Feather Light (Knead Me)

by Lorenz Font

  The table was quiet, and he could feel everyone’s eyes on him. He squirmed a little, wishing he could see their expressions or at least hear what they were thinking. “Um, hello! What’s with the silence?” he asked.

  “Wow, dude, are you kidding me? Are you falling for this girl already? Who is she? Which one? I’ve seen some pretty amazing women go in and out of your massage rooms, but I’ve never noticed anyone you might be interested in.”

  Parker inclined his head and frowned. “What are you using as a standard?” Cork probably thought he knew him so well, basing his judgment on his past relationships.

  “I know your tastes, bro. You like redheads, and I haven’t seen any of those coming out of your office.”

  Cork’s words gave him pause. Hadn’t he seen Ann? Maybe he hadn’t, considering she’d been to their LA office once and the other time had been in New York, when his brother hadn’t been there with him.

  “I’m sure you’ll meet her one of these days.”

  “Don’t forget to bring her to meet us before we leave for Hawaii,” his mother said.

  Dorothy’s voice was too chirpy. Was it his imagination, or did she sound like she was ready to marry him off? Parker was only twenty-eight years old. He had no intention of giving up his single life yet. It wouldn’t be easy to find someone willing to share a lifetime with a man who had limitations. Not that he spent any sleepless nights worrying about that, but the thought had crept into his mind a few times. Well, as his mother often said, que será será.

  “We’ll see, Mom. We’ll see.”

  “Can you slow down a little? What’s the rush?” Jessica tugged on her arm as she handed her parking ticket to the valet. They’d exited the restaurant in haste, leaving their meal untouched.

  Flashes snapped around them, adding to Kelly’s extreme nervousness. She spotted Rigor in the herd of photographers with a smirk on his face. He took shot after shot, and when their gazes locked, he pointed to his eyes and waggled his eyebrows.

  Jessica followed her gaze, saw the tail end of Rigor’s antics, and bristled. “Don’t mind that idiot. He’s just out to irritate you. Don’t show any sign that he’s affecting you.”

  “I just want to get out of here. Meet me at the cottage, and we’ll order pizza. I’m sorry if I ruined your dinner.”

  “Don’t worry, hon. Pizza is something I’ve avoided for a long time, but I want one right now. I’ll follow you to your place.”

  They got into their respective cars amid a flurry of snapping pictures and questions from the paps. Kelly breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she settled in and the doors were locked. She pressed the gas pedal and sped away. Her heart didn’t stop thudding until she was close to home.

  Of all the places in LA, Parker and his family had to dine at the same restaurant as she. What were the odds of that happening? The city was massive, so bumping into him had never even crossed her mind. To get her mind off the narrow escape, Kelly called in the pizza order while she drove. Traffic was light, and they reached her place in less than a half an hour.

  They pulled into her driveway at the same time, and then walked toward the front door. Neither spoke as they entered the silent living room. Kelly turned on a single lamp and opened the doors leading out to the veranda. They flopped down on the rattan chairs and propped their feet up.

  “I knew he was gorgeous, but I didn’t expect perfection. The man should be an actor or a model. That face is amazing,” Jessica gushed.

  “Stop it. I don’t want to talk about him. I feel bad about walking out of there without saying anything, but I didn’t know what to do.” Kelly covered her face with her hands, feeling dejected and ashamed.

  “Talk or don’t talk? You want to me to stop talking, and yet you’re blubbering like an idiot. I think you need to grow up, girl. You’ve had it bad the last couple of years. I know it still hurts after losing … you know. But you have to get over it and move on. Not everyone is out to take advantage of you. You’ve learned from your mistake—now you have to live a little and allow yourself trust someone again.”

  “The more I talk about it, the more miserable I get. I know I shouldn’t be leading Parker on this way. It isn’t fair. But I want him to want me without the added burden of knowing who I really am.” She trembled under the weight of her present predicament. Lying hadn’t been part of her plan, nor was leaving him clueless about her celebrity status. Would it matter to him?

