Thirteen

"It"s been so long since I've taken the time to drive up to the Catskills," I say, admiring the beauty the farther away from the hustle and bustle of the city we get.

"Did your parents ever bring you up here?" Parker asks, and my eyes trace the way his hands wrap around the wheel of his black-on-black Rolls Royce Wraith.

I scoff. "Heck no. This wasn't up to their standards for a vacation." I didn't come up here until the fall of my freshmen year when Sloan, Quinn, and I took our first girls' weekend getaway. I fell in love with the quietness.

"Not even a day trip?"

"A day trip in their eyes is taking a helicopter out to the Hamptons." I remember one time we took a small plane up to Toronto for my dad's business meeting. I begged and pleaded to make a pit stop to see Niagara Falls and you would have thought I was asking to go dumpster diving by the way my mom turned her nose up. "That's for silly tourists," she had said. If it didn't involve a good shopping spree or the bragging rights to talk about trips to Europe, then they didn't want to do it.

"Sounds luxurious," he says with an eye roll.

"Sounds boring," I retort. "I mean, don't get me wrong, some of my best memories were spent at my grandparents' house in the Hamptons, but you don't know how badly I wished as kid to do simple things like this."

"Why does it always seem that we want what we can't have?" he says, and I don't miss the way his eyes linger on my face before looking back at the road.

"As a kid, did you want the lavish things you have now?"

He thinks about it for a minute and shakes his head. "No. I've been around people with money my whole life, and none of them ever seemed as happy as my parents." Parker pauses for a minute, then adds, "Well, before my mother's diagnosis, at least."

"How old were you?"

"She was diagnosed my senior year of college, but they didn't tell me until I came home that summer, and she was gone six months later."

Fuck. I can't imagine. I don't share an overwhelming fondness for my mother, but I would never want her to go through something like that.

I picture a beautiful brunette with Parker's eyes. Retracing his apartment in my head, I don't think he has any pictures of actual people, now that I think about it. But then again, I haven't been in his room. I can't help but wonder if I'm right, or which parent he resembles most.

"Tell me something about them."

Emotion passes over his face before he answers.

"My mom gave up everything for my dad and my dad gave up everything for me. But somehow, it always felt like we still had it all."

A soft smile lifts his lips, like he's reminiscing, as my mind conjures up a younger, more carefree Parker.

"My mom's family cut her off financially when she chose to marry my father, and my father gave up his musical ambitions when she became pregnant with me. They bought a small house on Long Island and made it into the perfect home for me to grow up in. Our spare time was full of music festivals and baseball tournaments, camping trips, day drives up here. They didn't just love me, they believed in me. Believed I could do anything I set out to do."

That makes me smile, thinking of the support and love I always got from my grandparents. I'm happy Parker was able to experience that.

"Sounds like an amazing childhood. Did you ever see your mom's family?" I wonder if they are who he was referring to when he mentioned being around people with money.

He hesitates, and I notice the dark look that washes over his face. "Yeah, not because of my mom. My dad grew up in the system and refused to let my mom give up her family for him completely. We went to holidays on occasion. And in the summer, I would spend time with them." It makes me wonder if they were there for him when his parents died, but I'm scared to ask.

"Where are they all now?"

"Some are in the city, some live out east in the Hamptons." The sneer on his features doesn't go unnoticed, and I take that as my cue to stop prying.

The next sign I see offers me the perfect distraction and change in subject.

"Ooooh, fresh strawberry shortcakes. That sounds delish."I point, and Parker grunts in approval.

The strawberry patch sign reminds me of Sloan's text from earlier. I finally three-way called her and Quinn on Wednesday to fill them in on my disaster of an apartment—I may have thought they planned the whole catastrophe themselves if I hadn't of been with them in North Carolina that weekend.

They were way too excited about my current living arrangements. Quinn, especially, reminding me of what the close proximity turned into for her and Eli.

The difference is, those two were written in the stars from the very beginning. Parker and I may have an undeniable chemistry, but I'm no fool to think he would ever love me.

My gaze wanders from his big hands to his flexed forearms, every tattoo on his skin a true work of art. I can't help but want to test his restraint, because that kiss last night took every bit of mine to pull away from. But I refuse to be the one who initiates things again, I want him to want me as badly as I do him. My body is still completely agreeable to just sex with him, but my mental can't handle the rejection again. Especially not with the progress we have made with not constantly being at each other"s throats.

"We're getting close," Parker says, and I don't ask questions. He said he'd explain once we got there.

I stare out the window, enjoying the peacefulness. Parker's phone rang on and off about work for the first hour on the way up here, until he finally said he was turning it to Do Not Disturb. Unfortunately for me, Parker handling his multiple business matters while I sat beside him quietly was not annoying at all. Instead, it was a turn-on, hearing him handle all the different things he has going on with ease and dominance.

Dominance. Something I never knew I liked so much.

We turnonto a gravel road lined with trees along each side, and my mind continues to run with possibilities about what he is bringing me here to see.

The trees start to fade, and suddenly the view opens up. Beautiful fields of green grass lead to the base of the mountain. I roll my window down, enjoying the summer breeze and fresh valley air floating through the window. So different from the smells of the city.

