and he figured the man needed time to think and consider his offer.

He answered the phone, helping James clear the table at the same time. “Hi, Ethan.”

“Parker. Any news on the rental?” Ethan asked.

“No but–”

“Just call a car service and get your ass home. We have a new account I want you to take over,” his brother said.

Parker frowned, no thrill coming to him over the thought of another smart lock account to handle. “Listen. I’m taking a vacation.”

“What?” his brother all but barked in surprise.

“A vacation? You know, days off? The kind I haven’t taken in at least three years?” Because he hadn’t wanted downtime to think about what he’d lost or what he no longer had to look forward to. “I’m due.”

“Parker, what’s going on?” Ethan asked, sounding like the concerned older brother he used to be and not the ass who’d been duped by his drug-using, now-deceased wife.

He bit the inside of his cheek. “I need this time for me, Ethan. I’m staying.” And with that, he disconnected the call.

Drawing a deep breath, he turned to face Emily’s dad. “So what do you say? Will you let me help?”

“With a real contract and provisions for payback?” James asked.

“Yes.”

“And you’ll stay on here free. I’ll cover room and board while you’re here.”

Parker didn’t like it but he sensed it was a deal breaker. It wasn’t easy for a man to admit he couldn’t afford to solve his own problems, let alone take money from … a city slicker, he thought wryly.

“Deal,” he said, extending his hand.

He and James shook hands, sealing their agreement. Then they finished cleaning the kitchen in silence, each alone with their thoughts, James’ probably on saving his beloved inn, Parker’s back on Emily and when the hell she would be back from her date.

After they finished cleaning, James went upstairs to read, leaving Parker alone in the family room with a fire in the fireplace, a glass of bourbon in his hand, and his thoughts, which grew darker the longer Emily was out with Matt.