  Jessica got up and walked around the table until she was standing behind Kelly and stroked her hair. “Who exactly are you? And don’t you think you are selling Parker short? From what little you’ve told me and what I’ve read, I don’t think he has a judgmental bone in his body.”

  Kelly looked up with tears in her eyes. “I’m screwed, I know, and the worst thing is, I think I really am falling for him. God, I’m so happy when I’m with him but miserable because of the lies. We both know how it’ll end up if the paps find out about him. They’ll swarm him. And the media will chew him up and spit him out. I don’t want him to go through that because of me,” she sobbed.

  Jessica pulled a tissue out of her purse. “Here, don’t go smearing that mascara all over your beautiful face.” Her best friend dabbed at the black streaks running from the side of her eyes. “I want you to think about this. You don’t have to say anything, just listen. Let Parker decide what he can handle and what he can’t. Don’t just assume that he’d be miserable being with you because you’re famous. If you give him the ammunition of truth, he’ll be able to face whatever else comes his way. There’s nothing good that will come out of a relationship based on lies. If anyone should know this, it should be you.”

  The tears continued to flow while Kelly digested her friend’s advice. If she wanted to be with Parker beyond just a string of covert meetings, she had to come clean and confess her little white lie. Soon.

  “I’ll try.”

  “Good girl. You won’t regret telling him the truth. And I quote, ‘the truth shall set you free.’ ” Jessica giggled and gave Kelly a hug just as the doorbell rang. “Must be our dinner.”

  “I’ll get it.” Kelly attempted to get up, but Jessica stopped her.

  “I’ve got it.”

  Jessica hurried to the front door with her wallet in hand. Reacting on sudden impulse, Kelly reached for her cell phone and called Parker. He answered on the third ring.

  “Ann?”

  “Hi. Did I catch you at a bad time?”

  “We’re about to leave the restaurant. What’s going on? Are you catching a cold?” He sounded worried, and that warmed her heart.

  She was forced to breathe through her mouth because her nose was clogged from crying. “I’m fine. It’s the breeze. It’s getting nippy out here on the patio.”

  “Better go inside or get a blanket and cover yourself.

  Kelly shifted gears. “Can I come over around four tomorrow? Should I bring dinner?”

  “Four is good, but don’t bring dinner. It’s about time you tried my roasted chicken.”

  “You can cook, too?” She smiled at the image of Parker getting busy in the kitchen. “What else can you do, Mr. Davis?”

  “Of course I can cook. You’re talking to a Cordon Bleu dropout.” He chuckled, and despite her misery, she joined in his laughter. “I can make sweet love, too,” he added, his voice a husky whisper.

  “That I already knew, but I would love another sample.” Her heart pounded in erratic beats as she pictured Parker’s very male body on top of hers. She licked her lips at the perfect vision. “Okay, I’ll bring the wine, then. See you tomorrow.”

  “Oh, and Ann?”

  “Yes?”

  “I miss you. I haven’t been able to think of anything but you all evening.”

  Her heart skipped and she clutched the phone in a tight grip. “I miss you, too. Good-night, Parker.”

  “Night, my lady.”

  “So are you talking to your hunksicle?” Jessica snuck up behind her.

 
Kelly laughed at Jessica’s nickname for her sizzling hot masseuse, blushing at the same time. “Yeah. I’m going to his place tomorrow.”

  “Ah … and you’re going to do what? Hell, why did I even ask? Don’t answer that. Just make sure you get enough sleep for the press junket on Monday.”

  “I’ll get plenty of sleep, don’t worry.” Of course, that was a lie. They would sleep but after several hours of fun. The thought of what they would be doing made her blush even more.

  Her cell announced an incoming text message. She glanced at the display, which showed Parker’s name, and smiled.

  Wait for my text with instructions tomorrow. Sleep well, my lady.

  Not only was she blushing, but now she was grinning like a total idiot.

  Jessica gave her a look of disbelief before rolling her eyes. “Let’s pig out.”

