can’t just throw us out on the street.”
There was desperation in her tone. Was she always this whiny?
He moved his gaze from her to the car she drove. A Mercedes, not new, but not a classic. It did look as if a ton of crap was shoved in the seats.
“I need a DNA test.”
Her eyes widened, but she held out hands that shook and agreed.
If she weren’t telling the truth, perhaps she wouldn’t have been so quick to say she’d do the DNA test.
Perhaps this boy is mine.
“We’re not staying here together.”
“You’re making me and your son stay in a hotel? I’m sure there’s room here, Parker, for us to stay.” She gestured to the house he still hadn’t allowed her in. “Or is this place only a one-bedroom?”
The commanding edge to her tone struck a nerve, but he bit it back, because it played into what he ultimately wanted.
“Come on,” he ordered, even as he strode over the manicured lawn between his house and Skylar’s.
He waited for them to join him at the edge of her paved drive. Then he took a deep breath and called out, “Skylar?”
She poked her head out of the garage seconds later, and her gaze skimmed the three of them. He wouldn’t swear on it, but he was almost positive her eyes softened when they passed over the boy.
Beckoning to her, he made her lock gazes with him. “Come here, baby, I have something to tell you.” Her eyebrow rose slightly at his use of “baby,” but she didn’t refute him. That’s a positive sign.
“This is who you’re dating?” Gemma bit off.
“Mind your tone and words,” he snarled in response.
He stepped forward and held out his palm, grasping Skylar’s uninjured hand, making sure to lace their fingers. He drew her close and tipped his head to look down at her, reveling in what this allowed him to do. Touch her. If this worked out, he’d be in her home tonight.
Then he could move on to the next step in a fling.
He brushed his lips along hers, so light he wasn’t sure it hadn’t been his imagination; however, her sharp breath told him she’d experienced the bolt that rocked through him as well.
Parker repositioned himself so Skylar and he faced Gemma and the boy. Maybe I should ask what his name is.
He reluctantly released her hand and then put his arm around her. Even with the light sweat from moving the wood, she still smelled like fresh peaches and frosted raspberries with that slightest hint of mint, the scent that drove him crazy.
He’d address her hauling wood with her injured hand later.
“I meant what I said, Gemma. I demand a paternity test to prove what you’re saying about…what’s his name?”
“Cullen.”
He liked the name. “Got it. Cullen. However, in the meantime, I won’t make you two get a hotel. You can stay at my house.” He tightened his grip on Skylar. “I’m over here mostly anyway, when I’m home from deployment.”
There wasn’t any way to hide the sharp intake of breath from Skylar, and he flexed his fingers along her skin. Yes, this was exactly where he wanted to be. The woman beside him stiffened, but didn’t argue.
Plan had altered but again, Recon. He would roll with it.
Gemma’s glare zeroed in on them both, mostly Skylar. She moved her ponytail back from where it had fallen forward over her shoulder. “Why would you be here with her when you have a home right there?”
He nuzzled the soft curls around Skylar’s ear. God, he’d never get enough of her hair on his skin. “Because Skylar is my fiancée.”
Chapter Three
Skylar needed to clean her ears, because something was in them. Something that was the reason she was hearing things. She’d swear she’d heard Parker say she was his fiancée. And some issue of a paternity question.
Oh my God, I need to open my mouth and dispute this. Stay out of his family drama.
The last thing she needed was be around a little boy the same age hers had been when he was taken from her.
Just like this morning, however, his touch derailed any bit of common sense or rationality. Plus, the damn man didn’t play fair. He’d come over shirtless. How the hell was any sane, sexually alive person supposed to ignore all this fineness?
She’d heard of women who tried to get a man to believe they were the father to help out, and she didn’t want to assume anything bad about a mother, but she couldn’t ignore