"For one, it's clearly a live discussion and people can tell
"Of course."
Sophie looked at Melina, who lifted a shoulder and hand. "Wh
They both looked at Parker.
"The point is," Sophie continued, "that the food sucks. I ha
"Maybe things have changed," Parker argued. "Give it a chanc
Finally Sophie threw her hands in the air. "All right! I won
"Tonight?" Parker asked.
Sophie raised an eyebrow. "I think not. Even if we could get
"You can get in any time," Melina said. "They'll make sure t
"I'm not dressed for it!" Sophie shifted. "We'll do it tomor
"No, that's better," Melina said. "Gives you an accurate por
"Fine. That's settled. What's next?"
Parker hardly heard them talk about the ads for a car dealer
The little voice in his head that kept cautioning him agains
He wasn't merely in trouble now. He was dead meat.
CHAPTER 10
Sophie smiled at the technician who ran the board during the
"Wow, Ms. Macgregor. Um, I mean, wow." He scratched the side
"Thanks, John. See you tomorrow."
"Uh, yeah. Yeah, okay." He did a little head-duck and should
"What the heck was that all about?" Sophie asked into the mi
"The boy has a sudden case of lust, uh, Ms. Macgregor."
"For me?" Astounded, Sophie looked over her shoulder. John w
"I didn't pay much attention when I got dressed this morning
"Someone else noticed, too." Melina nodded in Parker's direc
He glanced at her chest when he put his own headphones on. H
She fought the impulse to cover herself. Becoming self-consc
"Five seconds," Melina warned.
Sophie focused on the pages of notes in front of her and tri
"Good afternoon, and welcome to Rant and Rave! The talk show
She paused for two seconds to transition. "Take Parker, here
Parker rose to the scripted challenge. "I'm not a cliché, So
"No, you're right. You drive the new symbol of your great we
"They're safer in the snow."
"Worthless on the ice."
"Better than my Porsche."
Sophie couldn't help it. She snorted a laugh. "Okay, enough,
"Seth is on line one."
"Hi, Seth! What do you have to say about stereotypes?"
"If rich guys drive sports cars and big luxury SUVs, it's be
Sophie quirked an eyebrow at Parker and checked that off her
Seth continued. "The faster the sports car, the bigger the S
"But, Seth, don't you think what's inside the car is more im
Now he sounded sheepish. "Well, you know, all guys want from
"Ah-ha!" Sophie raised her pen in the air. "Another stereoty
That sparked a flurry of calls from men defending themselves
Which didn't help Sophie one bit. She'd started the show thi
Sheesh. She was becoming a stereotype.
Sophie was relieved when they broke at the end of the Rant p
She stood to go refill her water bottle and felt Parker's ga
Sophie removed her satisfied smile when she sashayed back in
"I guess." He looked glum. "At the moment I can't think of a
Sophie sighed in pretend annoyance. "I'll start, then. Again
"Yeah, that'll work."
Sophie paused and looked at Parker over the console. "Is som
"No."
"Then snap out of it!"
Melina gave the one-minute warning. Sophie decided to go for
His head snapped up. "Come over?"
Melina signaled thirty seconds.
"I've got leftover pizza."
A longing look came over Parker's face before he schooled hi
"Great." She nodded at Melina, sat, and went to work.
* * * *
The only problem, Sophie thought two hours later, was what h
Parker followed her home and into the condo. They were spare
"He slobbers over everyone like that," Sophie complained, wa
Parker smiled but didn't say anything.
"Come on. I'll get you something to drink." Sophie left the
"Interesting." He examined the label while she let the dog o
"Why?" Sophie went back to the fridge and removed the contai
Parker twisted the top off his bottle and took a swallow. "Y
"No, thanks." Sophie tried to bustle about preparing the piz
"Careful, it's hot." She placed the plate on the table and c
She scolded herself for feeling so nervous. It wasn't like s
"Not too bad. Still in preschool."
"That's good. Diane holding up okay?"
"Still strong." He frowned and swallowed. "She's going to fa
Sophie's throat swelled against the words, but she said them
Parker tilted his head at her questioningly. "I can be a fri
"Oh." She pulled a red pepper off her pizza slice and droppe
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it wouldn't exactly be fun, would it? It would be dem
Parker felt the familiar fear tickling his spine. He wiped h
"Sure." Sophie gave that snort she was so good at, and even
"I don't. I date women who appeal to me and see where it tak
"Somehow, it seems to take them down the aisle with someone
"Manage what?"
"Your matchmaking record is impeccable."
More fear. Sophie knew him too well. He was in a danger zone
So he tried to be casual. "I guess they just happen to meet
Sophie cut the last piece of pizza down the middle and hande
"I have no idea."
"I bet."
"Tell me about your family."
Sophie laughed. "Okay, I'll let you off the hook." They fini
He shook his head. Sophie dumped the plates in the sink and
He settled near the center of the sofa and watched Sophie di
"Die Hard?"
