Engaging the Enemy

by Reese Ryan

  “I mean you spend most of your day at a desk. Physical labor isn’t your thing, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We’ve all got limitations.”

  “I’m fine.” Parker stood quickly, his head spinning a little from the sudden movement. He wavered and she reached out to steady him. She pulled him down on the bench beside her and his thigh grazed hers.

  “You are not fine, and I don’t want to be the one who has to explain to your parents that you died on the side of this mountain because you didn’t want to be shown up by a girl. Seriously, Parker, we’re not ten. Get over the chauvinist bullshit.”

  He was more embarrassed by her accusation than he had been by his inability to keep up with her on the trail.

  Don’t be a jackass.

  Kayleigh was right. He’d gone soft. He spent most of his day sitting behind a desk and it showed.

  From the look of her toned body and the endurance she’d shown on the trail despite the steep inclines, Kayleigh Jemison was no stranger to physicality. Parker swallowed hard, heat spreading through his face and chest at the thought.

  “You didn’t do badly, this being your first time.” Kayleigh nudged him with her elbow and smiled.

  “Thanks.” He drank more water. His breathing finally slowed enough for him to speak normally.

  He was melting in the hot sun like the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile Kayleigh glowed, with a light sheen on her forehead and chest, and smelled like sunshine and vanilla.

  She reached into her backpack and handed him a protein bar. “It tastes like cardboard coated with peanut butter and chocolate, but it’ll give you enough fuel to get back down the trail.”

  Parker accepted it gratefully, opened the package and took a bite. She’d been generous with her description of the taste. But if it would give him a boost of much-needed energy, he’d eat three of the damn things. “How often do you bike this mountain?”

  “Every chance I get. It’s a good place to enjoy the peace and quiet and get out of my own head. Forget whatever is bothering me.”

  “Like?”

  “You wouldn’t understand.” Kayleigh gave Cricket the last of her bottle of water, then tossed all of the empties into a nearby recycling bin.

  She put her backpack back on and walked over to her bike.

  “Why wouldn’t I understand?” He sat on his bike and released the kickstand.

  “Because...you’re one of the Mighty Abbotts. You guys don’t have real-people problems.” Her tone was sharp.

  “That’s not fair, Kayleigh. I’ve never purported to be better than you or anyone else.”

  “You don’t have to say it. It’s evident in how you deal with people. In how your father treated my mother when he lowballed her on that property you all expanded on. Or how you walked into my shop with your nose in the air, like you had a right to my property, whether I wanted to sell it or not.”

  “My father doesn’t lowball people. He pays everyone a fair price. He always has. And we were more than generous with you, despite your unorthodox request. After all I’m here, aren’t I?”

  There was sadness in her brown eyes. “Then I guess I should be grateful, huh?”

  Kayleigh took off down the trail on her bike, without waiting for his response.

  Dammit.

  Parker groaned as he followed Kayleigh and Cricket back down the hill, hoping she wouldn’t decide that leaving him on that mountain to die was a pretty good idea after all.

  Seven

  Kayleigh parked her truck on the grass, along with the cars of the other friends and family members who’d been invited to Duke and Iris’s place for a joint birthday party for Blake and Savannah’s son Davis, who’d turned two and Benji and Sloane’s twins, Beau and Bailey, who’d turned one.

  Every muscle in her body was tense, her heart raced and her stomach was twisted in knots. The last thing she’d wanted to do was step foot in the lair of the devil himself, Duke Abbott. Sitting across from him at a conference table when she’d clearly had the upper hand was one thing. Stepping inside his home and playing nice at a social gathering was something else altogether.

  She wanted to start up the Jeep, turn around and leave. Make some excuse as to why she couldn’t stay. But this was her and Parker’s fifth date. More important, Savannah had enlisted her to do crafts with the children. It was a service she’d intended to add to her business menu, and this was the perfect chance to promote her newest offering.

