A Dash of Love (Pride Oregon #1) Read online

  “Thank you.” Parker smiled. “I’ve done a few other small jobs if you’d like more references?”

  Iian shook his head. “No, why don’t you tell me what you have in mind for this place.” He nodded to the restaurant.

  A little over an hour later, Parker walked back out of the building. He would have skipped, if he hadn’t been sure someone would see him. Instead, he did a quick fist pump once he was back inside his truck.

  Iian Jordan’s handshake would have to do until the contracts and pricing were agreed on. Parker would be tied to his computer for the next week as he came up with the architectural design for his ideas. That was plenty of time to get the job done before his next meeting with Iian, where they would agree on exactly what was going to be done.

  He made a quick stop at the grocery store for a few supplies to ensure that he didn’t starve when he locked himself away to work on the design.

  He was walking on cloud nine as he made his way through the store. He was so focused on planning the remodel in his mind that he didn’t notice the woman until he bumped solidly into her.

  The box of Ding Dongs that she had a hold of went flying up in the air as she reached out for something, anything, to steady herself.

  He dropped his own basket of items and reached for her just as the box of chocolate cakes hit him squarely in the forehead.

  When he finally felt steady again, the first thing he noticed was a pair of sexy sea-green eyes looking up at him.

  He blinked a few times to try and clear his mind, but there, lying on the floor of the grocery store, was the sexy mermaid from above the fireplace at the Golden Oar. Anger filled her eyes, turning them an even darker shade of green.

  Sara’s butt hurt, bad, as she glared up at the man who’d bumped into her. She’d been on her normal Saturday evening snack run and so focused on figuring out what movie she and her cousin Lilly were going to watch tonight that she hadn’t been paying attention. She and Lilly had been making their way through all the black-and-white classics her folks owned on DVD, and Sara was determined to get through each and every one of them by the beginning of summer.

  She’d been so focused on making a decision that she hadn’t been paying attention at all. But she wasn’t going to tell that to tall, tan, and sexy, who was currently looking down at her like she was on the dessert menu.

  “That hurt,” she complained as she continued to sit on the hard tile floor of aisle three.

  Her words seemed to shake him out of the stupor he’d been in. He reached down for her just as she moved to stand up. Their foreheads collided, and she ended up back on the floor, this time grabbing her head instead of her ass.

  “Damn it.” She hissed.

  “My god.” Finally, he spoke. His voice was sexier than she’d imagined.

  This time, he reached down, placed his hands under her arms firmly, and helped her stand up. He was taller than she’d thought. His hair was cut short, almost military style. The dark shirt he was wearing was tight around his muscular arms, making her mouth water instantly. She imagined briefly what it would feel like to be held in them.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. His voice woke her from her daydreams.

  She made a show of dusting off her black yoga pants, which made her remember how she was dressed. She tried not to groan at her attire. She straightened, threw her shoulders back, and tossed up her chin.

  “Didn’t your mother ever teach you to watch where you’re going?” Why had she said that? God! She was being such a bitch.

  Instead of getting offended, the man smiled at her. Slowly, he bent down and picked up the box of Ding Dongs she had grabbed.

  “Maybe if you have these, you’ll give me a second chance at a first impression?” He handed her the box and she hugged it to her chest like a lifeline.

  Her eyes narrowed. Why was he in such a good mood? She’d just thrown a box of Ding Dongs at his head, bumped him in the forehead, and yelled at him. He should be pissed, but instead, he was smiling at her like she was the best thing he’d seen all day.

  “I can be cross when I’m hangry too,” he added as he picked up his own basket of items.

  “I heard the crash.” Patty O’Neal came hobbling around the corner. The woman had once been very large, but when Sara was young, she’d lost almost all of the weight. In the past month she’d undergone full knee replacement on her left knee and was moving around better than before the surgery.

