Free Feather Light (Knead Me) by Lorenz Font Page B

was in heavy disguise.”
    “And you think you’re being fair?” Jessica spoke without waiting for an answer. “What’s more deceitful than that? The man is blind, and you masquerading under different names and costumes won’t make it better. I sure hope you know what you’re doing, Kels.”
    Kelly had no answer to offer. She gazed out the window and stayed silent.

    It had been several weeks since Parker last saw Ann, and he felt like he was ready to scream. He had walked out of her hotel room like a pouting teenager whose parents had refused to let him borrow their car. Now, he felt like an ass and had no idea how to rectify his actions.
    He’d tried to call the number she’d supplied in her record, but his call had gone straight to voicemail. With his aversion to leaving messages, he’d hung up and stewed for days. Now Parker was back in Los Angeles, and he had no other choice but to continue with his life pre-Ann. His perspective had undergone a slight shift, along with his plans. It seemed like he wanted Ann in his life. There was a burning deep inside him to get to know her more. He had no idea how she felt about him, except for her confessed fascination with him. Whatever it meant, he hoped it was enough to build on.
    “You’re being foolish, Parker.” He threw his hands up in frustration and jammed them through his hair. A squeaking sound alerted him that he wasn’t alone. He turned to the direction of the door. “Who’s there?”
    Her scent wafted around him before she answered. “It’s me, boss,” Webster answered, and the soft click of the door closing sounded. “Since when did you become foolish?”
    “There you are.” He smiled in her direction and motioned for her to take a seat. “I’ve been hoping to talk to you but haven’t found the time.”
    “Sure, I’d love to talk, but before we do, you have Peggy Reese up in room two in five minutes. What’s up, boss?”
    He listened while she took the chair opposite his desk and sat down. The rustling of her clothes indicated she was comfortable. Parker leaned forward, resting his elbows on a bunch of papers sitting on his desk. He made a mental note of the room number.
    “Okay, room two, Reese.” He punched the talking clock to get the time. Four minutes. “I wanted to let you know that I’m releasing you from our . . . contract.” Silence greeted him. Parker reached for Webster’s hand. “Say something.”

Chapter 6

    “Webbie? What’s wrong?”
    Parker rose from his chair, walked around the desk, and sat on the side right in front of her.
    “Um . . . you’re letting me go?” Her voice was a mere squeak.
    As far as he could remember, their contract had been pretty straightforward. Though nothing had been put into actual writing, their verbal agreement had been clear. Crystal. Should anyone decide to step away for any reason, no questions would be asked. With the lighting in the room, Parker tried to read her expression through the haze but couldn’t.  
    “Yes . . .”
    Another painful silence stretched before them. He got antsy. It never occurred to him that it would be difficult to break their contract. Webbie had been a good sport about their whole arrangement from the beginning, agreeing to keep their pact until either one of them found someone else. And though he had not known Ann that long, there was no mistaking he was drawn to her. Her sweet voice, laced with a pain he felt he understood, gave him an inexplicable connection to her and a desire to see more of her. He found himself wanting to peel back the layers one by one until he discovered the real woman behind the mystery. 
    “Care to explain?”  
    He jerked at Webster’s clipped tone. “But . . . I thought we didn’t need to give an explanation.”
    “Maybe you don’t need an explanation, but I do,” she said. “What am I going to do now?” There was a hint of sadness in her voice that made Parker feel like a heel. 
    “Webbie, I’m