  Kayleigh got out of the truck and hauled her case of art supplies out of the back seat while also struggling to retrieve all three birthday gifts.

  “Can I help you?”

  The husky, sensual voice startled her. She quickly stood up straight and turned around.

  “Cole Abbott.” Kayleigh folded her arms. “You were staring at my ass, weren’t you?”

  His sensual lips curled in a smirk. “You looked like you were struggling, but if you’d rather carry everything in yourself—”

  “No, I could use your help.” She chose to ignore his nonanswer; instead she handed him the stack of colorfully wrapped gifts.

  She grabbed her purse and the art case, then followed Cole to the front door of the grand home. The exterior was made of gray stacked stone and shakes made of poplar bark. The house overlooked the gorgeous Smoky Mountains.

  Cole studied the exterior as if he was critiquing the home his company had built.

  Kayleigh scanned the structure. “You do amazing work, Cole. This place is incredible, and the views must be breathtaking.”

  “You’ve never been here?” Cole seemed genuinely surprised.

  “I’ve been to the barn on the edge of the property for different events. But no, I’ve never been to the house proper.”

  His eyes lit up. “Then you have to let me give you a tour of the place. It’s still my favorite house that I’ve built.”

  “I’m sure you’d much rather enjoy the party.” She followed Cole through the ornamental wood-and-glass front door.

  One part of her loathed the idea of oohing and ahhing over Duke Abbott’s lavish home. Another part of her was curious to see how the other half lived.

  The large entrance hall had gleaming wood floors, high ceilings and large decorative windows that let in lots of light.

  He set the gifts on the entrance table and dodged two little girls who giggled as they darted through the space.

  “It won’t take long.” Cole took the art case from her and sat it in the corner of the adjoining dining room. He headed toward the stairs. “Come on, we’ll start upstairs.”

  Kayleigh glanced around, hoping that Parker, Savannah or someone else would appear and need her. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her. She honestly did want to tour the place, but it felt odd to traipse through their private rooms without Iris’s permission.

  “My parents love showing off the house,” Cole assured her, as if he’d read her mind. “They won’t mind—I promise.”

  “All right. Lead the way.” Kayleigh followed him up the stairs.

  Cole Abbott was the unabashed flirt of the Abbott family and a certified skirt chaser. He seemed to relish the reputation he’d earned. Kayleigh kept enough distance between them to make it clear she had no intention of being among his conquests.

  The home had four bedrooms and a lovely bonus space upstairs. As they came back down the stairs, Cole was explaining how the site itself had inspired the design and materials he’d selected for the project.

  “Cole. Kayleigh.” Parker stood in the entrance hall, his hands balled into fists at his side.

  “What’s up, Park?” Cole greeted his brother cheerfully. “I was just showing Kayleigh the house. She’s never been here. I was just about to show her the downstairs.”

  Parker’s fists unfurled, but he still scowled. “Actually, Savannah sent me to find Kayleigh.
We need to set up the art project for the kids,” he said gruffly.

  “My supplies are in the dining room.” Kayleigh pointed.

  “I’ll grab them,” Cole offered.

  “No.” Parker held up his large hand, palm facing his brother. “I’ve got it. And I’ll show Kayleigh the rest of the house when we’re done.”

  Cole frowned. “Everything okay, Park?”

  “Of course.” Parker relaxed his scowl and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  “Since you have everything under control, I guess I’ll see you guys out back.” Cole turned and walked away.

  “What was that about?” Kayleigh whispered loudly as she followed Parker to the dining room to retrieve her case.

  “What are you talking about?” Parker shrugged innocently.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about. We’re not on the island yet, so you can relax the whole jealous-boyfriend act.”

  Parker looked at her sharply, then frowned. “You don’t know my brother like I do.”

  “Everyone in this town knows your brother’s reputation.” Kayleigh walked quickly to keep up with Parker’s long strides. “You don’t need to protect me from your brother. I’ve got a hell of a right hook and I can knee someone like nobody’s business. Besides, he was just showing me the house.”