  “We’re okay,” she told Patty, so the woman wouldn’t worry and slip on the tile floor and hurt herself. “Just had a bump in.” She walked past the man, still keeping an eye on him as she went by.

  At the check-out stand, she wasn’t surprised to find the man behind her as she waited.

  “I’m sorry,” he said after a moment. “I hope you’re not hurt.”

  She turned slightly and glared at him. “No harm,” she finally admitted, her eyes running up and down him. When she spotted a red mark on his forehead from where the box of Ding Dongs had hit him, she winced.

  “I’m Parker, by the way.”

  Her eyes narrowed slightly at him. She’d never seen him before in town, and she knew everyone in Pride. Everyone.

  “Visiting?” she asked.

  “No, I moved here a little over a week ago,” he answered.

  She tilted her head slightly and gauged him again. A newcomer. Questions flooded her mind.

  “Sara!” Carol, the clerk, waved her ahead.

  She handed the box of treats over and tried to ignore the new guy standing behind her. It was then that she realized she’d forgotten her purse in her Jeep.

  “Can you just add that to my tab?”

  “I’ve got this,” Parker jumped in. “Just add it to my bill.”

  He handed her the box and started putting his own items onto the belt.

  She sighed, feeling guilty for being cross with him. “Well, thanks,” she said and made a hasty retreat.

  Jumping into her Jeep, she pulled open the box and shoved a treat into her mouth. Skipping lunch had been a bad idea. Especially after the early morning swim and the game of basketball with her cousins. She could never turn down Conner and Jacob. The boys looked so much like her favorite uncle, Iian, that she had too much of a soft spot for them. Besides, she loved a good sporting game and enjoyed trying to beat the brothers, even if she hadn’t had a chance in hell. The fact that they were both well over six foot and she stood a measly five foot five inches, like her mother, didn’t stop her from trying to whoop their asses on the court.

  She was reaching for another treat when a knock on her window caused her to jump.

  Parker stood outside her window, smiling at her.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  She shoved another treat into her mouth and nodded, then gave him a thumbs-up and started her Jeep.

  As she drove away from the parking lot, she thought she heard him laughing.

  Pulling into the house, she shoved the third cake into her mouth and finally felt human again. Okay, she really needed something other than a sugary snack to satisfy her. Her blood sugar had leveled off and now she wanted real food. Maybe she’d convince Lilly to order pizza.

  Taking the box of treats with her, she walked up to the front door and didn’t bother with knocking.

  “Lilly?” she called out.

  “In the kitchen,” her cousin yelled back.

  Where Sara was blonde with fair skin and sea-green eyes like her mother, Lilly had taken after her own mother, Sara’s aunt Lacey. Lilly’s thick, dark hair was something Sara had always loved, especially the slight curl it had. Sara’s own hair was straight and extremely fly-away.

  Sara walked into the kitchen near the back of the house and smiled as her stomach growled.

  “Pizza.” She walked over and sniffed the pepperoni pizza Lilly had just pulled from the oven.

  “I’m starved,” Lilly said as she cut the pizza. “I thought we could have a pie while we watch Monkey Business.”
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br />   Sara laughed. “You read my mind, cousin.” She gave Lilly a hug as she reached across and snagged a slice of pizza. “I ran into someone new in town today,” she said, sitting down at the bar before biting into the slice.

  “Oh? Is he cute?”

  Sara shook her head. “No, cute is not a word I’d use.” She thought about how sexy Parker was. The man had gotten her juices flowing with just one look.

  “Oh?” Lilly walked over and stood across from her, leaning on the counter as she nibbled on her pizza.

  “Tall, tan, dark brown puppy-dog eyes, and sexy as hell.”

  “Mmm, sounds like a perfect distraction.”

  Sara chuckled. “I doubt Dylan would be happy to hear you say that.”

  Lilly had secretly been in love with Dylan Bishop since the second grade.

  “Dylan doesn’t even know that I’m alive.” Lilly sighed.