Mountains upon mountains surround the picture-perfect view. To the left, I see a river flowing through the valley and a small bridge you can cross over on foot. Parker stops the car, and I follow as he gets out, still not saying anything.

This place is a hidden gem. I'm wondering if it was special to his parents.

I walk behind, still taking in all the natural beauty, and I see a large home in the distance. It appears to have quite a bit of age to it, from what I can see from here. But I love it. Like an antique, it will be full of character.

We walk onto the bridge and Parker leans his forearms onto the railing, looking down at the water traveling under us. I take a second to admire him like this. I don't think I've ever seen him so at ease.

"What is this place, P?"

The little nickname slips out. I'm not even sure where it came from, but I think I like it, and by the smirk on his face, I would say he does too.

"P, huh?"

I shrug. "It"s better than asshole, right?"

He chuckles. "Definitely."

"This is my next investment… Well, hopefully. I'm still in negotiations with the seller. My dream would be to make it a small resort. A mixture of luxury and outdoors." He points out into the distance. "I'd love to have some more lavish cabins away from the main property, but then make sure the main rooms are affordable for your average family."

"Parker, you have to do it," I say in awe, excitement thrumming through my body. A wide smile takes over my face, and I mentally start planning out décor themes and floorplans.

Looking back at me, he smiles. "I see that brain of yours working a mile a minute right now."

"You have no idea. This would be a dream job. I know I said that about the hotel, but this is on another level. You could create an oasis here, truly."

For the first time when my eyes find his, I notice light blue clouds mixing with the stormy grey ones. He's happy.

"Well, if the hotel is up to my expectations, you just may have yourself another job lined up." His brow furrows. "Unless you aren't willing to leave the city."

"Are you kidding me? For this, I would leave in a heartbeat." My smile only grows as I think back on my first sketchbook.

"One of the first designs I ever created before I was even in college was an elaborate bed-and-breakfast layout."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I went to visit my aunt in Paris, and she took me out to this quaint countryside town in France. We went to a retreat that was unreal. It was my high school graduation present from her. I literally created a whole plan with that as my inspiration, but with my own additions.

"That's quite impressive," Parker replies. Shifting ever so slightly closer to me.

"I had already decided to go to NYU, but my parents were still trying to push me to basically any degree other than what I wanted. They wanted me to be educated for the clout of it, and just never use it. But my aunt is nothing like her sister, and she told me I had to pursue this."

"All it takes is one person to believe in you," he says as he gently trails his fingertip over my hand resting beside his. The light touch and his genuine words make my belly dip. "I'm glad you have your aunt and your grandparents."

"Let me show you the farmhouse," he suggests, waving me to follow him toward the home off in the distance.

We start walking through the field, and I ask, "What made you want to get into real estate?"

"When my baseball career went up in flames, all I had was a bullshit degree in business. But I was determined to make a name for myself in the city. One people would know."

My lips to the side. I'm kind of surprised by that statement, but don't know if I have the right to say it.

"What?"

"Huh?"

"You are doing that twisty thing with your lips you do when you are trying to stop yourself from saying something."

I roll my eyes at his accurate assessment. "It's just the way you have always made comments about money to me. It seems unusual that it was so important to you back then."

He stops at the bottom of the old broken front steps, pondering my statement.

"I had something to prove back then. My mom had just passed, and I was pissed at her family for how they always treated us, needing an outlet to place all my blame and anger."

I nod. That makes sense.

"There were other driving forces too…" He stops himself, shaking his head and looking off toward the river. "I can't believe I'm actually going to tell you this shit."

My heart speeds up at the anguish in his voice, and Quinn's words about a girl hurting him come back to mind.

"I was engaged once."

Oookaaay. I did not expect that. I bite the inside of my cheek to make sure my mouth isn't hanging open in shock.

Parker must read the shock on my face. "Yeah, I know it's hard to imagine me engaged. But I was. She was my high school sweetheart. We dated all through college."

So many puzzle pieces fall into place about this broody man.

"What happened?" I whisper.

He lets out a sardonic laugh. "It wasn't your typical breakup once she realized I wasn't going pro. No, worse than that. She made me feel like she was with me, no matter what. Told me numerous times she didn't care about that."

I wait on bated breath for the but that's coming with this story. I've only ever had casual boyfriends, so it's hard to imagine this man in a situation so far beyond that.

"But what I didn't know was two summers before that, she had hooked up with a rich prick and it had continued going on from time to time."

She wanted to have her cake and eat it too. Well, I hope the cake is small and stale now. Bitch.

"How did you find out?"

"Typical shit. I'd been in a funk because it was my mom's birthday week, the first one since she passed. My fiancée was out in the Hamptons. I dragged my ass to a party she had originally invited me to because I was trying so hard to be who she needed me to be, when in reality, I was falling apart."

My chest literally aches from the pain I can feel wafting off him. What kind of person treats someone that way? Someone you are supposed to marry and cherish forever. I hate her.

"Sounds like she wasn't being who you needed at that time. You were the one struggling."

"I was more than struggling, and now I see that. She held my hand through the funeral, but she wasn't really there for me as I would have expected. And it took me walking in on her riding another guy's dick to see it."

