by J. Kenner
“Sorry. Mind wandering.”
Thankfully, the theme music started up, and she didn’t have to say more. Instead, she rose up on her tiptoes and craned her neck over the crowd so that she could see the back of the room where Parker and the other men gathered in the doorway to the back bar waiting on their cue.
As if he sensed her attention, Parker looked up, his eyes meeting hers, full of heat and promise. Slowly, he smiled, and she sighed with pleasure as the heat of that smile warmed her soul.
Maybe she didn’t have what Reece and Jenna had. Maybe she never would.
But for tonight, at least, she had Parker.
And Megan would take what she could get.
Chapter Five
“—to begin!” Beverly chirped, her bright smile lighting up the room. She held up her hands, and Megan had to smile at how expertly she settled the crowd. “But before we get going, I have a quick announcement. Those of you familiar with the Man of the Month contest will notice that tonight’s contest is a little different. Thanks to the kind suggestion of contestant Parker Manning, tonight’s contest not only benefits all you women in the audience—”
“And gay men!” someone yelled from the back, causing the room to erupt with laughter.
Beverly laughed, too, but didn’t lose her stride, “—it also benefits the favorite charities of each of the contestants. And, of course, you are all supporting our favorite local bar, The Fix On Sixth, by coming here tonight, buying the drinks, and eating the food.”
She went on to explain that Parker was donating one-hundred dollars per vote to each contestant’s favorite charity. As for the winner, he was taking that number and multiplying it by ten. But in order to make sure that the votes were for the men and not the charities, the guys wouldn’t announce their selected charity until after the competition.
“And that’s it,” Beverly said, wrapping up as the contest music started. “Let’s give a warm welcome to our first contestant, Parker Manning!”
The room erupted, and Megan lifted herself onto her tiptoes, trying to see over the taller heads in front of her as Parker sauntered up the red carpet waving at the audience and generally soaking up the appreciation.
And, just as he’d done in his office, with each step he took, more of his outerwear came off. First the tie, which he flung into the audience. Then he unfastened the buttons. One, then another, then another. All the way down until his shirt was hanging completely open by the time he reached the stairs to climb up onto the stage.
Megan stood to the left of the stage, and now that he’d come closer, she had a clear view. First of his chest, broad and firm with a perfect six pack and deep cuts that angled down from his hips and led under his tight, faded jeans. Jeans that, she noticed, he’d unbuttoned. Not to reveal anything, but just to give that extra edge of heat.
Everyone on that side of the stage could see his picture-perfect body, and when he took the next step and peeled the shirt all of the way off, she heard gasps from the women behind him, and a sharp jolt of envy cut through her that she didn’t have a view of his broad shoulders and tightly muscled back.
What she did have was his attention. Because he’d paused on the steps leading up to the stage, and his eyes were fixed on hers, so intently that Megan wasn’t entirely sure if she could recite her own name, much less tell anyone what city she was in. All rational thought had been replaced by one basic truth.
Mine.
Tonight, she thought, he’s mine.
Then a voice shrieked from her left— “Oh, yeah, baby! Come to momma!” —and Parker turned that direction, twirled the shirt once over his head and sent it flying toward the shrieker.
What the hell?
Megan’s mouth fell open, and the cold hard claws of jealousy cut right through her. He should have tossed that shirt to her.
His eyes found hers, and she saw the fire of victory there. And she knew in that moment that he’d tossed the shirt away on purpose—and that he’d know damn well it would light a fire under her lust.
Busted.
He finished climbing the steps, walked the length of the stage, and flexed his muscles for a gaggle of screaming women.
Then he stepped back out of the light as one by one the other eleven men joined him on stage. But Parker was a hard act to follow, and as far as Megan was concerned, they’d all lost the competition even before it started.
The men left the stage as the votes were being tallied, and Megan was more relieved than she ought to be when Parker only politely nodded to the women who grabbed at him as he walked by, their greedy fingers brushing his bare skin.
He didn’t hesitate, didn’t pause. Instead, he moved straight to her side and put his hand on her waist, pulling her close so that she had no choice but to brush against his hot, naked skin. Oh. My.
“Miss me?” His words were a whisper, his breath caressing her ear, and she felt the tremor of contact rush all the way down her spine.
Yes. But she was hardly going to admit it. Instead, she purposefully took a step out of his embrace so that she could see him better. Then she lifted her brows and tried to look down her nose at him. Tricky, since he was a full head taller than she was. “Why would I miss you? You were only a few feet away.”
He didn’t argue, but his smug smile told her that he knew she was full of shit.
Well, fine. This was supposed to be their wild sensual encounter, wasn’t it? And considering she was the envy of every woman in that room, she damn sure intended to enjoy it.
“Heads-up.” Griffin’s call came from a few feet away, and when Megan looked that direction, she saw a black T-shirt flying through the air.
Parker caught it with one hand, then smiled down at her. “What do you say? Should I put it on?”
“You’ll disappoint every woman in this bar.”
“Including you?”
She hesitated, then decided to go for the gold and tell him the truth. “No.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes. “Why not?”
