“Ahem, Mister Hudson. We’ve arrived at our destination.” We’re interrupted by the driver, probably for the better, too. I’m not sure I would have stopped, unless Vanessa wasn’t game that is.
“Thank you. I’m going to walk Miss Taylor up. I’ll call you when I’m making my way back.” Unnecessary parking tickets billed to the company is not a discussion I’d like to have brought up during our next meeting.
“Will do.” I open the door and slide out, hand at the ready for Vanessa’s. I want to soak up the last of her presence for as long as I can, not knowing which of the fifty some odd stories she lives on.
“You don’t have to walk me up. There’s an attendant,” she tells. As soon as I have her next to me, my hand is going to her lower back.
“Then I’ll walk you inside. Hold on a moment, please.” Our car is still idling at the curb. I open the door once again. “I won’t be long after all.” I’m sure the driver can hear the annoyance in my tone that plans have changed.
“Of course, Mister Hudson,” he replies, ever the professional. I back out of the car, take my place beside Nessa, hand going to her lower back once again, and guide her to the apartment lobby all the while trying to figure out a way to stretch this night out further.
SIX
Nessa
I’m notsure how I should feel, if this is appropriate or if it’s not. Needless to say, I’m out of my element completely. Which makes no sense. I’m used to being around wealthy individuals. The only difference between others and Parker is that he makes me feel something no one else ever has. No, I’m not a thirty-two-year-old virgin. That doesn’t mean I give my body away freely. The handful of boyfriends I’ve had in the past meant something to me. Did they ever make a spark of energy flow through my nervous system like the man beside me? Absolutely not. The tingle running through me right now with only his hand on my lower back is telling me Parker Hudson is unlike anyone I’ve ever known before.
“Thank you again for the ride.” I guess small talk would be a good idea right about now, as he opens the door.
“You’re welcome.” His tone is deep and rich. As I lose the heat from the palm of Parker’s hand that was on my lower back, I’m aware that his presence seems to loom over me in a protective way.
“Well—”
“I’ll be—” we talk at the same time.
“Go ahead.” I nod. Parker’s hand reaches up. My eyes watch his movement the entire time. Hope blossoms inside me. Is he going to kiss me? Is he going to tell me he can’t wait for our date that he paid for? Or maybe he’ll demand that he sees me to my door. Which probably isn’t something a woman should hope for. We may move in the same circles, but until I know exactly who Parker Hudson is, I shouldn’t hope that he pushes this further. Yet.
“I’ll be reaching out when the charity releases your number. Are you sure you’ll be okay getting to your door safely?” His fingers move the hair that’s fallen over the side of my eye. Parker’s hand doesn’t leave my hair. Instead, the long, thick fingers push through until they’re on my shoulder and his thumb casts along my collarbone. A place that shouldn’t feel erogenous. It shouldn’t make my body tremble, my knees quake, or my core tighten. And I’m sure Parker can sense exactly what he’s doing to me. He'd be oblivious not to see it; this dress doesn’t conceal a whole lot, a downfall I should have seen from a mile away after meeting him earlier tonight as well as when I tried it on. The formfitting fabric meant that while it had a built-in bra, it wasn’t padded, and panties were a no-go after trying on the plethora of panties I own. Thongs were also a no, even seamless totally did not work. Nothing did. It meant going bare. Thankfully, I didn’t spend every moment with Parker this evening. If that were the case, this dress that costs a fortune would be toast.
“I’m sure. There’s a passcode you have to enter for each tenant,” I assure him. “If you have your phone handy, we can bypass the wait. I’ll give you my phone number now. Essentially, it’s up to the winner and date to set up a time. The funds were verified when I left tonight. Not that I expected there to be a problem.” I’m holding my breath at the end. Probably didn’t need to bring up the money. It can be a touchy subject with some, and judging by the expression Parker is giving me, it is to him as well. “Or we can wait. It’s completely up to you.” I give him the out as well as I hold my breath, watching as his body relaxes a little bit with each passing moment.
“We can do that.” Parker takes his phone out of his suit jacket, one that fits him like a glove. It’s clearly tailored made and accentuates his body in all the right ways. I watch as the phone recognizes his face and it unlocks before he hands it to me without checking it for a missing text or call that is more important. Never in my life has that happened before. My last boyfriend would never willingly hand over his phone without checking it first. There’s one reason out of a million he’s now an ex. I quickly go to his phone log, type in my number, hitCall,then hang up, adding my name to the number while simultaneously having his now as well.
“There you go.” I hand his phone back. He gives me a smile, one that’s more of a grin. There was no way to hide what I was doing. Sue me. I’m a woman who doesn’t answer a phone number that’s not saved in my phone, essentially doing us both a favor.
