Obviously, Parker’s brain worked differently than mine because all that had been going through my head had been Oh shit oh shit oh shit!
“And?” I prompted when he didn’t continue. “If you regret not giving me a raise, we can fix that first thing tomorrow.”
He didn’t crack a smile at my feeble attempt at a joke.
“All I could think about was you,” he said. “And how much I regretted turning you down.”
I stared at Parker, wondering if the pain in my shoulder and the events of tonight had coalesced to make me hallucinate. But he still stared intently at me, as though waiting for my response.
My response was … I got royally pissed.
“I’ve had it,” I retorted. “You’ve got to stop saying these things, doing these things.” I poked him hard in the chest. “You had your chance and you. Said. No. You don’t get to just change your mind now. It doesn’t work like that.”
“Then you tell me how it works,” he said.
“I don’t know, but not like that.” I spun away, opening a drawer in the lone nightstand and shoving all the stuff in my arms inside. My cotton pajama pants were peeking out of the suitcase and I yanked them out along with the matching shirt.
“Besides,” I continued, “how do I know you’re not doing exactly what you’re accusing Ryker of? How do I know that I’m not some pawn between the two of you, a prize going to the ‘winner’?” I used quote-y fingers for winner.
“You know I’d never use you like that,” he said.
“Do I? Because it seems to me that you never looked at me twice until I started dating Ryker, and now you’ve decided we should be something more. Well, forget it, Parker. I don’t need that. Ryker and I may not work out, but for now I’m with him. I care about him. A lot.” I ended my tirade.
God, it hurt to say no to him. I’d wanted him so badly for so long, but I couldn’t get the suspicion out of my mind that he was like a child with a toy—a toy that was only desirable if someone else wanted it. And in case the analogy wasn’t obvious, I was the toy.
Parker walked to where I stood, getting so close I could feel the heat from his body. Looking up at him, my mouth was suddenly dry.
“You care about me, too,” he said, his voice a low thrum of sound that went straight through me. “And you forgot these. My favorite.”
He dangled a scrap of lace in front of me and I wanted to drop through the floor in sheer embarrassment. A black lace thong that was meant to be worn for a very short period of time.
Snatching it from him, I scooted past him into the bathroom, where I took a shower. I took my time and finally emerged with wet hair and clad in my pajama pants and T-shirt. I’d hoped Parker would have gone and Ryker returned, but when I tiptoed into the living room, it was to see Parker sitting on the sofa. His arm was dangling and he was absently scratching McClane’s belly, who looked like he’d died and gone to doggy heaven.
Though I thought I’d been silent, Parker turned around, spotting me before I could tiptoe away again.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, getting to his feet.
I was self-conscious. My wet hair and scrubbed-clean face left me feeling as though I’d forgotten to put on my armor.
“Fine,” I said. “Just, uh, going to bed. It’s been a long day.” A massive understatement. “And I’m really tired.”
“Do you need anything?”
I shook my head. “No. You don’t have to stay, you know,” I reiterated. “I’ll be fine with McClane.”
Parker ignored me. Putting his arm around my waist, he turned me around and guided me into the bedroom. I was taken aback to see he’d straightened the sheets and turned down the bed.
“I didn’t know you provided turndown service,” I joked as I crawled underneath the covers.
“I’m full of hidden talents,” he quipped, tucking the blankets around me.
Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to my forehead that was achingly sweet. I took a deep breath, inhaling the faint aroma of his cologne that still lingered on his skin. Then he was stepping away and shutting off the light.
“Parker,” I called just as he was about to close the door.
“Yes?”
“Thanks for the self-defense lessons … and the dance.” It had been the best part of what had ended up being a truly memorable day, though not for reasons I wanted to dwell on. Both because I didn’t want to think about what a close call we’d all had … or at how my susceptibility to Parker had guilt eating at me.
“It was my pleasure,” he said. Then he was gone.
CHAPTER TWELVE
My phone’s alarm woke me in the morning and it took me a minute to remember where I was. I glanced to the side and saw Ryker, asleep.