Embracing the Unexpected (12 page)

“Is she driving you crazy?” Parker asked. “She has a
tendency to be, umm, intrusive.”

“No, I find her quite pleasant.” He placed his hand on Parker’s
knee. “And she wants grandchildren.”

“What?” Parker was mortified. “She didn’t tell you that?
God, kill me now!”

His mother sat back down next to his father before Jace
could elaborate. “What’s wrong, Parker? You look like you may be ill.”

“I was telling him about our conversation we just had,” Jace
said.

“About the babies?” She smiled.

“What babies?” his father asked.

“Mom,” Parker said. “Jace and I aren’t entertaining the idea
of children. We’ve only been together two months.”

“Parker.” Jace gently squeezed his thigh. “I was telling her
about friends of mine who are in the process of adopting twins.”

“Oh.” He felt the heat rise in his cheeks. “Sorry, Mom.”

“Don’t apologize.” She laughed. “I’ve already asked Jace if
he’s interested in kids. I have three children, all of child-bearing age, and
yet I have no grandchildren. I’m not sure what you’re all waiting for.”

His dad chucked at his wife as Parker rubbed his temples and
sighed. His mother was always over the top, so he wasn’t sure why he thought
she’d be any different tonight.

“Actually,” Jace said. “I was going to ask you if you’d look
over their contract.”

“Sure, I’ll take a look at it.” He shook his head at his
mother who was beaming at the prospect of Jace and Parker becoming parents and
living happily ever after. Parker recognized that look in her eyes. She was a
woman determined to get what she wanted. Once she set her mind to something,
there was no stopping her, and now he was sure she’d quickly become Jace’s new
best friend.

* * * *

Jace couldn’t stop laughing at Parker the whole car ride
home. He loved when he was flush with embarrassment. It was so cute.

“I’m glad you find my mother’s inappropriateness amusing.”
Parker gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.

“She wasn’t inappropriate,” Jace said. “She was very sweet.”

“I’ll check back with you after you go shopping with her.
She’ll have you all alone and picking out China patterns before you even
realize what’s happening.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Jace said. “I know
what I want.”

Parker briefly glanced at Jace before returning his
attention to the road ahead of him. Jace wondered what he was thinking, but he
knew enough about Parker to know he’d have to let him work it out in his own
head for a few minutes.

“She asked you if you wanted children.” Parker swallowed
hard. “Do you?”

“I never really gave it much thought before,” Jace admitted.
“But when my friends, Jeff and Alex, decided to start the adoption process, it
sparked my interest.”

Parker nodded, still keeping his eyes focused on the street
ahead of him. Jace saw the intensity in his face.

“But if I’m being honest,” he said as he placed his hand on
Parker’s thigh, “I don’t think I would’ve given it a second thought if you
weren’t in my life.”

“Really?”

“I know it’s only been a couple of months,” Jace continued.
“And we still have to grow as a couple and learn more about one another.”

“I agree.”

“But I’ve never even considered that kind of a future with
anyone before. And I guess thinking about a family of our own, well, it gives
me…”

“Hope?” Parker finished for him.

“Yeah, lots of hope.” He gently squeezed Parker’s thigh. “I
want so much with you, Parker, but I don’t want to scare you away.”

“Scare me away?” He laughed as he pulled into Jace’s driveway.
“I was afraid my mother was going to have you running in the opposite
direction.”

Jace noticed the car in front of his garage before Parker
did. At first he couldn’t imagine who would be there waiting for him. His patients
usually parked around the side of the house in front of his office.

“Jace?” Parker shifted the car into park. “You’re sure my
mother didn’t offend you?”

Jace looked over at the front porch and saw
him
sitting on the rocking chair. Why would he be here now? Jace had a nervous
feeling in his stomach.

“Jace, whose car is that in front of the garage?” Parker
asked as he followed Jace’s gaze to the porch.

The well-dressed, attractive man stood and walked to the
front steps. Jace was unsettled by his unexpected presence, but he wanted to
appear casual. He wouldn’t let him rattle his nerves.

“Jace, who is that?”

Jace didn’t answer at first. He continued to stare in the
direction of the guest on his porch. So many thoughts were running through his
head. Why would he show up now? Jace finally had his life back together.