  Parker placed his arm around the top of the driver seat. “Don’t think for one minute I’m letting that slip of yours in the restaurant go.”

  “What are you talking about?” Cork’s voice cracked, sounding defensive.

  He raised an eyebrow. If Cork and his parents were allowed to grill him about his relationship with Ann, he’d be damned if he was going easy on his brother.

  “Spill, dude. I know you’ve been seeing someone.” He smirked in Cork’s direction.

  “What happened to respecting each other’s privacy?”

  “You flushed it down the toilet when you instigated the nonstop questions back at the restaurant.” Parker changed tactics. “I know you, little brother. You always get evasive when you’re seeing someone. So quit avoiding the question, because I’m not going to let this one go.”

  Cork snorted and accelerated. “Damn it. I don’t sing like a girl.”

  “Sure you do!” Parker chuckled. “I’m still having nightmares from your stories about Suzanne, Rosemary, and Trish. Wait … there’s Mindy and Donna, too.”

  “You’re such an ass.”

  Parker could tell his brother was on the verge of blurting his secret. He crossed his arms in satisfaction. “So, who’s the new girl?”

  “It’s Webster.”

  Parker couldn’t help but laugh. Man, I thought I worked fast. The woman didn’t waste any time. He almost blurted it out but caught himself in time. “Webbie? Our little Webbie … Webbie?”

  “My Webbie.” Cork sounded like a dog obsessed with guarding his bone.

  He coughed. “Um, congrats, bro. She’s a good woman.” Isn’t this awkward?

  “I’m well aware that you two have a history, and I’m good with it. But that’s all in the past, so let’s just keep it that way.”

  To put his brother’s worries to rest, he nodded. “I agree. Let’s keep it that way.”

  If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that his brother and Webster were perfect for each other.

  Chapter 10

  Light was about to break when Andrew, Parker’s running buddy, honked the horn outside his townhouse. They always left at six thirty in the morning to beat the weekend rush at the track. They got to Road Runner within minutes amid a light drizzle of rain. Parker loved the feel of the little drops misting his face as he looked up to the sky. The weather was perfect, and the track would be even better—not muddy, but damp enough to get rid of the dust. They parked their water bottles and towels on a bench and started their pre-run warm-ups.

  Parker attached the leash to his wrist and secured it with Velcro. This was his connection to his running buddy. Andrew would issue nonverbal cues by tugging on the leash should they need to stop, if a pothole was in his path, or if they were about to overtake another runner.

  They had perfected the process and had been running together every week for almost a year. Andrew had been a close friend in high school who’d pursued a career in sports medicine and athletic training. When he’d found out about Parker’s impending blindness, he’d offered to use a technique that would give him the freedom to run outside. On days when their schedules didn’t coincide, Parker would use his personal treadmill in his small home gym.

  “What have you been up to?” Parker asked.

  “Well, I got an offer from a minor league program for a position as an assistant trainer. I haven’t accepted it yet, but they offered to let me try it out for a month to see if it’s the perfect fit.”

  “That’s amazing! What are you waiting for? Isn’t it a dream of yours to work for an athletic program and travel at the same time?”

  When they stepped on the pavement of the track, Andrew gave their leash a little tug, his signal to get ready. Parker nodded, and they started off the first leg of their run with a jog.

  “I’m going to try it first, and then decide later. If I accept the position, you might be without a running partner.” Andrew tugged once after they’d covered half the track and increased their speed to a full run.

  “Don’t worry about me. I can post something on craigslist for a running partner. Do what you have to do, Drew. I’ll be fine.”

  He gave Drew a smile of encouragement, and then they stopped talking so Parker could concentrate on the silent prompts. Parker had loved running for as long as he could remember. It was one of the things he’d hated to give up once the blindness had taken over. If it hadn’t been for Andrew’s insistence that he try running with a partner, he would still be using his treadmill and missing all the fun of being outdoors.

  After fifteen laps around the track, they called it a day. Webster was due to pick him up in thirty minutes to take him grocery shopping and run a few errands before he had to start cooking and getting ready for Ann.