“I’ll be calling you soon, Nessa. Until then.” He dips his head again. This time I know, down to the marrow of my bones, his lips are going to press against mine. I tip my head towards his, but Parker does the complete opposite of what I’m expecting—his lips touch the side of my mouth, there and gone in a matter of moments, leaving me in a stupor. I’m rooted to the spot, wondering if he really just did that, probably aware that I was making myself look like an idiot, feeling things I shouldn’t all along.
“Fuck you, Parker Hudson,” I say to his retreating back in a whisper-soft tone. Two can play whatever game he’s after. I’m not an idiot. He felt it. There was a hunger in his eyes, a grumble in his voice when we first met, and maybe this is an issue of his own he should work through. Well, too bad for him. He can take his hot-and-cold attitude and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. I turn around and head for the elevator, wishing like hell all I had to do was mash the button to get the door to open instead of having to be patient. Putting in a code and waiting is the last thing you want to do when you’re ready to be alone with your thoughts. I’m not that lucky, though. I type in my code, stand, and wait until the elevator dings, doing my best not to turn around, refusing to give Parker any kind of reaction. Two can play this game.
SEVEN
Parker
“I fucked up.”Ezra and I are in the ring at the gym we prefer. Both of us in our gloves, shorts, and nothing else. An outlet we found early on in our lives, me to protect myself against my father, the man who had no problem raising his fist to my mother. It’s why I was taking my anger out on anyone who dared cross my path, Ezra included. Which is how we became friends, both of us a product of our childhood. His because of his mother preferring drugs over taking care of her eight-year-old son. My mom did the best she could, shielding not only myself but also Ezra if he was around when dear old dad made an abrupt appearance from one of his three-day benders. Whereas Ezra was always the optimistic one, I was jaded to the core. I saw the way cops wouldn’t help my mother out when they were called by our neighbors. The look of pity. It didn’t matter that she took out restraining orders. By the time help would come, he was long gone. A repeated cycle that happened entirely too long for my liking. Ezra and I were fourteen years old the last time my old man showed up. We grew up, we worked out, and because we were little assholes, the fights happened more and more, allowing us to home in on our plan, and it worked. That night, I might have gotten my ass beaten, bones broken, and skin bruised while Ezra held my mom back so Dad wouldn’t hurt her while simultaneously calling the cops. This time, with a child involved, things escalated. Instead of him running off right before law enforcement arrived, he was so deep into beating me down that he didn’t hear them coming. It was worth it, all the pain, the recovery, to see my mom shed that layer of her life. She took Ezra in. No more foster homes or a boys’ home that Ezra was threatened with time and again whenever he got into trouble. It was during those years we formed a plan, one that wouldn’t have my mom working two jobs to make ends meet, Ezra wanting to give back for all she did for him.
“Care to elaborate?” he asks as I dodge a hit he was aiming at my head, thankful we aren’t as stupid as we once were and use the protective gear the gym provides for us.
“I took Nessa Taylor home last night.” It’s my fist to his stomach now, catching him unaware, and he stumbles back a step or two. I watch as my best friend’s face takes on a look of disbelief. “Don’t look at me like that. You of all people know me better than that.”
“Are you telling me you didn’t fuck her? I want the words spelled out, not that you took her home and leave everything up in the air.” I’d be annoyed if it were anyone else questioning where I did or didn’t put my dick.
“I didn’t fuck her. I didn’t so much as kiss her.” A point that pissed Vanessa off, as well as my dick. The fucker wouldn’t go down, no matter how many times I took matters into my own hand, from the shower I took last night, painting the marble wall with cum. It didn’t help. When I woke up this morning, the first thing my mind picked up was the way she could fill out a dress, owning the room up on stage, and how she had no problem giving me the knowledge that she wanted more when I dropped her off. It was hard to deny her, that’s for damn sure.
“I don’t see the problem here.” We’ve only just begun, and Ezra stands back, chest heaving, hands on his hips, annoyance written all over his face.
“She wanted more. I left her with a chaste kiss and exchanged numbers. I’m pretty sure there will be only the one date, which I paid for. It’s not boding well at all in my favor.” Vanessa doesn’t know that I made it to the door before I looked over my shoulder, waiting until she disappeared in the elevator. Not so much as her giving me a final look. Her back was what she showed me, all the proof I needed to know she wasn’t thrilled with me being a gentleman.
Ezra doesn’t say anything. He’s mulling things over, his eyebrows arched, pulling his thoughts together, analyzing me and the situation to death like any good friend will do. “I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. Word on the street is Taylor will be looking to sell his business or merge with another. It would be wise not to fuck it up. I was going to bring it up at our next meeting once Theo and Boston are back in town. His app building skill along with our e-commerce site, it would be smart to tap into his side of things and vice versa. Of course, that’s merely from a business standpoint. The friend side of this equation is going to make you aware that not everyone isher.” Anger surges inside of me. Ezra must see that it’s taking root, too, since he readies his stance.