“Yeah, O’Neil is a wimp when it comes to snakes. He refuses to be lead on any animal calls involving reptiles. Says they creep him out. The fangs remind him of needles or something. So the crew and I decided it’d be hilarious to rig one of those rubber snakes to jump out at him when he opened his gift. Like those old snake-in-a-can gags.”
“Sounds like a very odd birthday gift.”
He chuckled. “He got a real one, too, but the gag came first. It’s kind of a thing at the station—we’re always doing harmless pranks. I guess you could say it’s a form of bonding. Why, don’t you guys prank each other at the restaurant?”
“No.” She smiled coyly. “But we like to do magic tricks.”
Hmmmm, something about the way she said that had his suspicions rising. “Magic tricks, huh?”
“Yeah, would you like to see one?”
The spark of mischief in her eyes told him he should say no, but his curiosity had always gotten the better of him. “Sure. Dazzle me with your mystical ways, oh Mysterio.”
She pushed away from the table and headed toward the fridge.
“Don’t get too excited. It’s not like I’m going to levitate or cut you in half. It’s just a coin trick.”
There was a jar of loose change on top of the fridge. Tamsen reached in and pulled out a quarter. The movement made her shirt rise, the longer tail end hiking up, giving him a fantastic view of her ass in those leggings. He hardened to the point of pain at the sight. An image of himself holding her hips, watching those firm, round cheeks bounce against him as he took her from behind. He reached for his coffee, wishing it were ice water. He needed something to cool down the raging fire of need inside him.
Tamsen opened the fridge and pulled out a water bottle. For half a second, he panicked, thinking he’d accidently spoken out loud, but then she turned with a smile and headed back to the table, placing both the quarter and water bottle in front of her. He breathed out a sigh of relief. He hadn’t muttered any of the inappropriate thoughts in his head—she was just thirsty.
“This is called the teleporting coin trick. I’m going to magically teleport this coin into this bottle of water.”
Oh, it was part of the trick. Wait, why did this sound familiar? He wasn’t a huge magic fan, but he’d seen a show or two as a kid at some birthday parties. He racked his brain but couldn’t put his finger on it.
“I have in my hand a normal, ordinary quarter. Parker, will you please take this coin and confirm it’s a legitimate one?”
He grinned. “You take your magic tricks very seriously.”
“Shush.” She frowned at him. “The theatrics are what make the magic work.”
He chuckled. He’d never been so thoroughly charmed by a woman. “Sorry. I’ll be good.”
“I seriously doubt that,” she muttered under her breath. “Now, take the quarter.”
He plucked the coin from her, their fingers grazing at the exchange. Pinpricks of electricity shot up his arm at the contact. Judging by the sharp intake of breath from Tamsen, she felt it, too.
He rubbed the coin between his fingers, tapping it on the table but drawing the line at biting it the way people always did in movies because money was disgusting.
“Seems legit to me.”
“Thank you.”
She held her hand out, and he placed the coin back into her palm, purposefully stroking the tips of his fingers along her skin as he did. One dark eyebrow raised, but she didn’t call him out on it. He saw a slight tremor in her hand as she curled her fingers around the coin. Dammit, he really had to stop testing this line they were both dancing on.
“Good. Now can you confirm this is an ordinary bottle of water? Feel free to open it and take a sip if you want.”
He grabbed the bottle, flipping it all around, running his fingers along the plastic. No leaks, no false bottom. Seemed normal. It even still had the safety seal. Again, his brain tried to warn him of something, but the danger was just outside his grasp. He twisted off the cap and lifted the bottle to his lips but paused before taking a sip.
“Wait, you’re not going to poison me or anything?” he joked.
“I’m an artist. If I was going to kill someone, I’d hack them into pieces, encase those in body casts, and pretend it was an art installation. Probably sell it for a mint, too.”
He tipped the bottle down. “It’s kind of terrifying how much you’ve thought of this.”
“Naw.” She pushed a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “It was a real story. Some artist in the seventies did too much acid and thought his landlord was a giant snake monster trying to devour him. He grabbed an axe and hacked the poor man to death then tried to cover his crime by dunking the body parts in cement. The cops discovered him mid-dunking, and he was sent to prison for thirty to life. But it’s a great line to give creepers at the bar when they won’t take no for an answer.”
He laughed, bringing the bottle to his lips again. Cold, fresh water filled his mouth. He swallowed the sip and passed the bottle back. “I can confirm that’s a normal bottle of water.”
“Thank you. Now.” She held up the coin. “I will put this quarter on the table.”
She put the quarter down between them.
“Now I will place the water bottle on top of the quarter.” She waved her hand over the bottle. “And say the magic words, presto change-o.”
He snorted. “Presto change-o?”
“Shhh!”
He mimed zipping his lips, amused by her dedication to a silly trick.
“Now, look deeply into the bottle and see the quarter in the water’s depths. No, no, from the top,” she insisted when he stared through the side.
He scooted forward on his chair, leaning over the top of the water bottle, his eye over the opening. How was he supposed to know if the quarter—
Suddenly a gush of water came shooting out of the bottle, hitting Parker square in the face. He sputtered, the sound of Tamsen’s bright laughter filling his ears as he wiped water from his eyes.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you fell for that.”
