Parker's Passion (17 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Dodging a herd of rambunctious children, Kaitlin carried the last platter of
cake pops to the buffet table and settled it in place. She swiped back an escaped curl and looked out over the lawn at the party Emily had created. It was a charity event—Emily loved them—but this one was special. It was for Fostering the Future, the organization that had embraced Parker as a child and made a huge difference in his life.

When Emily had asked her to help, there was no way Kaitlin would say no. The event, a luau, held on the beach of their island home, was a huge success. Tiki torches burned along the
surf line and the smell of barbecue rode on the breeze. The evening was cool and clear. Stars sparkled in the sky and the sounds of music and laughter tangled with the low thrum of conversations.

Drew was there, over on the far side of the beach teaching the boys how to build a fire—raising future arsonists, perhaps. In the past month he’d come to accept the truth about Kaitlin and Parker, though he still needled Parker occasionally. But they’d become friends…after a fashion. D
rew had even taken them to meet his father so Parker could personally thank the man who had saved his life.

It had been an emotional meeting, but cathartic for Parker. The last stones in the wall he’d built had come tumbling down. He was now, truly, a free man.

Jamie was there too, over with the girls, playing one last desperate game of balloon volleyball before it became too dark. Lane and Cam were giving rides on the boat.

Other
children, all kids like Parker, who were growing up in foster care, sat around in small groups eating and chatting with potential mentors. It was Emily’s goal to find each child a special someone who could help them navigate the crazy world they lived in, the way Adam Bristol had helped Parker.

She glanced at Parker, sitting against a
tree near the beach, talking to a young boy. His expression was somber. He pulled down the neck of his tee shirt and showed the boy his scars. The boy nodded.

Kaitlin smiled at the sight. Parker, with a little boy. She set her hand on her belly and turned to go back to the house
to start cleaning up. The fireworks would begin soon and when those were over, all the children would be heading back to the house and, after all the cooking and preparation, the kitchen was a disaster.

“Kaitlin.” Emily sidled up next to her and gave her a hug. “What do you think?”

“I think it was a huge success, Em. I am so happy for you.”

Emily beamed. “It did go well, didn’t it?”

“I know Parker appreciates it. So much.”

“I was happy to do it.” She selected a pickle and popped it into her mouth. “How are you two doing?”

She tried for a casual response, but failed. The elation welling up within her would not allow it. “Wonderful.”

“I am so happy for you.”

“I’m happy for you.” Emily and Ash’s relationship was moving along as well. And now that she knew him better, Kaitlin adored him as much as she loved her friend.

“Has Parker found a job yet?”

“Not yet.” Kaitlin glanced back over at him as he stood and solemnly shook the boy’s hand. “He’s had some offers but…they just didn’t feel right.” She shrugged. “I don’t care. I love having him at home.”

Emily stilled. “At…home?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention? He moved in with me.”

“He…moved in?”

“It didn’t make sense for him to keep the lease on his apartment. And we were spending every night together anyway.” Every night. All night. It had been glorious.

“I, ah, see. Well, I hope he finds something soon.”

Kaitlin shot her friend a knowing smile. “He will.”

“Of course he will.” Emily
said. Then she made a face and put her palm on her belly.

“Are you okay?”

“My…stomach’s been upset lately.”

“Really?” All right, perhaps the sarcasm was not necessary. But Emily knew her better than that.

Indeed, she flushed. “Okay. I might be a little…pregnant.”

“Only a little?”

Emily laughed. “Only a little. But enough to make me queasy. Are you shocked? Because my mother will be. When she finds out.”

Kaitlin shook her head. “Of course I’m not shocked.”

“Oh good.”

“I’ve known since the
day you came home from the island with him—”

“What?”

“Your energy was different. All…swirly.”

“I remember you said that. I didn’t understand what you meant. Why didn’t you
clue me in?”

She smiled.
“It’s your journey, Ems. And may I repeat? I am so happy for you.”

“Thank you.” Emily wrapped her in a fierce hug. Kaitlin was delighted that it wasn’t uncomfortable in the slightest. It rarely was anymore when she touched someone.
Another gift Parker had given her.

“Oh, there’s Ash. I better go grab him. And Kaitlin, thanks again. For everything.”

“Anytime.” She watched her friend skip across the lawn, her aura swirling like mad, causing Kaitlin to wonder if she might be having twins.

She bit back a grin. Kaitlin had been seeing a swirly aura in the mirror every morning herself. The inexpressible elation danced back through her and her grin blossomed.

A warmth came up behind her, encircled her. Hard, strong arms wrapped around her waist. “Mmm, woman.” Parker’s low voice sent a shiver through her.
“I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” Because of the influx
of visitors, all the boys had stayed at Ash’s house and the girls over at Lane’s. In the interest of propriety, with all the children around, they’d thought it best to spend the nights apart. “But we’ve got tomorrow.”

“We’ve got lots of tomorrows.”

