Carefully she brushed her hair out, biting her lip to keep from crying out as she scraped over the bruised area.
A pounding came on her front door, and Sierra hurried to answer it. An icepack was just the thing she needed to make everything better. Well, that and never seeing Parker McCallister again. She hoped he didn’t tell his family about the incident. She couldn’t stand thinking that all the McCallisters would laugh and gossip about her.
She opened the door, only to step back in surprise as her mother marched through it.
“You poor thing,” Cece wailed. “I heard you fell off that horse. We’ll sue them if anything is broken. I can’t believe we pay them so much money every summer to stay here and they would put you on an unstable horse!”
Cece Burns wrung her hands, high strung as always. Her platinum blonde dyed hair was the height of fashion in a short wave that framed her round face. Her brown eyes darted around the bungalow’s living room rapidly, as though fearing attack from a wild horse at any second.
It was a surprise to have Cece worried about Sierra’s safety, but maybe her mother figured it was some sort of slight from the McCallister family to them. As if Parker somehow let Sierra steal the horse and fall off.
“Mom, I’m fine,” Sierra assured her. “No one’s suing anyone. I didn’t even want this to get out. You heard about it awfully fast. Apparently that McCallister clan can’t keep their mouths shut. Soon everyone will know. But the accident was my fault, if I’m being honest. I went riding on the beach.”
Cece’s gaze narrowed. “The beach on the west side of the stables? But that’s off limits.” She wrung her hands again so hard Sierra was surprised the woman had any skin left on them. “What if they make us leave the resort? Your father loves this island. He’ll be so angry.”
With a sigh, Sierra pulled her mom over to the couch and encouraged Cece to sit on the plush cushions. The last thing she needed to do was let her mom’s emotions get out of control. “Mom, it’s fine. Parker McCallister said he wouldn’t report it officially. Although I wish he hadn’t told people, nothing bad will happen to Dad’s vacation. By the way, how did you already hear the gossip? I wish he’d kept quiet.”
Cece took a turn away from wringing her hands to rub the beige suede on the arm of the couch. “It wasn’t gossip. A stable hand called my cell phone saying he was concerned. He admitted he wasn’t supposed to talk about what happened, but wanted me to know I should check on you.”
So they weren’t gossiping. It was a big problem she had, jumping to conclusions. Sierra felt guilty for blaming Parker in her mind. He might have made fun of her, but he’d kept his word to not spread the accident or the fact that she broke the rules.
Luckily, another knock on the door kept her from having to worry about that too much.
“Finally,” she muttered as her head pounded harder than ever. “I need that icepack.” She flung open the door, fixing her best glare on the delivery person. “It took you long enough!”
Parker’s smiling blue eyes peered at her from behind a basket wrapped in clear cellophane. “I hurried as fast as I could, Red, but I didn’t get the impression you really wanted me here. It’s good to know you couldn’t wait for my arrival.”
As she paced a step back in surprise, Parker took that as an invitation to enter.
He brushed past her and turned to the right, setting the basket on the small glass dining table and ripping it open. “I think you’ll forgive me for being gone so long, though,” he said, his back turned to both Sierra and her mother. “Not only did I bring you medicine and the icepack you called and requested from the desk, I brought some goodies for you to eat and a nice bottle of Merlot that you can enjoy once your head is better. There are a few extras in here, too. We have to take good care of you. After all, I can’t let the prettiest girl on the island languish in pain alone.”
He turned around, a single pink rose in his hand. “And this is my way of saying sorry for picking on you.” Parker’s face went slack as his eyes glided past Sierra to where Cece sat on the couch. “I, uh, I thought you were alone.”
“Obviously.” Sierra plucked the flower from his limp fingers, bringing it to her face to hide her grin. It was his turn to feel like a fool. And about time too. “Parker McCallister, meet my mother, Cece Burns.”
Cece inclined her head politely, though her brow furrowed with concern. “This won’t affect Roger getting that early tee time tomorrow, will it?”
