She looked so small, so defeated. There was something very childlike about her in that instant and he wanted to protect her.
Glancing at the clock, he said, “It’s probably getting too late to start painting today. Why don’t you take your mind off things? Take a bath or something and I’ll run out and get dinner. We can paint tomorrow.”
She nodded and turned to the stairs, but made no comment about what she’d like to eat.
He shut out the lights in the library and grabbed his keys. Enough was enough.
Chapter Fifteen
“It may...be judged indecent in me to come forward on this occasion; but when I see a fellow-creature about to perish through the cowardice of her pretended friends, I wish to be allowed to speak.”
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
Frankenstein
He drove for some time, searching for a place to get takeout. He’d passed several restaurants, but his appetite was fucked. His mind was on Isadora and how defeated she appeared when he’d left her.
This was not okay. It was unacceptable for Bishop to do this to her—again and again. If he cared about her at all he would back the fuck off and let her live her life and be happy.
Grinding his teeth, he sped down a country road, waiting for his usual sense of calm to return, but it didn’t. No matter how far he went, his concern and anger were inescapable.
Bishop was a threat. They’d never move forward so long as he held her in the past. Parker was confident she’d made her choice, but every time that damn phone rang he saw her certainty waver.
Isadora was a people pleaser and she hated disappointing those she cared about. Unfortunately, that list of people included Sawyer Bishop.
What if he wore her down? He was using her kind nature against her. Every time he called her, her guilt became palpable and that was bullshit because Bishop still wasn’t offering her what she needed. The selfish prick was only concerned about himself.
Parker thought about the night he’d barged into her house and told her Toni could wait. What would it take to get him to understand she was through negotiating?
He’d never felt so affronted on someone else’s behalf. It was jarring how deeply her upset crawled into him. It went into his lungs, filled his stomach, and made him angry. But at the same time, her happiness could manage the same. Her pleasure filled him with warmth and a sense of safety like nothing else.
His car veered off the back road and his foot weighed heavily on the gas. He was done pussyfooting around, done with the games. He was tired of moving with everyone else’s current.
For the first time in his life, he saw the direction he wanted to go and refused to let obstacles stand in his way. Bishop was a fucking obstacle and if he wasn’t going to get out of his path, Parker would move him.
His car navigated through the upscale neighborhood, his memories of visiting this place several years ago making only a sketchy map in his head. He recalled he lived by a country club back when Slade had brought him there to grab some old suits for work. The house had been gray. Hopefully, he’d recognize it even if the color had changed.
Passing the country club, his adrenaline pumped. Maybe Isadora wouldn’t want him to interfere. But he’d warned her he would not sit idly by and let someone hurt her.
Bishop crossed a line—several lines—and it was time he understood any mistreatment of Isadora would come with a direct consequence from him.
The house came into view, slightly familiar yet changed. He didn’t let off the gas until he was parking in front of the door. With a huff, he climbed out of his Jag and marched up the porch, not thinking past getting out all he needed to say.
His knuckles pounded on the door. Lights were on, but no one answered, so he knocked again—louder.
His heart thundered in his chest as a simmering rage had him questioning his motives. The time for negotiating was over. She was his. People needed to start respecting her limits and that meant respecting his, as well.
“Bishop, open up! It’s Hughes. I want to talk to you.”
A lock flipped and the door eased open. A flash of concern flickered in the other man’s eyes, quickly masked by a blank expression. “What are you doing here?”
“I want to talk to you about Isadora.”
“That’s none of your business,” he snapped, clearly not used to having his indiscretions out in the open.
“No? Well, why don’t you tell me what the fuck your intentions are and I’ll decide if it’s my business or not?”
He scowled, the pigment of his skin darkening. “Why don’t you ask Isadora?”
“Because you don’t spell anything out for her! That’s how you do it, right? Dangle the carrot and make her wait. Meanwhile her life’s passing by and you tide her over on crumbs. That’s how it’s been for years and now you’re acting like something’s different. But nothing’s changed. You’re just offering bigger crumbs—like that’s some big sacrifice on your part and you should get a fucking award!”
“You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. Get off my property before I call the cops.” He moved to shut the door and Parker’s foot shot out, clogging the opening.
“Not so fast. The closeted life you had her lead … that was you. She would never have chosen that if you’d given her a choice. Acting like you could openly be a couple now, as though that’s some big concession, only makes her feel ashamed. It’s not enough and you know it. She’s moved on and you’re holding her back from the future she deserves.”
“Remove your foot and leave.”
Parker’s eyes narrowed, sensing he’d struck a nerve. “You can’t satisfy her the way I can and you know it. She doesn’t need a fucking trip or recognition. She wants the real thing—all of it. I’m willing to give her that. Are you?”
“My and Isa’s relationship is private—”
“Because that’s how you’ve always wanted it!” Parker sneered. “Any decent man would be proud to have her, but you’ve always put more emphasis on other people’s opinions than her feelings, isn’t that right? And she let you get away with it up until now. You’ve gotten away with so much, you don’t have a clue how to listen when she says stop.”
