A Billionaire in Disguise #2 : A Perfect Plan(12)

"Help!" They both yelled.

"You're okay! I need help getting this stuff off the cellar door! Sit tight, I'll be right back!"

Emily threw her arms around Parker and kissed his cheek. "Oh my God!"

Parker hugged her back, then they anxiously waited. The sound of a tractor got louder as it approached the back of the house. It took about thirty minutes before the engine was shut off and the cellar door opened. 

"Is everyone okay? Emily Carson, are you in here?"

"Yes, I'm coming up!" Parker helped Emily up the steps. She suddenly stopped. "Oh..." She went down to her knees.

Parker stood on the stairs behind her and looked at a third of the house, the only part left standing. He knelt and wrapped his arms around Emily as she cried.

"I'm from Tender Care. The agency spread out to check on our patients who live in this area. I'm glad you two are okay. You obviously can't stay here, Emily. There's a church that opened its doors and we're making a temporary shelter there. I'm sorry, sir, but our space is limited."

"It's okay, I have a motel room if the place is still standing."

"It should be. The tornado didn't reach downtown."

"Come with me, Emily, so I can get you over there."

Emily let the young man with unruly blond hair and a name tag that read "Tyler" help her up. As he led her away, Parker watched her turn around, her face saddened.

"She can stay with me," said Parker as he saw the look of sadness turn to relief.

"You won't mind?" Emily asked, full of hope.

Parker winked as he held out his hand, but the SUV was nowhere to be seen. "I think we could use a lift," said Parker as he chuckled. He tried to make Emily smile, but he wasn't successful.

"Sure thing. Come with me to the road and watch your step."

Parker held Emily close in case she tripped. Parts of trees and the house littered the driveway. "How did you get down here?" Parker knew he didn't take this route.

"I drove over to another house and borrowed the tractor. There's an area on the other side that I was able to find." Emily sat between the two men, and Tyler wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, trying to provide comfort.

Parker couldn't wait to get Emily away from him.

When the pickup stopped, Parker was relieved that the motel was standing. After saying their thanks and goodbyes, he reached for his phone. Luckily it was working.

"Rhonda, there was tornado, but I'm okay. I don't know how long I'll be here so you can cancel the flight."

"A Tornado?!"

"Yeah, I'm fine though. I'll touch base soon." He turned his attention back to Emily when he heard her voice crack. When he ended the call to Rhonda, he dialed the rental agency requesting another SUV. He added a bonus if they'd get one to him right away.

"I have to see if I can get my apartment back. I have nowhere to live if I don't. I can't believe my grandfather's house is gone..." Emily looked at the ground but felt a hand under her chin.

"Emily, you'll always have a place to live. We can rebuild your grandfather's house the way it was, or you can pick out a different design. I don't ever want you to worry about that."

"You have to go back to New York. You can't stay here just for me."

"Let me worry about that, okay? For now I think we need to get a new cast on your arm." Another SUV was delivered to the motel. Parker helped Emily climbed inside. He had to get the wet cast off her.

Parker sat in the orthopedic surgeon's office while he waited for Emily to come out. Her bright pink cast made him smile. "Well that's certainly bright."

"The doctor said it'll be on for some weeks yet, so I should like it. He gave me good news; he doesn't think I have any permanent nerve damage."

"Nice!" Parker softly patted her back. "Do we need to go pick you up any medicine?"


 

 

 

"Everything I owned was in that house. I have nothing." Emily's cheeks turned red.

"You have me!" Parker smiled, and then it dawned on him what he'd said. "I'm one heck of a friend." Saved.

"I think the first stop should be the bank. I don't have my debit card or any cash." Emily didn't know how she was going to make it.

"Okay, that sounds like a plan." Parker drove Emily to the bank in silence. He wished he would have kept his mouth closed. "They're closed, Emily. I can buy you whatever you need."

"Russell, you don't have to spend money on me."

"I don't want to get in an argument with you. It was a statement, not a question. Do you have the prescription?"

"Yeah, but you have to let me pay you back."

