1. Chapter 1
Chapter one
Parker
Three Years Later
“You ready for another busy day, gentlemen?” Dr. O’Neil hoists his pants up on his waist so that they’re hugging his protruding belly even tighter, though they’re just going to slide right back down in a few minutes. The man seriously needs to invest in a better belt or a pair of suspenders.
“As ready as I’m going to be,” I say, stifling a yawn. “The truth is, I’m still trying to recover from yesterday.”
An emergency surgery kept me here until well after midnight, but it was worth it just to see the look of relief on the young girl’s face when I told her that her puppy was going to be all right. The little German Shepherd got stuck under a chain-link fence and sliced his belly open pretty badly. Of course, the parents were grateful too—until they saw the bill.
“Well, I’m bright-eyed and bushy tailed, ready to be put to work, Dr. O’Neil! ”
That’s my new colleague, Seth Brown, who has his schnoz shoved so far up our boss’s ass that his last name has taken on a new meaning. It’s pathetic, really.
Or maybe I’m just too tired today to tolerate his kiss ass behavior.
I take a moment to stare at him, trying to read him for the thousandth time and give him the benefit of the doubt.
Nope. The guy really irritates the shit out of me.
“That’s the spirit, Dr. Brown.” Dr. O’Neil, who insists we call each other by our rightfully earned titles, slaps Seth on the back while I try to conceal my eye roll. “Glad to see we have a team player on the staff.”
Seth has only been here for a few weeks, but it hasn’t taken very long for me to get an uneasy feeling about him. The front receptionists adore him, but all I sense is fakeness and an overeager need to get everyone to like him. He’s happy all the time, which is a huge red flag if there ever was one. I mean, no one is happy all the fucking time. And the passive-aggressive way he likes to try to correct me at every turn has me itching to take him out back and show him what I can do with a pair of dog nail clippers.
Unfortunately, his services are necessary, given how fast Carrington Cove has grown in the past few years. Dr. O’Neil and I just couldn’t keep up on our own anymore. Now, between the three of us, we’re able to juggle the workload a bit better, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t still long and draining days.
Another yawn escapes my lips. “Well, I’m going to check on Chewy and then prepare for the day.” Holding up my coffee to the two men, I turn on my heel and head toward the recovery area of the practice, intent on making sure my little German Shepherd pal is doing well so his family can take him home later today.
I didn’t always used to be this irritated by everyone and everything. In fact, there was a time when someone might have accused me of being as cheerful as Seth. But life has a funny way of changing you, and not always for the better.
As I check on Chewy’s vitals, my boss comes up behind me. “You saved this little guy’s life last night.”
“He got lucky. He didn’t puncture any internal organs, just some deep lacerations that needed stitches and a course of antibiotics.”
“Still, Parker. You care. I know we’re not supposed to get attached to these animals, but you always put your heart into it. That’s what makes you great at this.” He clasps my shoulder. “You’ve come a long way since you were a rookie, always trying to prove yourself.” He chuckles, likely remembering all the times he had to rein in my over-eager work ethic. “One day when I finally decide to retire, I know I’ll have two sets of capable hands to leave the practice to.”
“Two sets of hands?” I say, looking down at my one set.
“Yes, you and Seth.”
“Ah.”
“Of course, that’s if I can ever make that decision. Beth says they’ll have to drag me out of this building kicking and screaming in order to make me hang up my lab coat.”
I snort. “Sounds about right.”
“You get it, though. When you work this hard at something, at a job that feels more like a purpose than just work, it’s hard to step away.”
I nod, but the irritation simmers beneath the surface. I’ve given too much to this job—and sacrificed more than I care to admit—so the thought of Seth taking even a piece of that away from me makes my blood boil. If I have it my way, that guy won’t be around for long. My goal is to take over the practice as the sole owner when Dr. O’Neil decides to retire, whenever the hell that may be, and I sure as hell don’t want Seth to be my right hand man when I do .
The last thing I should feel toward my colleague is a lack of trust, especially when there are furry lives on the line. But the fact is, I don’t trust him, and if I’ve learned anything in the past few years, it’s to trust my gut.
I just turned thirty last month, but I’m already further along in my career than most vets my age, and owning my own practice in my hometown would be the icing on the career cake. I finished most of my undergrad work in high school, thanks to dual enrollment classes, which helped fast-track me through vet school. By twenty-four, I was fully certified from the Veterinary School of Medicine at UC Davis and ready to come back home to work in the community that, honestly, I hated being away from.
