"Parker?" A smile came across her face. "Oh myGod!"
She stood up and wrapped her arms around me, pressing her body into mine. She still smelled like coconut. Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her in tighter and inhaled. It felt good to have her in my arms again, and I prayed she couldn't feel the hard ridge in mypants.
"I'm just going to grab a quick coffee. Have a seat," I said, guiding Tatum to sit backdown.
I had spent five minutes in line listening to some woman ream out the barista because she had gotten her order wrong when I finally got my coffee. I walked back to the table and sat down across from her. "How have you been,Tatum?"
She looked exhausted and pale, and her eyes were bloodshot and lined with darkcircles.
"I've been okay, Parker. What aboutyou?"
I loved the way my name rolled off her tongue, and I would especially love to hear her scream my name. I had to stop thinking of her like this now. I shifted in my seat, the throbbing between my legs gettingworse.
"Doing well. Elliott must have told you I am his partner now. I trained him when he started on this unit. Sure is a small world isn't it?" I looked up at her. She was looking down at the screen on her cell phone, completely ignoring what I had just said. The little color she had was now completely drained from her face. "Tatum? Is somethingwrong?"
"Hmmm...?"
"Is something wrong?" I raised my voice alittle.
"It's nothing." She gave me a funny look, as if she was hiding something. Putting her cell into her purse, she said, "What do you say we getgoing?"
"What's the hurry? Relax, drink yourcoffee."
I watched as she looked through the crowd anxiously, fidgeting with her coffee cup. At one point, I thought I caught a glimpse of fear in hereyes.
"Tatum, are you sure everything is okay?" I didn't want to pry, but Elliott had been right, she was acting very strange, as if she was afraid of something. I hadn't seen her in years, and even I couldtell.
She leaped up out of her seat and disposed of her coffee. Grabbing her bag and purse, she started heading toward the closestexit.
I frowned. She had no idea where I had evenparked.
I grabbed my coffee and called after her, but she didn't stop. When she finally slowed her pace, I ran up beside her and grabbed hold of her upper arm. I saw her flinch at my touch, and I pulled my hand away. "Is everything all right? Did I hurtyou?"
"No, you didn't hurt me. I'mfine."
"What on earth has you moving so quickly? You don't even know where I'm parked." She was avoiding my eyes which made me feel uneasy. She was definitely running fromsomething.
When she finally met my eyes, she looked as if she could cry. "It's nothing, Parker. Just tired and emotional I guess. It's been a long few weeks. Guess everything is finally catching up with me. I'm just glad to finally behere."
I watched her expressions. She wasn't telling me the truth either. Elliott was right. Whatever had happened was pretty bad, but I had to shrug it off. After all, I hadn't seen her in years. I didn't expect her to tell meanything.
"Okay then, let’s head to your newplace."
Taking her bag from her, we turned in the direction of the parking garage. Once we reached my truck, I helped her up into the front seat and loaded her bag into the back seat. It wasn't long before we were on the road heading to the address that Elliott had givenme.
Once we left the airportparking lot and pulled out onto the highway, I finally started to relax. I kept stealing quick glances of Parker. His dark hair used to be long and always pulled up into a man bun, but was now cut pretty tight. His strong jaw line was more prominent with the beard he now wore, and his blue shirt enhanced his blue eyes. I watched as his strong hands gripped the steering wheel and his forearms flexed. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have those hands on me. I clenched my thighs, trying to calm my throbbing center. Needing air, I reached over and rolled the window down. He had always been attractive, but time had turned him into aman.
"Did you want me to put the air on,Tatum?"
"No, I'm okay, thanks. I wanted some freshair."
Giving a small, sexy smile, he turned his gaze back to the road. I wasn't sure how much longer I could be in this truck with him. I felt as if I was going toexplode.
After what felt like hours, we finally pulled up in front of my new home. I saw my car parked in the driveway in front of Elliott's truck. The house was a small, blue bungalow right on the bay. I was already inlove.
"He picked a good area for you, Tatum. There is a very low crime rate here. Also, you’re not too far from Elliott…or me for that matter," Parker said, putting the truck inpark.
I stepped out of the truck just as the front door to my new home opened. Elliott came strolling down the front walkway still dressed in his uniform. I ran to give him ahug.