He choked before his brain really registered what she said a
"I've got The Mummy on DVD. You into supernatural incarnatio
It was on the tip of his tongue to say he was into whatever
He was right. He'd never have figured Sophie Macgregor for a
Parker hadn't seen the movie before and he couldn't seem to
Unfortunately, Sophie wasn't a clinging female type. Parker
By the time the movie was over, Parker felt like he'd played
Most of him was, anyway. Sophie jumped off the couch, and hi
"Watdja think?"
Parker stood slowly and Sophie's eyes widened. Her face soft
"I think I'm wondering what I'm doing here."
"I'd say watching a movie," Sophie replied, her voice turnin
Parker's hand lifted and skimmed Sophie's shoulder. She shiv
Without opening his eyes he lowered his head. If his lips me
He felt hot breath and knew that wasn't what was going to ha
"Sophie."
"What?"
"If I kiss you, everything changes."
Her arm dislodged his hand from her shoulder as she lifted i
"I know it does, Parker."
She still didn't move, and he didn't know if she wanted it t
He was getting a crick in his neck.
He let his eyes open a slit. Sophie's hair was tousled and c
Parker groaned. He'd lost.
* * * *
Wow.
Sophie couldn't get a more coherent thought than that. She'd
And his tongue! When it joined in, Sophie's ankles signaled
Parker had just lowered her to the sofa, his hand doing its
"Noooo," she murmured against his shoulder. She'd managed to
The phone rang again and Parker started to pull aw
ay.
"No!" Sophie grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled him ba
"Oh, Parker," she started. The click and whirr of the answer
"Sophie, it's Brie."
Sophie tried to ignore the machine, but it just wasn't in he
"I just wanted you to know I got to L.A. fine and I'm off on
The ensuing beeeeeeeep seemed to reverberate in the room. So
"What did she mean by that?"
"By what?" Sophie tugged at him but he refused to bend to he
"Are you who I thought you were, Sophie?" he asked quietly.
"No!" She pushed him up and stood. "I don't want to get my '
"You don't like playboys. But that's what I am, isn't it?" H
How had this happened? A moment ago they were so deep into e
"My sister is lonely," she tried to explain. "Our other sist
"It sounds like she doesn't need a guy for that."
Sophie sighed and looked up at him. "She doesn't. But she th
Parker rested one hand on Sophie's and used the other to lif
Sophie smiled tentatively and was heartened by the smile he
"I think I'd better go." He released her and turned away, al
"Parker?"
He turned at the top of the step and Sophie half hid behind
"What happens next?"
His grin this time was full-blown.
"We go to bed."
CHAPTER 11
Sophie spent that night and all the next day wondering if hi
In the end she compromised. After the show they were going t
To her immense frustration, Parker didn't seem to notice.
"Melina and Stevie are coming with us," he told her when the
"Protection, Parker? Are you afraid of me?"
"Yes, Sophie, I am."
She hadn't expected his honesty, but Parker reached in front
"Keep the cost low, now," Stevie cautioned on their way to t
"What, no hors d'oeurves?" she teased their frugal program m
"It's pushing it for four of us to go on the station's dime,
Parker slung his arm over the shorter man's shoulders. "Rela
"Why isn't it comp, Stevie? They should be giving this to us
"The sales person forgot to discuss that aspect of the arran
Sophie exchanged an amused glance with Parker. Both of them
She suddenly felt like she was on more stable ground. Except
Parker spoke to the maitre d', who seated them immediately,
"We were only expecting Mademoiselle Macgregor and Monsieur
Sophie rolled her eyes at the man's fake French accent. "I t
Parker nudged her with his elbow. "Lighten up. We need to ra
Sophie tried hard to lighten up, but for some reason grumpin
Or maybe it was because Parker was more engrossed in his men
She tried to ignore him back without feeling childish and co
While the others debated what to choose, she looked around t
"Is this restaurant non-smoking?" she murmured to Parker. He
The waiter arrived and—speaking unaccented English, Sophie w
"How about this," Parker offered. "If the advertiser doesn't
Mollified, Stevie went back to his menu.
"Are we ready to order?" The waiter stood next to the table,
We. What, were they in a nursing home or something? Sophie s
The waiter eyed her. "Can I?"
Sophie laughed, her bad mood immediately gone. "Maybe next t
Parker ordered chicken cordon bleu, Melina a veggie wrap, an
"We have to get the full range of menu items," he protested
"No. Just trying to stay in my jeans."
"Please!" Parker raised a hand. "No diet talk! I get enough
Melina scanned the little group, then smiled uncomfortably.
The chuckles ceased. Stevie cleared his throat. Melina looke
"Are you pregnant?" Sophie blurted, hoping it was a "positiv
"I wish." Melina licked her lips, then drank some of her wat
"Wow." Stevie stared at her. "You'd never know it. You look
She shrugged. "Well, I am. Mostly."
"How often do you go to dialysis?" Sophie asked. She'd known
"Now it's three times a week. Next week I have to start doin
Sophie didn't know much about kidney disease, but she knew o
"Are you heading for a transplant?" she asked softly. There
"Eventually." Her voice was hoarse. "My—" She stopped and pl
Parker, who had been silently watching her until now, reache
She smiled wanly at him. "Got an extra kidney?"
