Eliot could not believe the feeling of kissing Parker. Electricity was humming through his body making everything more vibrant. This was a different kind of high than hitting someone. That was minutely satisfying but this, this was something completely different. It was better than all the one-night-stands all combined, hell it was better than kissing Aimee.
He followed Parker into the cabin watching her explore every nook and cranny. Eliot followed her upstairs to the second floor where the master suite was a set their bags in front of the footboard, beginning to put everything away. He placed Parker's items in the dresser along with his and placed their toiletries in the bathroom. Parker bounced around the second floor finally ending up in the master bedroom. She announced herself uncomfortably at the door so not to have a repeat…well she thought that would be best. If she couldn't see Eliot's gorgeous baby blues, then she'd make herself known.
"Darlin', you don't have to do that." He said clenching his jaw and leaned against the footboard with his arms crossed. "You never have to be afraid of me. It'll never happen again. I promise." he still couldn't look at her and the remaining bruises that were the shade of Concord grapes.
"I'm not afraid of you." she smiled from the door. "Shit happens. I snuck up behind you. You've always told me not to. I didn't listen. My fault." she shrugged. "So what's on the agenda?" She stood directly in front of him. Eliot shook his head. He could not believe she was letting off the hook for nearly killing her, twice. He opened his arms to her and she stepped into them, resting her head against his chest.
"What do you want to do?" the vibration of Eliot's voice through his chest tickled her ear making her smile.
"Can I finish my question?" she looked up at him. He was confused. "The one I started to ask before you, ya' know…pounced on me?" He clenched his jaw, hardening his expression. She retreated from him, instantly regretting bringing it back up.
He could see her starting to retreat from him and put up her walls. He rearranged his expression, softening and smiling at her the way he knew she liked. "Yes, Parker, you can. What was it?"
"Why were you giving me a key? I mean, you know that I don't EVER use the door, so why bother?" she asked curiously.
"Well. I, uh, I wanted you to feel welcome at my place. To come and go as you please. I know you get hungry and I'd rather cook for you than you go steal fortune cookies. And I didn't want myself exposed in case someone figured out what you were doing. Coming into my place without a key or being on the ledger." he tried to explain without being too obvious of the real reason.
"Oh, who would expose you?" she wasn't fooled and mirrored Eliot's posture and stance with her arms crossed. Eliot had a tell when he wasn't saying the full truth, she'd figured it out a while ago but wasn't about to tell him that.
"Just paranoid. When you've done what I've done. Paranoia is a good thing." he smiled trying to lighten the mood. She seemed to buy it. Parker let it go deciding not to push him. Not yet anyway. Sophie was teaching her new things and Parker was a fast learner. "So now what do you want to do? It's what 2:30ish? So late lunch?" He had looked out the window to see what time it was by the sun. Parker could never understand how he did it but then she grabbed his wrist to look at the time. It was 2:30. She smiled and her stomach growled right on time. "What would you like?" he grabbed her hand and led the blonde out of the bedroom and down the mahogany stairs.
"Um, something yummy!" she hoped up and down on one foot and reaching into her pocket. She pulled out her sleek new cell phone Hardison had just gotten for her. "I have 7 voicemails and 22 text messages." She stared at her phone. "Why didn't I hear my phone go off?" she started scrolling through all the messages.
"No signal except for right here." he guided her forward toward the cooking range and she got full signal. "The beauty of living in the woods. No one can bother you. Who are they from?" he started raiding the cupboards for supplies.
"Well, everyone. Mostly Hardison and Nate. The sound pissed. Oh and one from Sophie saying 'have fun.' She sounds happy. Does she know something that I don't?" Parker hopped up on the island and was banging her heals on the door below. Eliot raised his eyebrows at her making her stop banging on the door.
"Sophie trusts me and you. I talked to Sophie last night while you were asleep and explained to her what happened and she smiled and said nothing more. And for Nate and Hardison, they can butt out. But you might want to send Hardison a text message saying you won't have signal for a while but will check in soon." Eliot was putting out all the ingredients for lunch. Parker sent a text message and then turned her phone off. Eliot pulled his out of his front shirt pocket and did the same. He picked up Parker's phone and put them both in a mason jar on top of the fridge. They fell into a companionable silence, Eliot preparing food and Parker watching and from time to time snatching food off the cutting board. Eliot pulled out the dishes and flatware, handing them to Parker. She fidgeted with them in her hands and he pointed to the door over his shoulder. She went though the door and found herself on the backside of the cabin. There was a table built right into the wrap-around porch. She set everything down and headed back to the kitchen, stomping her feet a little harder than necessary up the few stair so Eliot knew she was there.
