God. It’s no wonder he bombed that pitch so badly if he felt even a frisson of what I’m feeling right now.
Jealousy surged hot and rampant through me, twisting my gut and bringing the taste of bile to my mouth. I had no reason to feel that way, but I couldn’t help it. Just the thought of Parker, who was as single as the day was long and who had every right to do whatever—and whoever—he wanted, sleeping with another woman was enough to drive me completely insane.
I considered just barging in when I got to our room, wanting to face whatever was coming head on, but I chickened out at the last minute and knocked instead.
He opened the door, fully dressed and without any signs of a party spilling out from behind him. I breathed out a quiet sigh of relief.
I didn’t know why, but as I looked at him standing in the doorway, looking as handsome and confident as ever, my heart squeezed. He was so damn sexy, wearing a pair of shocking blue swim trunks with bright pink flowers on them and a fitted white T-shirt, but that wasn’t what got to me.
What got to me was the flare of warmth and relief in his eyes when he saw me. It was the slight uptick of his lips and the way he breathed in like he hadn’t been able to fill his lungs properly until right this very second.
It made me smile—fondly—as I suppressed the urge to throw my arms around him. “You’re here!”
“I think that’s my line,” he said, his voice softer and gentler than I’d ever heard it before. “Best man, remember? I have to be here. I wasn’t sure you would be, though.” Stepping aside, he motioned me in and then peeked out to look up and down the hall. “Wait, you are staying right? You didn’t come all this way just to tell me you’re not coming to the wedding anymore?”
“I’m staying,” I assured him. “It was touch and go there for a while, but I’m here and I’m coming with you.”
The words were out before I could stop them, and my cheeks were already growing hot over the way I’d misspoken. I would most definitelynotbecomingwith him, but I was sure he was going to tease me about it anyway.
He didn’t, letting the comment slide in favor of silently leading me into the suite and showing me to my room.
I frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Sure. Why?”
I shrugged. “No reason. You just seem more subdued than usual.”
He turned to look at me over his shoulder, smiling but not fully. “I’m glad you’re here. Why don’t you settle in? When you’re done, we can get to work.”
My brows shot up, but he didn’t see my surprise because he was already walking back to the small dining-room table, which he seemed to have turned into a mini office. There were papers spread out all over it. His laptop was open in front of the chair he sank down in. The screen was still on, telling me that he’d been working before he’d gotten up when I knocked.
So much for our suite being party central.Strangely, I was proud of him for taking things so seriously that he was working, even while he’d been alone in paradise.
I glanced into my room, seeing that he’d given me one with an en-suite bathroom and a magnificent view of the ocean. There was also a giant bed made up with crisp white linens, a wardrobe, and funky nautical-themed art on the light yellow walls.
Instead of going in, I trailed after him to the table. “What are you working on?”
His gaze came up to mine a few seconds later, only after he’d finished reading whatever it was he’d been reading. “Franchising contract. With everything else that’s been going on, I’ve gotten behind on the applications. I haven’t sold yet, which means this is all still my responsibility.”
“You’re dressed for the beach,” I commented. “That’s why I was so surprised you were in the suite when I got here. I thought for sure you’d be out and about.”
Parker held my gaze for a long beat. “We went surfing early this morning before breakfast. I’ve been here since.”
“Can I sit?”
A faint line appeared between his brows. His eyes searched mine for something before he shrugged. “Aren’t you going to settle in before we start working?”
“Nah.” I smiled and pulled out a chair. “My bags aren’t even here yet and I can always unpack later.”
“Let’s go out on the balcony then,” he suggested. “At least let you enjoy the view while we get to it.”
He got up before I could sit down, striding to the glass sliding doors that took up one side of the main room. Unhooking a latch, he pushed one open and waved his hand. “Go ahead. I think you’re going to like it. They wanted to give us a garden-view suite, but I convinced them to give us a sea view instead.”
“You did? Why?”
“You enjoyed the view in Italy,” he said simply and followed me out.
I headed straight for the railing and gripped the warm metal, staring out ahead at the most brilliant stunning blue water I’d ever seen.