Her Marine Next Door - Aliyah Burke Page 0,35

deeper than she thought they could.

“Mom.”

She looked between them, eyes wide. “It’s true. You never mentioned her, or did I miss that bit, where you told us you had a fiancée and a son?”

Skylar didn’t do family squabbles. She wanted to run away. Parker tightened his grip on her hand briefly, then wrapped his arm around her. “I’m on my way to rehab. What did you two need?”

“I came to see my grandson.”

Dara did the talking; Paul was silent and watched a lot. She knew where Parker got it from now.

He looked down at her. “I’m fine with them keeping him for the day, if they want to spend time with him.”

“I’ll run my errands early and if they need to drop him off later, they can, unless she’s back.”

It killed her to see the lower lip tremble on Cullen as he was carried away by his grandmother, but all she did was wave and give him a big smile.

…

Skylar was in her garage working on a new bed for Mrs. O’Neary’s cat, Absinthe, when the cars began to arrive and instead of parking in the driveway next door, they pulled up in hers. Her gut tightened with unease.

Parker was in the back, getting the grill going. He’d made a trip to the store and come back carrying more meat than she’d have ever thought could be consumed in a single setting.

“Skylar!”

She released the sandpaper she was using and found Gibson striding in with a large smile on his face.

“Mr. McMasters.” She dusted off her palms and stepped forward offering her hand.

He waggled a finger at her. “No Mr. McMasters, call me Gibson, or like the others do, Sonar. We already like you, so we’ll call you Skylar. And we get to hug you.”

His words were her only warning before she found herself hauled up against his strong body. Tears burned briefly before she got herself under control. It was like a group of older brothers who, she had no doubt, would protect her.

“Found these on the ground by your truck. Didn’t want you to get a flat tire.” He dropped a bunch of nails on a workbench.

What the hell? She definitely didn’t let that happen—she was fucking meticulous about her things.

Every man hugged her as he approached, then went through the house to meet Parker in the backyard. Except Gibson. He stayed with her.

Eventually, Parker made his way to her as well and scowled at his friend as he pulled her close for a spine-tingling kiss. “I’ve missed you. Are you finished with the bed?”

“I was finishing up when they started to arrive. I was talking to Gibson about doing a bed frame for him.”

“Stop talking to my woman about anything to do with beds.”

She smacked him, rolling her eyes. “Stop it. Don’t you have a grill to man? And a porch to build?”

“Right. Porch. The reason you were invited. So come help us.”

“Parker?”

Her insides went cold at that voice. Seconds later, the woman it belonged to walked into view. She wore a barely there dress like the women who used to go to his parties.

Skylar’s fake fiancé didn’t move, didn’t release her.

“Where’s Cullen?” Parker’s tone was bland.

“Still sleeping. I’ll bring him over when he wakes.”

“We had an agreement.”

She pasted on a smile and turned to Gibson. “I remember you from a few years ago when Parker and I hooked up.” She held out her hand. “Gemma. I don’t know if you remember me or not.”

“Nope.” Gibson didn’t take her hand. In fact, he crossed his arms and glared. “Only one I remember is Skylar, because she’s more than a onetime thing.”

Okay, she could really like him.

Gemma’s fine skin flushed, but she didn’t slink away. “I need to talk to you, Parker.” Another cold look in Skylar’s direction. “Alone.”

Gibson stepped forward and gestured toward Skylar. “I’ll escort this lovely lady to the back. We have more things to discuss, anyway.”

Skylar didn’t want to leave. She didn’t trust Gemma in her garage. That woman brought out a side of her she didn’t think she had any longer. Possessive, angry. A side of her that she’d had before she became a couple with Reggie. Once that fell apart, there was no reason to be possessive or angry. She’d learned to shove her feelings away so she didn’t dwell on the fact that she hadn’t been good enough for her husband.

Falling into step with the handsome marine friend of Parker, they walked inside, where music blared and she could smell the rich