“Mom,” Sierra protested. “Dad will still get to golf. Mr. McCallister isn’t telling anyone what I did.” She turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “Right?”
Parker nodded stiffly, tugging at the already loose collar of his shirt as though he felt choked. “Sure. Right. Of course not. Let’s just not let it happen again.”
Sierra brushed that aside, knowing she’d likely go out the first chance she got. She wanted to explore the island. There were many places she couldn’t walk to, and a horseback ride was just the ticket. “Don’t worry about me, Mr. McCallister. I’ve been riding horses since I could walk. I won’t fall off again.”
Parker’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not what I meant, Sierra, and you know it.”
Cece gasped and Parker lifted his head sharply toward her.
“Is something wrong, ma’am?”
“Yes, there is.” Cece stood and glided to the door with a firmness that let Sierra know her mother was quite upset. Cece opened the door and nodded curtly at Parker. “You’re being far too familiar with my daughter, sir. I’d like you to leave now. I would hate to hear any more gossip coming from the stables.”
Sierra met Parker’s blue eyes, her surprise every bit as big as his seemed to be. Parker in her room should have been a dream catch for the Burns family. Sierra had expected Cece to demand they go to dinner, not kick him out like yesterday’s garbage.
“I apologize for offending you, Mrs. Burns,” Parker replied, his voice smooth and not betraying the surprise that had lurked in his eyes seconds earlier. He returned his bright gaze to Sierra. “Miss Burns, make sure you take care of that bump. The icepack is one of those you break the seal and shake up. Don’t hesitate to call the front desk if you need anything else.” He headed for the door. When he reached it, Parker paused and stuck his hand toward Cece. “It was nice to meet you. I hope your husband enjoys the golf course tomorrow.”
Cece looked down at Parker’s hand and sniffed, turning her head. “Good day, sir.”
Parker glanced again to Sierra, but she shrugged helplessly. Who knew why her mother was pulling the proper lady who was offended by the use of first names crap? Certainly not Sierra. She’d expected Cece to be pleased by Parker taking an interest in her daughter.
Apparently she thought wrong.
“Thanks for the goodies and the medicine,” she said softly. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
Parker nodded and walked from the bungalow.
Cece couldn’t shut the door fast enough, and Sierra was surprised Parker didn’t shout out from having it hit his ass or something.
“Mom, what’s with you? It’s not that big of a deal that Parker used my first name. He was helping me, bringing the supplies I requested.”
Cece sniffed again and walked to the table, extracting the icepack to prepare it for use. “The McCallisters might own this island, my dear daughter, but they aren’t like us. He isn’t the type of boy you should spend time with.”
Sierra closed her eyes and counted to ten slowly. She hated that her mother still treated her like such a child. What would it take for her parents to realize she was a woman?
But unless she wanted to leave the bosom of her family, lose her trust fund, and start at the bottom of the pile in some dead-end job that would get her nowhere, she had to do what they said. She was still five years out from gaining control of her trust, which meant she was five years away from controlling her own life.
Sierra took the icepack from her mom’s hand and popped a couple of anti-infla
mmatory pills into her mouth, swallowing them down with a sports drink Parker had thoughtfully supplied. She grabbed the box of Junior Mints from the pile of different chocolates in the basket and walked to the couch.
“I don’t understand what’s wrong with the McCallisters,” she said, propping the icepack between the back of her head and the couch, gritting her teeth from the pain. Hopefully the numbing would start in a few minutes. “They’re rich, successful business owners who have an island paradise a short hop from Hawaii. How much higher up the food chain do you expect me to go for my dating life?”
Returning to her side, Cece sat stiffly next to her, spine ramrod straight, a sure sign she was upset. “They work for a living, dear.” The words were spoken with distaste, as though Cece recited a crude limerick that turned her stomach.
“Mom, lots of people work for a living. Dad works. How else do you go about getting money for shopping?”