Oh, shit, now he remembered. Ward had shared a video of this a few months ago. Some viral prank. It was funny when he saw it, not so funny when it happened to him. But Tamsen’s glee was infectious. He found himself grinning as he subtly reached for the water bottle.
“Touché, but I’m a firefighter, sweetheart. A little water won’t make me melt. Of course, you’re as sweet as sugar, so…”
Her eyes widened as he rose from his seat, water bottle in hand. She popped up from the table, hands held out in front of her, laughter spilling from her lips as she shook her head.
“Parker, don’t even think about it.”
“Oh, I’m thinking about it.”
She squealed, trying to dodge around him, but he scooped her up with one arm, holding her close to his chest as he tipped the water bottle over her head. She yelped out a half scream half laugh, water pouring down her face.
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“Turnabout is fair play.”
She smiled up at him, tiny droplets of water catching on her dark lashes, rolling down her face. His laughter died as Parker took in their position. Tamsen was pressed up against him, and as much as he tried to control himself, it was turning out to be impossible around this woman. His cock was so hard he was about to bust through his damn zipper. She had to feel it. One subtle shift of her hip, pressing closer, and he knew she did.
“Tamsen,” he growled out a warning, but she ignored it, making the tiny motion again. He grabbed her hips, meaning to put some distance between them, but instead he pulled her tighter, ground himself closer.
“Parker,” she moaned his name, gaze hazy with lust as she stared up at him. “Kiss me.”
Hell, he couldn’t fight this anymore.
He dipped his head
, lips crashing down on hers. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was hot and raw and so damn good, it nearly blew his head off. He felt her arms snake around his neck, fingers digging into his hair. Her touch was electric. Every bit of him felt alive in a way he never had before.
She moaned, lips parting slightly, tongue coming out to lightly taste him. He took the invitation, thrusting his tongue against hers, drinking in the uniquely amazing taste that was Tamsen. He wanted her. More than he wanted his next breath. More than he wanted a cold shower after working to put out an enclosed fire. More than anything in this damn world right now.
But as her hands slid down his chest, nimble fingertips slipping under the hem of his shirt, his brain screamed at him.
Future stepsister! Investigating her father!
Shit!
He pulled back, dropping his hands from her and taking a huge step back. Already he missed her warmth, missed her taste.
“Parker?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets to avoid the temptation of reaching out again. “This is a bad idea, Tamsen. Our parents are getting married.”
She frowned. “True.”
“So this”—he pointed back and forth between them—“wouldn’t work out.”
She touched her lips as if she could still feel him there—he sure as hell still felt her—her bright gaze focusing on his face as she appeared to be gathering her thoughts.
“I won’t deny the fact that I’m…attracted to you.” Her cheeks flushed bright pink. “And I understand this is a…complicated situation. But we can keep it casual. Actually, I prefer that, to be honest, and our parents don’t ever have to know. If you don’t want to explore this chemistry thing between us, that’s fine. I just figured I’d put the offer out there in case…”
Oh, he wanted to. He was desperate to, but there were so many things that could go wrong. His brain and body were in a war, and the more time he spent in this woman’s presence, the more his brain lost. Which was why he made his feet move to the front door.
“I should go.”
She sighed, hands coming up to cover her bright pink cheeks. “Oh god! I can’t believe I actually asked you to—”
A pang of guilt hit him square in the chest at her dejected look. “Tamsen, I don’t want to leave, but…”
“Yeah.” She waved a hand in the air. “You probably should.”
“If things were different…”
“But they aren’t.”
Nope, and wasn’t that a bitch.
“Thanks for dinner, and let me know what your boss at the studio says about the party.”
She nodded. “Will do. Bye, Parker.”
“Bye, Tamsen.”
Parker headed out of the apartment, knowing he’d done the right thing but wishing like hell he hadn’t.
Chapter Eleven
“Tam, we’re going to be late,” Cora shouted through the bedroom door. “Stop primping and let’s go already!”
She wasn’t primping.
Glancing in the mirror, she applied the final swipe of her cherry berry bombtastic lipstick. It went perfectly with her red checker sundress. She’d spent half an hour curling her hair in order to make it look like soft, just got out of bed, tumbled waves. She usually kept her messy mane up in a bun or ponytail, but tonight she didn’t want to look like a disheveled artist. She wanted to look more like the sensual art she created. Her red heels were cute and only a little bit pinchy, but they made her legs look great, so…okay, she was primping.
She couldn’t seem to stop herself. Tonight was trivia night, and that meant the possibility of seeing Parker. Last night her dreams had been filled with the memory of their kiss.
She had no idea what possessed her to proposition him like that last night, but the more she thought about it, the more she knew she’d done the right thing. This chemistry thing they had going wasn’t dissipating. And the more time they spent together, the worse it would get until it boiled over and exploded, like that time she tried to make a mug cupcake and accidently set the microwave for ten minutes instead of two.
