by Lyra Parish
“Separate,” I said.
“Together,” he said, then reached his hand to take the ticket.
I shook my head then smiled. If he wanted to pay, then I’d let him … this time.
“I invited you. This is my treat.”
I clenched my jaw in hopes of holding back the bubbling excitement in my stomach that happened when his gaze pierced mine. Parker was intoxicating, beautiful, and—
The breath of someone moved against the skin on the back of my neck. Whoever it was, was dangerously close and needed to back up. Parker’s eyebrows creased together, and I swiftly turned around.
Alex, Mr. Drive-by. Shit.
The memories of him fast fucking me at the Hilton downtown flooded my thoughts, and my appetite instantly disappeared.
“Hey, sweetheart. I’ve been looking all over Houston for you. I knew we’d find each other at some point.”
Wait, was he kidding? Visions of the drive-by sex session occasionally haunted me, and I almost shuddered in disgust from his words.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I whispered to him.
“Katie, baby. Let me make it up to you,” he leaned down and whispered in my ear. He couldn’t be serious, not after the way I’d left him.
“Alex.” I scooted away from him and stopped whispering. “Go away.”
He was a persistent bastard. I almost remembered why I’d given him a chance in the first place.
Parker cleared his throat, and Alex gave him a devilish grin.
“I think it’s time you leave. I understand you can’t take a fucking hint, but it’s obvious your conversation isn’t going anywhere. You’re interrupting our dinner, so leave.” Parker glared at Alex, then glanced between the two of us.
“What did you just say to me?” Alex asked, his voice rising in pitch.
“I basically said to fuck off.” Parker sipped his sake and slid his credit card inside the ticket holder. Intimidation streamed from him.
Alex moved quickly to Parker, and Parker stood from the stool.
I stood as well and placed my hands on Parker’s chest, which was rising and falling with every agitated breath he took. “He isn’t worth it.”
Alex leaned over my body and spoke to me loud enough for Parker to hear. “Every night I lie in bed and dream of that tight pussy of yours, Katie. That tight pussy that I wrecked.”
Heat rushed to my face out of anger and embarrassment. I turned my head and looked at Alex but spoke to Parker. “He’s nothing more than a pussy ass jerk off who doesn’t know how to please women. Totally not worth it.”
Parker grabbed Alex by the shirt and held it in a tight fist. “I’ll give you one chance to apologize to her before I beat the living fuck out of you.”
Alex pushed Parker away from him and when he walked away, he said, “I don’t apologize to whores.”
Parker immediately took off after him, and I barely had time to grab his arm. “No. Please.”
“He should have never said those things about you.”
I turned my head away from him because it was too much to look him in the eyes. My past was already haunting me.
Alex was out the door, and Parker shook his head. I watched as he clenched his hands and pushed away his anger. He was already protecting me. We walked back to the bar. The mood had drastically changed.
“Did you … you know, with him?”
“Have sex?” I lowered my voice and settled down onto the barstool to try finishing my food but the truth was that my appetite had walked out the door with Alex.
“Yes, did you fuck him?” The words sounded so dirty coming from his mouth, and I didn’t want to admit it, but there was no denying what had happened. We both knew it was true.
“Yes,” I said.
Parker sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. I felt guilty, and I didn’t know why.
Parker signed the credit card slip and we sat in silence. The night had started on a high note but was ending on a flat one. How was that possible?
A knife could have sliced through the next few awkward moments. Parker stood to place his wallet into his back pocket then I stood. I wanted to go home. I wanted to forget the encounter with the worst one-night stand of my life.
Silence followed us to the car and all the way to my high-rise. Parker stopped in front of my condo and turned off the car. Then he walked around and opened my door. Though we still hadn’t exchanged a word, he escorted me inside.
We stood in the elevator and he rode next to me to the thirty-second floor. When the door opened, I saw Jake standing in the hallway with a bouquet of flowers.
When he saw me, a huge smile covered his face, but it vanished when Parker stepped out of the elevator behind me. Hurt and anger flashed in Jake’s eyes, but it didn’t stop him from approaching me. I didn’t know how much more of this I could handle before I lost it.
Jake handed me the roses, but I didn’t take them.
“What are you doing here?” I asked between gritted teeth.
“Winning you back,” he said confidently.
“There is nothing to win, Jake. What don’t you understand about this? You agreed to no emotions. You’ve got too many of them right now.”
“Fuck that, Rox.”
I glanced back at Parker, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
“Who is this guy? Your new bodyguard or something?”
“Maybe he is, but that’s none of your business. Leave before you make me say something I might regret.”
Jake tried to hand me the flowers again, but the more I thought about the whole situation, the angrier I became.
“No. Leave,” I said.
“You’ll regret this,” Jake spat, then dropped the flowers by my door and stormed to the elevator. Before he stepped in, he stopped and stared Parker down. Parker stood up straight and placed his arms by his side.
“You’re the motherfucker from lunch the other day. I’ll find out who you are,” Jake said, then furiously walked to the elevator.
I released a long breath and stared at Parker, who was completely unamused.
