Parker’s [POV]
Bad timing. This is what goes through my mind the entire day as I listen to Gordon and the rest of the team from N. P. T. Enterprises drag on and on. As far as negotiations go, I can already tell this is going to be the dodgiest deal I’ll ever make. Partly because Blakesley Enterprises in itself is a bad deal, no matter how much I try to convince them of the opposite. And partly because my mind is somewhere else. I should be somewhere else, period.
The discussions are taking place in my office, and behind Gordon, I have a direct view of the shelf where her damn folder is. I can’t believe I said the words gold digger last night. I’m surprised she didn’t punch me. I would’ve punched me. I didn’t want to follow or call her last night because we were both angry and angry discussions never led to anything good. I thought I’d better let her calm down. I see now that was a mistake. At the rate this is going, I’ll be stuck with Gordon’s
Team until long after midnight, and tomorrow will be the same story. I can hardly send her a message. What can I say? Sorry I’ve been an arse, talk to you in two days? I can’t get out of the meeting long enough to have a real conversation with her over the phone, either.
“The assets of Blakesley Enterprises are simply not worth that much,” Gordon says.
“You are a smart man, Gordon. You know very well the brand name wipes out the competition.”
“If the company holds out long enough.”
“It will.”
“If you are so convinced, why do you want to sell it so badly?”
I lean back in my chair, forcing a smirk on my face. Desperation is never a good tactic. “I don’t have companies of this type in my portfolio. It’s a much better fit for your portfolio. Or Ogden’s.”
Gordon’s face whitens, which is exactly the reaction I wanted. Hence, why I brought his biggest competitor into the discussion. Not that he made me any offer, but bluffing can go a long way in negotiations. I know this talk won’t be any shorter for it. Damn it, I need to get to Jessica somehow. She’s wild and impulsive, two things I’ve come to love about her. But if she doesn’t hear from me for two days, I can bet the worthless assets of this company she’ll draw some hasty conclusions. I hurt her, and that was the last thing I wanted. I don’t know if I can fix things between us, but I want the chance to explain… before she comes to the same conclusion I did: that I don’t deserve her.
Jessica’s [POV]
No word from Parker. For two long, lousy days. As I stand in front of the mirror on Friday evening, putting on makeup, Dani enters the bathroom wearing one of the few party outfits I brought from California. I’m wearing one, too.
“We both look gorgeous,” I say, and Dani smiles. She quickly accepted the dress I offered, which was take-me-home-with-you length. I can tell we’re on the same page. We need this tonight. Reckless fun. Consequences be damned. We’re both wearing tight, black dresses and almost ridiculously high heels.
“I called a cab. It should be here in ten minutes,” Dani says.
“Perfect.”
After Dani goes out, I put another layer of foundation under my eyes. But there’s not much I can do about the puffiness. Well, there is. Stop crying. I did quite a lot of that last night. Even now, I can feel tears forming behind my eyelids. God damn it. I’ll ruin half an hour of work if I start crying now. The tears gather at the outer corners of my eyes and I wipe them gently with my fingers, making them vanish without doing any damage to my makeup.
My cell phone starts ringing just as I leave the bathroom. It’s Helen. Again. She’s called me plenty of times, but I haven’t picked up. There are two possible scenarios of how our discussion could go, and I don’t like either of them. Either she knows Parker dumped me, and I don’t need a pity party, or she doesn’t know Parker dumped me, and I’m in no mood to update her. I’ll leave the unpleasant task to Parker.
Answer your Goddamn phone, woman, Helen texts me.
I chuckle and decide to call her after all.
“I was ready to call Scotland Yard, you know,” she says. “Why the hell didn’t you answer your phone? Trying to avoid anyone related to Parker?”
So she does know.
“I’m not in the mood for a pity party, Helen,” I warn. “I’m a big girl, I’ve been dumped before.”
“Oh dear, Parker told me you might say that.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He wasn’t trying to send you a breakup message through his silence. Or through me. He’s been stuck in meetings for the last two days. Still is. I don’t think he’ll get away for another two hours.”
I roll my eyes. “I find it hard to believe he couldn’t find a minute to text me.”
“I believe he was under the impression he’d need more than a minute to explain everything.”
