Russell got up to pour himself another cup of coffee when the phone rang. He'd promised to go with Rhonda and the girls to the zoo today and just enjoy a Saturday for a change. He hadn't done that in years.
"What's up?" Russell answered, seeing that it was his brother.
"I slept with Emily last night." Parker listened to Russell's drawn-out sigh.
"You said you weren't going to do that..."
"I'm taking her back to Colorado tomorrow. I'll be at the office today trying to do more damage control. Enjoy your day with Rhonda and the girls. Give them a hug for me."
"I'll hug the girls, but as far as Rhonda's concerned, don't go near her for your own safety." Russell tried to keep his voice as low as possible.
"She's that pissed?"
"You have no idea. Living here hasn't exactly been a picnic."
"We've always been upfront, so I thought I'd let you know."
"I'll add that to the list of your good Samaritan work."
Rhonda walked back in the room with the girls just as Russell was hanging up his phone. "That was your brother, wasn't it? You aren't going into the office today, tell him to forget about it."
"No, I'm not going in." Russell gave her a big smile as he grabbed his keys and headed out the door for his much needed family day.
Emily poured herself a glass of orange juice and stared out the window at the beautiful day. She wished she could be outside like everyone else. If I leave the door unlocked, I could get back inside and Russell would never know. She smiled to herself and quickly walked to the bedroom. She was grateful that Russell had purchased a couple of outfits for her. Last night was amazing, and she'd planned on not getting attached, but her heart was ruling her thoughts. She remembered the way he looked at her, both last night and again this morning. Emily was afraid to feel hopeful but couldn't help herself. She ran into Russell's bedroom and smiled at the messed up sheets where they'd made love again and cuddled for the night. She turned her attention on Russell's closet. She certainly couldn't get past security looking like herself if she was going to keep her excursion a secret from Russell.
Parker sat at his desk tapping his pen. He needed to get some work done but couldn't get Emily Carson off his mind. The way she felt, the look in her eyes, her passion...then she called me Russell.
Emily looked in the mirror feeling very proud of herself. With one of Russell's t-shirts, her new pair of jeans, and hair tucked under one of his baseball caps, Emily slid on her pair of sunglasses and walked out the door. She headed for the back stairwell and exited the building with other people. Keeping her face down, she was out on the streets in no time. The large guy she walked next to hid her cast very well.
She spotted a cab and quickly climbed in the back. "Where to?" asked the older cab driver.
"I'm not sure. I'm pretty new in town and was looking for a fun place to spend the day. Any suggestions?"
"I've taken quite a few people to the zoo today. It's free admission today. My wife and grandchildren are there seeing the new exhibits."
"Sounds like a plan!" Emily smiled as she took off her ball cap and let her glossy hair fall around her shoulders. She hadn't been to a zoo in forever.
Parker wasn't getting anything accomplished. The mere thought of seeing Emily was making him a very happy man. It was already midafternoon and there wasn't anything pressing that couldn't wait until Monday. He knew the reporters would still be there. He'd talked to as many investors as he could get ahold of, the rest would have to wait. Parker locked his office behind him and headed towards the elevator. The staff was relieved to see their boss with a smile on his face.
Emily entered the zoo and walked around to the front exhibits. Spotting the snow cone stand made her pace quicken. She hadn't had a blue-stained mouth since she was a kid. Just the thought made her chuckle. She didn't even get upset when she spilled the liquid on Russell's yellow shirt. As she walked around, she saw the sign that pointed towards the polar bear exhibit. Emily mingled in with the crowd that was headed in that direction.
She took a seat in the large enclosure made of wall-to-wall glass. Watching the bears play underneath the water made her feel years younger. The families were laughing and spending time together, and she felt a sadness begin to fill her. I wish I had a family. Children stared at her large pink cast, but Emily didn't mind. Hopefully, it would be gone soon. Just as she was about to get up and leave, she heard a familiar voice.
"Russell, wait right here, I need to take the girls to the bathroom."
"Come with us!" begged a little girl.
"Daddy's going to stay here and save our seats."
Emily watched the mother walk over and kiss him. He's married? With kids?! Emily began to fume but stayed seated until the woman and her children were gone from the exhibit. Carefully walking down the steps, she stood in front of Russell.
