Take Me Down Read online

  Take Me Down

  CARLY PHILLIPS

  Copyright © Karen Drogin, CP Publishing 2019

  Kindle Edition

  Cover Photo: Sara Eirew

  Cover Design: Letitia Hasser, RB Designs

  * * *

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Book

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  About Dare Me Tonight

  Excerpt from Dare Me Tonight

  Keep Up with Carly

  About the Author

  Opposites not only attract, they combust!

  Parker Knight was going through the motions… and then he met her.

  In sweet, sexy Emily Stevens and the rundown resort she runs with her father, Parker sees the chance to reclaim the life he once lost and take care of the first woman who makes him feel … everything. He wants her in a way he’s never desired a woman before and yearns to sample the treats the sexy baker has to offer.

  But Emily doesn’t trust charming city guys, especially one who is going to leave when his time off is over. No matter how good he makes her feel, in bed or out.

  Parker has his hands full, not only with a wary Emily but with someone who doesn’t want the lodge to succeed, and if things keep getting worse, not even a Knight can save her.

  Chapter One

  “Hey, handsome.” The pretty barista with green eyes and light brown hair leaned over the counter, giving Parker Knight a good glimpse of her ample breasts, peeking out from the deep vee of her black shirt.

  Pity his dick wasn’t interested.

  “What can I get for you today?” she asked, wriggling her eyebrows, obviously offering more than coffee.

  Behind him, his brother Sebastian snickered.

  “I’ll take a medium dark roast,” Parker said, ignoring his sibling.

  As he ordered coffee only, silently declining her proposition, she flashed him a disappointed smile and turned around to make his drink.

  “Come on, she’s cute,” Sebastian said as they walked to the counter where they would pick up their cups. “She looks about your age, she’s obviously into you. Would it kill you to give her the time of day?”

  Parker shook his head. “I’m not interested and it wouldn’t be fair to her to make her think otherwise.”

  Sebastian groaned. “Then who are you interested in? Because in the last couple of years, I can count on one hand the number of women you’ve been with.”

  “Says the one-time player,” he muttered under his breath. “I didn’t know you were keeping track of my sex life.” With a roll of his eyes, Parker turned his attention to his phone, checking email until his name was called.

  When he picked up his coffee, he noticed the phone number handwritten onto the cup and groaned.

  Still laughing as they exited the shop, Sebastian turned to him. “Ready to meet with Ethan?”

  Parker paused. “Not really.” Considering his oldest sibling, the one who ran their company, had been a raging asshole lately, why would Parker want to deal with him?

  Granted, Ethan had his reasons. It had only been eight months since Ethan’s wife, Mandy, had passed away from an accidental overdose, and since then they’d discovered that not only had she been abusing drugs and cheating on Ethan, she’d also been stealing from the company to finance her habit. Ethan had taken the news hard and he was no longer the same person he’d once been. True, he’d never been Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky, but he’d never been quite the pain in the ass he was now.

  “I hear you,” Sebastian said. “But it’s not like we have a choice, so let’s go. He called the meeting for nine a.m.”

  A short while later, Parker and Sebastian had joined Ethan and their sister, Sierra, the company’s social media coordinator, in Ethan’s office.

  Ethan sat behind his large mahogany desk, glaring at them as they entered. “You’re late.”

  Sebastian glanced at his watch. “It’s a minute after. Calm your shit,” he muttered.

  Parker glanced at his oldest sibling. As usual these days, Ethan’s appearance was a shock. He looked nothing like the man who used to come to the office, hair cut short and maintained monthly, expensive suits and ties befitting the executive he was. Now? His hair was long, overgrown … much like Parker’s had been in his skiing days, and he didn’t always wear a suit to work. Hell, sometimes he looked like he’d pulled out the first thing he’d laid eyes on in his closet and dressed.

  “Come on, man, can’t you at least get a haircut?” The words were out before Parker could censor them.

  Sebastian chuckled.

  Sierra hid a grin behind her hand, which had a big-ass diamond on it along with her wedding band, having gotten married a few months ago to Sebastian’s best friend, Ryder Hammond.

  “Bite me,” Ethan muttered with a scowl. Parker couldn’t tell if the look was due to his haircut comment or the fact that this had become his permanent resting dick face.

  In another lifetime, Ethan would have laughed at the comment. For Parker, it was easier to joke than face the truth. Ethan looked exhausted and Parker’s heart squeezed in his chest, feeling bad for his brother.

  “Sierra and I already went over a few social media concerns that I had. Sebastian, you have Keystone under control?”

  “No issues,” Sebastian said.

  Knight Time Technology supplied high-tech security for smart buildings and state-of-the-art corporate parks, and Keystone was a multimillion-dollar defense contractor establishing a new, secure headquarters in northern California. The same project Ethan’s now deceased wife had nearly lost for them because she’d been working with the supplier, using substandard material and pocketing the difference so she could support her drug habit.

