“Shut up. You’re my brother, not my keeper.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway. I called to tell you the good news. I’m done! Done early, in fact, because I doubled up on my practicum and classes, so I don’t need to hang around campus for the next month.”
“Hey, that is great news. Congrats.” Crazy. His little sister was old enough to be done with college. How the hell had that happened? When had she gone and grown up?
“Hey, Candy Cane,” Jack called. “Congrats on finishing your degree. You sound good.”
A rude noise carried over the line. “Jackjack. You still tied to my brother at the hip?”
“Only when he needs a babysitter.”
Parker smiled. Throughout high school Jack had spent much of his free time at the Wilson home, which meant Pepper was like a little sister to them both. “So when will you be back?” he asked.
“Not for a month, at least.”
Jack’s face creased into a frown. “I thought you were done?”
“I am, but a couple of my classmates also finished early, so we decided to road-trip it home. Hit New Orleans, Galveston Island, San Antonio—you know, see the sights. We’ll camp along the way.”
Parker wasn’t keen on the idea, but it wasn’t his decision. He was about to remind her to stay safe when he noticed Jack’s expression. His friend’s disapproval had turned downright stormy.
“You think that’s wise? You’re going to camp with a bunch of girls?” Jack demanded.
Another rude noise echoed over the line. “Hardly. Anyway, I gotta run. They’re waiting for me. I’ll email or text when I can. Otherwise, I’ll see you in a month or so. Maybe longer.”
“See you then, and have fun.” Parker clicked off the line.
Dean wandered back into the office and headed straight for the mini-fridge. “Was that a female voice I heard?”
Parker nodded. “My sister. She’s finished school and headed this way. Did you get things squared away with Shotelle?”
“He’s gone.” Dean pulled out beers, the long necks dangling from his fingers. “So I’ll finally get to meet the elusive Pepper Wilson. That’ll be a treat.”
“If she survives her road trip.” Jack jerked off the bottle cap with a sharp motion. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell her to come straight home,” he grumbled at Parker.
“Oh, right. That would have gone over like a load of bricks. You know my sister does not take orders well.” The time before, she’d hung up on him for simply suggesting some work options for down the road. Parker eyed his friend carefully. “What’s up your ass? She’s twenty-three. If she wants to camp out with some friends for a few weeks, she’s got every right.”
“Enough about Parker’s sister. I want to know what loverboy’s got planned for his wild Friday night with a certain lovely lady.” Dean waggled his brows.
For a moment it seemed Jack would argue, but he dropped his complaining about Pepper’s travel plans and instead joined Dean in the teasing. “You think we need to offer a few suggestions?”
“We should get him to fill in a questionnaire.” Dean flashed a smile. “Offer him some options of ways he can make her night.”
“Lend him the limo.”
“Book him a suite at the Royale.”
“Damn.” Jack’s eyes widened. “We should set up the Romeo Romance treatment. We haven’t pulled that for a while.”
Parker wadded up the contract Shotelle had signed and threw it at his friends. “I don’t need any help, thank you. I can handle making this dream date a reality all on my own.”
Three bottles rose in the air as Dean offered a toast. “To Lynn. May she find out how non-asshole you are.”
Parker tipped back his drink. He hoped like hell she did, too.
Chapter Eight
A real date. How long had it been since she’d had a real, honest-to-goodness date? One where she got picked up at her door and escorted to his car, and everything.
Outside the car window, the sky was bright and clear, with the promise of another warm spring weekend to follow. Lynn caught herself smiling hard as Parker pulled into a parking space.
The entire car ride, she hadn’t been able to stop shooting admiring glances his way. He wasn’t wearing anything fancy, just faded jeans and a blue button-down beneath a black windbreaker, but she honestly couldn’t think of a sexier sight. Add to that his messy dark-blond hair and the stubble shadowing his jaw, and he was one delicious-looking man.
“You ready for some wild and crazy action?” He met her at the front bumper of the SUV, linking their fingers as he led her toward the admission gate.
“I haven’t been to an amusement park in years.” Lynn had to stop herself from bouncing on the balls of her feet as she spotted the rides and entertainment. “Oh look! They have bumper boats. And go-karts. And mini-golf!”
Parker’s grin of delight only got wider. “I’m glad you approve. Where do you want to start?”
She rotated slowly, keeping a tight hold on his hand as she considered their options and simultaneously gave herself a pep talk.