  “That proves what you know and what you don’t.” Sara laughed at her cousin. She was looking forward to the rest of the night, and she tried to forget all about what a stranger had done to her in aisle three of the grocery store.

  2

  Parker sat at the same table in the Golden Oar a little over a week later. He stopped his knee from bouncing nervously for the second time in the last five minutes as Iian looked at his laptop screen and scrolled his mouse through the images.

  He was confident in his ideas. Positive they would enhance the restaurant. Of course, he’d taken lots of notes as Iian had described what he wanted for the place. Parker’s ideas had fallen closely in line with his, but still, he needed to make sure Iian liked everything.

  He remained silent as Iian scanned the images he’d toiled over for the past week. Did the man know that both his business future and his future in Pride hung on what he thought? When Iian finally looked up, there was a smile on his lips.

  “I love it,” he said.

  Parker’s eyebrows shot up. “All of it?”

  “Every detail. I wouldn’t change a thing.” He reached up and shut his laptop.

  “Really?” He tried to cover up his insecurities by nodding. “Wonderful,” he finally said. “When are you thinking of having me start?”

  “Well, can I let you in on a secret?” Iian leaned forward slightly.

  “Sure.” He nodded and mimicked the man’s move.

  “It’s our anniversary, my wife and mine, next week. I’m taking her on a month-long sabbatical to Europe. We’re going to do it all: Ireland, England, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and ending up in Greece. Every place she’s ever wanted to go.” He leaned back and glanced around. “I was hoping to have the majority of it done by the time we get back. Which means I won’t be around to check in on the progress.”

  Parker’s eyebrows had slowly gone up. If the man wasn’t going to be around the entire time he was working, that could cause some problems.

  “Wow, congratulations. I’m sure your wife will enjoy the trip. Are you planning on leaving a manager in charge?” he asked.

  Iian sighed. “Well, sort of. My niece has been slowly taking over when I’m not around, which has been happening more often lately. She’s been waiting for an opportunity like this to show me what she’s made of. Most of the dining hall will be closed off in sections, which means she’ll have her work cut out for her.”

  Parker thought about the logistics of the situation. “Will you give her power to agree to any changes if issues should arise?”

  “Some, but I’d like to stick as close to this as possible.” He tapped Parker’s laptop.

  “I can do that.” He smiled and reached across to shake the man’s hand.

  “Speak of the devil.” Iian chuckled and stood up. Parker glanced back to where Iian was looking and stilled.

  There, walking into the bar area, was the sexy blonde he’d bumped into at the grocery store. Today, instead of tight yoga pants, she was wearing a short black skirt with a soft gray sweater. She had on ankle-high black boots with a slight heel and he noticed, just as in the store, she walked into the room like she had a mission.

  “Uncle Iian,” the woman said as she walked into the man’s waiting arms. “I’m here. What did you need to see me about that was so important?” She signed along as she spoke.

  As he stood up, her eyes traveled past her uncle and landed directly on him. Her entire demeanor changed, causing him to smile as he made his way towards her.

  Bumping into the blonde had been the highlight of his time in Pride. Seeing the spark in her eyes when he’d tried to help her up off the floor had caused his heart rate to spike.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked him, her tone making it clear he wasn’t welcome.

  He was pretty sure she’d turned her back on her uncle so that he wouldn’t know what she’d said.

  “Nice to meet you,” he held out his hand, making a point to speak clearly so Iian would understand. “I’m Parker Clark, Clark Construction. Your uncle has just hired me to handle the remodeling of the Golden Oar.”

  “Remodeling?” Her voice pitched, and she turned on her uncle. Instead of speaking, she used sign language to, no doubt, voice her concerns to her uncle privately.

  He didn’t understand what she was saying, but by the way she was throwing her hands and body around as she did it, he guessed that she wasn’t pleased with the new information.