  Parker turned to look at her. He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut, as if there was something he wanted to say but couldn’t. He shoved a hand in his pocket. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to come off as some macho jerk.”

  Parker Abbott apologized?

  The town should declare it Parker Abbott Apologized Day and make it an annual celebration.

  “I appreciate your concern, but honestly I can take care of myself. Been doing it most of my life.” She took the case from Parker. “Thank you, anyway.”

  Parker nodded without comment, led her to where she needed to set up for the kids and then left.

  As Parker walked away, she couldn’t help wondering what it was he hadn’t been able to bring himself to say.

  Parker sipped his bourbon-spiked sweet tea as he watched Kayleigh guide the children through a painting project. His cousin Benji’s fiancée, Sloane Sutton, helped her twins, the youngest of the children.

  Kayleigh was beautiful. It wasn’t even summer yet, but her skin had already started to tan. The sunglasses she wore shielded her eyes, forcing him to focus on the sexy little pout of her Cupid’s bow mouth. Her strong, toned arms were visible in the tank top she wore, which had an unusual cutout design at the neck and back. Tattered blue jeans offered peeks of her skin through holes at the knees and over her thighs.

  Her long red hair had been in loose, shoulder-length curls when she’d arrived, but she’d swept it up in a high ponytail as she worked with the kids.

  Kayleigh wiped her face with the back of her wrist, but managed to get blue paint on her face anyway. She was adorable.

  This was their fifth of ten dates. Yet, rather than being happy that he was halfway through his contractual obligation, he was disappointed by how quickly their time was flying by. The realization startled him.

  He’d begun to anticipate spending Saturday afternoons with Kayleigh Jemison. If he was being honest, the time he spent with Kayleigh was the highlight of his week. But maybe he was giving her too much credit. Perhaps it wasn’t so much about Kayleigh as the fact that he’d spent the last weekends doing something other than working or dealing with his family.

  Maybe he just needed to get a life.

  “Dude. Close your mouth before something flies in it.” Benji sat in the Adirondack chair beside Parker’s with a beverage of his own. “At least try to play it cool.”

  Parker scowled at his cousin. “I’m watching the kids. That’s the point of this party, after all.”

  “C’mon, Park.” Benji chuckled. “You can do better than that. Or...”

  Parker met his cousin’s gaze, anticipating what he would say next. “Or what?”

  “Or you can tell Kayleigh how you really feel about her.”

  Parker turned away from his cousin. He searched for another glimpse of Kayleigh before gazing out at the impressive mountain overlooking his parents’ patio.

  He tried to ignore his cousin’s pointed stare and the feelings that had flared in his chest when he’d seen Kayleigh coming down the stairs behind Cole earlier.

  It was jealousy. Plain and simple. Raw and uninhibited.

  He had no claim on Kayleigh’s affections or her body. She could do whatever she wanted with whomever she wanted. Still, the thought of Cole putting his hands on her had sent Parker into a brief irrational rage, even if it was only in his head.

  “Ignore me, if you want, but I’m not going away.” Benji poked his arm. “Neither are your feelings for her. Face it, Park, you’ve always had a thing for Kayleigh.”

  Parker narrowed his gaze at his cousin before surveying the scenery again. “You know why I’m doing this. But I just can’t turn it on and off as easily as she can.”

  “I think you’re wrong.” Benji nodded toward the table where Kayleigh and the kids were. “I don’t think she can, either.”

  When Parker glanced in her direction, his eyes met hers. She smiled, holding his gaze for a moment before returning her attention to Davis’s work of art.

  He swallowed hard, his heart thumping in his chest.

  “See what I mean?” Benji stood, hovering over him. “Kayleigh is smart, gorgeous, adventurous... She won’t stay on the market forever, Park. What happens when someone else comes along and sweeps her off her feet? You’ll regret not making peace with her and telling her how you feel.”

