Her Marine Next Door - Aliyah Burke Page 0,34
hearing that daily. Multiple times daily.
Parker walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “What are you doing?”
He’d come in late last night and slipped into bed beside her as if he had every right to be there. Although she knew time was running out before their farce ended, she enjoyed him next to her too much to say anything.
“Trying to remember where I left something.”
He rested his chin on her head. “Bedroom. I can help you look.”
“Look at you being almost funny.” She shrugged. “I’m sure it will turn up.”
“What was it?”
“One of my chisels. It’s very sharp, and I don’t like not knowing where it is. I usually don’t misplace my tools.” She glanced out the open garage door. Until recently, she’d been fine leaving it up and open. Now she wasn’t so sure she would continue to do so. “You leaving?”
“I am. Cullen is inside dozing. He doesn’t think he needs to sleep. He hasn’t eaten, but says he’ll eat with you.”
And I’m the babysitter again.
Anger spiked. Her mind tried to remind her this was the real reason he was being so nice to her. He was getting sex and a babysitter. “Fine.”
In all honesty, she didn’t mind having Cullen around. He shadowed her, built his own things, and did his best to copy her. He behaved on her deliveries and had become popular at the lumberyard and store. What bothered her was Parker had come to assume he could drop the boy off whenever he wanted without giving the slightest consideration to what her plans were. No point in making an issue of it, though—why ruffle feathers when this was only for a little more time?
And in some way, it eased a bit of her pain over not being there for Brennen. Cullen was a little boy used as a pawn in this game. One she shouldn’t continue to be a part of.
He reeled her close and tipped her chin up. “What’s wrong?”
She couldn’t lie to him, so instead, she opted to omit a few of her issues. “Stressing over this new commission piece, upset about my hand, and pissed I forgot they were delivering the wood for my back porch today.”
His brow furrowed. “Porch?”
“I was going to build a larger one with more shade.”
“On your own?”
“No reason to sound that way. I can build a porch, I mean I know it’s not furniture but—”
He covered her mouth with his lips, and she sank into him. When he finished and drew back she blinked. “Most people put a hand there.”
“I’ll pick kissing you any day of the week. I asked that because you continually shock me with what you can do.” Another brief touch of his lips. “New plan for us this evening, because you are not building a deck. That, I can handle.”
She didn’t doubt it.
“New plan is this. I’ll get some of my guys. We’ll have a cookout and get the deck up in no time.”
“Don’t you party at your place?”
He kissed the back of her hand. “I used to, but my fiancée put the kibosh on that. And I would do anything for her. No crazy party. Just my fiancée, my son, some of my best buds, and their girlfriends if they want. Time you met the guys.”
This kiss was danger, and her knees wobbled when he pulled away.
Shit, I’m in trouble.
She walked with him out of the garage where he pulled her close for one more toe-curling kiss. Seconds later, icy water was tossed over her when she heard a sharp gasp.
“This, this is your fiancée, Parker? Your neighbor?”
Looks like she was meeting the parents sooner than she could ever want to.
Parker held her gaze, and she was glad to see the flash of anger before he curbed it. At least he wasn’t all in agreement with his mother about the fiancée being her. He chucked her beneath the chin with his thumb and winked. “You and me, Skylar, together. Sir. Mom, what are you two doing here?”
“Next door, Parker? She lives next door?” The woman looked decidedly uncomfortable.
“I’d like both of you to meet Skylar Radford. Skylar, my parents, Paul and Dara Jax.”
She wanted to puke up her breakfast. As that would be rude, she took a deep breath and offered her hand. Paul took it first, his grip firm and strong. Dara’s was like a limp fish.
“It’s so nice to meet you both. Parker’s told me a lot about you.”
“Never mentioned you at all.” His mother’s words cut