  “Why don’t we all sit down,” Iian finally said, putting his hands firmly on his niece’s shoulders.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your full name,” Parker said after watching Iian practically push the woman into a chair.

  Her eyes were still narrowed at him. “Sara Jordan,” she said quickly. “I don’t like you coming in here, pushing my uncle to—” Iian’s hand was back on her arm lightly.

  “I called Parker here, after talking to Patty and seeing the excellent job he’d done at her place. It’s time this old building got some updates. We barely passed the last inspection.” He sighed and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “As it is, I’m afraid it might catch on fire once Parker starts work.”

  Parker almost jumped in to assure Iian that he was always very careful, but the look the man gave him told him he wasn’t really concerned, but instead trying to persuade his niece of the importance.

  There were a few items they had agreed on in their first meeting that needed to be dealt with to make sure the place was up to code, but nothing that was very threatening.

  “Is it really that bad?” she asked, using sign language as well as speaking along.

  “It could easily get that way. The old place has needed a makeover for years. This is my chance, since we’ll be out of town. Besides, to make things easier on you, I’m thinking of cutting back the hours to only dinner.”

  A small gasp escaped Sara. “That’s drastic. So many people in Pride depend on this place for breakfast and lunch.”

  “I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you on your first month alone,” Iian added.

  “Month?” Sara’s eyebrows rose.

  Iian filled his niece in on his plans. Parker could see the love and excitement in Sara’s eyes when he mentioned the surprise trip for his wife. He listened as they planned how to surprise Allison.

  Slight jealousy surfaced from seeing how close the family was. He’d always dreamed of being part of something bigger. Not that his gran hadn’t showed him enough love, but his mother had always pulled in the opposite direction.

  “We can finish this later,” Iian finally jumped in. “I’m sure Parker doesn’t need more of his time wasted.”

  “I appreciate the chance.” He nodded.

  “Can I see what it is exactly you have planned for the place?” Sara asked, her voice a little softer than before.

  “I’m sure he’ll go over things with you.” Iian stood. “I have to make sure everything’s ready for the lunch rush.” Parker stood and shook his hand. “If you need anything, let me know. As it is, you can start work first thing Monday morning.”

  “
I’ll make all the preparations.” He watched the man leave, then turned back to Sara, who had remained seated and was watching him closely. Sitting back down, he opened his laptop and turned it around. “Here’s what we have.”

  Much like her uncle, she was quiet as she scanned through the plans. However, instead of looking pleased, she had a slight frown on her lips. Lips that happened to be painted a soft pink. His eyes returned to them over and over.

  “You’re taking out this wall?” She pointed to the screen. Since she was sitting opposite of him, he stood up and slid into the booth next to her. Seeing the screen, he smiled.

  “Yes.” He looked up at the wall in question. “The flow of the room will be better without it. Besides, in cases of emergency, having this area open will make it a lot safer.”

  “What about the fireplace?” she said after a moment of silence. “You don’t show it here.”

  “Here.” He leaned closer and clicked the screen until the right image showed up. “It’s still there. We’ll remove the old cracked and outdated stones, put in some new tile and paint. With the color your uncle picked out for the walls, the tile should really pop.” In his mind, he could see the finished product.

  He was so preoccupied with his daydreams, he didn’t realize how close he was to Sara until she shifted slightly and her leg brushed up against his, sending his mind in a different direction.

  Sara could feel her entire body react to Parker’s closeness. Her heart skipped, the palms of her hands grew sweaty, and she nibbled her bottom lip nervously. All basic signs that the man had her libido skyrocketing.

  Purposely leaning away from him, she jutted her chin up and took several breaths to clear him out of her system.

  “What color?” she finally asked.

  “Hmm?” Parker turned, and she found herself looking deep into those dark eyes of his.

  “What color will the walls be?” Sara didn’t like change. The Golden Oar had been the same for as long as anyone could remember. Everyone in town loved it for what it was, a piece of history. She didn’t want the place to change.