Deserved: Devon Brothers, #3

By Tori Charles

Parker Devon, a wandering soul in search of a meaningful anchor, found refuge in the chaotic world of DJing and celebrity event planning. His ability to keep drifting didn't sit well with his brothers, who yearned for him to find stability.

 

Marissa Townsend, despite discovering her true calling, faced life's relentless onslaughts that had a knack for shattering dreams without offering a lifeline to a better course.

 

In the whirlwind of hectic schedules, daily stressors, and the well-intentioned interference of family and friends, paths often clear at the most unexpected moments. For Parker and Marissa, this could be the soothing balm their souls had been yearning for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pedigree Press
• Release date: Nov 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223476771

Book preview

©2023 Tori Charles • All Rights Reserved

First Edition • Pedigree Press

©2023 Tori Charles • All Rights Reserved

First Edition • Pedigree Press

This is a work of fiction. Certain areas and public places are mentioned, but the characters involved, and their situations are wholly imaginary.

Dedications

To Tracy - For the laughter, the brainstorming, and the venting, I will forever be thankful.  So grateful for our friendship in every chapter of our lives.

To Diane - Even with our distance, our shared ideas weave great stories.  Here’s to our love of writing, period dramas,  and Chinese takeout.  So grateful that our friendship transcends the miles between us.

To My Readers - Thank you for embarking with me on this journey.  Your loyalty and support have been a driving force behind every word I write.  Here’s to the shared adventure and many more tales to come.

Chapter One

This is the worst day of my life, Parker groaned as he slumped onto the couch and threw an arm over his face. 

Things had been going so well for him.  He’d made a name for himself on the event circuit, was booked months in advance for some of the highest profile clients, and his love life wasn’t looking as bleak as it once had.  But in a handful of days, all that changed.

I can’t believe Chloe broke up with you, Danielle, his assistant, offered as she set a cup of tea in front of him and took a seat at the edge of the coffee table.

Fuck Chloe, I really don’t care about that.  She was a pain in my ass, anyway. I swear she only wanted to sleep with me because I got her into all the best parties.

Well, that’s always a given, Danielle smirked. So… what happened that your world is falling apart?

Parker groaned again, then leaned forward to take a sip of his tea.

Masterson canceled all the Belize dates.  Some kind of management issue at the venue.

OK, so you get a break and schedule somewhere else, Danielle offered as she opened her planner and began flipping through pages.

Belize is my biggest gig.  By far.  More celebs attend that one event than all the others combined.

Danielle sighed and gave him a hopeful look.

Do you want me to see if I can stir something on that end, maybe get Masterson to offer you something else?

It’s pointless.  He’s already pulled out and scheduled a whole slew of slots at the European thing in Rome.

And you don’t want to get in on that? she asked.

I hate Rome, especially this time of year. God.  Hot, nasty, and filled with sweaty tourists?  No thanks.

OK, so we poke around and find something else, no big deal, she said, standing and picking up his empty cup.

Didn’t you hear me? That was the biggest gig of the year.

Is it the money? Danielle asked, looking him over cautiously.

Fuck the money. I have money.  It’s the exposure.  That’s worth more than half the money I make on these lousy gigs.

Danielle shook her head and turned toward the kitchen.

Is there anything I can do to help? she asked, and Parker nodded his head and fell back onto the couch once more.

Yeah, shoot me.  Put me out of my misery! he shouted after her as she left the room, shaking her head.

This was really not where he wanted to be right now.  He should be coasting, with hundreds of gigs lined up and his schedule booked.  He should be globe-hopping with winters in Australia and summers in Belize.  He shouldn’t be sitting on a rented couch in Santa Monica.

So your next event is in Malibu in five weeks, at the beginning of June, she said as she came back into the room with her tablet in hand.  Did you want me to see if we can book something local until then?

Parker glared at her and stood from the couch.

No! he shouted. I’m not doing some stupid kegger at a local college.

Danielle rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms.

I think what you need is a break.  You’ve been going full tilt for months.  You’re burning yourself out.

I can’t take a break!

Why not?  You already said you don’t need the money, so let me book you something off-grid so you can clear your head and get your priorities in order so when the next gig starts, you’re not such a nasty, grumpy bastard.