Another sniff and the hand wringing motion from earlier resumed. Her mom was truly upset now. Sierra knew she should probably stop pushing her... Cece could turn her anger from Parker McCallister to her daughter in the blink of an eye. Sierra didn’t want to deal with that.
“Your father works overseeing the employees in our factory and telling the managers what to do. You work as his personal assistant. Neither one of you talk to the common workers.” Sniff, sniff. “I heard all the McCallisters have jobs here on the island. Real work. One of them runs the kitchen, another the stables, and that little upstart you were smiling so sweetly at, he’s the scuba instructor and also takes people snorkeling!”
Sierra swallowed down a laugh at her mom’s complete affront at those facts.
At least it explained the calluses and why Sierra thought Parker’s hands belonged to a working class person. They did. It was a bit refreshing, actually. Sierra had never been allowed to spend time with a man who knew how to do more than bark out orders and get other people to wait on him.
“That sounds fun. I’d love to go snorkeling while we’re here. And maybe I should look into doing more work at Dad’s business than I do when we get home. It couldn’t hurt to learn more skills.”
Cece’s lips turned in a tight frown. “Don’t ever let your father hear you speak like that.” She stood, bending to brush a kiss against Sierra’s cheek. “Your father and I have dinner reservations tonight at the chef’s table, but if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. I can always send Bernice over to help you.”
If Sierra needed something, the resort staff could help her more quickly and efficiently, and she wouldn’t have to worry about her mother’s maid spying on her. But Sierra knew that, in her own way, Cece was trying to be supportive by offering up the services of her maid.
Forcing a smile, she nodded. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll be fine, but it’s good to know I have you nearby to take care of me. Tell Dad I love him, and enjoy your dinner date.”
Cece was halfway out the door when she popped her head back inside. “And don’t talk to that boy again. Definitely no snorkeling. I’d hate for you to break your father’s heart like that.”
Chapter 3
The following afternoon, Parker walked into his older brother’s art studio. He crossed the golden brown hardwood floor to the bay window facing the ocean. Flopping into the large, overstuffed couch, Parker stared out the window at the crashing waves.
“Can I help you with something?”
Parker looked toward his brother, noting the amused expression on Quinn’s face. Streaks of white paint coated Quinn’s black hair in the front, making him appear older than his thirty years.
“How is it that Larissa still loves you, even looking like that?” Parker asked, shaking his head. “You’re a lucky man.”
Quinn smiled and set his paintbrush and color palette on the small table next to him, hooking a stool with his foot to pull it close enough to sit down. “I know that. And I’m sure that’s not why you came here. What’s up?”
How could Parker tell Quinn what really brought him out here? That he wanted to talk about a woman? Well, sure, they’d talked about women in the past, but Parker knew what Quinn would say about this particular one. Maybe he just needed to hear it spoken out loud.
Sierra was a guest and completely off limits.
“I met someone yesterday, and I haven’t been able to quit thinking about her.”
Quinn’s grey eyes danced with laughter as he let out a guffaw of amusement. “You mean someone here has caught your attention for more than two seconds? She must be special.”
“She nearly ran me down on your horse.”
The humor left Quinn’s face as his lips turned into a frown. “You mean that woman who took Shadow out of the approved riding area yesterday? Sierra Burns? A guest?”
By the way Quinn’s voice rose with each subsequent question, Parker knew he was right in how his brother would react—not that Quinn was wrong or anything. He couldn’t date a resort guest.
“I know, okay. I know I can’t think about her like that. But she’s...” Parker shrugged. The truth was, he didn’t know why he kept thinking about Sierra. She was pretty, but Parker had slept with plenty of beautiful women over the years.
They came and went, and he enjoyed each of them, but eventually they all left the island in favor of living in real towns and not the little community of McCallister’s Paradise. It never mattered much to Parker. He had yet to find a woman who could capture his heart and show him love of the sort his parents enjoyed.