I could vomit.

"Let me guess, she begged and pleaded, saying it was a mistake."

"On multiple occasions."

I wonder if she still does. My stomach coils again at the thought.

"I hope you told her to fly a kite."

He nods, releasing a heavy sigh. "Told her more than that."

"Good… Did the guy know?"

"Oh, he knew."

When he doesn't elaborate, I decide I've pressed my luck enough, and who cares anyway? Fuck them both for doing that to him, especially with everything he was already going through.

"That year changed me in a way no amount of therapy will ever fix."

Taking a deep breath, I nod in understanding, but look around at the property. "I truly think this project here may be one of the best things you'll ever do for your healing."

His eyes trail around, and a genuine smile takes over his face. "I think you"re right, Av."

Fuck, when he calls me Av, it feels like a million butterflies are having a rave inside my belly.

"Let me show you inside." Parker steps ahead of me and reaches his hand back for mine. "It's an old home, so follow right behind me." Placing my hand into his, I let him lead the way. The feel of my small hand in his sends tingles through me, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

Parker ducks to get into the house. "Obviously, it needs a lot of work, but I would love to still utilize it somehow." His grip on my hand tightens. "Come. I want you to see this back patio view."

We walk through the kitchen area, and I immediately understand what he wanted me to see. If I thought the ride in had amazing views... This. The hills and fields roll and roll for what seems like miles. "Wow," I exhale. "How many acres is this property?"

He lets go of my hand to open the double doors that lead out on the back patio, and I instantly hate the loss. "200 acres."

"Endless possibilities."

He nods. "My thoughts exactly."

I move ahead to step out on the patio. "Ava, no!" Parker commands, grabbing my arm and halting my movement. The sharpness in his tone startles me, and I suck in a breath.

"It may not be safe. The wood looks rotten. I don't want you to get hurt." His tone softens as he nods toward the deck I was going to step onto naively.

When I exhale, he chuckles. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." We're so close, his mouth hovers over mine.

Dominant and sweet. How the hell am I not supposed to throw myself at this man and beg him to fuck me right out there in that tall green grass?

"Why are you laughing then, bossman?" I tease, pinching his side.

"Because I don't think I've ever seen you listen so well without back-talking me…" A sly smirk takes over his face. "Well, that's not entirely true either."

My teeth slip over my bottom lip, lightly biting down at the thought of what gave him pause. Which leads me to another question I've often contemplated many times. "Are you a Dom?"

His expression is a mixture of shock and comedy.

"Did I just ask that out loud?"

"Yes, you absolutely did." His voice grows huskier than before. His hand still gently holding my arm feels like a flaming torch lighting my insides on fire.

"Well, are you going to answer the question?"

"It's a question I've asked myself frequently, especially over the last eighteen months."

Eighteen months… Since our first time.

"And?"

"I'm not in the sense that I don't actively practice as a Dom, but I think it"s pretty obvious I have certain tastes and a naturally dominant personality."

I swallow, and Parker pushes a strand of hair behind my ear. "And you are naturally submissive in bed."

I try to disagree—for what reason, I have no clue. But he shushes me, placing his finger over my lips, and my tongue dies to reach out and taste him.

"Don't even try to deny it. You thrive as a submissive." I know he's right. Even right now, with all my clothes on, the sexual energy is so charged between us that I'm obeying his every word.

"An alpha in the streets and a submissive in the sheets," he says with a chuckle, and I can't help but laugh.

"Did you just make a joke, Parker Cole?"

"Told you, I can be charming." He grins, finally releasing his hold on me and taking a few steps away.

If he can control himself, so can I.

"Thank you for bringing me here,"I say as we pull back onto the main road. We spent the last two hours exploring the property. We even found two Adirondack chairs that looked over the river, where we sat in silence, just enjoying the scenery. Both of us imagining a future for the beautiful land.

I hope with every fiber of my being that the seller agrees to let Parker buy it. He needs this passion project. There is something there meant for Parker, meant to help him heal the pain he has been through in this life. Maybe it"s in the soil, maybe it"s in the memories he has of this area, or maybe it's because this has everything to do with joy and nothing to do with making money. Either way, he needs this.

"Let's hope it won't be the last time."

I know he means that as his interior designer and, honestly, I'm okay with that. The fact he would trust me with something this meaningful to him would be an honor.

I squeeze his hand. "It won't be. I feel it, Parker. It"s going to work out for you."

We drive a few miles before he flips his turn signal. I look around in confusion until I realize he is pulling into the strawberry patch I pointed out on our drive up.

"So you were listening to me earlier? Or maybe you just love strawberry shortcake too."

He turns into a spot, his Rolls Royce grabbing the attention of the parking lot bystanders.

Reaching over, Parker runs his knuckle along my jawline. "Don't you know a Dom always rewards his sub?"

RIP Ava Pierce. I'm not strong enough for this shit.

"Don't tease me with a good time… Sir," I say in a hushed tone before pressing the button to open the door.

I hear him growl "little brat" as I hop out of the car, leaving one mouthwatering temptation for another. This one just won't be nearly as satisfying.