  The owner, Stephan Romano, had given them a chance to fix the problems, and when they’d come through, thanks to Sebastian, he’d given Knight Time Technology the contract on other corporate headquarters he was building, as well.

  “Good. Parker.” Ethan met his gaze. “I need you to go to Denver to scope out a place for our annual corporate retreat. We’re going to the mountains this year. Jenna had an appointment to tour the lodge and see its amenities but she was rushed into emergency gall bladder surgery so she can’t make it. I know it’s not your normal job but we could use someone with the knowledge of ski resorts to make a decision. That’s you.”

  The order – not, he noticed, a request – took him off guard. Parker wasn’t the scout for corporate retreats and his brother damn well knew it.

  In fact, Parker hadn’t been back to the slopes since he’d been hurt during the qualifying trials for the Olympics, shattering his knee and destroying any hope for the Games that year. He’d competed four years before, when he’d been eighteen, and had two bronze medals to show for it. Four years later came the injury, then surgery and nine months of rehab and he’d returned to the sport, only to be sidelined by a car accident that had broken his leg, again taking him out of competition.

  An accident that had caused more than damage to Parker’s body. Given everything
that had transpired that day, he’d been emotionally and physically broken. He hadn’t had it in him to qualify against much younger skiers another four years later and was forced to let his dreams and hope for the future go. The thought of returning to the mountains was emotionally terrifying.

  “Hey, man. I can take the flight out and handle it,” Sebastian said, shooting Ethan a narrow-eyed glare. If Ethan was too self-absorbed to realize what he was asking of Parker, Sebastian wasn’t.

  “I can do it,” Parker said, ignoring his churning stomach. Facing his fears wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

  “If you’re sure…” Sebastian trailed off.

  “I am.”

  Sierra rose and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing once. She also understood that what Ethan was asking wasn’t as simple a request as it sounded.

  Ethan cleared his throat. “You and Sebastian can go. I need a word alone with Parker.”

  Sierra frowned at Ethan. “I think you need the vacation,” she said to him. “Your mood sucks.” Without waiting for an answer, she spun on her heel and walked out.

  Sebastian turned to his oldest sibling. “She’s got a point, bro. We’ve been patient but you need to check the attitude and fix yourself. Even I’ve fucking had it.” He walked out the way Sierra had gone, leaving Parker alone with Ethan.

  “What is it?” Parker asked. He had more patience for Ethan’s moods because he knew what it was like to have his entire world shattered.

  “The accountant red flagged certain transactions coming out of your personal account.” Ethan picked up a folder from his desk, holding it in his hand.

  Anger stirred in Parker’s gut. “Why didn’t Ashley bring this to me instead of you?” Ashley, Sebastian’s wife – they’d married in a small, family-only ceremony a few months ago – was a forensic accountant who had come back into their lives and later their business – after nearly a decade and was now working with Knight Time Technology.

  “It wasn’t Ashley who flagged the payments. It was Frank at our outside firm. And he couldn’t reach you. Thought I’d just relay the information.”

  Parker swallowed hard. At least his family wasn’t betraying him. “It’s none of your business, Ethan.” He curled his hands into tight fists. The thought of his oldest sibling, who’d been like a father to him, knowing his failures wasn’t a good one.

  Ethan ran a hand through his overlong hair. “You’re my brother. What affects you affects me. And this?” He pointed to the folder, which, Parker knew without looking, listed payments he had made to the London family.

  Large payments.

  Guilt money.

  “It has to stop,” Ethan said.

  Parker shook his head, the pain of that time returning full force. “Their daughter died, Ethan. I owe them.”

  Ethan’s expression turned angry. “That’s how they want you to feel. You were driving the car but you were broadsided by another vehicle. It wasn’t your fault and you have to quit acting like it was.”

  Parker pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned. “I hear you. I may even agree with you but they need the money. Between their mortgage, Rina’s student loans, and her medical bills from the time of the accident until she died, they’re in serious debt.”

  Ethan shook the papers in his hand. “Wrong. First, if someone dies, the student loans are discharged. Second, they had decent insurance, and third … they’re not using the money on anything remotely resembling helping their family. Read the private investigator’s report.” He held out the file.

  Pissed now, Parker snatched it from his brother’s hand. “You had no right to go digging into what I do with my money.”

  Ethan raised an eyebrow, not at all concerned that he’d gone looking into things that didn’t concern him. “Family,” he said, as if that explained his actions.

  Parker opened the folder and began reading through, and what he saw turned his stomach. High-end cars, vacations abroad, shopping at expensive stores, private school for their other child … basically the Londons were living a life of luxury on his dime. Or Benjamins, as the case might be.

  “I’ve tried to say no once before but Elana, Rina’s mother, cried about how hard their life was without her, how much money they owed. George, her father, acted like he hated coming to me at all but it was a last resort… Even if they’ve been using the money for frivolous things, their daughter is gone. I’m not. I owe them.”