If he was going to have something long term, Parker wouldn’t settle for less than that. He wanted the perfect wife and a perfect life, if ever he was going to let himself be tied to one woman.
Quinn stood from his stool and crossed to where Parker sat, motioning for him to move his legs.
Parker complied and Quinn sat down, slinging an arm across Parker’s shoulder.
“I know you’re a flirt and you enjoy the ladies, Parker, but go after one of the new housekeeping staff, or go meet the new waitress Shane just hired for the restaurant. You can’t sleep with a guest. You know that.”
Parker nodded. “Yeah, I know. She’s fiery though. Must be the red hair.”
“Fiery how?”
“Well, she challenged me for being on the beach and then treated me like a total nobody. When I called her Red, she got all offended and tried to dismiss me.”
Quinn laughed and Parker glared up at him.
“You’re laughing at me? Why?”
Quinn clapped down on his shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. “Because, dear brother, you only like this girl because no one has ever resisted your charms before. You need more women in your life telling you no, and this wouldn’t be such a novelty.”
Parker shrugged Quinn’s hand off, hating that his brother was always right. Quinn was the golden child in the family, and before meeting his fiancée, Quinn had never done anything less than perfect. Because of Larissa, Quinn finally decided to follow his own dreams, and not the dreams their parents mapped out for him. Even that ended up working out, and everyone was happy.
No one ever felt happy about Parker’s choices. They all thought him a playboy and a scoundrel. Sure, they all loved him as much as he loved them, but Parker would never be the good son to his parents that Quinn was. He just couldn’t measure up.
“I haven’t been with anyone in more than a year,” he blurted before having a chance to question the words.
“What do you mean?” Quinn asked. “I see you with women all the time. They hang on your every word and can’t wait to spend more time with you.”
Propping his elbows on his knees, Parker dropped his face into his hands. “You know I can be charming and make every woman on the island feel special. It’s one of my talents. But I haven’t been to bed with anyone since...” He paused, knowing his brother’s opinion would change for the worse if Quinn learned the last woman Parker had been with.
Quinn shifted on the couch next to him. “Did someone break your heart, Parker? I
had no clue.”
Parker snorted and dropped one hand so he could look Quinn in the eye. “Not broken hearted. Try more worried I caught something from her and needed a chance to get myself tested before exposing anyone else to whatever she could have had. After she was kicked off the island, I’ve been hesitant to jump into the fire like I used to.”
“Kicked off the island?” Realization dawned behind Quinn’s grey eyes and all the shock Parker had expected appeared in his gaze. “You slept with Vanessa La Fabre?”
Parker sighed. “Well, I didn’t know she was giving the guests more than just a massage at the time. She flirted around a lot, but I thought we were exclusive. I didn’t know she...”
“Prostituted herself to the male guests,” Quinn supplied.
Parker nodded, wondering why he felt compelled to tell Quinn about Vanessa. He hadn’t told anyone before, not even their sister, Sydney, and she usually pried all the gossip out of him. He wished Sydney were here now and not in New York working on the charity fund. She’d know the exact thing to tell him about Sierra. She always knew what to say.
Quinn leaned back in the couch, folding his arms together as his eyes pierced through Parker. “But you got yourself tested and you’re fine, right? No surprises from her?”
“No surprises,” Parker agreed. “Except the shock we all received when we found out how she was making money on the side after working in our massage parlor.”
They sat in silence after that, both staring at the ocean. Parker had expected more of a lecture from Quinn. His brother usually wasn’t at a loss for words like this.
After what felt like an hour, the door to Quinn’s art studio squeaked softly as it opened. Parker turned, seeing Quinn’s fiancée walk through the door.
Larissa smiled when she saw them. “Parker? I didn’t know you were coming over here today. Do you want to join Quinn and me for dinner?” She leaned down, placing a kiss on his cheek before turning to Quinn.
Diving Into Love (McCallister's Paradise Book 2) Page 2
