“It’s perfect. I’m so jealous that you’re actually doing this,” Nicole says as we tour the Old Town loft together. She’s been filling me in on Metro gossip, including the fact that Jackson Daugherty had to pull his campaign because the fucker got caught evading taxes. His business remains open, for now. But Nicole won’t have to deal with him ever again.

Parker will arrive soon; he’s on his way home from Oklahoma. He went to interview in-home aide candidates for his mom. With the help of Dr. Mirza and Parker’s promise to assist in paying for it, Parker’s dad finally agreed to home care. It’s been a stressful weekend for Parker, if I go by his many texts and phone calls. We’ve searched for weeks for the right place, and hopefully once he meets me here, it will be one thing he can cross off his list.

“You’ll be able to walk to The Juarez,” she complains.

“And here I thought you were jealous that I was going out on my own for business,” I say with a laugh.

“That too.” She grins. “You’re going to do so well. I’ve already gotten rave reviews for the jobs you did for my clients. I’m really, really happy for you.”

I turn and look around the loft one more time. It’s bright and open, with plenty of space for both Parker and me. And the best part is the office that opens both to the front hallway and to the interior of the apartment itself. Zach and I both can use it as office space whenever we need, and it will look like an actual professional space. And we’ll be close to downtown, where anyone would expect to meet for business.

Someday, although I won’t admit this to him yet, we can buy a house near the park where we can walk our future dog and play with our future kids. I’m planning on several. But first, I want to let Parker have the adventures he craved but never got to have. I wasn’t kidding when I told him that I want to give him everything. I truly do.

My phone beeps that I’ve received a text.

Parker: I’m here. 2nd floor?

Mal: Yep, we’ll be waiting in the hall.

“Actually, I’m going to slip on out of here,” Nicole says after reading the text over my shoulder. “I think you and Parker are going to want some time to yourselves.”

Nicole passes Parker leaving the elevator and introduces herself before taking off. Parker follows her final wave down to the hall to where I’m standing, and the smile that spreads across his face is like the first hint of a rainbow on a stormy day. I know I’ll never get tired of that smile or knowing I’m the one to put it there.

Parker pulls me into him and kisses me soundly.

“It’s almost like you’re happy to see me.”

He sighs against me. “You have no idea.”

“Well, take a look at this.” I tangle our fingers together and lead him into the apartment.

He explores each room, getting more and more excited with every step.

“Oh, and I’ve been waiting to tell you my big news.” Parker is in the kitchen now, opening every cabinet and checking the appliances. They all look brand-new, and there’s a massive granite countertop separating the kitchen from the living area. It’s so shiny and pretty and big, it makes me want to stretch out naked on top. But that’s for another time. “Zach helped me put together a proposal for the climbing gym, and they loved it. And they’re giving us a discount in return for a discount on my services. So I can teach you how to climb.”

Parker pulls me in close, my back to his chest, and wraps his arms around me tightly. “Maybe if I’m with you, I can keep you from getting hurt again.”

“Someone has a hero complex. Mmm, but that’s okay. I like it. That was a freak accident. I’m telling you.” But I don’t try to break free. Actually, I might snuggle in a little tighter.

“Speaking of big news,” he says with a nibble at my ear that makes me jump. “You are looking at … hang on.” He turns me around and wraps his arms back as tight as they were before. “Now you are looking at an unmarried man.”

My jaw drops and he chuckles at my surprise.

“The judge signed off on the mediation agreement. I’m free.”

I bury my head into the crook of Parker’s neck. The emotions coursing through me are so overwhelming, I’m not sure how to handle them.

“Why are you crying, baby?”

“I just like this place so much. I mean, look at this countertop. It’s granite. Can you imagine all the things you could do to me on this countertop?” I sniffle into his shirt.

“You bet your sweet ass I can.” Parker grips my chin and bites at my lower lip, his willful ignorance yet another way this man gets me so well. “And the sooner you get that through your thick skull, the sooner we can go sign the lease on this place, and the sooner I can lay you out on this kitchen island and feast on you like I’m dying to do.”

“You read my mind.”

“Of course I did,” he says with a shake of his head. “Did you really think I couldn’t see it all over your face the second we came in this room? If nothing else, never forget that I see you, Mal. And I love every bit that I see.”

I prop myself onto the kitchen island that will soon be witness to more unsanitary actions than any kitchen has a right to, and wrap myself around my man. He laughs about this new version of himself, Parker 2.0, but the truth is that he has always been this amazing man. He just needed someone else to see it for once.

And like him, I love every bit that I see.