“Lots. Lots and lots.” She turned in his embrace and kissed him. “How are you enjoying the party?”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “It’s been incredible. These kids are…amazing.” He chuckled self-consciously. “I want to adopt them all.”

“Hmm.” She looped her arms around his neck and stroked his nape. “We’ll have to get a bigger house.”

He stilled
, stared down at her. “Do you…want children?”

“Not all of them.” She giggled. “But I think we would be good foster parents. We’d be good parents.”

“We would be.”

“How do you feel about that?” She was certain she knew, certain he’d changed his mind about never being a father, but she needed to ask. “Do you want children?”

His expression went somber. “I do. Very much.”

Her heart lifted. Her soul sang. “That’s good to know, because—”

“Parker!”

Kaitlin turned as an older man climbed toward them on the rise. With delight she realized it was Adam Bristol, looking
handsome and hale and,
good gravy
, tall. Much taller than he had been in the hospital bed.

Parker rushed forward to wrap him in a bear hug
.

Adam
laughed. “Well, what did I do to deserve that?” he asked.

“I’m just so glad to see you’re better, sir.”

Adam punched him on the shoulder, but not very hard. “Don’t sir me, Parker. It makes me feel like an old man.”

“Yes, sir— Um.
Adam.”

“How are you doing,
my boy?”

“Very well. You remember Kaitlin? She came to visit you in the hospital?”

“Of course. The pretty thing.” He engulfed her in a hug and Kaitlin was nearly swamped by the wave of his vigor. But there was no pain. And yes, he was feeling better.

“I’m so glad
to see you on your feet,” she said looking up. Way up. “My, you’re tall.”

His
chuckle rolled around them. “Yes, I prefer being on my own two feet as well. Wonderful event, eh, Parker?”

“Yes…Adam. Wonderful.”

“Emily did a fine job.”

“She did.”

“I should hire her. I would hire her, if she’d take the job. She won’t of course.” Emily’s father was a bazillionaire. Besides, she loved doing charity events. “Speaking of hiring excellent people…I understand you’re no longer with Barstow and Rank.” Adam gored Parker with a sharp glance. It tore Kaitlin up to see him shrink a little, into himself, as though he’d disappointed someone he admired greatly.

“Yes, sir. I was fired.”

Fired.
Heavens, she hated that word. Something rather militant rose within her, the urge to defend him, perhaps. She slipped her arm around Parker’s waist and said, “He was let go for saving a woman’s life.”

“Yes.” Adam stroked his lip. “I heard all about it. All I have to say is, good on you, Parker.”

“Sir?” His head snapped up.

Adam set his hand on Parker’s shoulder. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of you for sticking to your guns and doing what was right, rather than what was right for your career. Not easy to do sometimes, I know.
”

“I, ah… Thank you, sir.”

“But that leaves you out of work.”

Parker shoved his
fists into his pockets and rocked up on his heels. “Yup.”

“Well…” A glint sparkled in Adam’s eyes. “It just so happens, we have a vacancy in our legal department.”

Kaitlin gaped at him. The lie was so obvious, she didn’t understand how no one else saw it. There was no vacancy in the legal department of the Bristol Coffee Company…none but the one Adam had just created.

“A…vacancy?” Parker
’s throat worked.”But my specialty is divorce law…”

Adam shrugged. “It would be different, but I think you’d be able to adjust. Think about it.”

“I don’t know… I…”

“Just think about it. We would be honored to have a man like you on our team.”

With that, Adam Bristol sketched a wave, then turned and made his way back down to the beach where Ash and Emily chatted with his wife and younger son.

“Wow.” Parker scrubbed his face, but he couldn’t scrub away the smile. “That was unexpected.”

“Mmm.”

He glanced at
her. “It was unexpected, right?”

“Well…”

His chortle danced on the breeze. “You knew.”

“I
suspected
.”

He wrapped her in his arms again and tugged her close. “Minx.”

“I told you everything would be all right.”

“That you did.”

“But Parker…” She fiddled with his collar, unable to meet his eye. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” His voice was warm, soft. Adoring.

She knew so much, but how to tell him this was a mystery. “Those children we were talking about earlier?”

He
looked over at the beach where all the foster children were waving sparklers at the cloaking night. “Yeah?”

She tipped his
chin back. “Not those children. The other children.
Our
children…”

His smile froze. His eyes darkened. A little muscle clenched in his cheek. He leaned back and
peered at her belly and arched a brow.

She nodded. A tiny bob.

His Adam’s apple made the long journey down and back up his throat. He said nothing.

“Are you
…angry?”

“A-angry?”

“There’s… I can’t read…” she waved a hand at the tumult his aura had become. Slowly it settled into a soft, blazing blue.

“I’m not angry, baby.” He pulled her back, cradled his hips against hers. “I’ve just never been so…”

“So, what?”

“Happy. Just, happy.”

Fireworks exploded in the sky as he dropped a kiss on her lips. “I love you, you know.”

“I know,” she said with a wink. “
I do. I’m psychic, remember?”

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