CHAPTER 279

Stephen talked them into staying the night. Neither Parker nor Talia had to be back in the city for anything the following day, so it was hard to say no. Talia had been in with Anthony for a long time, and it would have been dark by the time they got home.

It was a weak excuse, but Parker was happy to give in to Stephen’s reasoning. Talia looked like she needed some time away from the city and all the issues that were waiting for them when they got back.

She was quiet through dinner, although she was still polite and answered questions and complimented Stephen on his cooking. The usual Talia snark was absent and her sparkle had dimmed. Parker didn’t know what she had spoken about with Anthony—well, he knew the general gist of it all, but not the details—but whatever it was, it had affected her.

Stephen had put them in the guest rooms on the west side of the house. There was a sitting room that connected the two rooms and effectively separated them from the rest of the h