Parker gave her an angry look but, after giving it some thought, sighed and nodded.

Fine.  But not off-grid.

OK, she said, Land or water?

Water, he said.

All right, let me get something set up for you. 

Where are you sending me?

Let me surprise you. I promise it will be spectacular.

Parker groaned again but reluctantly agreed.  Danielle always had his best interests at heart, and he knew she’d find someplace great for him to relax.  If he didn’t like it, there were always hotels and room service.

The flight was long, like seven hours long.  Danielle refused to tell him where he was going and handled all the arrangements, so all he needed to do was get on the plane.  She informed him a car would be waiting for him once he arrived at his destination, and he would be taken to his vacation spot where he could unwind for the next three weeks.  As much as he hated to admit it, the not knowing intrigued him, so he played along.  He didn’t look at his ticket, kept his earbuds in during the flight, and once he landed, made his way out to the car, which turned out to be an SUV.  Though making his way through the airport gave it away immediately.  There were nautical themes and lobsters everywhere.

She’d sent him to Maine.

Why she chose Maine confused him. In the back of his mind, he thought she’d send him someplace tropical like St Kitts or Seychelles.  And as much as he hated to admit it, sending him here kind of pissed him off.  What the hell was he going to do in Maine?  And where in Maine was she sending him?

Bar Harbor was the only place he’d ever been in Maine, and he’d never seen the rest of the state.  He had no idea what he was in store for.

Can you tell me where we’re headed? He asked the driver as they wove in and out of traffic leaving the airport.

Beals Island, sir, the man said.

Ah, he said with a nod, still having no idea where the hell that was. And how far is it from the airport?

About an hour, sir, give or take, the man offered.

Parker gave another nod.

Did you need to stop anywhere on the way? he asked, and Parker shrugged.

I know this all seems odd.  My assistant forced me to go on vacation, and she sent me here as a surprise, so I have no idea where we’re going or what to expect.  I mean, are we going to a hotel?

The driver chuckled.

If you mean hotel in the traditional sense, no.  There are no hotels anywhere near the island.  Your assistant has rented you a cottage on the bay.  Like a house.

I know what a cottage is, he grimaced.  So much for room service.  Are there any services near this house she’s rented me?

Services?

Food delivery, restaurants, anyplace to eat nearby the cottage? he asked, perturbed.

The driver smirked. He could see it in the rearview mirror.

No, sir.  No delivery on the island that I know of.  There’s a lobster shop on the north shore that offers cooked lobster, but it's not a restaurant by any means.  There’s a pizza shop on the mainland about a 15-minute drive from the cottage.

Parker gritted his teeth.  Why the hell had Danielle send him to a desolate place?  This wasn’t relaxing. This was a nightmare.

Is there somewhere to rent a car near the cottage?

Not near the cottage, no.

Incensed, Parker pulled out his phone and texted Danielle.

Parker: Why the hell would you send me to a remote cottage with no transportation?

There was a long pause, and finally, she returned his text.

Danielle:  I’m assuming you haven’t arrived yet?

Parker: No, I just landed, and I’m in the car with the driver.  He told me where we were going.

Danielle:  You need to trust me.  Everything is under control.

Parker: Under control? He said there were no food services or restaurants on the island.  Are you crazy?

Danielle: Do you really think I’d send you on a vacation with no food?  Let you starve?

Parker: Sometimes I wonder.

Danielle: And lose this awesome job? LOL.  Trust me and relax.

Parker tossed his phone onto the seat next to him and groaned inwardly.  He was never a very trusting person, and throwing caution to the wind to stay at an isolated location with questionable amenities was making him anxious. He felt like his skin was on fire. Thank God he had money. He always had that to fall back on. If things weren’t what he expected at this place, he could always get a car and head to Bar Harbor, where he knew they had what he needed.

After dozing off, Parker was jolted awake by a loud noise and sat up to find they were headed across a long, narrow bridge.  On both sides was open water, dotted with boats of all shapes and sizes.  He cracked his window and inhaled the heady scent of sea air - a mixture of sea breeze and the unmistakable scent of sea life.  Some people disliked this scent, but it was always one that triggered calm in him for some reason.  He had no idea why.  It was probably the reason he always chose to relax near water whenever he could.