  Ah, Ann. He could almost smell her and taste her in his mind.

  As usual, Webster arrived on time. “So what’s the hurry?” She unlocked the front passenger door of her sedan, and Parker slid in.

  “I need your eyes to help me choose outfits and some other stuff for tonight. And I wanted you to take me grocery shopping, too.” It had always been difficult for him to ask for favors, but with Webster, it was different. Maybe it was because they understood each other’s needs without having to explain.

  “Big date, huh?” she asked while they cruised along the main thoroughfare of Sepulveda Boulevard.

  Parker nodded. “Let’s hit the grocer first. I’m anxious to get back in time to cook and shower.” He drummed his fingers on the window. Anxiety and excitement had been eating away at him since he’d woken up. The run had done very little to ease the building tension within him.

  “It’s that Baba chick, isn’t it? Gosh, Parker, do you even know the woman? I mean, she gave us a phony name. How can you fall for her?”

  He detected skepticism in her voice that was unusual for her. His head shot up in defiance. “Her name’s Ann Sutton, if you want to know, and I think I know her well enough.”

  Parker heard her pound on the steering wheel. Webster had always been supportive of his every decision, so it surprised him to see her so distrustful of Ann. They spent the rest of the drive in stubborn silence. When they arrived at the strip mall, she looped her arm in with his, and he knew what had happened in the car was forgotten.

  “You know, boss, I’m happy if you are, but I can’t help being a little protective of you. Women are just as bad as men when it comes to getting what they want, using whatever method they can. I’m just looking out for you, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop, even if you get married.” She wrapped an arm around his waist as they walked past the shops along the busy street.

  “Whoa! Stop right there. No one’s getting married. I just happen to be dating. Nothing serious, got it?” Parker pulled her head toward him and gave her a friendly kiss on her hair.

  “Fine … but you can’t stop me from doing what I want.”

  He could almost imagine her pouting, and he grinned. “Fine. Do what you want—just don’t scare her away.”

  Grocery shopping was easy with Webster describing every detail for him. The shop had everything he was looking for, so they were in and out in
less time than he’d anticipated. After the initial stress of not keeping to his schedule, Parker began to relax, and the rest of his errands became more enjoyable.

  Webster maintained a steady flow of chatter while pushing the cart. She kept him entertained with work gossip as they walked up and down the supermarket aisles. While he was away visiting the other branches, his eyes and ears at work had always been Cork and Webster, unless Cork came along to keep him company.

  When they reached his townhouse, Webster stayed to help with the setup. She wrote down some instructions that he dictated while he prepared for dinner. She even offered to arrange the gloriosa lilies he’d ordered from the florist earlier. From Webster’s description, he could almost picture the flowers in his mind. They had the fragile, exotic appearance of crushed red velvet, and while they were not true lilies—growing on a vine rather than from a bulb—they still represented the same sweetness and elegance as their authentic counterparts. Just perfect for what he had in mind.

  At a quarter past three, Webster gave him a quick hug, wished him luck and left, assuring him that everything was perfect. With the chicken cooking in the roaster, he sent Ann a text and hurried to take a shower.

  Taking meticulous care with his appearance, which was laughable since he couldn’t even see himself in the mirror, he tried to fix his hair as best as he could, pushing the strays back into place that always managed to break free from the gobs of gel he used to tame them. He dressed and chuckled, remembering Webster’s exact words. “You look like an idiot, but a good looking idiot, and very forgivable.”

  His alarm sounded, informing him the chicken was done. Parker hurried out of his bedroom to his small kitchen. Not bothering with the lights, he proceeded to set the table and checked the mashed potatoes. He pressed his watch for the time. Five minutes. He took one stem from the vase and walked back to his room to wait.

  Kelly found a parking place right away when she spied a car leaving a spot close to Parker’s home address. She read his text several times and wondered what he meant by it. Texting back, she promised to do as he’d asked. She found the key to his unit underneath the doormat and, with the bottle of red wine in one hand, let herself inside the house.