He sensed himself moving toward a point of no return, and he couldn’t prevent his wayward fears from spilling into the open air.
“The calls and visits, this bullshit of harassing her is going to stop right now!” he shouted. “You and I both know you’ll only give what you have to. You won’t marry her. You won’t love her the way she deserves! She doesn’t want your paltry crumbs anymore! You feed off her insecurities, swooping in as the doting hero when she’s most vulnerable, and giving her just enough attention so she’ll willingly fuck you.”
“You son of a bitch!” The door gave way and Bishop lunged across the threshold, grabbing him roughly by the shirt.
Pain exploded in Parker’s jaw. The amount of force behind the older man’s punch rattled his skull. He stumbled back as Bishop barreled into him.
“Who the fuck do you think you are? I love that woman! Love her! I have since she was a young girl. Don’t you dare come around here spewing assumptions, defiling what you’ll never understand! You’re a phase to her, some chance to see how the other side lives. She deserves better and so help me God, I’ll do my damnedest to keep her away from you! Get off my property, before I call the police and have you arrested!”
Parker spit, impressed by his impassioned show of emotion, but far from deterred. He might be from the other side of the tracks, but he’d started on the same side as Isadora and he wasn’t going backward. Sticks and stones.
His thumb dragged under his lip and he spit again. “Ever tell her that?”
Sawyer stilled, one foot in the house.
Parker’s eyes narrowed on the tense set of Bishop’s shoulders. “Ever tell her you love her? That’s all she’s ever wanted to hear. You can put me down and blow off my accusations, but there’s a reason you won’t tell her and you know it. If you tell he
r, you give up your hand. There’s nothing left to hold out for and she’ll eventually see all the hollow holes in your relationship. And that terrifies you.
“You know what you are, Bishop? A fucking coward—nothing without that dangling carrot to lure her back. Whether she deserves better than me or not, you and I both know she can do a hell of a lot better than you.”
The asshole didn’t say a word. His shoulders bunched as he took two tense strides into the house and slammed the door.
Shaking off his wavering vision, Parker cracked his jaw and strode to his car. He was done. He was done with the games, done tiptoeing around manipulative cocksuckers, and done leaving her unprotected from assholes.
She would never question his love. A real man wouldn’t hide such a thing. Deep down he believed she was starting to realize that.
Thirty minutes later, Parker carried a bag of takeout into her house. “Isa?”
No answer. She was probably still in the tub.
He went to the kitchen to get plates and stilled when he found her standing on the other side of the island. Her hair was wrapped in a towel and her cell phone to her ear. She did not look happy.
Her gaze narrowed on him and she quietly said. “I have to go.” Placing the phone on the counter, she glared at him. “I suppose you’re pleased with yourself.”
The fucker called her? “He can’t keep harassing you—”
“I can handle him!”
Startled by the shrillness of her voice, he barked back, “Then do it! All fucking day he’s been blowing up your phone. You tell me he makes you hurt. I’ve watched him make you cry. What the hell did you expect me to do, Isa? I love you. I’m not going to stand by while someone fucks with your head!”
“So you go to his house threatening to beat him up?”
“I didn’t lay a hand on him!”
“Then why were you there?”
“Because I love you! Do I need another reason?” Shocked he was getting blamed for this, he dropped the bag of takeout on the counter. “And for the record, he’s the one who punched me.”
“Sawyer wouldn’t hit someone without provocation—”
“Stop!” He swung his hand through the air. “For the love of fuck, stop defending that piece of shit.”
“Don’t call him that!”
“He’s a piece of shit, Isa! He took advantage of a young girl, strung her along for years! He’s still playing games and you have this obsession with making excuses for him! Why? What has he ever done for you to make him worth all these second chances? You deserve more than that—”
“I know what I deserve!” Her voice broke. “I don’t need a man to tell me what I deserve!”
“I’m not telling you—”
The kitchen door crashed open and they both pivoted with a start.
Fan-fucking-tastic. Lucian stood at the threshold, his eyes set on Parker with a dark feral rage. “What the fuck is going on in here?”
“This doesn’t—”
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Lucian snapped. His scowl shifted to his sister. “Isa?”
Her eyes closed and she pinched the bridge of her nose. “Nothing. We’re just having a disagreement.”
His dark scowl narrowed and moved back to Parker. “Is that how you speak to women?”
“Shut up, Patras!”
Lucian growled, taking a swift step forward and Isadora was suddenly between them.
“Enough! I can’t take all this fighting! Parker, go home. Lucian, what are you doing here?”
Parker gaped at her, shocked he was being dismissed.
“You called and said you needed to speak to me as soon as I got back. I thought something was wrong. I called but kept getting your voicemail.”
He again glared at Parker who rolled his eyes. Give it a rest.
Isadora rubbed her temples. “I wanted to ask about dinner. I thought it would be nice for all of us to sit down to a meal together.”
Lucian scoffed. “I’m afraid I don’t do dinners with—”
“Damn it, Lucian!” she shrilled. “Grow up! The both of you get out! I am sick and tired of people not getting along! I want you both gone.”