She drew in a deep breath for courage. “I’m supposed to be yours tonight, right?”
A slow, easy smile slid across his face. “I thought I was clear,” he replied in a voice as smooth and rich as fine whiskey. “There’s no supposed to be about it. Tonight, you are mine.”
“And that means you’re mine, too.” She lifted her chin. “And I don’t like to share.”
For the length of a heartbeat, he said nothing. He simply met her eyes and held her gaze. Eternity lingered in that moment, full of a violent heat that swirled around her, making her a little dizzy, but also filling her with a potent anticipation.
“Fair enough,” he finally said, as he held up the shirt. She watched the play of his muscles as he pulled it on, then drew in a sharp breath when his head emerged and his attention was once again fully on her.
“Let’s get out of here.” His voice was low and full of purpose, and with every breath in her body she wanted to say, “Yes.”
Instead, she said, “We have to wait for the tally.” Of course, that wasn’t entirely true. The staff at The Fix encouraged the contestants to stay. But there’d been a couple of times when the contestants—even the winners—had scattered before the announcement. So long as they came back for the calendar shoot, it was all good. The party in the bar would still go on.
“If we leave now, I’ll add an extra zero to all twelve donations.”
She swallowed. “That’s not exactly sound money management.”
“On the contrary, I’m using my money to buy myself something I truly value, support twelve excellent causes, and incur significant tax deductions. Sounds like a win all around to me.” He lifted his hand, signaling to Jenna, who was talking with Beverly.
Both women came over, and though it was clear that Jenna was about to say something, he cut her off with one quick motion. “I’m afraid I have to go deal with a crisis, and I need to head out.”
“Oh. But Taylor said the results will be tallied any s
econd.”
Megan leaned forward, intending to say that he could certainly stay for a few more minutes, then shocked herself by explaining his plan to add an extra zero to every donation. “It’s a shame he has to run,” she concluded. “But it’s such a generous offer. And think of the positive press coverage for The Fix that will go along with it.”
She nodded at the two other women, who looked at each other, both appearing slightly baffled.
“I appreciate your understanding,” Parker said to them, then added, “Ms. Clark? I believe my car’s waiting on the street. Walk with me?”
Megan shot Jenna what she hoped was a what can you do expression, then hurried to match Parker’s stride as she fought an almost overwhelming urge to giggle.
As he’d predicted, a car was waiting for him on the street. “When did you manage to send a text to your driver?”
His slow smile sizzled. “I’m a man of many talents.”
“I’ll just bet you are.”
A shock of awareness cut through her when he put his hand on her lower back, then led her to the car. Before they could get in, though, Griffin called to them from the doorway of The Fix. “Manning! Hey, Manning.”
Parker turned, Megan at his side.
Griffin strode over, his eyes fierce. “What kind of game are you playing? And don’t even think of bullshitting me.”
“Nothing Megan hasn’t agreed to.”
“Griff, please…”
For a second, Griff said nothing, and Megan actually feared he was going to make a scene or ask Parker his intentions or insist on coming along as a chaperone.
Instead, he cocked his head and said, very slowly and clearly, “If I learn that you hurt her in anyway—one tear, one pricked finger, one bruised ego—I will ride your ass so hard you’ll swear I was a hemorrhoid.”
“Not loving the imagery,” Parker said. “But I get the message. And you have my word.”
Griff met Megan’s eyes, and she silently pleaded with him to please, please just go back into the bar.
Thankfully—miraculously—he did.
Parker watched him go, and when he turned back to face Megan, she was surprised at the expression on his face. Not irritation, but something warm and friendly. Something like approval.
“You have a good friend in him,” Parker said once they were both in the backseat. “Or is he more than a friend?”
“No,” she admitted. “We’d thought maybe … but no.”
“Good.” Parker’s gaze locked on hers, his words both confusing and pleasing her. She had no idea how she’d gone from completely screwing up the flyer to being the recipient of such heated glances and sensual awareness, but she wasn’t going to complain.
But at the same time…
She tilted her head, studying his face, and he looked back at her, amused.
“What?”
“It’s just … well, why good?”
His brows rose with obvious confusion.
“I only mean that if this is a one night thing, what does it matter if there’s something between me and Griffin?”
“Distractions.” He turned slightly in the seat so that he was looking at her directly. Then he took her hand, his thumb gently stroking her palm as his low, melodic voice caressed her senses. “We’ve been talking in circles, so let me be clear. I intend to take you to sensual heights that you haven’t imagined. To bring you such pleasure you beg me to stop, then scream my name in protest when I do.”
Anticipation rippled through her, leaving her aching and breathless, but he didn’t even pause in his relentless seduction.
“I’m going to hold you close while you shatter, and then I will slowly and deliberately, put you back together again.”
He moved his hand onto her thigh, this new delight making her gasp. His palm rested on the material of her dress, but his fingertip brushed her bare leg, and it seemed that the point of contact was all that she knew, all that she was. He was driving her crazy with that innocent touch coupled with his delicious promises, and yet he didn’t even acknowledge the state into which he’d already led her.