Parker rolled his eyes and drove to the pharmacy. The wait was going to be an hour, so he took her to a nearby restaurant. They ate in silence for just a short time.

"What about your family? Did you take over the business from your father or is he still working?"

"I was raised in foster homes with my brother. It wasn't any fun. When you live like we did, you learn how to wheel and deal at a young age. My brother and I run the business. No one helped us, especially not any parents. We don't even know who they are."

"Wow, I'm really sorry..."

"Don't be." Parker smiled and tried to keep up the small talk, but she just kept looking out the window. She wasn't even listening to him.

"Emily, what's wrong?"

"Everything..."

Parker reached over and took her hand. "It's going to be okay, I promise. Did you decide if you want a new house or design a different one to be built? We can even have it located in a different area."

"I've been nothing but horrible to you. Why are you trying to help me so much?"

Yeah, Parker...Why are you?

Chapter 9

When they pulled up at the motel, Emily got a concerned look on her face.

"What's the matter?" Then it occurred to him. "I'll go check in at the desk and get you your own room if you'd like. But I wouldn't be able to help you then."

"I could call you if I needed something," Emily kept staring out the window.

"Alrighty then, be back in a minute." Parker walked to the office but had no luck in getting a second room. Due to the damage, many people were staying in town. Parker walked back and opened Emily's door.

"Did you find another room?"

"They're booked up because of the storm. Don't worry, I'll try to snore and keep you turned off." Parker laughed and gave her a big smile. He'd never been in bed with a woman without having pure lust on his mind. He wasn't worried about Emily, though...not in the slightest. 

"You don't have to snore to keep me turned off, trust me." Emily took his hand and climbed out of the SUV.

Thank God. Parker had never denied a woman in the bedroom and didn't want to have to start now. After the expectations had been indirectly set, he opened the motel room door for her. It wasn't a large area. She was surprised that a billionaire had actually rented a regular room. There was a queen-sized bed, small table and lamp, desk, and television.

"Russell, I don't have any clothes." Emily let out a long sigh.

"We can shop tomorrow. Tonight you can sleep in one of my t-shirts if you'd like."

"I'd like to get cleaned up before bed. Can you tie one of those garbage bags around my arm?"

"I sure can." Parker wanted to be a good host. The last thing he needed was for Emily to be running off to that Tyler guy for help. Why do you care? Parker wasn't normally jealous. He didn't hang out with women long enough to get any attachments going.

"Could you do it now? I'd really appreciate it."

Parker got a garbage bag from one of the drawers and tied it around her arm. "Here, you can wear this one." He handed her a large white t-shirt and set the bathroom up so she wouldn't have to do anything.

"Russell, what if I need help in there? Maybe I should have gone with Tyler."

"Emily, I've already helped dress you once. Did anything happen? No. Did I get out of line? No. Honestly, you're a beautiful woman but messing around with you isn't on my mind in the slightest."

Parker was real proud of himself. He flipped on the news and stretched out on the bed. This was definitely going to be easy. He thought of Emily like he'd think of a sister. He wanted to help her out and that was all...until the shower turned off.

"Russell! Can you help me for a minute? Make sure you keep your eyes closed, please!"

Shit. There went his safety net.

Emily had dried off as best she could, but she'd definitely need some help. She hated to ask him, but he made it very clear that there wouldn't be any advances made.

"Safe to come in?" Parker asked at the door.

"Kind of. There's a towel on the counter you can grab. Could you dry the back of me off? I can't reach it. Don't peek!" Emily warned.

Opening the door slowly with his eyes closed, Parker picked the towel up and took a few steps. He held out the hand holding the towel until he felt contact with her. He moved the towel gently up and down the back of her body. He just couldn't help from looking. Damn...He found himself hurrying to get out of the cramped room.

"That's good," said Emily. "Thank you."

That looked very good, thought Parker.

He gladly went back out and watched the television. Parker found infomercials and had no intentions of watching anything else. He knew that would put him to sleep...until she stepped out of the bathroom. He'd never seen his t-shirt look that good.