“Jace?”

“Tyler,” he said as he got out of the car and headed
straight for him.

“Wait,” Parker said as he got out of the car and caught up
to Jace. “Tyler, your ex?”

“Yeah,” Jace said, not taking his eyes off the Greek god
standing on the porch.

“What’s he doing here?”

As far as Parker knew, they hadn’t had contact in about six
years. Jace had a hard time getting over Tyler leaving. He told Parker how
depressed he’d been over it. Tyler broke Jace’s heart, and Parker wasn’t going
to let him hurt Jace again.

“I’m about to find out,” Jace said as he headed up the
steps. “Tyler?”

“Jace.” He smiled. “I was just getting ready to leave when I
saw you pull up.”

Tyler was an attractive, tall, dark, and totally fuckable
man. Parker had never really noticed any man other than Jace before, but he
could see how Jace could’ve had a hard time letting go of Tyler. He was
gorgeous.

“What brings you here?” Jace asked.

“I’m in town on business and I wanted to stop by and say
hello. I would’ve called, but it was kind of a spur of the moment decision.” He
looked at Parker and awkwardly smiled. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No.” Jace shook his head. “I’m just surprised, is all.”

“If this is a bad time, I could come back later.” He
extended his hand for Parker. “I’m Tyler Cobb, a friend of Jace’s.”

“Oh, excuse my poor manners,” Jace said.

This was the first time Parker had ever seen Jace lose an
ounce of his famous calmness. Parker didn’t like the effect Tyler had on him.
It was unsettling.

“This is Parker Phillips, a friend of mine.”

A friend?
Parker couldn’t help but be insulted as he
shook Tyler’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Tyler. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“That’s probably not good.” Tyler laughed as he looked at
Jace. “We did a lot of crazy things, remember?”

Jace smiled and looked down at his feet. “I’ve spent years
trying to forget,” he mumbled.

“I suppose you would,” Tyler said, clearly disappointed.

“So, how long did you say you’re in town for?” Parker asked.

“Just a few days. I’m meeting with a doctor at the
University of Connecticut to discuss a possible treatment for a patient, and I
was hoping to have your input. It would mean a lot. I know you’re busy, but it
shouldn’t take long.”

“Of course,” Jace said. “Did you bring the files?”

“No, I left them at the hotel,” Tyler admitted. “I didn’t
want to assume, and I wasn’t even sure you’d be available.”

“I see,” Jace said. “Well, I suppose I could look at them
tomorrow.”

“Yes, that would probably be more convenient.” Tyler glanced
at Parker. “I don’t want to interrupt.”

Parker smiled, but he didn’t have a very good feeling about
this. He didn’t like that Tyler showed up unannounced, seeking Jace’s help and
telling him the files were back at his hotel. It certainly didn’t take a genius
to see what he wanted. Thankfully, Jace was too smart to fall for that. At
least Parker hoped he was.

“You’re not interrupting,” Jace said. “But how about I just
meet you for coffee tomorrow and we can go over the case then? I can clear a
few hours in my schedule.”

Parker almost fell down. Wasn’t Jace the man who had a six
month waiting period to see new patients? How could he be so stupid? This man
had broken his heart, left him, was jealous of his career, and now he was back
asking for Jace to consult on a case. In his hotel room? Parker didn’t think
so. He’d never felt this kind of jealousy over anyone before.

“Call my office in the morning, and you can tell me where
you’re staying,” Jace said. “I can meet you there.”

“Thanks,” Tyler said. “This means a lot. If I can make a
breakthrough with this research, it could really help my patient.”

“I understand,” Jace said. “I can tell it’s important to
you.”

“It was nice meeting you, Parker,” Tyler said. “Jace, I’ll
call you in the morning.”

Parker nodded and then headed into the house without saying
anything to Jace. He couldn’t believe Jace would even consider helping this
man. Jace followed him inside, placing his keys and wallet on the foyer table.

“That was kind of a shock,” Jace said. “When I saw him
standing on the porch, I had no idea what the hell he’d be doing here.” He
wrapped his arms around Parker’s waist and began kissing his neck. “Want to
watch a movie in bed?”

“Not really,” Parker answered.

Parker couldn’t believe how oblivious Jace was to this whole
situation. Did he actually think Tyler was here to consult on a patient?

