Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [44]
“Damn right we aren’t, and we aren’t going to get married, either. I wouldn’t marry you with your archaic ideas if you were the last man on earth!”
“Get in this damn car before I pick you up and throw you in it,” Parker bellowed again.
“Kiss my ass, Parker Grayson.”
“Where did you learn to talk like that? You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“From my brother and his friends. I am not ashamed of myself. Now, get the hell out of my way before I push that car you’re sitting in over the edge.”
From the set of her jaw and the murderous look in her eye, Parker knew she meant business. A sick feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. In the few hours they’d spent together, he’d realized he really liked the feisty young woman. There was no doubt in his mind that Daniel was right. He could see the two of them watching their children growing up, traveling together, growing old together. Is she right? If she is, what does that make me? Mattie would say a horse’s patoot.
“Fine, do it your way, Miss Smart-Ass.”
“I’d rather be a smart-ass than a jackass,” Annie shot back. Shit, shit, shit. How could something so perfect suddenly turn so ugly and hateful? Was she overreacting? Of course she was, but she wasn’t backing down. She’d had it with people, men in particular, who thought of women as second-class citizens.
What seemed like an eternity later, Annie limped into the airport parking lot, Parker gliding along behind her in the plantation car. “Just put my bags on the curb.”
Parker stood facing her. He removed his sunglasses. “If my father were alive, he’d take a switch to me for allowing you to walk to the airport.”
“Is that the same father who cut his daughters out of his will? If so, forget it. I’ve walked longer distances in my life.”
“Annie, I’m sorry. I’m not sure what it is I’m sorry about. If it’s a word, I’ve said it. You don’t understand.”
A second later Annie was in his face. “You see, you’re wrong. I do understand. What I understand is you are a greedy son of a bitch like my brother Tom was. I forgave him because he’s my brother. You, on the other hand, have no excuses. You probably have more money than I could ever dream about. I’ll just bet you a thousand pounds of coffee if we planned on getting married the first two words out of your mouth would be prenuptial agreement. Ah, I see by the stricken look on your face I’m right. Now, that’s a modern, eighties legal agreement. Why would that be good enough for you and yet the old way of disinheriting your sisters is still good. I rest my case. If I decide to buy your coffee, I’ll be in touch.”
“Annie, we’re both adults. Can’t we go into the bar, sit down, and talk? I’d like to try and explain the way it is.”
She was in his face again, their noses almost touching. “I’ll tell you what, Parker Grayson. You go talk to your sisters. Be an honest, open, big brother and ask them what they think and feel and how they felt when they knew they were cut off because they were just women. If they tell you it’s fine with them, call me and I’ll come back here. I’d like to meet six women who feel like you think they do. If I prove right, you supply my coffee for a full year. Free. Here,” she said, throwing the leis he’d made for her, at him.
Annie stalked off. Parker watched her until she was out of sight. Suddenly the sun dimmed and the sick feeling returned to the pit of his stomach. He wished he was a little boy again so he could cry.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“You don’t seem very happy, Parker. Is something wrong?” Mattie asked. “The house is in readiness. I cooked everything you asked me to cook. The presents for your sisters are all under the tree. It is a joyful time. You always loved Christmas, so why don’t we sit down and talk about it? I would have to be blind as well as deaf not to know you haven’t been the same since Miss Clark left, back in July. Five months is a very long time, Parker. I’ve never asked what went wrong. Sometimes talking about things helps.”
“There isn’t all that much to talk about, Mattie. Nothing much has changed. Miss Clark’s visit was for business