by T. L. Quinn
It’s like all of her best features are even better now that she has grown into a woman from a girl.
It’s still her smile though. Every time I see her smile it makes me feel like I am on top of the world. Somehow the wrinkles that have developed around her eyes just add to her beauty. Her smile is so inviting. I can’t stop staring at it.
Wait. No. Why did it just drop?
Oh shit. She is staring right back at me. Well glaring actually. I guess she is not as happy to see me as I am her.
She begins walking toward me. She has a little extra swing to her hips, full of attitude. Oh man, what did I get myself into?
She stops in front of me and grits through her teeth. “Parker.”
I pretend I don’t notice her glare and just smile back at her. “Ava.”
“We were supposed to meet in my dad’s office. Not here. Already messing up instructions on your first day? Not a good sign.”
I just smirk back at her. “Well, technically I’ll be in control of all of your purchases, so that actually makes you the one who will need to follow instructions.”
Ava’s mouth is just hanging open at me. Then she whispers very loudly. “You bastard.”
Then she is stomping off away from me, so I just go to follow.
I jog up next to her. “You know how I feel about you using that kind of language.” I joke.
She scoffs. “I don’t give a fucking shit what you feel.” I don’t think she usually swears that much but is purposefully trying to push my buttons.
“So does that mean I also don’t have to care about what you think are good things to spend money on?” I say sarcastically back.
Ava stops suddenly and turns back to me. “How I speak and behave is my own personal business. My work is actual business. You need to learn the difference because you are only part of one of them.”
Okay. Ouch. I guess I deserved that.
“Ava…” I try to reach for her arm but she moves toward the elevator.
“Come on. Don’t want to keep daddy waiting.” I blow out a breath and then follow her into the elevator.
◆◆◆
Ava
Is it just me or does this elevator feel smaller than usual? I feel like I can’t breathe. Maybe that’s because I am holding my breath. I'm too scared to speak to Parker again. God. Why does he have to smell so good. It’s like even in complete silence something has to draw me to him. I can’t just turn off all of my senses and ignore him.
Sure, I may have been a little harsh when I first saw him again after six years, but I am not going to apologize. He’s the one who left without even saying goodbye. Never once came over for a family dinner when he visited.
I had to make it clear this is purely business. Nothing else. I am not going to risk putting my heart out on the line again. Not after what happened last time. And I don’t want him to try to make some dumb suggestion like we be friends. I can’t be friends with him. There are too many emotions tied to him. I wouldn’t be able to handle it.
Still, I can’t help but keep taking glances at him. He looks good. Even better than when he left. Although he was older than me when he left, he still had a boyish charm about him. Not anymore. Now he is all man. His shoulders seem broader. His arms seem stronger. The scruff on his face just adds to how sexy he is. That dumb smirk that I want to wipe off his face. Ugh! I came in today with the mindset that I wouldn’t let him affect me. He’s only been here all of 5 minutes, and he is already under my skin.
The elevator finally dings, and the doors open to my dad’s floor. Parker motions for me to go ahead, so I walk over to my dad’s office with a little more swing to my hips than normal. Hey, what can I say? I still want him to want me. See what he gave up and all that.
My dad welcomes Parker much friendlier than I did. They shake hands and say plentitries about how it’s good to see each other. I just roll my eyes. “Can we just get to it already?”
My dad just shakes his head at me. “Now Ava, you can’t already be off on a bad foot with Parker? You know you’re going to be spending a lot of time together.” I roll my eyes again, and Parker just laughs.
My dad goes to reach for something in his desk drawer. “Oh that reminds me. Here is the key for the guest apartment.” He hands Parker a key.
I just stare at them confused for a moment. “Guest apartment?”
My dad smiles back at me. “Ahh yes. I told Parker you like to work on your projects at all hours of the day, so it’s best he is close by in case you need to make any late night purchases. I told him he could stay in the guest apartment across the hall from yours since he hadn’t signed a lease anywhere else yet.”
My mouth drops open. I blink a couple of times trying to make sense of what he just said. “I’m sorry. You did what?”
I look over to Parker and then back to my dad. When neither one of them tells me they are joking, I continue. “Where are guests supposed to stay?”
My dad laughs sarcastically. “Oh please Ava. You have a three bedroom apartment. You’re guests can stay with you.”
