Her Marine Next Door - Aliyah Burke Page 0,20
Parker and her. All the while, she stripped her bed and put on clean sheets, began the laundry, picked up Alpin’s empty dish, and started some food for herself. As she pulled the new sheets on her king bed, she paused as she thought about Reggie.
“Stop it,” Lesli barked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb with me. I know what you were thinking. You went quiet, and you do that when you’re thinking about Reggie. Stop blaming yourself. He’s gone, and so is Brennen, but this isn’t anything you had control of. Remember that. You can’t continue to live as if your life ended that day, too. Years, Skylar. It’s been years.”
So much easier to say than to do. At least for her. The guilt was immense and constantly weighed her down. “If he were alive, if they were alive, I’d be a cheater.” Like he had been. She shook off that angry memory.
“If they were there, this wouldn’t have come up. I’m wanting to like this marine, so I’m going to assume he wouldn’t be poaching on another man’s territory. Reggie was my brother, Skylar. Brennen my nephew. You have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to returning to the world of the living.”
She frowned and crossed her arms as if Lesli were in front of her to glare at. “I’m in the world of the living. I go out and talk to people.”
“Your old neighbors don’t count, and neither do the people who’ve hired you to do a job. You’ve submerged yourself in work and even if you’re not out dating this man, at least you’re rotating the old tires and, from the sounds of things, he’s fucking worth it.”
“Really, rotating the tires? Who even says that anymore?”
“Whatever. Look, this is good for you. Use him, ride him, grind on him, whatever you need to do. Just go for it and enjoy.”
“He’s got all these tattoos, Lesli, and dammit, they are sexy as fuck. I’ve never been a tattoo person until I saw his.” She closed her eyes and conjured an image of all that ink.
“And now?”
She stared at her reflection in the mirror. “I’m not up for getting one, but damn, he makes them look good.”
“That, right there. That feeling you have when you talk about him and his tattoos. Hold on to that. Embrace it and live. I have to go, unless you want to be on the phone while I have sex?”
“No. I’m good, thanks. More than happy to let you go. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, one more thing. We’re taking some time and vacationing for a while. Just wanted to let you know so you don’t think I’m just ignoring your calls. We may be out of range.”
“Thank you for letting me know. Have fun. I’d say tell Maurice ‘hi’ for me, but I really don’t want to be in your bed.”
“You’re always welcome.” Maurice’s voice reached her. “Ignore what my wife says. I have a spot for you right here beside me on the bed.”
“On that note…” she said with a smile, then disconnected the call. Worrying her lower lip, she sank to the mattress and took a deep breath.
Alpin padded into the room and looked at her before making his way to her side and resting his head on her leg, looking up at her with his large eyes.
“I wish it were that easy, really I do, Alpin. I just don’t think it is.”
…
Parker worked in his garage waiting for Skylar to come back. The kid sat there in a corner, not saying anything and not paying him much attention. He’d tried to engage Cullen in working on his bike, but the boy didn’t care. It was a one-eighty from how interested he’d been in the woodworking at Skylar’s place.
He didn’t know where Gemma was and, to tell the truth, he didn’t give a fuck. Her car wasn’t in the drive. Interesting, though, how the woman didn’t seem to mind running off and leaving the kid with a man he hadn’t known for more than a day.
She’d asked him if he was good watching the boy and ghosted the moment he told her he was fine.
“Do you want to go in the backyard and play?” he asked. What he could play with back there, he wasn’t sure. Hell, he hadn’t expected any children in his life.
While it wasn’t a huge and astounding affirmation, the slight eyes widening and head nod were enough. Parker wiped his hands off on a rag and