His eyes turn serious and the corners of his mouth tip up. “Can I just keep you here twenty-four seven? Seriously, Livy. Let’s do it. We can pick up some of your things tomorrow and you can stay here with me.”
I can see myself here with Parker. It’s funny, I am so used to being on my own that I never thought I’d actually consider sharing my life with anyone else. But being here in Parker’s arms makes me feel so safe and protected.
“I think that can be arranged.”
Parker smiles and rolls me over so I’m on top of him now. “Can you tell how happy I am?”
“I can - and I can feel it too.” I giggle and glance down at the situation happening between us. He’s inside of me and still hard as steel.
“You need something to eat! I’m making us dinner.”
“Excuse me. Since when do you cook?”
“Have you already forgotten my Michelin quality breakfast this morning?” He tickles my ribs and I squirm, letting out a high-pitched squeal. Our bodies finally separate and I feel the loss immediately.
“How could I forget? But making breakfast and cooking dinner are two completely different skills.”
“Hey, I’m not just skilled in the bedroom you know. This meal will blow your mind. Come on, I’ll pour you a glass of wine and you can relax while I cook. I’ll let you ogle my body all you want.”
I can’t help the smile that lights up my face. He smiles back, threading his fingers through mine, and presses an open-mouthed kiss against my lips. He breaks the kiss and I give him my best pouty face to let him know I wasn’t ready for it to end.
“If you keep looking at me like that Liv, we are never going anywhere but this bed.” He raises his brow and kisses me slowly. “And I wouldn’t complain, by the way.”
I feel the mattress dip, watching Parker rise from the bed. I follow, throwing one of his t-shirts over my head as he whips on a pair of his joggers and we head to the kitchen.
On the way to the kitchen, I stop and look at a bookcase covered in family photos. There’s a photo of Parker with Liam and Miles on a football field, arms around each other’s shoulders, beaming. There’s another of Parker with his family that looks like it was taken on a vacation. They are standing together on a pier, all smiles. Parker appears to be laughing. They are all so darn good looking. There are some serious good genes in that family. I start to imagine what our kids would look like. I bet they’d be diaper box photo worthy.
Woah, I really need to slow down. What just happened there?
Parker calls me into the kitchen and hands me a glass of wine. He has pancetta chopped into cubes on a cutting board on the counter and a large pot of water waiting to boil on the stove.
“What are you making me?”
“My dad’s famous carbonara. You will love it, it’s delicious.”
“I bet I will. What’s also delicious is you cooking for me in nothing but your joggers.”
He eyes me with a cocky grin. He clearly likes it when I stroke his ego, and I’m more than happy to oblige.
There’s something so insanely hot about a guy in just a slim fitted pair of joggers slung low on his hips with no shirt and bare feet. Especially with a body like Parker’s. I’m enjoying the view. Who could blame me?
“What can I do to help?”
“Nothing babe, I’ve got this.” Parker cracks two eggs into a bowl and adds a little salt and pepper. “What are your plans for the week?”
“It’s going to be another busy one. Besides that, I have yoga Wednesday night with the Ellie and Kate and at some point, I need to make time for my mom.” Just the thought of my mom reminds me of what I will be facing soon. I need to check in with her and make sure she is emotionally ready to see my dad again. The subject of my father hasn’t come up yet with Parker beyond our conversation at the beach and I’m dreading it. I know he must be wondering where my family and I are at with it all.
“How’s your mom doing? I could go with you to see her if you like. It would be nice to see her again. Unless you would prefer I didn’t tag along?”
It’s really sweet of him to offer. Parker and my mother always got along well. She liked him for me, and I know she was disappointed when I called things off with him. On one hand it would be nice to have him with me for moral support, but on the other it feels like it’s too much too soon. I don’t really want to talk about my mom right now, knowing where it will inevitably lead, so I decide to brush over the subject.
“She’s fine. Can I think about it?”
“Of course you can.”
“So work is pretty busy? It seems like you two have done one hell of a job with growing the business. Have you ever considered expanding?” Parker stirs the pancetta that is sizzling in the pan with a wooden spoon.
“We’ve talked about it and it’s something we both are interested in pursuing. We mostly just haven’t found a location that would work. The capital we would need is also a bit of an issue. Well, it’s a major issue.”