I go to protest again when my dad adds on. “Besides from what I’ve seen in the magazines, the only people that ever stay over are men of the single variety.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
My eyes widen in shock that my dad called me out on that. Not that it isn’t true. I just didn’t think he would say that. I glance over to Parker, and he looks just as surprised as me.
There’s something else in his eyes though too. I can’t quite tell what it is, but he almost seems angry about me having guys stay over, so I decide to push the conversation further.
“That’s not true. Cassie and Emily stay over all the time. The paparazzi just doesn’t care to take pictures of that.”
I don’t end up in the magazines often, but being the daughter of a rich business man sometimes ends you up in the society pages, especially after I went out with Carter Ericson, the next big thing in Hollywood. We only went out on two dates, but ever since then, the paparazzi has been more interested in my dating life than they were before.
My dad just laughs again. “Well perfect. One room for Cassie, one for Emily, and your various mystery men can just stay in your room where I am assuming they do already.”
I still continue to protest. I can’t possibly have Parker across the hall from me. How am I ever going to escape this man?
“I still don’t think that’s necessary. Trust me. I won’t be contacting Parker outside of business hours.” Then I add on to push the knife as far as it will go. “I’m planning on avoiding him at all cost even during business hours.” I cross my arms over my chest and my legs at the same time.
Parker just lets out a small laugh, but I don’t look over to him. I am trying to act like I don’t even notice he is here even though I can feel every time his eyes are pointed at me. I can feel my skin tingle everywhere every time he is looking at me. I don’t want to like it. I try to roll my shoulders to shake off the feeling.
My dad just narrows his eyes at me. “Now Ava. Can’t we all just try to get along here. You and Parker used to be so close.” He motions his hand between us, but I still refuse to look over to Parker. Then my dad smiles and continues. “In fact, I used to think you had a little crush on our boy here.” His smile grows even bigger.
My eyes bug out of my head, and I am forced to look over to Parker. He just has a satisfied smirk on his face. I narrow my eyes at him.
“Don’t flatter yourself. This was the same timeframe my dad thought I was madly in love with Jeff.” I stare harder at Parker. “And we both know how I felt about him.”
The smirk dropped from his face when I compared him to Jeff. He would always tease me about Jeff because he knew I couldn't stand to be around him.
My dad just laughs again and adds. “Pretty sure Jeff is one of those men who are always sneaking into your apartment, so I don’t think I was that far off.”
Yeah, so me and Jeff have slept together a few times. Not that big o
f a deal. I mean we’ve known each other since we were five years old. We are each other’s dates when we don’t have anyone else to bring to events. Sometimes when we get back from those events a little drunk, we hook up. Doesn’t mean I am interested in him.
I just don’t bother giving my dad a response. “Are we done here? I have things to get done.”
I turn to Parker. “My assistant will get your contact info. If I need anything, she will be in touch.”
I turn back to my dad, and he just nods his head, so I walk out of the office as fast as I can. I am almost down the hall to the elevator when I hear Parker’s footsteps behind me.
Suddenly, he is right next to me walking at the same pace I am. “You slept with Jeff?”
I glare over at him. “That’s none of your business.” I reach for the elevator button and press it a few times like that will somehow make it come up faster.
“You hate Jeff.”
I just scoff at him. Of course he can’t keep things professional and has to bring up old memories between us about how I used to vent to him about my family always nagging me about dating Jeff.
“I’m sorry. Are we besties now?” I glare over to him again. “Besides you don’t need to be rude. Maybe me and Jeff are dating now. Maybe we are married. You wouldn’t know. You aren’t a part of my life now, so please don’t act like you are.”
Parker is just looking at me. Neither one of us breaks eye contact. I can’t tell if what I said had any effect on him, but he won’t look away. It feels like the whole world around has disappeared, and the only thing I can hear is the sound of my heart and both of our breaths.
The elevator dings, and the doors open breaking the silence. I quickly turn and walk in. I wish things could be different with Parker, but I have to protect myself. If I keep him away, then he won’t be able to hurt me again. We get back down to our floor, and I point my finger toward reception. “Julie will show you to your office and around the breakroom and such.”
I turn away to leave, but then my steps slow as Parker calls out. “I’ll be seeing you soon Ava.”
I get goosebumps up my arms at his words. It wasn’t a question. It was a promise. I shake out my arms and head back to my own office.
◆◆◆
Parker
After Julie showed me around the office, I decided to get settled in my own. I’ve barely turned on my computer and opened my email before I see Ava storming in. When I said I’d be seeing her soon, I didn’t exactly mean 15 minutes later, but I’m not surprised. I can already guess what this is about.