Once they made it across the bridge, he was immediately surrounded by a smattering of tiny boxy houses and little else.  There seemed to be fishing boats in every yard.  So far, this didn’t look like a luxury setting, and he was starting to lose hope.

They drove further onto the island, greenery going from very sparse and sandy to rocky with large outcroppings of pines and other tall trees.  When the driver finally pulled off the road, he exclaimed they’d arrived at their destination. 

The driveway wove through some dense trees, then suddenly opened out onto what Parker could only describe as breathtaking.  The cottage was small, considering what he was used to.  It was what some would call quaint. Clad in a weathered shaker, the blue paint had faded to a pale gray, and had a wrap-around deck with views looking out to sea.

Nice, right? the driver asked as he turned in his seat and gave him a smile.

Yeah, real nice, Parker murmured as he unbuckled and exited the car.

The driver went around to the rear of the SUV and pulled his bags from the car, then led him up onto the deck and around to the door, handing him the key.

The place was nice.  Not at all what he was expecting.  Small but inviting.  The front room had two huge couches that faced the wall of windows overlooking the bay.  Behind the couches was a very large, rough stone fireplace.  To his right was a nice-sized kitchen.  He immediately went to the fridge and opened it to see what was inside.

There were a few items, but not what he would consider stocked.  That was disappointing.  Turning, he did see a note on the counter.

Mr. Devon,

Welcome to Beals Island.  My name is Marissa, and I am the owner of the cottage.  I have left the keys to the car on the hook near the door.  The garage is behind the cottage.

Please make yourself comfortable and if you have any questions, feel free to text me at the number below. 

That was a relief, so he did have a car if he needed it.

Is there anything else you need from me? the driver asked as he set Parker’s bags by the door.

Parker shook his head and approached the man.

Sorry, what’s your name?  I should have asked before.

Benny, the man said with a smile.

Thank you so much, Benny, Parker said and fished out a twenty to hand him.  I’m sure this has been one of your more odd days.

Benny chuckled.

It's fine.  I enjoy coming out here.  Pretty area, he said.

Well, thanks for putting up with me, Parker said as he followed him out the door.

I’ll be back in three weeks to pick you up.  If you need me before then, here’s my info, he said and handed over his business card.

Parker gave him a nod and waved him off as he got into the SUV and left, leaving him alone at the edge of nowhere.

Chapter Two

Jetlag was always a killer, and this day was no exception.  Parker was happy to see that the bedroom was large and airy, and the bed was massive and oddly plump… if that was a word for it. He’d slept like the dead, buried in the fluffy down of the bed topper, sinking in like a marshmallow.  The light streaming in from the bank of French doors in the room was an issue, though, as he seriously did not need to be awake at the crack of dawn for the next three weeks.  That would have to be remedied somehow.

He’d managed to blot out the light with a pillow over his head, but eventually, he had to get up. His brain was already moving a million miles a minute like it usually did, and there was no shutting it off.

Managing somehow to make his way out of the bedroom to the bathroom, he turned on the shower and dropped onto the inset shower seat, letting the water wash over him.  And, of course, this is where his brain worked overtime, which was why he didn’t know if a solitary vacation was the right idea at all.  When he was alone, his mind went on a tangent.  With no one to talk to or bounce ideas off of, it just spun out of control.  His therapist once said that a lot of creative people had issues with focus.  You get so many ideas popping up that your brain doesn’t know what to do with them all.  He was advised to keep a journal.  Write down the ideas and, in effect, empty his mind a bit to give it room to breathe.  And, of course, he took medication for the rest. 

And he hated the meds.  They made him lose his appetite, and he’d lost a ton of weight when he first started taking them, which wouldn’t be so bad if he didn’t already have a lean frame.  It also gave him insomnia on occasion, which he never understood.  So while he was working, his doctor lowered his dosage.  Against his better judgment, he decided to keep the dosage low while he was on vacation and hoped the relaxation would calm him down. He was starting to realize that his better judgment wasn’t actually better.

Making his way to the kitchen, he pulled open