She shoved toward the kitchen door then paused and pivoted back to the island. Snatching up the bag of takeout, she pointed her chin in the air and left them staring at each other.
Lucian sneered at him. “I ever hear you shout at my sister like that again, I’ll kill you.” His gaze dropped on Parker’s split lip. “My compliments to whoever did the damage.” He strolled out of the kitchen and left Parker standing alone.
This was not how he expected the day to end. Irritated, he shoved through the kitchen door. Fishing his keys out of his pocket, he shut off the foyer light.
“Parker, wait.”
He let out a deep breath and silently counted to ten.
Glancing up at the grand staircase, he looked at her, in no mood for more fighting.
Her damp hair hung just past her shoulders. Her face was clean of any makeup, youthful and so naturally beautiful. She wrung her hands at the belt of her robe.
In that moment, he hated himself for upsetting her, exactly why he was so angry with Bishop. He didn’t want to fight with her, but… He should have trusted her to handle the situation herself. He should have been more patient.
She stepped onto the first step and placed her hand on the railing. “I…” Regret flashed in her eyes.
His breath caught in his throat. Had he pushed her too far? No. They could talk this out.
“Isadora—”
“Wait. Let me say what I need to say.”
His chest tightened. Apologies danced on his tongue, but he didn’t utter a word. He wouldn’t lie to her and he honestly wasn’t sorry for defending her—even if he knew she didn’t need him to fight her battles.
He was, however, regretful that he’d upset her. He anxiously waited for her to say what she needed to say, hoping it wasn’t goodbye.
“Some girls are so good at being bold,” she whispered, her gaze on the marble steps. “I’ve never been one of those girls. I’m not the type of woman who fearlessly runs into situations, undaunted by the consequences.”
She took another step, inching closer to the bottom of the staircase. “I’ve never been able to stand up to the men in my life and sometimes I hate that about myself.”
She was too hard on herself. Although she had a habit of making do and quietly settling for less than she deserved, she wasn’t a waif.
She was a master at finding roundabout ways to go after what she wanted. And she never looked for shortcuts. She was class and grace, but she was also resilient and devoted to her principles.
“No one’s ever stood up for me like that,” she continued quietly. “When Sawyer called… I don’t know what you said to him, but he said he could tell you loved me.” She chuckled. “He also said he thinks you’re unstable, but… You love me. You don’t care who knows it and you make sure I do. I know you went there because you were trying to protect me.”
“I did.”
She drew in a slow breath. “Sawyer wants something I can’t give him. He wants a young girl who doesn’t exist anymore. I think he’s finally starting to understand that girl’s gone. In a way, he made me the woman I am today. I like who I am, Parker. I like the way my life is going and I like waking up in the morning with a smile, because you’re either right next to me or the first thought on my mind. I’m not afraid to tell you when I’m angry or upset or happy or anything else, but you can’t fight my battles for me. The only way this will work is if you’re upfront about your intentions.”
He hadn’t purposely tried to deceive her. “I should have told you, but I don’t know if that would have stopped me, Isa. He was hurting you.”
“But I would have been prepared. What happened tonight, that’s the sort of surprise I hate.”
“I’m sorry. From now on we’ll talk. No secrets. No lies. I didn’t know I would end up banging on his door. I was t
rying to cool off and just ended up there.”
Her gaze traveled over his face and she sighed. “You were right. I wasn’t handling things as much as I could have.” She took another step. “You said you’d protect me and fight for me. No one’s ever done that. My experience has always been if things get complicated they end—whether I want them to or not. I think I was afraid you’d eventually leave and all of this would disappear—my happiness, my smiles, my hope that I’ve finally found exactly what I’ve always wished for. I’m sorry I didn’t put more faith into us.”
His brow pinched, as he understood she was giving him the absolute truth. She was scared.
“I won’t abandon you, Isadora.”
She nodded tightly. “I believe you.”
She’d never trust Bishop not to hurt her again. But she trusted him. He didn’t want to lose that delicate faith.
“I’ll never lie to you either. I’m sorry I went there without talking to you about it first, but by the time I realized where I was going it was too late. It was killing me to sit back and watch him continuously hurt you.”
“I realize why you did it.” Her mouth pulled into a tight smile. “Before you walked in I told him the calls, the gifts, the uninvited visits all had to stop.”
Relief tunneled through him. “So you did stand up to him.”
“I did.”
“I know you’re afraid of losing him completely and I know what it is to lose someone who’s been there your entire life. But sometimes we have to let go of the past to move forward. True friends realize this is necessary and accept it.”
Exactly why Scout let go of him and he had to accept that he couldn’t follow her through the next chapter of her life. That didn’t negate how much he sometimes missed his friend.
Isadora needed to choose, but it didn’t have to be all or nothing. Looking up at her, he said, “But in time… You figure out that true friends never really go away. You just learn to live with the space between.”
She nodded. “I look forward to the day Sawyer and I accept the space in between. But for now… I’m insisting on distance. I want you, Parker, and I won’t let anyone interfere with what we have.”