Part 27 (1/2)

”I've carried it with me ever since you threw it back at me.” He wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger. ”Lurch was right. I've been an idiot. I was an idiot eleven years ago. And then I was given another chance and I blew it. Big time.”

She nodded. ”Yes, you did.”

”I wanted to tell you”-he drew her to him-”I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. For what I did and everything I said. I was a p.r.i.c.k. And I wanted to tell you that I love you.”

Her head wasn't as easily pacified by the words. What did they mean really? He supposedly loved her before but he still left her. ”What do you want, Michael?” she asked again.

”You.” He kissed her lips-a b.u.t.terfly kiss-and looked into her eyes. ”I want us to start again. Fresh. I miss you, Olivia. I went back and nothing was good without you. I had what I thought I wanted, only I discovered I wanted the wrong thing.” He touched his forehead to hers, his eyes blazing into hers. ”I want my best friend back. I want you in my life forever.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, afraid to hope. There was no guarantee he'd stay. He may talk big now, but when the next too-tempting project came along how was she to know he wouldn't be out the door? As she fully expected him to be.

She felt the gentle pressure of his lips on her eyelids. ”Say something.”

She reluctantly opened her eyes. She needed to see his when he answered her question. ”What about your work? You can't give it up.”

”You're right. I can't. But I can be picky about the projects I accept. And I can take you with me. If you'll go.” He gazed at her, part hopefully, part warily, unsure of her reaction.

She narrowed her eyes. ”You'd live in Northern California? You hate it here.”

”I thought I hated it here. But it's changed.” He grinned sheepishly. ”Okay, maybe I've changed. I'm willing to compromise, or commute, or whatever. As long as I can be with you.”

”I'm leaving,” she blurted out.

He blinked. ”What?”

”I'm going to Paris. For a few weeks. Vacation. I needed to get away.” She frowned. ”I don't know why you thought I couldn't leave here. I love it here, but I don't need to be here all the time.”

His grin was large and relieved. He pulled her against him. ”Maybe I could meet you there,” he whispered against her lips.

She shrugged, pretending to be casual when her pulse was beating triple time. ”Maybe.”

His hands tightened on her waist. ”Maybe we could go together.”

She bit her lip as his mouth grazed her neck. ”Maybe.”

He nibbled her before looking her in the eyes. ”Maybe it could be our honeymoon.”

”Maybe.” Her grin was swallowed by a slow, thorough kiss.

Epilogue.

Parker reclined on the settee and smiled. ”You're going to wear out your soles before the ceremony if you keep pacing like that.”

Michael swiped back his hair. ”Easy for you to say. You already claimed your bride.”

Parker's smile widened. Yes, he had.

”No need to gloat.” Michael's scowl deepened. ”When is this wedding going to start?”

”Nervous?”

”Are you kidding? h.e.l.l no.” He dropped onto a chair and crossed his legs. ”I think I've been waiting all my life for this moment.”

Parker relaxed. That was what he wanted to hear. As much as he wanted to repair the rift between his daughter and himself, it hadn't occurred to him that he could be pus.h.i.+ng her in a direction she wasn't prepared to go. Elaine had had to point that out to him.

He smiled, thinking of all the ways Elaine had made a difference in his life. He was content. He shook his head. He'd never been content before. In those early years with Lily he'd been driven to make Parker Pictures succeed. He'd been happy, of course, but now he felt settled. As if he'd arrived exactly where he belonged.

He still couldn't believe how blind he'd been in regards to Elaine.

He c.o.c.ked a brow at Michael, who tapped his fingers rhythmically on his thigh. ”You aren't acting like a calm man.”

”What do you expect? I haven't seen my fiancee in several weeks thanks to your insane post production schedule.”

Yes, that was unfortunate but it couldn't be helped. ”You didn't see her yesterday when you arrived?”

Michael snorted. ”You know how those women are.”

He did know. The day before he and Elaine were wed he almost broke the door down to get to her, which earned him a severe scolding from Mae. That wasn't an experience he cared to repeat.

The door opened and Elaine popped her head in. ”Everett, we're ready.”

Michael jumped up. ”Thank G.o.d. I'll go wait on my spot.” He practically mowed Elaine down on his way to the altar.

Elaine grinned. ”Eager, isn't he?”

Parker's chest tightened. d.a.m.n, she was so beautiful. She wore a dusky rose silk sheath. It was what she had on underneath that intrigued him. Lace the same color as her dress and thigh high stockings.

He fingered a strand of her hair that had come loose from the intricate twist. Later he was going to take great pleasure in slowly letting her hair down.