Parker had risen from his seat and met her at the door. “Good date?”
She met his curious stare, still undecided about whether or not to tell him the truth about why she’d accepted the date in the first place. She would have mentioned it this afternoon, but his attitude, telling her what she could and couldn’t do, had put her off.
“I’ve had better,” she said honestly.
Her stomach chose that moment to growl in a loud, unladylike fashion.
Parker narrowed his gaze. “Didn’t he feed you?”
“The steak was chewy,” she admitted.
“And he didn’t notice that you didn’t eat?”
She merely shrugged.
“Come on.” He grasped her hand in his larger one and pulled her toward the kitchen. “Your dad had leftover stew. I’ll heat you up a bowl.”
She couldn’t turn down her favorite meal. “Thank you,” she said, appreciating the gesture.
A little while later, he sat across from her at the table while she devoured her father’s stew. “So tell me how you ended up here,” she said, wanting to know more about this man she couldn’t quite figure out.
“My family owns a company that supplies smart locks to corporations and defense contractors. Knight Time Technology. My older brother, Ethan, runs things, and my brother Sebastian, my sister, Sierra, and I all work there,” he explained.
She placed her spoon down and looked at him. “A family business. That’s nice. My sister moved away and I miss her.”
“Having mine was a Godsend for me, to be honest.”
She’d finished her dinner and pushed the bowl aside, leaning in to listen more closely. “How so?”
He hesitated, his expression more open and vulnerable than she’d seen since meeting him. “My mom died when I was thirteen. She had cancer.”
Tears filled her eyes, the memory of losing her own mom under a year ago still fresh. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, feeling an unexpected bond with Parker, this man she’d been trying so hard not to like.
“Thanks. I know you understand.”
But she couldn’t imagine her beloved parent dying when she’d still been young and needed her in myriad ways.
He ran a hand through his hair, the subject obviously upsetting. “After that, my dad basically checked out. It was like he was no longer a parent. Ethan stepped up but he was only two years older than me, so it was tough on him. Still, he became our father figure, Sierra, Sebastian, and me. Made sure we did our homework, got to school, and kicked Sebastian’s ass when he stepped out of line, which was often.”
His sexy lips kicked up, obviously at the memory of his brother’s antics. “Dad was there to buy him out of trouble but not to be there for him … or any of us in the ways that mattered. He had a revolving door of wives and the four of us came to rely on each other. A lot.”
“That’s sad,” she murmured.
“You have a great father. I only wish I had that kind of role model, but I have my brothers and sister.”
His voice warmed as he spoke of them and it was obvious he loved his siblings, she thought, seeing a softer side to Parker Knight. It made her nervous, liking him, lowering her guard in any way.
“Shit,” he said with a shake of his head. “You asked me how I ended up here and I dove into my past. Point is, I came out here to check out one of the bigger lodges as a place where we can hold a corporate retreat. It didn’t pan out and I decided to take my time heading back to Denver. I was driving through town when my car started acting up. And here I am.”
“And you seem in no rush to get back.”
“No, I’m not.” He leaned forward in his seat, studying her for so long and so intently a flush rose to her face. Reaching out, he stroked a hand over her warm cheeks. “There’s a lot to like here,” he murmured.
At his touch, her body responded, nipples tightening, desire throbbing between her thighs. She was in so much freaking trouble, she thought, jumping up and taking the bowl to the sink.
His low chuckle reverberated through her.
“I need to get to sleep,” she said. “I have to be up early to bake and take everything to Harper’s.” She was avoiding him and anything serious and she had no doubt he knew it, too.
“I’ll help you with your baked goods and drive you in to get your car,” he said, telling her what they would do. Not asking.
But when Parker gave orders, it didn’t feel like he was manipulating her, merely going out of his way to help her when she needed it.
And how could she be upset with him for that?
Chapter Four
Emily and Parker sat at a table in the corner of a packed Harper’s, the usual morning rush of people grabbing coffee and muffins great to see. She’d hired another barista to help serve, which eased the load and, as things finally slowed down, let Harper join Emily and Parker at a table, where they’d waited. Emily wanted to spend time with her friend before picking up her car, and Parker seemed in no rush to get back to the inn, hanging out with her for the morning.