Parker didn't hesitate. "If that's what it takes, yes, I do.
In that instant, Sophie leapt over the wall she'd been climb
* * * *
Sophie couldn't wait for dinner to be over. The waiter had a
Still, Sophie had to concentrate on her meal so she'd have s
Parker loomed large to her left, smelling like Drakkar and h
Parker didn't even seem to know she was there.
She was desperate to get him home, in her bed, over her, und
It would be foolish, she knew, dimly hearing the chatter aro
No, she amended, he wouldn't run screaming. He'd gently and
They finally finished their desserts and called for the chec
"I'm gonna just walk home," Stevie told them, and motioned d
If she gave Parker any hint of what she wanted, what she fel
Sophie put a hand on her queasy stomach. Parker and Melina w
* * * *
Parker wondered what Sophie's next move would be. When he'd
When he'd heard Brianna's message the night before, he'd bee
Why did he care so much what Sophie thought of him? He'd wor
He cared more what Sophie thought of him than he'd ever care
Maybe he cared more about Sophie than he'd ever cared about
So when they got back to the station, he didn't know what to
"I'll see you tomorrow," Melina said, and started to walk to
Her joke fell flat, but she just shrugged and waved goodbye.
"You'd really give her your kidney?"
Parker looked down at Sophie, who was still watching Melina
"Of course," he answered. "If it was a match."
Now she looked up at him, and what he saw in her eyes both t
"Sophie..."
"Come home with me tonight, Parker." Her hand laced with his
He couldn't say no, and for the first time, he didn't feel d
* * * *
He followed Sophie to her condo and in the front door. She d
Sophie moved into the bedroom and toward the center of the r
She turned toward the closet, and he almost swallowed his to
Still she ignored him.
He watched as she tucked the blouse into a laundry bag, then
And stood in front of him in a black push-up bra, a garter b
He pressed his sweating palms to his ribs to dry them on his
But she didn't take off the bra. She sat at an old-fashioned
But she was teasing him, and he was loving it. Loving her fo
She swiveled to one side and bent to slip off her shoes. Par
"Jesus Christ, Sophie," burst from him. His hands dropped to
She smiled at him in the mirror. That confident smile of a w
Sophie stood and turned to face him. "Hello, Parker." She re
"Leave them on." He smoothed her hair where it lay above her
"Thank you."
"You have no idea what you've done to me tonight."
"I have some idea." Her hand pressed against his hardness an
"You are a witch," he said through grinding teeth.
"Yep." She tilted her head. "Does that mean you don't want m
"Yeah, right, I don't want you. Like a starving man doesn't<
br />
"Come here." Sophie beckoned and he went, supporting himself
"You haven't kissed me yet," she murmured, her hands moving
"Didn't I? I don't remember." Exerting incredible control, h
"Do it." At that moment, her hands found him. He crushed his
So he touched her. He pulled back and fell to his side, prop
"Parker, I don't want slow and gentle. I want you to devour
"Shh." He pushed her hand back to the bed. "Don't worry. I'l
God, she was hot.
He lowered his mouth to her breast and sucked, simultaneousl
Quickly he moved over her and positioned himself. She parted
"Parker, God, it's not over!" She arched against him, trying
Just before he exploded, Sophie's eyes met his. Her lips did
CHAPTER 12
Sophie went to work the next day feeling like she'd gotten t
Right up until the end. When Parker had entered her and driv
They'd held each other for a few minutes, then Parker had si
"I did."
He leaned back to look at her. "What?"
She squirmed and looked at his shoulder. "I use a diaphragm.
"That protects us from pregnancy, but what about the rest?"
She liked the way he said "us" when talking about pregnancy.
"Are you afraid of catching something?" she asked. He grinne
"Not hardly."
"Hey!" She slapped his shoulder. "That wasn't nice."
"I didn't mean what you think." He stroked his hand over her
"Usually."
"Are you afraid of catching something?"
Given Parker's reputation, she probably should have been. Sh
He shook his head. "Never. Not even my first time. I've neve
That heated Sophie's blood again and she kissed him. "Mmmmmm
Parker pulled back. "Again?" He looked amused.
Sophie frowned in concern. "Can you?"
He laughed and hugged her. "For you? Anything!" They stroked
"There are some pre-filled applicators in the drawer."
Parker sat up and opened the drawer, removed a long tube, an
"Open for me."
Sophie did, and the act was more erotic than anything he'd y
They tried for tender this time, but when they got to the po
Sophie fell asleep on top of Parker.
He'd been gone by the time she woke this morning and she vag
The team was meeting mid-morning to go over their dinner of
She didn't get it. To her disappointment, Parker actually ar
"Crisis at the office," he apologized, settling on the couch
Sophie struggled to keep her attention on what they were doi
"The hamburger was fine. Juicy, done the way I wanted it, ch
Sophie's Playboy Page 29