“You’re right.” Jace laughed. “Why even bother putting a
movie on?” He bit Parker’s earlobe and snaked his hand down to his belt buckle.
“We never make it past the opening credits anyway.”

Parker squirmed out of his hold. He didn’t want to make a
big deal out of this but Tyler's sudden appearance didn’t sit well with him.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m not in the mood,” Parker said as he headed for the
kitchen.

Jace followed him. “You’re not still upset over your mother,
are you? I told you I found her just as adorable as you.”

“My mother?” Parker reached in the refrigerator for a beer.
“I think we have a bigger problem than my mother.”

“I don’t understand. What’s wrong?”

“Did you not just agree to go to your ex’s hotel room?”
Parker chugged his beer. “Right in front of me?”

“What? Were you not out there with us? He asked me to
discuss a case with him. He’s seeking out my expertise.”

“Oh, he’s seeking something out.” Parker laughed
sarcastically. “And he intends on getting it.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” Jace said. “Tyler isn’t here to
revive a romance. He’s here as a doctor asking another doctor to consult on a
patient.”

“Why didn’t he call to tell you he was coming? What do you
think he was hoping for by coming here on a Friday night?” Parker asked. “And
why do you have to meet at his hotel?”

“I don’t know,” Jace said. “If you don’t want me to go to his
hotel, I’ll meet him someplace else, but I wasn’t planning on going up to his
room. I thought we could meet in the lobby.”

“I don’t want you to meet him at all,” Parker said. “Have
him email you the file, and you can discuss it over the phone.”

“This is absurd.” Jace threw his hands in the air. “I don’t
understand why you’re so jealous.”

“I don’t understand why you’re so stupid.” Parker finished
his beer. “He wants to get back with you. I saw it in his eyes.”

Jace shook his head. “You’re not being rational. People can
be professional.”

“He wants more than professionalism from you,” Parker said.
“Can’t you see that?”

“I’m sorry, Parker, but I don’t agree. I understand it might
be hard for you to accept that I’m meeting with an ex-boyfriend, but I can assure
you I feel nothing for him. He’s here as a colleague. That’s all.”

“Don’t act like my shrink.” Parker didn’t want Jace to
rationalize this for him. “If I thought he was here to seek your advice, I’d
say go for it, but that’s not what’s going on here. Maybe you’re still too
blinded by him to see.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Jace yelled. “I have been over
Tyler for years, and if my actions toward you don’t prove that then I’m afraid
nothing will.”

“You are a successful doctor. A leading expert in your field,
an accomplished author, and a respected professional. You’re rich and good
looking. You’re the one that got away. He wants you back.”

“You got all this in five minutes?”

“Don’t meet with him,” Parker pleaded.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Jace clenched his fists by his
side. “I’ve asked you before not to interfere in my professional life. I take
my work very seriously and if I can help Tyler with a patient, I’m going to do
it. I took an oath.”

“You’re wrong about Tyler, and I’m sorry you can’t see
that,” Parker said. “But I’m not going to allow you to get hurt again.”

“What makes you think he could hurt me? I don’t want him.”

“Then don’t go,” Parker said. “I don’t want you to go.”

“Parker,” Jace said as he reached for his hand. “Don’t you
trust me?”

“Just don’t go.”

He realized he sounded like a jealous, sixteen-year-old
girl, but he didn’t care. He saw through Tyler and knew Jace took his career
too seriously to think someone would take advantage of that, but Parker saw the
look in Tyler’s eyes. He recognized it because he loved Jace and wanted him
just as much as Tyler did. What if the bond Jace had with Tyler was stronger?
What if they reconnected and it all came back?

“I wouldn’t ask that of you,” Jace said. “I would never
presume to tell you anything about your work, and this is the second time
you’re interfering in mine. I seriously hope you reconsider.”

“I can’t,” Parker said. “Not this time. It’s just a feeling,
Jace, but I have to go with it.”

“Then we’ll have to agree to disagree. From now on, my professional
life is separate from what we have.”

“If you go…” Parker swallowed back the bile in his throat
because he knew the seriousness of what he was about to say. “…we don’t have
anything.” He had no idea what had gotten into him, but he wasn’t willing to
lose Jace.