"I said you didn't have to do that." he turned around and smiled at her. She looked bashful but smiled back at him, nodding ok. "Here ya' go. I'll be right behind ya'." He handed her a plate of sandwiches and a plate of vegetables and he followed her out with his Momma's sweet tea and a few glasses.
"Oh Eliot," Parker moaned, "these are delicious. What is it?" Parker's moan made Eliot's brain stop functioning and jeans tighten uncomfortably.
He cleared his throat trying to buy time until he could speak. "Homemade peanut butter and blackberry jam. If I had time, woulda' made the bread too." he smiled. "Of course, you could eat your vegetables instead of pushing them around the plate…" Eliot stood and turned quickly as not to embarrass himself and headed back to the kitchen. He returned a moment later with the Mason jar full of peanut butter and another one with a dark shade. "Try dipping the celery in this," holding up the peanut butter, "and the carrots in this." holding up the dark jar.
Parker eyed and sniffed the darker jar. "What is it?" she questioned.
"Humor me. Better yet, close your eyes." she obliged and he dipped the carrots into the darker spread and fed it to her. She smiled and moaned quietly chewing happily on the carrots.
"It tastes like chocolate and cinnamon." She snatched the jar from him and dipped her fingers into the jar and started licking her fingers. This was extremely distracting to Eliot. Her lithe tongue dancing up and down her fingers. Eliot growled softly trying to maintain his composure but it wasn't working. Parker knew exactly what she was doing. She tried to play dumb like she didn't know what was going on but she knew exactly how to elicit the response she wanted from Eliot. He was shifting around uncomfortably and his ears kept turning red. That must be why he leaves his hair long and in his face. On cue, as if he could read her thought, he shook out his hair to cover his ears. They finished lunch and cleaned up, tag teaming the dishes like they always had back when he cooked for the crew.
"So do you want the grand tour?" he grinned at her. "I know you've already explored but can I show you anyway?" she smiled and took his hand interlacing their fingers. He walked around the first floor explaining thing and showing her all of the cool modern conveniences he had added to the house since inheriting it. Especially in the kitchen. Next was the living room and through to the library. Upstairs they walked from room to room, Eliot explaining the history of each room and all the little details he added to them. The hand crafted crown molding and handmade furniture. He never gloated but was proud of all the work he put into the house to make it his home. A place to retire eventually, if he ever found someone to share his retirement with.
Eliot watched as Parker explored and she was starting to put the pieces together. "Eliot, the dimensions are wrong." She was looking through the door and into the hall and kept doing the math in her head. "Ya, there should be a room, right about…here." She pointed to a seemingly blank wall.
"I know." he smiled and said nothing more. Not wanting to give up the secret yet but was even more proud that she figured it out. He knew she would but never thought she would figure it out that fast. That little secret will wait until later. "Wanna check out the grounds?" She nodded curiously. She really wanted to know the secret but was willing to wait.
They walked around outside, he showed her the gardens. She was amazed by how the garden were set up and maintained even though Eliot hadn't been here in a while. The strolled out to the barn and saw that they were in fact stables but they were emptied. Eliot explained that his horses stay at a friend's stable in Saratoga but he wanted to bring them up here while they were there. "Do you want me to? I know how you feel about them but I think you'd really love them if you gave it a chance." The horses and you are some much alike, he thought, more than you'll ever know.
She thought it over for a minute and deciding that if he thought she could handle it, than she should too. "Yes, when do we go get them?"
"Well, I'll call my buddy and have him bring them up. I don't have my truck so I can't get them here but they'll be here in a few days. You'll enjoy riding my mare. She's beautiful and sweet and most of all patient." he explained. They wandered, hand in hand, for a while outside and eventually made the way back to the house. The two sat on the front porch swing chatting while the sun went down. Parker pulled her legs up onto the seat next to her and leaned into Eliot's chest. Eliot wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked over the lake.
"Eliot, I know you told me yesterday but where are we?" she tried to look like she didn't just admit to tuning him out yesterday but failed miserably.
He was playing with her long locks, "I thought you had tuned me out." he laugh rumbled through his chest. "We're on Lake George. About an hour north of Albany and 4.5 hours north of NYC. Hell, we're closer to the Canadian border than anything else." She nodded and sighed contently as the sun sank lower into the sky. Before he knew it, she was asleep in his chest. He scooped her up and carried her inside and gently lowered her on the couch. She murmured his name in her sleep and something about fingers then smiled. He covered her with the afghan on the back of the couch and went to start dinner. The thought of him in her dreams made his heart swell even more. More than he thought possible.