The Anchor (11 page)

“She’s not
your
girl,” John growled. “And you can say hi without touching
my
fiancée.” John sidesteps Edie as he steps toward Dierk.

“Suit,” Edie says, quietly, as her eyes dart around, checking to see if they’ve captured the attention of other guests.

“Don’t be a dick, dude,” Dierk slurs a little. Obviously he’s already had a few.

John steps further toward him and the skinny guy, Joey, steps between him and Dierk. Joey pushes John back, gently, while speaking in his ear. The muscles in John’s jaw tic as he nods once and glances back at Edie.

“Baby, I need a drink. Will you come with me to get one?” Edie asks as she squeezes his arm from behind him. John takes a deep breath, but turns back to Dierk. “You’re here because you’ve been friends with
my
fiancée for a long time. And I respect that friendship. Edie is
special
to me. And if you try anything on her . . . mess with her . . . you’ll have
me
to deal with.” The way John says it, it feels like there’s another meaning . . . or something more to it.

And judging by the way Dierk snorts and gives John a smirk, Dierk knows it. Not sure what he thinks is so funny. I’m about ready to beat this guy’s ass, myself. But John only smirks back at him, giving him a look that says,
Try me, dick. You’ll be sorry.

“Dierk, come dance with me,” Nikki intervenes as she grabs his arm and pulls. My eyes snap to her as she manages to get his attention. He gives her some kind of smirk . . . maybe he’s trying to be sexy, but he looks like an ass to me. When she gets him on the dance floor, he wraps his arms around her and moves his hands to just above her ass. My fists clench. Maybe John’s idea that I should play indifferent is backfiring. Does she like this fuckwad?

“So you’re John’s friend?” Joey asks.

“That’d be me,” I manage as I drag my eyes from Nikki. “Parker Hayes and you’re Joey, the ‘practically brother’ guy.”

He beams a full white grin. “Yeah, that’s me. Bud, her grandfather, kind of took me under his wing a long time ago and when Edie moved in with him, we were thick as thieves. She’s like a sister to me.”

“You have a way with pissed-off fiancés. What’d you say to John to get him to cool off?”

Joey sips his beer and shrugs. I can tell he’s an easygoing kind of guy. He’s wearing black dress pants and a white shirt. Even among the suits here, he’d look pretty classy if not for his ball cap that’s on backwards, letting some of his hair hang out. But something tells me the people of this town wouldn’t think twice of it. Joey just seems like the kind of guy everyone would like. “I told him he had one of the two prettiest girls in the room, wearing a gorgeous dress, which she never gets to do working on a horse farm, standing behind him, wanting his attention. I told him this was their night . . . and not to let Dierk ruin it.”

“I’ve been friends with John for years and I’ve never seen him get so riled up.”

Joey gives a half smile as his line of sight moves to John and Edie at the bar. “Edie’s a catch. It took John a minute to figure that out . . . now he knows.” I can’t help smirking as I remember John saying Joey had some unfavorable feelings toward him because of how he and Edie got started.

“Well, you have a gift. It seems to work,” I add as I jut my chin in their direction.

“For now. Dierk . . . he likes to push buttons. I’m sure it won’t be long until he pisses John off again.”

“The guy kind of sounds like a dick.”

Joey shrugs. “Sometimes. I think he’s just realizing he’s been friends with Edie his whole life and seeing her with John is messing with him.”

“You mean he loves her?” I ask. Now I definitely want to beat this guy’s ass.

“Well . . .” Joey laughs. “If I’m being honest, I think he loves both the girls.”

“Both girls?”

“Edie and Nikki. They both offer very different things and I think he’s drawn to them for very different reasons.”

My gaze moves to the dance floor where Dierk is twirling Nikki and she’s laughing. She’s wearing this gray dress that’s strapless and tight around her upper body, but the skirt is kind of poufy and fans out as she spins, showing her fantastic legs. Dierk pulls her back to him and presses his body to hers. I clench my jaw and fight the urge to go steal her away from him.

“Well, Joey. I need a drink. Care to join me?”

Joey lifts his beer and shakes it. “Sounds good. I’m empty.” If I’m going to survive this night with Nikki, I need to get shitfaced.

Well, other than the completely awkward moment between Dierk and John, the party has gone smoothly. I’ve just finished dancing with the mayor and my feet are killing me, but to keep up appearances for the sake of my father, who couldn’t make it tonight, I suffered through it and danced with him. There’s a table in the back toward the corner of the tent and I beeline for it, praying to have a moment to sit and rest my feet. Why do my feet hurt so badly? I’ve never had a problem wearing heels. Do children really just completely suck the sexiness out of a woman from day one?

I’m just about to step off of the dance floor when a strong arm bands around my waist and pulls me back.

“How about a dance with your friend?” Parker murmurs in my ear. My body tenses as my heart races. I’ve been avoiding him all evening, afraid if we made eye contact he’d somehow know my secret. That’s silly, I know, but I didn’t want to take any chances. Turning to him, I glance up to find his dark eyes fixed on me, his mouth curved in a sexy half smile. Something in my belly flutters. He’s dressed in a black suit, the tie he wore earlier gone, and the top buttons of his white dress shirt are undone. He is a walking, talking sex on a stick. Pure sex in a suit.

“I would, but my feet are killing me.” Not a complete lie. My feet hurt like hell, but I need to get away from him. Just looking at him makes me feel weak. Parker drops to the floor in front of me, one firm hand gently seizing my left calf and pulling my leg toward him.