“Did you cancel all of my subscriptions?” She shouts. Her face is getting redder, and her hands are clenched at her sides. God, she’s cute when she’s mad. “You’re cute when you're mad.”
Did I just say that out loud?
“Did you just say that to me?” She’s making a disgusted face at me now. I just shrug my shoulders like it’s not a big deal and turn back toward my computer.
She’s still standing there glaring at me, so I just add, “Your dad sent me your credit card statements on Friday and since I was just sitting in my hotel all weekend, I decided to get started.”
Her hands seem to ball into even tighter fists, and she grits through her teeth, “And you didn’t think you should check with me first before you just cancelled everything?”
I just shake my head. “No. If anything is actually necessary, we can address them on an individual basis. It would take way too long to go through every one as a starting point. Besides from what I could tell, they were all useless.”
Ava is fuming now. “You asshole.”
I don’t know why but this makes me smile. “Hey, no need to name call. You don’t see me calling you a spoiled, entitled, overpaid stylist.” I wink at the end, but Ava is staring at me with her mouth hanging open.
“You did not just....” She stops then just throws her hands up in the air and stomps out of the room. From the hall she yells out. “You’re going to regret this Parker!”
Oh good. Glad to know things can actually get worse between us than they already are now. She’s going to be mad at me for every change I make, so I might as well have some fun with her while I’m at it.
Now if I can just stop thinking inappropriate thoughts about her, we’ll be all good. I am definitely not making the mistake twice of dating someone I am working with. Not that Ava would date me anyway. Plus her dad is the boss, so I don’t have to worry about her sleeping with him. No wait what. That’s a reason I could date her.
Stop Parker. You can’t think about her that way. Ugh. How am I supposed to live across the hall from this woman?
Chapter 3
Ava
I set my phone on the kitchen counter and grab a glass of wine. I need it after today. I swear I spent so long in the shower when I got home just trying to wash the day off. Not only did I have to see Parker again, but my email kept getting flooded with cancelation notices for various services.
I mean sure some of them aren’t absolutely necessary, but they make my job easier and it’s not like they are any of the high ticket items that daddy was talking about reducing spend on. I feel like Parker is just purposefully trying to find these little things to take away from me just to piss me off.
I grab my glass and head over to my couch to watch some TV and settle down for the night. This is exactly what I needed. I grab my furry blanket to get cozy since I just threw on a silk tank top with matching shorts. They are so soft and comfy, but I am a little chilly.
My phone pings, and I look at the notification from my email. I don’t usually read emails after 7 p.m., but the name catches my eye. Reggie Moore.
I have been working with her for the past month to try to secure a piece for the charity gala next week. I click on the email to read it.
Reggie Moore
To: [email protected]
Hi Ava Darling,
So sorry to hear you won’t be moving forward renting the Georgiana necklace for the gala. I think it would have been a great piece, but I understand how the cost could be a deterrent. In any case, I look forward to working with you on the next project. I have a piece I think you may be interested in for your next event. Please see the attached brochure.
Kisses! Reggie.
I re-read the message a couple of times not understanding what she meant. We just settled on picking up the piece next Friday before the event. Why does she think I am cancelling? I’ve spent months trying to acquire the piec-...Oh no he didn’t!
Before I know what I am doing, I am marching across the hall. The electronic key for my apartment also works on the guest apartment, so I just walk right in without knocking. Well, march very loud and angrily right in.
I go through the entrance hall and stop in the kitchen where he is making dinner.
I just stare at him with daggers in my eyes. “You.” I grit through my teeth.
Parker turns toward me surprised to just see me standing in his apartment. He looks toward the door and then back to me trying to figure out how I got in here. He opens his mouth to say something, “How-” he points toward the door as if to ask me how I am standing in his kitchen uninvited.
“Parker! Did you cancel my Georgiana piece!” I yell at him.
He looks back at me then and just smirks. Ugh! I can’t stand this man!
He doesn’t answer for a moment, and it gives me time to absorb the scene in front of me. Parker is making grilled cheese like he used to always do. Except he always adds in different deli meats and veggies to make it better. Then my eyes take in Parker himself. His very shirtless self.
He is just wearing gray sweats that hang low on his hips. Very low. As in so low now all I can do is stare at that perfect V that is pointing down to his you know what.