“Parker.” Vanessa’s voice carries through the apartment. My eyes move until they land on hers, clad in an oversized hoodie with Columbia University in faded letters. It looks like it was once hers when she was in college. Her legs are devoid of any clothing, and I have to get ahold of myself at the thought of her possibly not wearing anything beneath the sweatshirt.
“I have your medicine. Don’t worry, I asked the pharmacist what you should take. The sore throat is throwing me for a loop. Maybe we should go to one of those minute clinics or a walk-in clinic?”
“Thank you. You’re doing so much for me, too much, really. Please, you can head home. I really don’t want you to get sick, and a clinic isn’t necessary. It’s probably a virus, which means it has to run its course.” She’s got her hands covered by the cuffs of her sleeves, which makes her look younger than the thirty-two years I know Vanessa is. Yeah, I did my fucking homework once I got home from my time with Ezra.
“I don’t get sick,” I tell her again. Maybe she forgot me telling her on the phone and needs to be reminded. The pills are on the counter. I pick them up and tear through the foil until the pills pop loose, grab a glass from the cabinet, press the glass to the ice dispenser until there’s enough in it since the soda hasn’t had enough time to cool in her fridge, and then pour her a glass. “When I say I don’t get sick, it’s been well over twenty years since I’ve had so much as a cough.” I make my way towards her, holding out the pills until she gives me the palm of her hand to drop them in.
“There’s a time for everything. It’s been years since I have been, too. So, I guess it was time. Which sucks because we’re already short on nurses at work, and I’m not helping.” As soon as she tips her head back, placing the pills at the back of her throat, Nessa reaches for the glass, and yet again, my mind is in the goddamn gutter.
“I’ll take my chances. Now, ass on the couch. I’ll make your bed once you tell me where the spare sheets are.” Vanessa Taylor does what I least expect. She rolls her eyes and spins on her heel, ass shaking as she walks towards the couch, and fuck me, she’s got nothing on beneath the hoodie.
“Bathroom closet. I’ll never be able to repay you, and you won’t leave, but I’m too tired and hurt too much to argue.” She sits down on the couch, lifting her legs up on the coffee table, grabs a blanket, and slowly sips on her drink.
“Good, and I’m not doing this for repayment.” I don’t tell her the real reason, of how she makes me feel for the first time in too many years to count.
TWELVE
Nessa
This stubborn man,he’s bound and determined to get this stupid virus. Then he’ll have the man cold. We all know what that means. He’ll be on a war path or bemoan day in and day out how it’s the worst cold ever. I may not have had a boyfriend for a while, given I took a hiatus after the last one’s life goal was to live in his parents’ house until they died and have a place to live without paying any bills, let alone have a permanent job he could hold down for more than three months. That’s a subject I prefer not to touch on, especially because there’s a certain man who has his body wrapped around mine, leg wedged between mine, my back to his front, Parker’s warm hand on my lower stomach. The man cold I remember is definitely from my father. It could be the smallest little thing, and he’d complain for days on end. Meanwhile, Mom would have the same side effects, acting like nothing was wrong.
“Are you feeling any better?” Parker asks behind me. I don’t even know when he got in bed with me. The last thing I remember is falling asleep on the couch after he was adamant I drank more of the lemon lime soda and ate a bowl of soup, focusing on the broth to keep me hydrated. I was dead to the world, which means my mouth was more than likely open since my nose is clogged one minute and draining the next. Parker is definitely not seeing the good side of me this weekend.
“I think so. Time will tell. At least I’m not working today or tomorrow.” I’d sent a quick text to my lead nurse, and she said to play it by ear. “I can rest, do laundry, and maybe get my appetite back.” I move slowly until I’m on my back, unsure how to navigate this. The man did give me mixed signals. Doing a complete turnaround within twelve hours has me hesitating what comes next.
“Good. The laundry is done, the bedding at least; not sure what else you have to do.” Parker goes up on an elbow, his beautiful face hovering above mine. His five-o’clock shadow is in full effect, making him look even more gorgeous. He’s lucky, waking up without looking like a disheveled mess.
“Parker.” I close my eyes for a moment to gather my thoughts.
“Stop whatever you’re thinking and whatever you’re about to say. I’m here because I want to be here. I’m going to get up, grab a quick shower, and work from here today. If you’re fever free today, I’ll go back to work at the office.” There’s no room for compromise, not with how he has everything lined up. It’s succinct and to the point. If this is how he handles problems in the office, solving them with a few words, it’s no wonder he’s a billionaire, and at such a young age.