They couldn’t risk anything exploding around their parents. They had to nip this thing in the bud. Screw away the sexual tension.
“Tamsen!”
“I’m coming!”
A phrase she’d muttered to herself in the dark last night as she remembered how warm and delicious Parker’s lips tasted. Imagined pushing the man to the floor, stripping them both naked, and staying that way until they’d re-created every position in that The Art of Sexuality book Cora had gotten her for her birthday last year. Yes, she’d taken a trip to self-pleasure city, but it had either been that or stay up all night wallowing in sexual frustration.
The bedroom door opened, and an exasperated Cora leaned in the room. “Okay, seriously, girl what is… Aren’t you a little dressed up for pub quiz?”
“What? It’s nice out. I’m just celebrating sundress weather, and technically checker print resembles plaid, so it’s still team appropriate.”
Cora bit back a smile. “Mmmm hmmmm, and this ‘celebration’ with full hair and makeup wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that Parker might be at trivia tonight?”
“No.” She shifted under her roommate’s knowing stare. “Okay, maybe…I just… Shut up.”
Cora gasped. “Something happened last night, didn’t it?”
“Sadly, no.”
“But you wished it had. Tell me everything! No wait, we need to leave. Tell me on the way.” She glanced down at Tamsen’s feet. “You really wanna walk in those?”
She looked down at her heels, checking to make sure the cute ankle strap was securely fastened. “It’s only four blocks, and they’re pretty comfy.”
Two blocks later, Cora had all the details of the almost kiss and Tamsen was eating her words. Her toes were pinched, and her arches were killing her.
The second City Tavern came into sight, she was practically weeping with joy. The thought of seducing Parker with her shoes now seemed like a really ridiculous idea. He was the one who had left last night, despite that hardness she’d felt pressed against her and the hungry need she’d glimpsed in his eyes. Why would she think a sexy pair of shoes would be the thing to override his common sense?
Cora opened the front door. But before Tamsen could get inside to a blessed seat to rest her aching toesies, she found herself flailing, arms spinning as something caused her to trip. Once she’d steadied herself, she looked down to see her heel had gotten stuck in the grate on the sidewalk.
Who the hell thought that was a good place to put a grate? Why was it even there?
Cora hurried to her side, letting the door swing closed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She tried to pull her foot up and failed, the ankle strap digging into her skin. “Maybe.”
Another tug. Nothing. The thin, spiky heel was not budging.
“Crap. I think I’m stuck.”
“Again?” a deep voice chuckled from behind her. “We have to stop meeting like this.”
Double crap!
Tamsen turned her head to gaze over her shoulder and, yup, sure enough, there stood Parker with a few of his buddies.
“Hi, Parker.” She tried for a laugh that fell flat.
“Tamsen.” He nodded. “Need a little help?”
What she needed was disaster insurance to save her from all the embarrassing situations she kept putting herself in around this man.
“It appears I’ve gotten my shoe stuck in this grate.”
“I can see that.” He rubbed a hand over his mouth, smothering his smile.
She’d give him points for trying to hide his laughter. It would be a pretty funny situation. If it wasn’t happening to her.
He turned to his friends. “Why don’t you guys go grab a table? I’ll be in in a minute.”
“It seems like Parker has this well in hand. I’ll leave you to your hero, Tam.” Cora gave her a little wave. “See ya inside.”
He sure had something in his hand. Currently it was Tamsen’s calf as he bent down to inspect the latest disaster she’d gotten herself into. Warmth seeped into her skin and at the same time chills raced up her spine as his rough palm skimmed down her leg to gently grasp her ankle. She bit her lip to hold the moan of pleasure back.
One embarrassment at a time, please.
Parker glanced up. “Think you could take your foot out? It might make it easier to wiggle the heel free.”
She could, except…
“I have to unbuckle the ankle strap, and this sidewalk is filthy, and I’m not wearing any pantyhose.” Bare feet on the streets of Denver? Yuck, no, thank you.
“Yeah, I noticed.”
His eyes blazed with desire and…was he stroking her ankle with his thumb? A zing of pleasure shot straight up between her legs. Now if only they were somewhere a little more private so he could move that stroke a few feet higher and to the center.
No, naughty body. We came to play trivia.
Who was she kidding? She totally came all dolled up tonight to drive Parker wild. Was she playing with fire? Probably.
“Here.” He undid the buckle and slipped her foot free of the shoe and placed it on his thigh. “Keep your foot there while I rescue your shoe.”
She sighed dramatically, raising her voice an octave. “My hero.”
He chuckled and began jiggling her shoe out of the tiny grate hole. She tried her best to focus on watching his task and not on how warm and firm his thigh felt under her bare foot. Right now, she wanted to glide it up his leg.
Good grief, what was this man doing to her?
“All set.”
Parker popped her shoe free, turning it in his hand as he inspected it.
“Doesn’t seem to be any damage.”
Good, because as much as she regretted wearing the shoes tonight, they were her favorite pair, snagged on sale at the outlet mall.
He gently lifted her foot from his leg. She tried not to sigh in disappointment at the loss.
The Wedding Dilemma (Mile High Firefighters) Page 10