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He closed the door, slum
He wasn’t any of those things anymore
Life was good Wicked good
“Jaone! Could you help me find the remote?”
“Co, Mrs K”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHANTAL HAD SHOWN the house twice, and the second couple had seeust now, and Parker had to face facts Her ti down at the kitchen table, the sun streah the s
Two nights ago, she and Ja with half of Gideon’s Cove Nicky had shown off his ih Lavinia had him beat in that area; Parker had held little Luke Beauie sat on Malone’s lap to le with the locals
And every ti at her, a little s on his face
They hadn’t slept together since she’d gone to his apart on the couch after Nicky had fallen asleep one night—the things her boy toy could do with his hands, without even taking off her clothes, should be documented and sent to one further “Another satisfied custoainst her neck, and if she hadn’t been so weak and tre hirin on his face
During the day, Ja on some final touches to spruce up the little house The fresh shingles, green tin roof and the pots of flowers had sweetened the place; it ht not be a jewel, but it definitely looked like a house Not a shack
As for Nicky, well, if he didn’t adore James, he didn’t hate hi her son great presents—the lobsterht and a shovel that folded—he wasn’t exactly co Nick a lot, alht watch a puppy, as if he wanted to like her son but wasn’t quite sure how to
But real life aiting Parker had to get a job Since the ridiculous Ark Angels, she hadn’t ed to send in another idea for a series, and the weekly prodding emails from her editor only made her sweaty The creative part of her brain felt utterly empty
We were your one and onlies, Spike informed her
The truth was, she didn’t reallyShe loved working with Lavinia, though; Vin had passedand rereat loves of her life Her cousin adored Nicky, and the two of the pictures of swords and maces, Nicky’s latest passion
Another thing to miss about Gideon’s Cove Lavinia
But Parker missed Mackerly, too; missed Lucy and the sweet little town, the bakery, the Mirabellis And now, she actually had a place to live The rental deal had gone through, according to the eotten earlier
“Nicky!” she called “Coht her an antenna for her Mac, so she no longer had to traipse to the library to go online
Nick ca sharply of wood and paint “Where is it?” her son demanded
“It’s about three blocks from Daddy’s restaurant”
“I’onna be a chef,” Nicky announced “Like Daddy Or a spy”
“Or both,” James said
“Yeah! Both! Which one’s my room, Mommy?”
She clicked on a photo “I thought you’d like this one See the slanty ceilings!”
Nicky’s eyes widened in amanner “It’s like a fort! Or jail! Like where Grandpa Harry lives!”
Okay Change of subject called for “And here’s the yard,” she said, clicking on another picture Tidy and tiny, filled with flowers
“I could definitely hide there,” Nick said “Mommy, put my room back on, okay?”
“Sure” She clicked on the photo of his rooain A whole lot smaller than his roo back?” he asked “I miss Daddy”
“Probably next week, honey Right, James?”
She glanced up at hi back to Rhode Island, too, so they’d still see each other They just hadn’t worked out the particulars
“Yeah, we’re pretty much done,” he confirmed His face was somber
“Can I try the nail gun? Please? I’m really careful,” Nicky said
She raised her eyebrows at Jaed
“Only with Ja it, too,” she told her son
“Yes! Let’s rabbed Jalanced over his shoulder
“Be careful,” she said
“Got it,” he answered He sether She sneaked outside, camera in hand
Jalasses “You don’t want to shoot your eye out, so you alear these,” he said
“I love these,” Nicky answered reverently
“Good Noe’re gonna hold the nail gun up like this—nope, I’ll hold the shingle, okay? You put the gun right there, where the nail’s gonna go…good boy, now squeeze—”
Baun Jaht it “Good job, kid”
“I did it!” Nicky’s face was alight with joy Men and their tools, Parker thought with a smile She raised her camera and took a stealth picture
“Can I do more?” Nicky asked James
“Sure Nice and careful, now, and try not to drop the gun”
“It makes a loud noise”
“It does You’re right”
Parker went back inside, feeling a wicked case of the War Her ood for them both
The photo of Nicky’s attic room was still on the computer screen
A jail, like where Grandpa Harry lives
A bit hesitantly, Parker picked up her phone
James hadn’t mentioned Harry lately She herself hadn’t talked to her father for a while Well Being a et phone calls pretty liberally She figured she’d give it a shot