“You are an enigma, Roxane VanBuren.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
“An enigma I will figure out.”
I picked up the flowers from the ground and threw them in the trashcan beside the elevator. When I passed Parker, he grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. He searched my face, and I searched his while looking for my words. What could I say to him? “Oh hey, yeah, sorry that my baggage has decided to pop up tonight.” Yeah right, that would never work. Instead, I chose to act like nothing had happened.
He ran his fingers through my hair, grabbed the bottom of my chin with his index finger and thumb, then leaned down and gave me a soft kiss. His touch and lips seemed to erase all the bad that had happened, replacing it with himself. “Goodnight, Roxane,” Parker said, then walked to the elevator. I watched him as the doors closed. My heart beat rapidly, and my emotions went haywire.
What the hell had happened?
I didn’t set an alarm and slept until my body said it was time to wake up. I rolled over and glanced at the clock on my bedside table and 09:42 a.m. flashed. That was the latest I’d slept in in weeks, and it felt good to not have any plans on a Saturday. I rolled out of bed and walked to the windows that overlooked the city that was in a constant state of busyness. Cars were zooming on the freeway, and I watched swarms of people walk hurriedly on the streets below like little ants.
I poured myself a glass of milk, then sat at the kitchen table and spread strawberry jam on a piece of a toast. My head was pounding, and I blamed it on the stress of last night. A twinge of guilt washed over me when I put myself in Parker’s position. If women would have flocked to him like my baggage had done to me last night … well, I wouldn’t have been too happy.
I checked my email while I ate and saw the itinerary for New York.
Jane, my secretary, would no longer be going, which meant it would only be Parker an
d me. With another person from the office there, I knew I could have kept the trip strictly professional. Now that she would no longer be attending, it made me nervous. I had four days with Parker in New York. I had to make a pact with myself that nothing would happen. After last night, I knew how important it was. Being in a relationship right now would be too complicated, and I obviously had too much shit to straighten out. I needed to get my personal life together before I brought someone else into it.
I glanced back at the itinerary. Sunday was our travel day, Monday was the meeting with Jason McCaul Jr. about amending the contract that had been previously agreed upon but desperately needed to be changed, Tuesday through Thursday were fun days, and Friday was a travel day.
Jason McCaul Jr. was in his early thirties and in the process of taking over his father’s construction business. He was also one of the biggest, most sexist sleazebags in the United States. I had insisted on meeting with McCaul Senior, but that had been a big no. The man was dealing with too many medical problems at the moment, anyway. So I’d have to put on my big girl panties and deal with the king of all jerks, McCaul Junior. It wouldn’t be the highlight of my week, guaranteed.
Tomorrow morning a taxi would pick up Parker then would be waiting for me downstairs at nine. Our penthouse room numbers were listed, along with the flights.
This meant that I had exactly one day to convince myself that Parker was bad for business, and that he was bad for me. But every time I closed my eyes, I could see only him. I opened my phone and looked at the picture we’d taken last night. Everything up to that point had been so perfect that it seemed like Cupid himself had planned it. Then it all went to hell.
I texted Parker the picture with a message that said, “Thanks for dinner.” I waited for a reply, staring at the phone. After a few minutes, I locked the screen and finished my toast. The internal battle that I was fighting with myself wasn’t a pleasant one. I was stronger than this.
I finished my breakfast, then walked into the living room and plopped on the couch. My phone went off.
Don’t Reply: Sorry. I was running. You’re welcome.
Wait, running? Parker was a runner? I had so many questions for him, so many different things I wanted to know, but I couldn’t do this. I set my phone down before I replied back then picked it up almost instantly.
Me: Stacey! I need you to tell me why being single is amazing. Remind me why it sucks to go on dates with guys. Tell me to stay away from Parker.
I hit send and waited for her reply.
Don’t Reply: Stay away from Parker. He’s way too good looking and charming for any woman to be near him.
I read his message over and over then realized I had sent it to Don’t Reply.
Fucccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkk!
The smile faded from my face because I’d done the equivalent of showing him my cards in a game of poker.
I copied and pasted the same text message to Stacey with another one that said, “I accidently sent this to Parker.” Her reply was almost immediate.
Stacey: I’m not telling you to stay away from him. He’s too fucking hot for you to let him go. And thanks for texting me back last night.
Stacey: No you didn’t send that to him. What did he say?
I pasted the exact message to her.
Stacey: KEEP HIM!
She was no help, no help at all. She was supposed to tell me to stay away from him and remind me what my father would do to me if he found out. I imagined the rumors that would spread around work, and how people would look at me, and worst of all, him. That was enough to make these feelings that I couldn’t deny vanish.
I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. Was today chick flick Saturday? Every movie was a love story with characters kissing, chasing after each other, and looking at their partners with seductive eyes. I turned off the TV, stormed to my bedroom to pick out some clothes for the day, then pulled my suitcase from the closet.
