She tried to tell herself everything was fine. If Parker couldn’t bare to look at her anymore, then maybe he would be suspectable to ending their marriage. A flood of tears threatened to spill which was stupid because wasn’t that what she wanted?
She had been so deep in thought yet again, she didn’t see the man wearing a huge beige coat approach her before it was too late.
In the blink of an eye, Parker had the man by the throat, his knee on his chest as he ground him into the concrete of the sidewalk.
Everleigh used all her might to get Parker off the man who was already turning blue. No one dared interfere with the scene she was witnessing.
“Parker, you’re killing him. Please, I know him. He’s my friend. Please. Parker please.”
Parker finally made eye contact with her.
“Please let him go,” she sobbed.
He released the man and Everleigh tried to help him up.
“Bucky, are you all right?”
He could barely stand, he trembled so much. His gaze flickered to Parker every other second.
Bucky was a homeless man who visited her bakery every day. She fed him three meals a day, bought him clothes, and even offered to help pay for a small apartment for him. She could barely afford it, but she had been determined to make a plan.
She even got him a job. Six times and each time he didn’t show up the next day. After that, all she could do was feed him and make sure he clothed properly. He refused to go to a shelter except in the winter.
“I’m so sorry, Bucky,” she said over and over again. But he kept shaking his head.
“It’s all right Ms. Everleigh. I’m all right, Ms. Everleigh.”
Before she could ask him anything else, he said he would see her at the bakery later and ran in the opposite direction.
Everleigh turned and glared at Parker. She was so mad she couldn’t utter a single word. All she wanted was to be away from him. But she couldn’t go to her father. She didn’t want to go to one of her friends. She wanted to be in her own apartment. And her damn keys were in his house.
She marched to the limo and got in. Parker followed.
They drove in silence yet again.
But on the inside, she couldn’t understand what had happened.
No, she did. He had attacked a perfectly innocent man who had in his jovial enthusiastic manner charged toward her. Parker had thought he was a threat.
Once home, she raced upstairs. Her frustration reached a peak as she tried to remove the dress. Finally divested of it, and the underwear, she stood up and draped a sheet around her. Tears already cascading down her face. She could no longer hold on.
Argh, she could do without the drama of crying right now but nothing could stop them from falling onto her cheeks. She just wanted to leave his house.
She went to her bag, opened it, and took out the first thing she saw. Without completely lowering the sheet, she slipped her hands into the long green strapless dress. She yanked the sheet off her, zipped up her bag then grasped the handle in her hand and walked to the door.
Parker stood in her way. She hadn’t heard him come to the room. His arms were crossed over his sculptured chest. He had taken off his tie and jacket. His shirt sleeves were rolled up and his buttons undone.
She breathed in then out, ready to fight him. This was her life she was fighting for.
“I can’t be here,’ she said, dropping her bag to the floor. “I don’t want this, Parker. We’re not really husband and wife. This whole marriage is nothing but one of convenience. For you. So, you have what you wanted. I’m leaving.”
He said nothing as his gaze roamed over her.
“You almost killed an innocent man tonight. He did nothing wrong. He’s my friend for crying out loud. What if you didn’t stop? Would you have even cared that you killed him? I don’t belong in your world. And you don’t belong in mine. So, let's go our own ways.”
“I’ve arranged a flight for you. My jet will take you to a small town on the coast. You’ll have your bakery.”
“What?”