“What are you doing?” I hiss as I dart my eyes around frantically, looking to see if anyone is watching us. And of course, they are. “People are staring,” I whisper-yell to him. But he ignores me and slips off my strappy heel. Then he tenderly proceeds to pull at my other leg and removes that shoe as well. Tossing my shoes to the side, he stands and takes my hand and tries to lead me to the dance floor, but I resist.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

He gives me a smile that says,
It’s cute you’re trying to resist me, but you should stop now,
then yanks me a little harder, causing me to almost trip as the gaining momentum pulls me forward. I slam into him and his arms wrap around me, lifting me until my feet are off the floor and he carries me to the center. Placing me on the ground, he smirks. “Step on my feet.”

I look at him like he’s gone mad. “What?”

“Step. On. My. Feet.”

I’m looking around again, just knowing people are staring. “Do you really give a fuck what these people think?”

“Actually, I do,” I snap, my lethal glare meeting his eyes. He’s grinning now.

“Good. Then step on my feet and dance with me or I’ll go grab that mic from the singer and really embarrass the shit out of you.”

I snort and roll my eyes as I cross my arms. I don’t believe him for a second, and if he thinks I’ll fall victim to this little . . .
oh, shit!
He’s heading toward the stage. I nearly fly to catch him and stop him. “Okay! I’ll dance with you,” I say, through gritted teeth. God only knows what he’d say to this group of people.

“Thought you’d see it my way,” he grins cockily as he takes me in his arms again. It takes all of my strength to keep my eyelids from fluttering as I take in the scent of his cologne. Damn, he smells good.

Pulling my shoulders back, indicating my defiance, I ask, “Is this how you get all of your women? Manipulation?”

“Manipulation?” he chuckles. “I wouldn’t call it that.”

“What would you call it then?” I ask dryly.

“Coercion.” He shrugs and winks at me. I hate him and his stupid sexy wink. “Now, put your tiny feet on mine,” he orders again.

“I’m not a toddler,” I point out. His eyes flex a fraction with humor, almost like he wants to say, “You’re acting like one,” but the ball-shriveling glare I give him seems to stop him.

His lips are tight as if he’s fighting the urge to laugh. “No, but your feet hurt. I’m trying to make this as pain-free and effortless as possible for you.”

With a huff, I place my bare feet on each of his shiny dress shoes and wrap my arms limply around his neck. The band starts playing some jazzy slow song and Parker moves us slowly, the weight of me standing on his feet not seeming to bother him. My head hangs down as I avoid making eye contact with him. I can’t look at him. He’s too beautiful and scary, all at once.

“Am I that ugly?” he jests, squeezing me tighter.

I roll my eyes, again. “No. I think you know you’re not ugly, Parker.” I lift my head and meet his gaze straight on, doing my best to hide the mixed emotions I’m feeling. He’s smiling cockily. He knows he’s good-looking. He doesn’t need me to tell him that, but he loves making me say it anyway.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he whispers.

“Thank you. So do you.” I shake my head. “I mean, you look handsome,” I correct myself.

“You seem a little off. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I snap, not meaning to. Ugh, why can’t I keep my shit together? “Sorry. I’m just tired, is all.”

“I know . . .” He lifts his head as if searching for his next words before dropping it and meeting my gaze again. “I know this could be weird, but . . . I think a lot of you. And even if you don’t want to date me . . . I’m your friend. If you need someone to talk to, about anything, I’m available.”

I let my head fall again, my eyes tearing up. I can’t let him see me like this. If only he knew what I’m going through . . . well, he will know soon enough. He’s promising me a friendship when our lives will be forever tied together by another human being he doesn’t even know about yet. I blink a few times and clear the blur from my eyes.

We don’t speak again until the song is finished. I step off of his feet and he leads me to the side of the dance floor where he collects my shoes for me. My feet are feeling a bit better after the brief reprieve from my heels and I take them and slip them back on.

“Thank you for the dance.” Parker smiles and gives me a curt nod, then walks away. I want to grab him, stop him, but I’m not ready. It’s like every time I think about telling him I’m pregnant with his child, my throat constricts. Damn it.

“You okay?” I jump at the sound of Joey’s voice.

“Shit, you scared me.” I breathe heavily as I place a hand on my chest.

Joey stands beside me, one hand slipped in the pocket of his slacks and the other holding a cold bottled beer. “I think he likes you,” he notes, lifting his hand with the beer to indicate he’s talking about Parker, who is now talking with John and Edie. Parker is slipping on his neck tie again as the photographer waits to capture a shot of the three of them.

I haven’t told Joey about the baby. Literally, Edie is the only one that knows. “Yeah, just a crush.” I try to play it off, act nonchalant, but Joey’s brown eyes cut to me and his mouth twists. “Mmm-hmm,” he mumbles before sipping his beer.

“You guys have been checking each other out all night. But hey, it’s just a crush.” With that, he kisses my cheek and steps away. But he turns and gives me a soft smile. “Make him work for it, girl. Girls like you are worth it.” Then he walks away, leaving me with a huge smile on my face and tears in my eyes.

Fucking Joey.

The evening moves on, filled with laughter, drinks, and great music. When Edie hasn’t been at John’s side, I have, leading him through the mass of people and making introductions. I’m impressed at how easily John can make conversation . . . then I remember he’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades being raised on a horse farm himself
and
being a lawyer.

When Edie takes over again, I head to the bar and order water from Jenn, who gives me a fake smile. Ever since I told her that her boyfriend, Duke, had been asking me to let him screw me, she hasn’t been my biggest fan. Perhaps I could’ve said it more delicately to her, but she’s a bitch and she was trying to joke on Edie. No body messes with my best friend. As I watch her pour my water, I pout. I’d kill for a beer right now. “No drinking tonight?” A deep voice asks and my head snaps up. Parker is smiling down at me, his eyes shimmering. It’s not hard to tell he’s buzzed. That happened fast.