“Fine. Thank you for taking care of me. I’m truly grateful. I will ask that if there’s some way in the future when I’m not sick, think of a way for me to repay you, and please allow me to help.” His hand sweeps the hair off my forehead. The soft intimate moment makes my insides quake, which isn’t necessarily a good thing or a bad thing. When I got out of the shower, all I could think about was getting Parker to leave. The clothes I chose to wear weren’t what I’d keep on if I knew he’d be staying the remainder of the night. An old hoodie, no bra, a pair of boxer shorts, and socks.
“That we can agree on. How about toast this morning? Your body has to be begging for real food.” When his lips go to my forehead, I figure he’s trying to feel if my fever is officially gone. He lingers, though. I feel the plushness of his mouth, wishing I could finally feel them against my own. “The way your body was shivering on the couch, there was no way I was moving you in here by yourself, not when adding blankets still didn’t help. Your body has to be depleted of the soup and drinks you had. If the toast helps, I’ll order lunch in.” He pulls back, methodical to the bone, a complete type-A where I’m definitely a type-B. This could get interesting.
“Coffee sounds amazing, to be honest. Not sure how smart that would be on an empty stomach. So, yes, toast and hot tea would most definitely work.” I start to sit up. Parker’s hand hasn’t left my lower abdomen the entire time. His eyes move from mine. I take a deep breath squeeze my legs together. He has an effect on me. One that takes ahold of me, consuming me from the outside in, and I know if I weren’t sick, Parker Hudson would easily consume me, body and soul.
“Christ, one touch, that’s all it takes, and you light on fire for me.” The once heavy presence of his hand leaves an emptiness in its wake. A small mewl leaves my lips, telling him without saying the actual words how he makes me feel. “Soon, Nessa, soon. We have to get you feeling better. I’ll take you on that date. Truth be told, regardless of the auction, nothing would have stopped me from pursuing you, not one fucking thing.” Wow. I’m stunned stone-cold silent, unsure of how to respond and left wondering if Parker even wants one. Instead, I watch as he unfolds from my bed, noticing his clothes are a wrinkled mess from sleep. That isn’t what captures my attention the most. Nope, that would be the tenting of his pants. Maybe he doesn’t understand a woman’s obsession with a man in gray sweats. But let me tell you, it is fan-yourself hot. Add the fact that he’s not doing a single freaking thing to conceal the fact he’s long, lengthy, girthy, and I am never going to recover.
THIRTEEN
Parker
True to my word,I worked on the couch the entire day yesterday. My assistant brought my laptop and a change of clothes, along with lunch. Nessa sat on the couch beside me and turned on the television, some reality show that had me glancing up from my work to the nonsense she had on, which entertaining at best, without a storyline to be seen. That didn’t stop her from settling down in her corner of the couch, opposite of where I was sitting, and curling her legs beneath her body. When she started to dose off, I moved things around, took a break from work, placed her legs on my lap, massaging her legs and calves until she drifted off. Only then did I finish my work, allowing Nessa to rest peacefully, knowing if her fever didn’t return, there was no way to weasel my way into staying another night. Plus, I did need to get home, make an appearance in the office, and check in with Ezra, Theo, and Boston instead of texting them in our group message.
What I didn’t expect was to wake up this morning, freezing to the bone and feeling awful. I sent a quick text to Ezra to let him know I’ll be out for the next couple of days. His response said he hoped it was worth it. Fucker. I’m not bothering giving him the satisfaction of a response.
“Hey, Mom.” She answers right away. Calling her was the right thing to do. If not, she would have to hear the news from Ezra, get upset, and yell at me through the phone.
“Hey, honey, what are you up to today? Back with Vanessa?” Her voice is always cheery, no matter if it’s six o’clock in the morning or now, closer to eight. A morning person through and through, unlike myself, who doesn’t converse unless absolutely necessary unless it’s via email.
“Nope, it’s my turn to have whatever Vanessa had. I figured I’d call you before Ezra did. I’ll be home for the next couple of days.” One, two, three, and there she goes.
“Oh, Parker, you haven’t been sick in so long. Take care of yourself. Better yet, why don’t I take the day off work, travel down, and stay for a few days just in case you get worse?” I take a deep breath, loving that she’s offering to drop everything to come down here, and while I love having her here, I really don’t want my mother to get sick.
“Mom, don’t. Then you’ll get sick and miss more work. The daycare needs you.” She lives for taking care of children. I firmly believe had she not been saddled with my father, things would have been different, starting with having as many children as she possibly could.
“Parker Matthew Hudson, are you trying to keep me away from my son, a son I birthed?” Mom is laying it on thick, and if I don’t shut this down, she’ll call Ezra, and he’ll have her at his house so she can keep an eye on me through a window if need be.