Chapter 35 Parker
PARKER
“Oh my god, Linc. This is incredible,” I breathe as I walk close to the windows, taking in the most incredible view before me. “How did you manage to do this?”
He moves closer until the heat of his arm burns down mine when he stops beside me.
“Pulled a few favors,” he says, like getting a private viewing on the one-hundred and second floor of the Empire State Building at the last minute is nothing.
“Linc,” I breathe, my eyes darting to all the twinkling lights that are stretched out before us. “Thank you.” The words don’t feel anywhere near enough for what he’s done since dragging me out of our hotel with the promise of the best night of my life.
He’s…he’s really thought of everything.
We’ve only had a few hours, but he’s managed to take me to all the main tourist spots, and I’ve loved every single one of them. And I think I’ve loved it more because I’ve discovered them with him.
He turns to the side, and my face burns with his attention.
Reaching out, he tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear, and it sends an electric current straight through me.
I twist around, my breath catching when my eyes find his. They’re burning with an intensity that makes the ground shake beneath me.
“Anything, Parker,” he muses, his voice raspy and sexy as hell.
Our eye contact holds, the air crackling between us.
“We’ve only got ten minutes,” he reminds me, forcing me to rip my attention from him and to the incredible city before us.
With my hands pressed against the cool glass, I slowly move around the observation deck, making the most of every second.
I think of what I’ve achieved this year, securing my dream job and travelling around the country with some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met.
And then there’s the guy whose stare is still burning into me.
He hasn’t taken his eyes off me, despite the insane view, since the moment I turned around.
It ensures my body continues to burn just as hot as when his fingers brushed my ear.
He’s everything I’ve convinced myself I don’t want.
He’s the same as the other two men of my past who shattered my heart without a single care in the world.
I close my eyes for a beat. Over the years, I’ve done my utmost to keep my distance despite the chemistry that’s always been there.
If I were to allow myself to be swept up by it, I have no doubt that I’d end up even more broken than the last two times.
When Seth went off with someone else, I was crushed. But we were still kids and didn’t know better. I might still be bitter about the betrayal, but I’ve forgiven him.
Then there was my college boyfriend. Another ice hockey player. As much as I try not to have a type, it seems that I might just. Those bad boys who shoot a puck around are my kryptonite.
We were planning our future. He was entering the draft after junior year and I was going to follow him once I graduated. We had it all planned; the only thing we didn’t know was the location. But as long as I had him and hockey, I knew I’d be okay.
But then, he got drafted to his dream team, and he changed his mind. He wanted to go alone and have the full NHL experience.
I was devastated, and from that day on, I swore off all ice hockey players. They can’t be trusted with anything more than a stick and a puck.
But despite knowing that, Linc has always been there.
Sure, he’s got a puck bunny or five in every state to keep him entertained. But he’s…
Fuck.
I don’t know what he is.
He’s just…always been there. Always looking at me like I’m something special. Even when we were kids, he’d always take time to check in on me. When Rett was being a jerk, Linc always tried to make it better.
And now…he’s offered up his home to me. He makes my iced coffee and breakfast. He bought me flowers, for fuck’s sake. And he’s brought me here. With only a few hours' notice, he’s worked his magic and helped me tick off a few items on my bucket list.
I sniffle in an attempt to stop my nose from itching as emotion builds up within me.
“Are you okay?” Linc asks, his heavy footsteps moving closer.
“Yeah, of course,” I lie.
I open my eyes, but the view before me is now blurry with tears.
Tipping my head back slightly, I will them to subside, but it’s pointless.
“Shit, Parker. What’s wrong?” Linc asks the second he steps up beside me and finds the tears clinging to my lashes.
I turn to look at him, there’s no point hiding now, and the second I look into his eyes, I shatter.
“Fuck,” he grunts as I step into his body.
Without hesitation, he wraps his arms around me and holds me tight while I sob into his chest.
All the worry and the stress from the last couple of weeks spill free. I’m powerless to stop it.
His hand slowly rubs up and down my back as I fall apart, and it only gets worse when his hot breath rushes over the top of my head, and he presses his lips against me.
“It’s okay, little P. I’ve got you.”
Why does he have to say the most perfect things?
Why does he have to smell so good?
And why does his embrace make me feel so safe?
“I’m sorry,” I whimper as my sobs begins to lessen.
“Take your time.”
A broken laugh erupts. “We only have a few minutes.”
“Fuck that. You’re more important.”
I suck in a ragged breath as his words wrap around my heart.
“You can’t say things like that,” I murmur.
“Why not? It’s true,” he confesses softly into my hair. “You’ve always been more important than anything.”
Another sob bubbles up, and I allow myself another three seconds enjoying his embrace before I force myself to take a step back.
With my head lowered, I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hand, trying to clear away my tears.