“That’s my mission, Megan. And I intend to pursue it relentlessly.” The fingertip stopped its erotic ministrations. “Do you understand?”
She wasn’t sure she did. All she knew was that he’d intoxicated her with his words. But she nodded anyway. A little overwhelmed, a little numbed.
“Pleasure is as much a mental response as a physical one. Do you think you’d feel as much from my touch if you were thinking of another man?”
She swallowed, unable to imagine how any other guy could possibly squeeze into her thoughts past the force of nature that was Parker Manning.
“Do you remember what I said in my office?” he asked, then continued before her spinning thoughts could conjure an answer. “I want you, Megan. Body and mind. I want your submission. Your trust. Your surrender. Most of all, I want to please you. I want you to go as far as you can, and I want to be the one to take you there.”
For the first time, she realized that he’d been easing the hem of her dress up as he spoke. Now his fingertip grazed her inner thigh, just mere inches from her now-damp panties, and suddenly that point of contact seemed like all she knew in the world.
“Do you understand?”
She nodded, not trusting her ability to form words.
“Good, then come on.”
With a start, she realized that the car had stopped moving. More than that, they appeared to be on a tarmac, parked a few yards from a small jet.
She turned to him. “Go as far as I can?” she said, referring to his earlier words. “Is this what you meant? A trip?”
“No,” he assured her as he twined his fingers with hers. “But it’s a start.”
Chapter Six
Megan stood beside him on the tarmac, her eyes fixed on the jet, and Parker felt his stomach sink. In the car, she’d been responsive. Open to his touch. He’d seen the surrender in her eyes when he’d told her that he wanted her. He’d watched her skin glow as the heat of a blush warmed her skin when he promised her pleasure.
His fingertip still tingled from heat of her skin against his, and his entire body ached with a need that had been building since the moment she walked into the bar wearing that flirty dress with the fitted bodice, its tiny white buttons practically begging to be ripped open.
They should have kept driving. Hell, they should have gone to a fucking Denny’s. Anything to have kept the look of growing passion in her eyes, and to have shut out this expression of apprehension he saw creeping onto her face.
All night, he’d craved the moments when he could be alone with her. In the car. On the jet. Long moments when it was just the two of them with a drink, a caress. With words and lips and decadent promises.
Now, though, he was afraid that Desire had made him her bitch, and that by bringing Megan here, he’d pushed her too far.
The irony was that he never used his money as an enticement for women. He never took them to his penthouse. Never flew them to exotic locations. Never zipped across town in his Ferrari or took them out for a Saturday afternoon shopping spree, filling their closets with jewelry and designer clothes.
When he was younger, he hadn’t wanted to spend a dime of his father’s money on himself or anyone else. And now that he had his own money, he only wanted to use it when it mattered.
Tonight, it had mattered. She’d mattered.
But he hadn’t factored in Megan’s hesitation. It was a mistake he would never have made in a business deal, but dammit, the woman had gotten under his skin. He was trying too goddamn hard, and he knew it. But somehow, he couldn’t bring himself to back off.
He wanted her, dammit. And Parker had spent his life going after what he wanted.
He didn’t intend to stop now.
“Megan.” He’d released her hand after they’d gotten out of the car, and now he reached for her again. She avoided him though, crossing her arms over her chest as if blocking a ch
ill. A ridiculous notion in the middle of an Austin summer.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.”
There was a pause, but then she answered, her eyes still on the jet. “I’m thinking that I wasn’t expecting a plane. A car, sure. A taxi, maybe. Even a horse drawn carriage around downtown. But Parker, a plane?” She turned to face him. “I’m not sure that I should—”
“Do you trust me?”
“What? I—It’s not about that.”
“Of course it is. You’re standing here trying to decide if it’s wise to get on a plane with a man who’s trying very hard to seduce you.”
Her throat moved as she swallowed. “Maybe.”
Well, that was progress. He pulled out his phone. “I don’t own this jet,” he said. “I’m just renting it. This is the contract,” he added, showing her the screen. He opened a text message and forwarded it to her. “Send it to Griffin. Send it to all your friends. Send it to Kasey back in Los Angeles.”
Her eyes widened at that. “You remember Kasey?”
“The friend from your apartment building. She came to a few parties with you.”
“Well, that certainly explains a lot.”
He shook his head, not understanding.
“How you managed to become such a big deal businessman so fast. You have a seriously impressive memory.”
It was true, he thought. He did. But it was the most impressive when it was focused on facts and people that he cared about.
“The point is that the contract has all the information about the plane and the pilot. You’re nervous about flying off and disappearing from Austin, but you don’t have to be.” This time, he did take her hand, and she let him. “You can trust me,” he said. “I promise.”
“I do trust you.”
Those simple words filled him with more joy than he’d expected.
“I’m just not sure I trust myself.”
He saw the shadow in her eye and was sure she was thinking of Carlton. “But you do trust yourself,” he pointed out. “That’s why you’re in Austin. That’s why you came to talk to me about the contest. That’s why you’re not dating Griffin even though it would be so easy to fall into that pattern with a friend.”