  Benji walked over to the table, kissed Sloane on the cheek and then sat down to help his son Beau.

  Parker heaved a sigh and finished his spiked tea. Maybe he did have feelings for Kayleigh. But that didn’t mean it was in his best interest, or hers, for him to act on them. They were just too different.

  Kayleigh was a free-spirited, wild child who railed against the very tenets that were the foundation of his life and the keys to his success.

  They wanted very different things in life. And then there was her animosity toward his father that was bubbling just below the surface. An issue his father was well aware of, but unwilling to address.

  He had absolutely no reason to believe that he and Kayleigh would make a good match. That either of them would be willing to bend enough to make a friendship, let alone a relationship, work.

  His head was clear on all the reasons he shouldn’t want her, and yet...he did, with a growing desperation that made his chest ache just thinking about her, which he did often.

  Parker went to the outdoor bar, where Zora had set up as the unofficial bartender.

  Zora shuddered. “Looks like you could use a refill, stat.”

  She took his glass and filled it with sweet tea before topping it off with King’s Finest bourbon and stirring. Zora handed the glass back to him.

  “Want to tell me what the long face is all about, or are we just going to pretend you’re not pining over a pretty little redhead?”

  “Don’t you start with me, too,” Parker grumbled, taking a sip of his tea. “That’s really strong, Zora.”

  “Good. You could use some mellowing out and a dose of courage,” she remarked without apology.

  “You let me handle my business, and I won’t ask how things are between you and Dallas.”

  Zora’s cheeks flushed at his mention of her best friend, Dallas Hamilton. “Dallas and I are just friends. Always have been. Don’t try to change the subject. How is the whole dating Kayleigh thing going?”

  “Fine. Better than expected, actually,” he added under his breath.

  Zora’s eyes lit up. “Does she feel the same way?”

  Parker shrugged. “We’ve talked about lots of things. How we feel a
bout each other isn’t one of them. Which is probably why we’ve been getting along so well.”

  “Good. I don’t have to remind you how important this deal is to all of us, or how much it’s going to mean to Mom when Dad surprises her with it.”

  “I know what’s at stake here.” Parker nodded. One more reason he and Kayleigh needed to keep things strictly business between them. He was all for repairing their friendship, but anything more could derail their deal. “I won’t do anything to jeopardize it. Which is why it’s a bad idea to—”

  “Zora, I’d love a bourbon punch, if that’s possible.” Kayleigh said as she joined them.

  Zora glanced at him quickly before turning her attention to Kayleigh and smiling. “Pull up a seat. I just need to grab a few more lemons from inside.” Zora looked at her brother pointedly. “I’ll be right back.”

  “That looks good.” Kayleigh indicated Parker’s drink. “What’s that?”

  “Sweet tea with about a sidecar worth of bourbon.” He chuckled. “Zora was a little heavy-handed for my taste.”

  “May I?”

  He nodded, watching as she avoided his straw and sipped from the glass.

  “It’s good,” she declared. “Strong, but good.”

  “Then it’s yours.” He put a square drink napkin in front of her and turned on the stool, his back against the bar. “The kids certainly seem to be having a good time.”

  “They were so adorable and their pieces all came out well. I’m going to surprise their parents and frame their pictures so they can hang them at home.”

  Parker couldn’t find the slightest appeal in having a piece of art created by a toddler hanging in his home, but their parents undoubtedly didn’t share his view.

  “I’m sure they’ll appreciate it. But when will you have time to do that?”

  “After we eat, they’re going to put on an outdoor movie for the kids. That should give me time to frame each painting.”

  “The point of this whole exercise is that we spend time together.” Parker straightened his shirt collar. “So I’d be happy to help.”

  “Thanks, Parker. That’d be great. I’ll look for you after dinner.” She rose from the stool, lifting her glass. “And thanks for the drink. Tell Zora thanks anyway.”