“Hey,” he says, reaching out and tucking his fingers under my chin. “Let me see those pretty eyes.”
He tips my head up, but I keep my eyes lowered, terrified of what he’ll see when he looks into them.
“Parker,” he growls when I refuse to comply.
The second his commanding tone hits my ears, my eyes jump.
Fuck.
I’m pretty sure I’d do anything he asked of me if he used that voice.
“There she is,” he says. His eyes bounce between mine, searching for…something.
Concern is etched into his features, and I hate it. He’s usually so confident and sure of himself. To see him questioning this is unsettling.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.”
“Spending time with me is that bad, huh?”
I can’t help but laugh as another unwanted tear slips free.
“No, Linc. It’s not. All of this...everything you’ve done. It’s been more than I ever could have asked for.”
Something wicked flashes in his eyes. “Everything?” he asks as he reaches up and wipes the tear from my cheek with his thumb.
I roll my eyes. “Almost.”
Someone behind us clears their throat, making us both startle and jump back from each other.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but you’re going to need to finish up.”
“No problem,” Linc says as I focus back on the view once more. “Good to go?” he asks.
I want to say no and demand that we stay in this little bubble for the rest of our time. But I can’t, so instead, I let out a sad sigh and turn toward the man waiting for us.
I only make it a step before Linc catches up to me and his fingers brush against mine.
I don’t think anything of it for a moment, but then it happens again before his fingers twist with mine, squeezing gently in support.
“Thank you,” Linc says, holding his free hand out to shake the man’s who’s holding the elevator doors open for us.
“A pleasure, Mr. Storm. Ma’am.”
I smile at him, too dumbfounded by the hand holding to muster any words.
We stand side by side, hands still intertwined as the doors slide closed, locking us inside the enclosed space.
A million questions dance on my tongue, but none of them break free.
As the elevator slows to a stop, so we can switch to another that will take us back to the ground, Linc reaches for his back pocket and pulls his cap free.
I watch as he places it on his head, my heart still beating a little too fast.
“See something you like, little P?” he asks with a smirk.
“No, not really,” I deadpan. He rolls his eyes, one side of his mouth kicking up in a smirk.
As the doors open, he pulls the bill of his cap lower, and still hand in hand we switch to a second elevator, but this one isn’t private.
By the time the doors close, it’s packed with people.
Linc is tucked into the corner behind me, trying to keep a low profile, but the second he tugs on my hand, I gasp in shock and turn multiple sets of eyes our way.
I step back, just like he intended, and he wraps our joined arms around my waist, pinning my back to his front.
My pulse jumps as his heat only makes my temperature climb.
He drops his head to my neck. I tell myself that he’s hiding, keeping his identity hidden just in case any of the people around us are hardcore hockey fans in town for tomorrow’s matchup.
But the second he takes a deep breath and whispers, “Why do you always smell so fucking good?” I know differently.
“Because I’m not a sweaty hockey player.”
“Are you trying to say I smell?” he asks, attempting to sound offended.
“You have your moments,” I giggle. “That equipment you have in the hallway closet needs burning.”
“Can’t argue with that,” he muses as the doors finally open and people begin spilling out.
“Where next?” I ask once we’re on the street.
We’ve already done all the main sights, but this is New York—there is always more.
“We’re heading to the most important place in this city. And if you’re lucky, I might just buy you a donut on the way.
“I can get on board with that.”
Without releasing my hand, we take off, Linc seeming to know exactly where he’s going. While he might not have said a location, I can guess from his vague comment.
After stopping at a Dunkin’ and ordering more donuts than the two of us could eat in a week, we approach Madison Square Garden.
“When I was a kid, it was always my ultimate dream to play here,” Linc confesses. “The first matchup we had here was the moment I knew I’d made it. The atmosphere is always insane. It doesn’t matter that most of the crowd are booing us. It’s electric.”
“I can’t wait to experience it,” I muse, looking up at the iconic arena. It’s lit up with multicolored lights and LED screens showing their beloved teams and players.
“I always knew you’d do it. You’re one hell of a player.”
He tugs me toward a bench on the opposite side of the street, and we sit side by side.
“Donut?” he asks, opening the box he’s been carrying for the last ten minutes.
“Thought you’d never ask,” I tease. I quickly make my selection and pull it from the box.
I take a bite before Linc has chosen his flavor.
“Oh my god. So good.”
He looks over, his eyes dropping to my mouth as my tongue sneaks out to lick the icing from my lips.
“Try some?” I ask, lifting it between us.
He looks between me and the donut for a few seconds before he wraps his hand around my wrist, brings the donut to his mouth, and takes a huge bite.
“Hey,” I complain as he chews.
Goddamn, how does he even look good doing that?
“That is good,” he admits once he’s swallowed and licked his lips, which I absolutely did not watch while squeezing my thighs together. “Can think of something I’d rather eat, though.”