"You lying, cheating bag of shit!" Emily yelled as her hand landed on his cheek. "I'm leaving! I hate you!"
Tears rolled down her cheeks as soon as she stepped out of the exhibit. She heard loud footsteps behind her, but with her fast feet and agility, she was able to get away to a nearby restroom.
Parker went up the back elevators with a dozen red roses he picked up on his way home. His relaxed, happy state left him when he found his front door unlocked. Oh God...
"Emily! Emily!!" There was no answer. He quickly ran through every room in the large penthouse. Her belongings were there, but her purse was gone.
Shit! He called her cell phone and it rang from the coffee table. Panicked, he hit speed dial.
"Russell, Emily's gone!"
"Yeah, I found her. Or should I say she found me. Luckily Rhonda had the girls in the restroom and didn't witness her calling me a lying cheat and slapping my face. I tried to catch her but she's fast, Parker."
"Oh my God, where are you?"
"Fairfield Zoo. I'm at the exit, so she's still inside. Hurry your ass over here." Russell was getting more pissed by the second. All he needed was for Rhonda to get in a cat fight in front of their kids and everyone else.
Parker took off, phoning the limo as he ran. The driver was still in the lot, taking a quick nap. When he saw Parker's face, he snapped right to attention.
"Gary, get me to the zoo! NOW!"
Gary went as fast as he could. The traffic jam in front of the zoo was ugly. People were arriving and leaving, and Parker wasn't going to wait. He jumped out and began to run.
Emily slid down the wall of the stall and huddled in the corner. The fact that she was sitting on a dirty floor didn't even dawn on her. Her legs wouldn't have held her up anyway. How could I have been so stupid? It was now confirmed in Emily's mind, that both brothers were scum. I was nothing more than a mistress! Her visuals of her making love to the two-faced liar made her crawl to the toilet and vomit until she was wrenching with dry heaves. Taking a deep breath while she stood, she stepped out of the stall with curious, concerned eyes from other people all over her. She walked to the sink and splashed cold water on her tear-stained face. When she was outside the restroom, she walked with her face toward the ground. She had only one thing on her mind...getting the hell out of New York.
Parker found Russell by the exits inside the zoo. He was out of breath from running several blocks.
"Did she leave?"
"Parker, this is ridiculous. You shouldn't have slept with her!" Russell was livid.
"I'll fix this today." Parker reached over and patted his brother's shoulder. He knew damn well that Russell wasn't buying any of it.
Looking around, they both spotted Emily at the same time. They began to sprint in her direction.
When she heard fast, loud footsteps coming toward her, she lifted her face. Emily thought about running but was beyond that. She could have taken on a bull. Seeing who it was enraged her.
"Don't come near me!"
"Emily, this is Russell, he's my brother. He isn't the one you were with in Colorado or at the penthouse. He's a happily married man with two kids. I'm Parker. I'm the one you've been with the entire time..."
"You lying sack of shit!" Emily went to swing but Parker grabbed her wrist.
"Emily, you have every right to be pissed off. Yes, I lied to you. But it's me, Parker."
"I don't know who the hell you are. Whichever so-called man you claim to be, I hate you! Do you think for one second I'd believe anything that came out of your mouth?!"
Parker had to stop it. "You loved when I kissed you in that restaurant! You really did turn me on, and that night in the jacuzzi was the most intimate moment I'd ever experienced in my life! Your mouth is the sweetest--"
That's when Parker felt the sting on his cheek.
"I hate you! I hate you both!" Emily took off running out of the park and hailed a cab. Leaving her belongings behind, she headed for the airport.
Chapter 12
Emily was grateful to have her cast off her arm and the staples removed. After carefully exercising her arm in physical therapy, the stiffness was subsiding. Now that her arm was getting stronger, she had to work on mending the insides. She certainly hadn't expected to be affected for this long and tried to stay as busy as possible. But being back at the clinic was doing very little to take her mind off of whomever the hell she'd slept with. Knowing that the Davis brothers were probably taking turns with her was making her sick. She didn't believe a word of what was said at the zoo that day. If the brothers talked, both would know the intimate details.