I couldn’t decide what to bring with me to New York. I had checked the weather a million times and knew that I needed winter-type clothes. Forty degrees in New York was like Texas in the dead of winter. Sweaters, skinny jeans, super cute boots, a jacket, and professional wear were all packed. I brought one sexy outfit, plus lingerie, pantyhose, tights, and whatever else I could randomly fit into my large suitcase. A girl had to be prepared for anything, and I would at least tell myself I was prepared. I zipped the suitcase up and wheeled it to the wall next to the front door. Today was boring, but at least I was packed.
Don’t Reply: I was kidding.
Stacey: I’m coming over right now.
I lay back on my bed and stared at the ceiling fan. It went round and round and round, just like my thoughts. A buzz echoed through my apartment and I hurried to answer it. When I looked at the little monitor, I didn’t see Stacey, but Parker dressed in a plain t-shirt and jogging pants.
Without saying a word, I buzzed him up. I rushed to the bathroom to fix my hair and added some light color to my lips. My heart hammered, and I paced in the living room until I heard the knock on my door. I stood there, frozen. The knocks rang out again. I moved to the door and opened it.
Sweat covered his shirt and his hair was wet from running. He looked so damn sexy.
“I’m supposed to stay away from you,” I said.
“Why?”
“Because I can’t do this, Parker. We can’t do this. It’s too much. We work together,” I said.
“I’ll quit. Roxane, I quit.”
“You can’t quit. I need you at work.”
He was standing in the hallway, and I heard the buzz. He glanced at me.
“Come in,” I said, then went to the little screen and saw Stacey standing below. I buzzed her up. Parker was standing in the kitchen with his hands on his hips. He checked his heart rate monitor, and a knock pounded on the door. He looked up at me. I walked to the door and opened it.
“So, about Parker,” she said and stepped inside.
The two of them made eye contact. Stacey’s mouth dropped open when he lifted his eyebrows and smiled at her. She glanced at me, then at him, then back at me.
“Okay. It was good seeing you. I’ve really got to go,” she said, winking.
“Stacey.”
She gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear, “Don’t fuck this up.” Then she was out the door.
Parker laughed as I shut the door behind her and leaned against it.
“Now what were you saying?” Parker asked while walking toward me with cool confidence in every step. I could smell him, a combination of man and sweat. I closed my eyes and tried to refocus on what was happening, but all I could see was Parker.
“I can’t do this,” I said, trying to keep certain about my decision as I opened my eyes.
“You truly believe that?” He took another step forward, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Fuck. I couldn’t be in like. I couldn’t fall in love. My head was saying no, but my heart was screaming “hell yes” with every step he took. I had too many conflicting emotions and too many what if’s streaming through my mind. We were inches apart, and I sucked in a deep breath. I didn’t know what I believed. His mouth was so close to mine, and his warm, sweaty, hard body was too. My breath hitched.
“Parker.” I couldn’t find the courage to speak the words that my head was screaming out. My heart was too busy fighting against them. I couldn’t find the courage to tell him to leave, or that I didn’t want this to go any further.
“Do you?” he whispered.
“I don’t know.” My voice was meek.
He took a step back and searched my face. “Tell me to walk out this door.”
My heart sped up.
“Rox, tell me to leave.”
I couldn’t.
Leave—it was just one simple word, one command that would stop all of this. But as we stood there, our faces inches apart, I couldn’t.
“You told me you couldn’t do this. Prove it to me.”
His li
ps swept across mine, only leaving the ghost of a kiss behind. He was proving how much control he held over me, and while a part of me hated it, the other half was begging for it, begging for Parker. I had no voice. I was nothing. Parker was everything.
Before I could even utter a word, Parker’s mouth was devouring mine, one kiss at a time. Our emotions were like the sea being drawn by the gravity of the moon. We couldn’t stop what had been started. Neither of us was in control of this, and together we spiraled into oblivion. Already, whatever this was seemed bigger than us.
He placed the palm of his hand against the door, bracing himself, as our emotions twisted and tied together. It wasn’t supposed to be this easy. It wasn’t supposed to feel so right.
When he pulled away, a sweet little smile crossed his lips. “Last night, I realized how you treat men when you’re done with them. Tell me right now if you want this to stop, if you want me to stop. I don’t want you throwing my flowers away. I don’t know where this is going but—”
I placed my finger over his lips. I didn’t want him to finish. I didn’t want to hear what he was going to say. His nose brushed against my neck, causing tingles to travel across my skin.
“Parker, what are we doing?”
He pushed away from me so he could stare deep into my eyes, but continued to rest his hand on the door.
“Taking a chance,” he whispered.
I swallowed and ran my fingers through my hair. I would let logic win this battle, and I told my heart to shut the eff up.
“What if this doesn’t work out between us? Then what? What if my father finds out that I’m-I’m … I don’t know what we are doing, but what if he finds out?”
“Let’s take whatever this is one day at a time. I don’t want to worry about the future. I don’t want to worry about the what-ifs, could-bes, or might have beens. I want to focus on the right now with you.”
His words seemed to suck the oxygen from the room.
I slowly breathed in his scent, his skin, him.
“So this will be our secret?” I leaned forward and swept my lips gently across his.