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“When was this taken?” His fingers run over the picture.
“A few years ago. Rosie was on this fitness kick and convinced me that we should go to this boot camp. We camped in the rain and had to complete this crazy assault course the following day. It was awful but so much fun too.” I laugh at the memory. I swear I had to shower for weeks to feel clean again.
He nods, listening intently before looking at another photo. It’s a picture of a family holiday when I was a teenager, my aunt and uncle with Rosie and me.
“That was taken on our family holiday one year. We went to a log cabin. My uncle is big on shutting off technology and remembering to live. So we went back to basics, played board games, and laughed until our sides hurt.”
“Sounds amazing,” he says, placing it back on the dresser and moving to take me in his arms. “They love you very much.”
“They’re everything. They made me feel loved and part of a family.” And man did I need that after the fallout with my mom.
The affection in his gaze has my breath catching in my throat. Reaching up, I pull his head toward mine and plant a soft kiss on his lips. What starts slow turns heated, with Parker groaning into my mouth as he pulls me flush against him.
He pulls back and gently bites my lip, teasing me. Backing up and sitting on my bed, he says, “I love seeing this part of your life. How you weathered the storm and became my rainbow girl.”
I laugh at that and admit, “It was a pretty epic place to grow up. I’m sure Rosie will happily fill you in on all our wild adventures.”
Leaning back to rest on his elbows, he sends me a smoldering look that has my panties trying to spontaneously combust. “Wild, huh? You ever bring a guy up here?”
Straddling him, I wrap my arms around his neck and nibble on his jaw before I ask, “Would you be jealous if I said I had?”
“That depends…” His lips descend on mine, staking his claim with the dominance I’ve come to love from him.
“On?”
“Whether I can fuck the memories out of your system.” I gasp as he flips us, hovering over me and pushing me into the bed. His erection presses into me and sends heat straight to my core.
Wrap my legs around him, I grip his hair and pull his mouth to mine, trying to devour him.
“Give it your best shot, Hawthorne.”
* * *
The sun shines through the thin rainbow curtains in my bedroom, illuminating the empty spot beside me. Reaching for the Post-it note stuck to the pillow, I smile as I read it.
Rainbow Girl, just gone for a run. Be back soon.
X
By the time I’m dressed and downstairs, my aunt is entertaining Easton, and Parker’s still not back. Easton’s little giggles and the megawatt smile on Maria’s face have me beaming.
Making myself a coffee, I sit at the breakfast table and watch Maria make East’s monkey climb the coffee table. He thinks it’s hilarious, and his little giggle is infectious.
The front door opens and closes, and expecting it to be Parker, I make my way to the hallway, coffee still in hand.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” Surprised to see her, I stop short with my question lingering between us. Rosie didn’t mention that she was coming to the party, and that’s something I would have thought she would have told me.
“It’s my niece’s engagement party—of course I’m here. Maria said you were staying here, so I thought I’d stop by and see you. You’ve been very hard to pin down the last few weeks. I was worried about you.” Her perfectly painted lips turn into a frown, clearly disappointed I’m spending more time with her sister than I am her. Not that it should come as a surprise, considering Maria practically raised me.
Easton runs into the hallway, laughing, “Sum, play play!”
His little hands fist at my dress and attempt to pull me back into the lounge.
“Soon, little man. Go find Aunty Ria, and I’ll be there in a minute.” I stroke his head and smile back at him.
He runs off, placated for now, and my mother turns her attention back to me. “Who’s that?”
“That’s Easton.” I don’t elaborate. I can’t believe this is how I’m going to tell my mother. Granted, I should have probably told her sooner, but I was having the best time in my bubble, and I didn’t want her perfectly manicured nails to burst it.