  Rina had been his college girlfriend, his best friend, the woman he thought he would be spending the rest of his life with until she’d been killed in the car accident that had ended his chances at the career that had been mapped out for him since he’d started skiing at five years old.

  Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry. They’ve been taking advantage of your guilt – survivor’s guilt – and using the fact that you have money to profit off their daughter’s death. But you don’t have to pay it, Parker.”

  “Is this why you’re sending me to scout locations? So you can handle this for me? Because I’m an adult. I can make my own decisions just fine.”

  “I know that. I really do need you to handle finding the perfect place for the retreat. Who knows mountain resorts better than you?”

  Parker allowed himself to relax. Ethan wasn’t trying to undermine him. Just to take care of him in his overprotective way.

  “Fine on the retreat, but as far as the payments, it’s my choice to make.”

  Ethan’s scowl merely deepened. Parker knew it wasn’t because his brother hadn’t gotten his way but because he didn’t agree with Parker’s choices. Well, tough. Ethan didn’t have to live with the guilt. Parker did.

  * * *

  The sight of the snow on the Colorado mountains soothed Parker’s soul in a way he hadn’t experienced since his life’s passion had been taken away from him. Even the fact that he’d hated the place he’d gone to scope out for the company’s next corporate event didn’t bother him in the least. The so-called lodge had been more like a ski resort, all chrome and white, too sterile, too much luxury for Parker’s liking. He preferred rustic wood and fireplaces. He’d find something else. Eventually.

  Instead of heading home, he decided to take another day or two and drive around, get his fill of the back roads and snowy mountains.

  He had a room at the Ritz-Carlton booked for tonight in Denver but had driven three hours to the resort he’d hated, then spent the afternoon touring back roads in the rental car, enjoying the scenery and the peace of mind he found here.

  He drove on until his rental car started driving weirdly and he didn’t want to end up stranded on the side of the road. He pulled into the nearest gas station he came upon. The only one in the small town of Montlake, Colorado, according to the sign that greeted him.

  A man about his age came out to meet him wearing coveralls. He had grease on his hands and had obviously been working on a car when Parker had pulled in.

  “How can I help you?” he asked.

  “Car’s acting odd. I’m afraid of getting stuck if I drive any farther.”

  The other man wiped his hands on a rag and nodded. “Drive it into the bay and let me take a look.” He gestured to the large garage with room for his car.

  While the man checked it over, Parker sat in the small office, going through email on his phone. The amount of busywork that accumulated while he was away was staggering, and he called his assistant, letting her know he expected her to handle things while he was gone. He’d been training her for a while now and she was more than capable of taking the reins. He didn’t want to deal with bullshit while he was away.

  He fucking hated the paperwork and dealing with clients that came with his job. He’d never intended to be a behind-the-desk guy. Hell, he’d never thought beyond his skiing career, yet he’d known it would have ended sooner or later, but by then he’d have had a plan. Forced retirement at twenty-two hadn’t been on his agenda. Yeah, he’d managed to finish college while skiing, Ethan would have kicked his a
ss otherwise, but it wasn’t until he’d retired from the sports scene that he’d gone to school for his MBA and into the family business.

  The mechanic returned, coming into the office through a door that led to the garage. “I’m sorry to tell you there’s a problem with the axle. It’s not safe to drive and needs a new part.”

  “It’s a rental,” Parker muttered.

  “And there’s nothing nearby. You can call the rental company and look into how they want to proceed or I can order the part. Regardless, it’s going to be a few days, I can guarantee you that from experience.”

  “Fuck.” Parker ran a hand through his hair, in no mood to deal with the company and their telephone representatives. “Tell you what. Order the part and I’ll handle the rest on my end later on today. In the meantime, can you recommend somewhere for me to stay that’s nearby?”

  The man rubbed a hand over his bearded face. “The only place close is the Ruby Rose Inn. It’s a bed-and-breakfast about a mile down the road.”

  “Do you think they’ll have a room?”

  He sighed. “They’ve got one foot in the grave, so to speak. The place isn’t really up and running but I’m sure they won’t turn you away since they have the space. Tell you what. I’ll drive you up the road with your things and you can see what Emily and her dad can do for you.”

  “What about the station?” Parker gestured to the pumps and the open garage bays.

  The other man shrugged. “I’ll lock the doors. Besides, I’ll only be gone five minutes max. Guaranteed I won’t miss anyone.”

  Small-town living, Parker assumed. “Thanks. I appreciate the ride…”

  “Matt. Matt Banks,” he said, holding out his hand for a shake.

  “Thanks, Matt. Parker.” None of that Mr. Knight bullshit was necessary for him.

  He grabbed his suitcase from the trunk of the car and let the other man drive him to the aptly named Ruby Rose Inn. The wood-framed structure was painted a deep red with white trim and snow covered the surrounding bushes and grass. But the closer he got, the more he realized that the outside looked as if it had seen better days. The paint was chipping and the roof was old.