Take Me Down (The Knight Brothers 2)
Ethan groaned. “I’m sorry, man.”
“Me, too.” He took in his brother’s overall look for the first time and laughed. “I see you haven’t gotten a haircut.”
Ethan raised his finger in an F-you gesture.
This conversation finished, Parker went upstairs to pack and say goodbye.
* * *
Emily stood in the family room with Parker and Ethan. Her father had been shocked to discover Parker was leaving, but they’d said their goodbyes and profuse thank yous on both sides, James for all Parker had done since he’d arrived and Parker for her father’s hospitality.
A lump lodged in her throat and she was in a state of internal panic. Why had she told him to go home? They could have had more time … but she knew it would have been a mistake. More time to get used to him being in the house, to sleeping in his bed, to having him help her with her deliveries to town in the morning or sharing coffee together before they drove in.
He had to be getting bored with nothing to do but take walks, drive to town, or hang around the inn. No, she thought sadly, she’d done the right thing for them both.
And he knew it, too, or he’d never have agreed to go.
“Emily, I was hoping we could start over,” Ethan said, distracting her from her painful reality.
She glanced at the imposing man who had all but verbally ripped her to shreds earlier and had to remind herself he was Parker’s brother. He’d been his pseudo-parent and Parker loved him.
She assumed Parker had had a talk with Ethan earlier, and for Parker’s sake, she nodded. “Sure. That would be good.”
“I’m sorry. I was…” Ethan trailed off and Parker slammed him in the rib with his elbow.
“An utter and complete ass and I’m sorry,” Ethan said, coughing over his brother’s unsubtle and probably too hard jab.
“Thank you. I accept your apology. But for the future, you might want to work on your people skills,” she said, unable to hold back some of her feelings.
Beside her, Parker chuckled, and to her surprise, Ethan let out a loud laugh.
“Feisty. I can see the attraction and why you love her.” He paused. “I’ll go out to the car. Give you two a few minutes alone,” Ethan said.
He headed out to his rental car and Parker turned to face her.
“You’re going to kill me but I’m hiring a private investigator to look into Rex. I want to find something on the bastard that I can take to him and use to convince him to give you the divorce. And I’m getting someone to keep an eye on this place until we know you’re comfortable and feel safe from him and his uninvited appearances.”
Her eyes opened wide at his words. “You’re insane.”
He shook his head. “Don’t fight with me. It won’t help and you don’t want our goodbye to turn into an argument.” His grin said he knew he’d won this round.
She drew a deep breath and let it out, then decided agreement was simpler. “Fine. Thank you for looking out for me.”
She really would feel safer knowing there was someone around to make sure Rex didn’t get out of control. “But you can’t keep someone watching me indefinitely.”
He merely cocked an eyebrow and she bit down on her cheek. As agreed, she wouldn’t argue.
“Let’s see. What else?” he asked. “Your father promised to be careful and not cause you any extra worry about him. No more ladders.” He gestured toward the basement, where James had taken his fall.
She should have known Parker would leave no stone unturned in taking care of her despite the abruptness of his departure.
She slid her tongue over her dry lips, then said, “I’m having Harper write the checks to our landlord.” She half hiccupped, half laughed, which was all in an attempt to hold back a cry. She didn’t even want to write out his name, taunting her with what they couldn’t have.
Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. She repeated the mantra to herself over and over, not wanting to break down until he was gone. She didn’t want his last memory of her to be red eyes and a snotty nose.
He cupped her face in his hand and stared into her eyes. “This is the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever done and that’s saying something,” he said in a gruff voice, and she lost the battle, the tears she’d been holding back releasing, trickling down her cheeks.
“I’m going to miss you, city boy,” she whispered.
He treated her to a sad smile. “I want to say there’s text and phone and FaceTime–”
She shook her head. “I can’t be your friend, Parker. Because one day you’ll move on and it will break my heart.” Her throat burned holding back the bawling cry she wanted to have. “A clean break is much easier.” Easier was definitely the wrong word, but knowing he was moving on without her would kill her. She’d rather not know for sure.