Free Lost Her (Lost #1) by Ginger Sharp

angrily. I jump in Ryan’s path to stop him.
    Parker takes another bite of his food and swallows quickly. “I am just stating a fact,” and then he pauses for a second looking at Ryan. “I have been drinking, sorry man. But we have to shut down the school. We have not had real soaking rain in a while, so with the ground being hard it is going to flood. Rosalie heard about the storm on the radio. She has closed up the Cantina. I did not get any dinner either.”
    I walk back to the couch slip ping on my flip flops. I look at Ryan, “This will happen faster if you come and help. Then we can get back home to close up the house before the storms starts.” I look over at Parker digging through his food for something more to eat.
    Ryan goes to put on his crocs and Parker spins around quickly. “A coffee maker, no! That is my job to make sure you have coffee every day,” in a shocked and hurt voice.
    Ryan walks over to where Parker is standing glaring at him. “That is my job and always has been. I am Livi’s husband.” Ryan snarls out in his jealous tone.
    Parker backs away heading toward the door, “Let us go now.”
     
    We drive in silence to the school. All I can smell is testosterone coming from both men. I run around closing hurricane shutters and see some of the other teachers placing sand bags to divert the rain water away from the school. One of the teachers calls over to Parker to go shut down the main electrical breaker. I stand with Ryan waiting for Parker to return. I turn to Ryan grabbing his hand, “When Parker returns, we will drive him up to his house. I want to make sure he gets home safely.”
    Ryan squeezes my hand in understanding. “The guy does not own a car here?”
    I stare at the school to see Parker walking toward us, “No, he has a motorcycle.” We all climb into my Land Cruiser and drop off Parker at home.
     
    We make it back to my house and I start putting items under the house so they will not blow away in the storm. Ryan went off into the house. I guess he is still fuming about Parker. It starts to down pour so I decide to be proactive and cut the power to the house. I hear Ryan yell up stairs.
     
    Running around to head in to the house, I get soaking wet. I walk in the door grabbing a towel from the bathroom. I am drying off my hair and lighting candles around the house when I see Ryan at the glass slider looking out toward the sea with a glass of wine in his hand. He speaks softly, “I guess you cut the power.”
    I pick up a glass that he had sitting on the table for me. “Yes, it is best to cut power so no appliance get power jolted from the surges.”
    “The lightning is completely beautiful as it flashes off in the distance over the water.” He takes in a deep breath. “Livi, what is the story with Parker?”
    Not understanding his question I respond, “Parker is just lonely.”
    Sounding frustrated and angry, “Livi, that is not what I am asking. Are you having some sort of relationship with him? Do you want him? Are you screwing him?”
    I choke on my sip of wine at Ryan’s last sentence. Wiping away any slobber I just made on myself, I put my glass down on the table and speak cautiously since I know Ryan has a temper. I will just blame myself making it appear that Parker is innocent in this ordeal. It will be easier for them both to get along, “No, to all of it. But, I am going to come clean. I was sad one day, a complete mess and I kissed him. I knew he got the wrong message from me.”
    “Why didn’t you set him straight?” he says as he puts down his glass.
    I feel flushed wanting to lie, but I stick with the truth. “I have not had a chance to speak to him yet. This just happened on Sunday and you appeared the next day. You know, as fate would have it, which was my sign that you have always been what I want.” I touched Ryan’s arm sliding my finger down his arm to his hand.
     
    He steps toward me grabbing my hair pulling me into him. He leans down