My heart begins to beat at lightning-quick speed, hope springing inside of me.
“I suppose so,” I say.
“Where are you now?”
“Um . . . home, but Dani and I are leaving for Soho in about two minutes.”
“Preparing for a wild night out, huh?”
My cheeks warm up. “Well-”
“Perfectly acceptable behavior for someone who thought she’d been dumped.”
“Why didn’t he tell Dani any of this?” I ask.
“I believe she’s been ignoring his calls. Girl solidarity and all that.”
I love this girl.
“So… can you postpone the girl’s night? Parker will get in touch with you as soon as possible, and I think he wants to talk to you.”
I stiffen. “I can’t bail on Dani.”
“I’ll go out with her. Haven’t had a wild night myself in a while.”
“But…” I’m at a loss as to what to say. I am… terrified. Okay, so maybe Parker hadn’t wanted to break up silently, but what if he wanted to meet to break up? I don’t want to face that.
I bite my lip and then make my decision. I’m going to be brave. Whatever happens tonight, I’m going to face it head-on, like an adult. Even if it hurts. Especially if it hurts.
“Okay. I’ll tell Dani that you’re going out with her.”
“Perfect.”
Dani crosses her arms over her chest when I tell her, tapping her foot. “Are you sure this is a good idea? I can stick around and kick Parker’s ass.”
“He’s your cousin,” I remind her.
“So? Girls have to stick together.”
“Go have fun, Dani. I promise I’ll be okay on my own.”
“Fine. But call me if you change your mind.”
Fifteen minutes after she leaves, as I’m pacing through the apartment, I feel a little foolish, and I’m still terrified. When the phone rings, my heart leaps in my throat. Parker is calling.
I ignore the light tremor in my fingers and take the call.
“Jessica, hi! Helen said she spoke with you-”
“She did.”
“Where are you?”
“At my apartment.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“Okay.” I want to ask why exactly he wants to meet… to make up or to break up? But I don’t have the courage, so I just disconnect the call, and pace some more. Cooking. That would help pass the time. I have twenty minutes. Pasta needs less time.
I force myself to focus on the process and not think about Parker, but pasta with tomato sauce is an easy dish. It doesn’t require concentration.
By the time I’m putting the finishing touches, rubbing parmigiana over the plated dish, the doorbell rings.
Here goes nothing.
I hurry to the door, feeling a little nauseous. Be brave, Jess.
When I open the door, I bite the inside of my cheek. Parker looks tired, but just as handsome as ever, wearing a tweed jacket over his suit. He steps inside, sniffing the air as we move from the foyer to the living room.
“You cooked?”
“Yes… I… it relaxes me.”
I’m fidgeting with my fingers, avoiding looking at him.
“Jess, I’m sorry I didn’t call. I’ve been in meetings almost constantly. I got out of the office at two o’clock in the morning yesterday and went back at six o’clock.”
“How… how did it go?”
“Hard to say, but I think they’ll buy.”
“Wow, congratulations.”
“That’s not why I’m here.”
I swallow, then look him straight in the eyes. “Why are you here?”
“Because I was a fool, Jessica. And I’m prepared to do anything to earn your forgiveness.”
I’m so relieved that I might faint. Instead, something equally embarrassing happens. I tear up. I try to hide it, but Parker catches on. He wraps his arms around me, and I hide my face in his neck.
“Sweet girl, what’s wrong?”
I stand like this, in his arms, inhaling his scent. It’s easier to talk this way.
“You hurt me, Parker.”
“I know. I am so sorry.”
“But even though your method sucked, I do have a past, and it could hurt your reputation and your business, and… you could have any other woman, someone who wouldn’t cause you trouble.”
“Jess, you’re the one I want. The only one.” He tightens the hug, but then he pulls back, cupping my face. “I love you. Only you. You’re the one for me.”
I still. “Parker…”
“I love you so much, I can’t even see straight. I have no excuse for hiring someone to look into you. I wasn’t looking for a reason to distrust you, I just… I wanted to know more about you, and that was a convenient tool. I’m sorry. Indeed, I’m generally distrusting of people… or at least I was before you showed up in my life. But you’ve changed me, Jessica. You must know that, right? I know I’m unworthy of you, but I love you.”
