Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Parker didn’t want the evening to end. Lots of times on dinner dates she nearly cracked her jaw suppressing yawns and had to stop herself from checking the time constantly.
Not now.
The evening flew by, easy and fun and exciting. Nick was really easy to talk to. So easy she never felt the time passing. Everything seemed to be enhanced—the food amazing, the wine exquisite, the gentle breeze off the sea a warm caress on her skin.
And the biggie, of course. Sexual attraction. Wild sexual attraction, by the time the evening was over. Every time Nick touched her, heat bloomed under her skin. She was probably stoplight red, though maybe that could be attributed to the wine and the spicy food.
She knew better. This wasn’t the wine, it was the man.
This particular man. Tall, with immensely broad shoulders, heavily muscled, harsh features and on top of all that…
interesting. He didn’t in any way try to impress her.
He didn’t have to. He was impressive all on his own, by his very nature.
He exuded power, but wasn’t trying to overwhelm her in any way.
Instead, he was super attentive and seemed to want to hear what she had to say.
Parker talked more to him about her projects that she had to any other human being, including her agent. Her agent was interested in the final product, so he could sell it. Nick really seemed interested in the process, too.
But the waiters standing around had a slightly impatient expression and they were the last clients on the terrace.
She turned to Nick. “I think it’s time to go.”
“Pity,” he said.
Yeah. It was a pity. She nodded.
Nick got up and pulled out her chair as she stood up. Another really attractive trait.
Old fashioned manners, really odd in such a rough man.
But that mother he claimed he was terrified of must have taught him well because he did things that men didn’t do anymore.
Stand up when she entered a room. Pull out her chair when she sat and when she got up.
Listening to her. Refusing to even contemplate allowing her to pay.
Granted, that last point was also a little annoying because she wanted to invite him out as thanks for keeping her company while she worked. But no.
He wouldn’t let her pay.
It wasn’t a question of him having more money, though he did. But she wasn’t hurting, either. It was just that he’d looked genuinely distressed at the thought of her paying.
Nick cocked his arm, and she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow. Again, that electric feeling as she touched steely muscles. He smiled down at her and took her hand, tucking it more firmly against him.
“One last look?” he asked quietly.
She nodded and they went to the edge of the huge terrace and leaned against the waist-high balcony, looking out over the Bay. Such beauty, such magic.
The lights of the city twinkled like scattered diamonds, tracing the winding streets and ancient buildings. Far below, the Bay of Naples stretched out like a great dark mirror,
The air was cool and carried the faint scent of saltwater mixed with the distant aroma of jasmine and citrus from the gardens below.
Nick sighed. “So beautiful.”
It was. And it was the first time Parker had had a chance to share this beauty with someone who appreciated it. She’d been on a few dates with Neapolitan men who took it completely for granted.
The waiters were putting chairs on the tables, sweeping up. Parker glanced at Nick. “Our cue to leave.”
They crossed the terrace arm in arm, and it wasn’t until they were back on the street that Parker realized something. “Um, Nick?”
He turned to her, smiling. “Yeah?”
“We didn’t—um, you didn’t, you know…pay.”
He patted her hand. “Don’t worry. It’s taken care of.”
Oh. More magic. Did she want to know?
No. She didn’t want to know.
Had he waved an enchanted wand? Somehow paid telepathically? Who knew? Who cared? If there was ever an evening for magic payments, pulling money right out of the air, it was tonight.
They started holding hands, quite naturally.
Parker couldn’t remember the last time she’d held hands with a man.
With anyone, really. The last time she could remember holding hands with someone was crossing a busy street with a teacher when she was a child.
It was incredibly intimate, and you had to move as a unit, not as two separate beings.
His hand was warm, large, as hard as wood.
She got used to walking beside him, holding hands, very quickly. Like the most natural thing in the world. The air was soft and smelled of linden trees and jasmine and car exhaust, not unpleasant. The full moon had risen high in the sky, casting an unearthly silver glow over the streetscape.
She’d forgotten where they’d parked but he hadn’t. Way too soon, they were at his car. He lifted her up, rounded the vehicle and slid behind the wheel.
He turned his head to look at her. “Home?”
