boy, bothering him to no end, had any affect on Skylar, there was no indication.
Talk over the meal was clipped and uncomfortable. His dad asked about her work and at each chance, his mom smacked down what she did so fucking well.
“Are you sure you want to be involved with a marine?” she asked.
Parker wanted to know the answer to this, so he waited.
“He was a marine when we first met, so I knew what the life entailed, even before we became a couple.”
“And if he doesn’t come back?”
Okay, just morbid of his mom to think this way.
“I suspect it would be just as painful as losing someone coming home from work on the interstate. I know he can’t promise to come home, but I know he’ll always try to return not just to me, but to you both and Cullen.”
“And do you get along with Gemma? She’s such a dear and trying so hard not to be a single mom.” A pointed glare. “Of course, as you’re not a mother, you wouldn’t understand. You’re just the one keeping the family separate.”
She’d withstood the other jabs, but he did hear the high whimper from her this time, and it pushed him.
“That’s it.” Parker tossed down his napkin and shoved back from the table in a singular motion. “I won’t sit here and let you be so disrespectful to my fiancée. I expected more of you.” After pulling his wallet, he tossed a pile of bills down. “Skylar, let’s go.”
She rose, and he claimed her hand. “Sir. Ma’am.”
Together, they walked out, and he shook he was so fucking pissed.
Storm clouds were rolling in off the ocean, lightning splitting the sky, showing off for those who didn’t have their heads pushed into some form of modern technology. As they walked out, he caught Skylar looking out there more than once. His woman was one who preferred to hold her books instead of reading them on an e-reader; she held her crossword puzzles and wasn’t someone who had the television playing all the time.
Hand on the small of her back, he guided her through the parking lot to the truck. Jaw clenched, he tried to control his rage. And embarrassment.
“You can breathe a bit easier now, Parker. It’s okay.”
He spun her into his chest. “Bull-fucking-shit it’s okay. I’m so sorry they treated you like that.”
Her smile was sad. “It’s not anything I haven’t had directed my way before. In fact, I’ve had worse things said. You can’t let it get to you. I’ll survive. I did. We both did. And you have to remember, this isn’t something permanent.”
He cupped her nape, then unlocked her door, her words bothering him more than ever. Never before had he wanted to push, to ask about someone more. He’d grown up in a house where it wasn’t done. It was said or it wasn’t, and you moved on. But with her, he wanted to know more. Problem was, he wasn’t sure how to broach it without her shutting down. “Whether we’re permanent or not, she had no reason to behave like that. As far as they know, you are my fiancée, and they should have been welcoming.”
She waited one beat, two, then slid her arms around his neck and touched their lips together. He froze, shocked by the kiss but unwilling to move back.
His cock strained against the material of his slacks when her tongue slid along his lower lip. Then she pushed in. He was there to welcome her. His lids closed as he wrapped her tightly to him, hands splayed along her back and the swell of her ass.
Everything within him screamed at him to not let her go when she backed up, but he loosened his hold and allowed her to step back. Passion swam in those incredible brown eyes. He skimmed his tongue along his lips, indulging in the flavor of her mint lip gloss.
“I’ll be okay, Parker.”
Even though her words were confident, he heard the wobble in her voice and cursed his parents once more. He didn’t stop there—he added himself to the beratement list, because he was the one who’d insisted on the dinner and made her stay, suffering his mom’s behavior because he hadn’t believed she’d act that way. One thing was for sure—he wouldn’t let that happen again.
“Come on, baby. I promised you an explanation, and I owe you something to make up for that shitty dinner.”
Thunder rolled and again, her eyes cut to the left and out over