“Why…”
My words trail away as I realize why he thinks that. It’s the same reason I was convinced I was unworthy of him the night we fought. Because deep down, both Parker and I think we aren’t worthy of love. At least, that’s what I thought. When I see this man looking at me with such adoration, I feel deserving of it. Somewhere between making me quit smoking and showing me that we can have our little heaven when we want it, Parker has taught me that I deserve love. I can only hope I managed to do the same for him
“Please forgive me,” he murmurs.
I nod, still stuck on his previous words. You’re the one.
“I forgive you. And you do deserve me. Never say you don’t. I love you with all my heart.”
“Lucky I have you to view things in a different light, and make everything seem brighter, don’t I, Jessica?” he asks and the edge in his voice betrays how much he fears I don’t belong to him anymore.
“Yes, you have me, Parker. You do now, and you always will.”
“Good,” he says softly. “Because I have a feeling I’m always going to need that light of yours.” There is a brief pause, and then he adds in a lower voice. “I’m sorry I had someone investigate you. I wanted to tell you, but I was ashamed. And honestly, I knew it would upset you, no matter what.”
He kisses me, and I kiss him back with all I have. I’ve missed him so much. It’s been only two days, but I feel as if it has been much longer. I’d been so afraid that I’d lost him.
He walks me backward, past the couch, into my bedroom. My skimpy dress falls to the floor, followed by my underwear. Parker’s suit doesn’t last much longer. I want to touch, and feel, and lick, and love. I want to love every part of him and feel his love right back. Parker lays me on the bed, and kisses every inch of my body, torturing me. Then he spreads my thighs wide, and feasts on me, licking my clit, pulling it between his lips until I cry out his name. He doesn’t stop after that but nuzzles my clit with the tip of his nose while his tongue dips inside me. When he shifts his position on the bed, I see my chance to pleasure him at the same time. I move on the bed until my face is level with his erection, and I take him in my mouth, going so deep I feel him at the back of my throat. Parker groans, and we look down at each other between our limbs, locking gazes. I bob my head up and down, clamping my lips tight around him.
“Fuck, I need to be inside you. Now.” He pulls out of my mouth, then shifts us again on the bed until he’s on top of me. He captures my mouth with his at the same time he enters her. He moves slowly, making sweet love to me. I can’t stop touching him. His arms, his back. Cupping his buttocks and pushing him even deeper inside me. The rhythm of his lovemaking intensifies until it becomes wild and relentless fucking, and we don’t stop until we both climax.
Parker rocks me in his arms after that, kissing my shoulder and neck.
“You’re delicious, woman. You taste so sweet. That pussy of yours drives me crazy.”
I laugh, feeling happier than I ever have. “Yep. You seemed very fond of it.”
“I’m fond of other parts of you too.” He touches my breasts, feathers his fingers on my collarbone. “I’m fond of every part of you.”
“You have your favorites. Admit it.”
“Never.”
He trails the fingers down to my navel, then even further down. I swat his hand away.
“Hey, not touching me there. I’m sensitive.”
I feel him smile against my shoulder. “Who said I wanted to touch your pussy?”
“So you didn’t?”
“I’ll leave you guessing.”
“Well, I’m going to go out on a limb and say you did. You’re predictable like that.” I kiss one of his biceps, sighing. “I love you so much, Parker.”
“How much?”
“Uh-oh.”
“What?”
“I have a feeling you’re going to ask me something ungodly.”
“Your mind is a fascinating place.”
“And yours isn’t?”
“Not at all.”
“So what were you going to ask?”
“Move in with me.”
I’m still not quite sure I’ve heard him correctly. Parker, who barely lets anyone close, wants me to move with him.
“Move in with me. Make that house your home too. I want you with me there permanently.”
“Wow. I’d love to. Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want to share every part of my life with you. Buy whatever furniture you want in those spare rooms. Make it yours too.”
“Hmmm… whatever furniture I want? That’s a dangerous statement to say.”
“I trust you.”
“You might regret it.” I turn around, straddling him. “I’ve been known to go crazy for furniture.”
“Then go crazy.”
“This is your last chance to change your mind.”
He grins, kissing my nose. “I don’t want to.”
I rub my hands in excitement before lacing my arms around his neck. “You’ve got no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into, mister.”