Parker nearly sighed with longing. It had been a spectacular evening, and she didn’t want it to end.
The temptation was so strong to prolong the evening.
She knew a jazz club near Spaccanapoli that was fabulous.
Incredible music and excellent drinks. Or they could take a drive, it was a beautiful evening.
But…she was an adult and had to work the next day.
He’d volunteered to come along, too. Tomorrow would be a long, hot day out in the middle of nowhere and she should be rested up.
She didn’t want to say it, but she did. “Home.”
He said nothing, just put the vehicle in gear.
You could barely hear the engine, and all the outside noises were screened out.
It was like being in a bubble. In a bubble with someone else, someone absolutely fascinating.
She couldn’t remember when she’d been so attracted to a man.
Every sense on alert, excitement skittering under her skin.
Because of course the big question was—should she invite him in?
She’d like nothing more. The whole evening had been a huge turn-on.
Her heart beat so fast, she couldn’t seem to pull in enough air.
Her breasts felt heavy. So very weird because she wasn’t usually aware of her own breasts as separate entities.
But there they were—on her chest, feeling bigger, nipples definitely aroused.
And between her legs…well. Heat radiated from her sex, and she had to stop herself from fidgeting and crossing her legs.
Sex would definitely make her feel better.
This wasn’t like her at all. She was incredibly picky, and she had to remind herself that every sex partner she’d ever had had turned out to be a disappointment. Too fast, too slow, too crass, too timid. Not enough, too much.
What to do?
Nick didn’t need any instructions and was driving them straight to her place. It had taken her a week to memorize the route. They would be there in a minute or two.
Maybe she could invite him in and keep it casual, just to have more time in his company. She had a nice collection of home-made liqueurs, though he’d been pretty careful about alcohol consumption since he was driving.
Maybe ask him if he wanted an herbal tea? Parker often finished a meal with an herbal tea. Ginger, chamomile, fennel, peppermint, turmeric. Would he want one? He actually didn’t look like an herbal tea kind of guy, but maybe out of politeness he’d accept a cup. Maybe not chamomile, maybe ginger?
Did she still have fresh ginger? She seemed to remember she’d run out and hadn’t bought any. Maybe peppermint? She had several peppermint plants out on her little terrace, so…
The car stopped. “We’re here,” Nick said, and all those febrile thoughts bouncing like ping pong balls around Parker’s brain stopped too, and her head was now filled with blank space. Nothing going on upstairs at all.
Utter silence in the car. She drew in a breath to speak, but had no idea what she wanted to say.
“Do you want to—”
“Yes,” he said. “I do.”
Parker blinked. “You do? You do what? I haven’t even said anything.”
His face turned to her, and he looked utterly serious. “Whatever it is you were about to say, the answer is yes. Would I like to—fill in the blank. Whatever the blank is, the answer is yes.”
“Wow.” She smiled. “That could be dangerous. What if I asked you to…I don’t know. Swim across the Bay?”
“How far across is it?”
“Hmm. About ten miles, I think.”
He thought for a moment. “Ten miles. Yeah, I’ve done that in training. It would be really tiring, and I wouldn’t be laughing at the end, but I could do it in about three hours.” His nose wrinkled. “Though I’m not sure how clean that water is.”
“Not very. I wouldn’t recommend it. Actually, what I was about to ask you was—would you like to come up for an herbal tea to finish the evening? I have chamomile, fennel…”
But he was already getting out of the vehicle and moving to her door.
She watched him as a deep thrumming began in her chest. She felt almost as if she were choking, only it didn’t hurt. As he was rounding the vehicle, his eyes met hers through the windshield and it was like a punch to the stomach.
Then he was at her door, big hands up. She leaned down, placing her hands on those broad shoulders, letting herself fall forward, knowing he’d catch her.
He caught her.
She slid down his body, every nerve sensitized.
Everything was in overload, and she couldn’t speak.
There was no breath in her body to speak.
They walked up the little walkway in silence, Parker feeling excited and wary and everything in between.
To her astonishment, when they got to the big wrought iron and glass front door, she couldn’t fit the key to the lock. She couldn’t even feel her hands.