Dr. O’Neil’s father, who ran the practice when I was growing up, knew I planned on returning. But he passed away shortly after I left for school. Luckily, when I came home, Dr. O’Neil was eager to bring in some new blood—especially someone who knew the latest techniques, which worked out well for me.
Dr. O’Neil and I have history, you might say. And you can’t beat history.
Take that, Seth .
I have my dream job, I live in a town with front-row access to the ocean and a beautiful cove it’s named after, and—even though they drive me nuts—my entire family lives here too. Some would say I have it all. But my personal struggles continue to plague me every day. There are just some things you can’t distract yourself from—no matter how good you’ve got it.
Dr. O’Neil clears his throat, continuing his thought from before. “Although, retirement does sound nice. Maybe then my June Bug will come to visit me instead of the other way around. ”
“I know that’d mean a lot to you.” My boss talks about his daughter all the time, but she’s never visited Carrington Cove. Robert only moved back here ten years ago when he inherited the practice, and he never mentions any other family. I found out from one of the receptionists early on that his wife died years ago when his daughter was younger, and not that it’s any of my business, but the man has never mentioned dating anyone in the time that I’ve known him.
He’s a lone wolf, a man who is married to his job and prefers animals to humans.
Can’t say I blame him, as I find with each passing day that solitude is my preference as well.
“You remind me a lot of my June Bug,” Dr. O’Neil continues. “Driven, passionate, and hardworking. A professional to the core. Such a shame you two haven’t met, but she’s busy taking on the big city, trying to rule the court system, and I can’t seem to get her to make time to visit her old man. I think this small town is just too quiet for someone like her.”
“Well, I imagine her caseload is hard to walk away from too.”
“Yes, I suppose, but that’s the life of a lawyer. All work and no play.”
I wave my hand around the room. “Uh, can’t say our lives are much different, Doc. I was here for fifteen hours yesterday.”
Robert chuckles as he takes a kitten out of her cage and holds her to his chest, petting her softly. “Yes, but we get to love on animals all day and get paid for it. That’s where the difference lies.”
Smiling, I scratch behind the little cat’s ears. “Yeah, I guess the job does have its perks.”
“Plus, you’re going to that dental care conference in Philadelphia next week. You’ve got to be looking forward to that.”
The truth is, I am. Poor dental hygiene in animals is the leading cause of so many preventable health problems. But it’s not like I’m going to Vegas. It’s two full days of lectures and conversations with people that do the same thing for a living that I do.
I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as a vacation, but it is still a break from the hustle and long hours I’ve been putting in at the practice lately.
I’ll take what I can get at this point.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the latest techniques in dental care, of course. I just…”
“Need to have a little fun too?” Dr. O’Neil winks at me as he places the kitten back in the cage.
“Fun is overrated, Dr. O’Neil.”
He eyes me wearily. “Parker, you’re a thirty-year-old man, and though I know you love this job, it’s important to get out and live too. Don’t end up like me,” he says with a pinch in his brow. “Maybe take an extra few days. Extend the trip and explore a bit. Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love anyway, right?”
I eye my boss, wondering if he’s been doused in rainbow dust, because I’m pretty sure I just saw one shoot out of his ass. He’s never this sentimental.
Has Seth been slipping him whatever drugs he’s on?
“I don’t need brotherly love, Doc. I have two older brothers, if you’ve forgotten. And I much prefer women for any lovin’.”
He chuckles. “You know what I mean. You don’t want to wake up one day as an old man and realize you wasted the best years of your life. Take it from me,” he says, meeting my eyes. “Tragedy can prevent you from truly living if you let it. That’s why I pushed my June to make something of herself, and I’m going to do the same for you.”
Before I can reply, Dr. O’Neil reaches in to pet Chewy just as the dog stirs awake. When the puppy blinks up at me and I see cognitive response, I know he’s going to be okay, and his family will be grateful to have him back.
And just like that, I’m reminded of why I chose this career. We don’t deserve pets. The unconditional love they show us is unmatched. They don’t give us shit like older brothers, or torture us like ex-fiancées.
They serve as yet another reminder that most humans don’t even understand the concept of love, even when it’s right in front of them.
Unfortunately, I know that firsthand and refuse to be made a fool of ever again.
***
“Why does it take people so long to get on an airplane?” I grumble to myself as I stand in the aisle, waiting for a few people up ahead to stop arguing about who has the window seat and just fucking sit down already. Luckily, they figure things out, finally allowing me to take the few steps to my seat. I stash my carry-on suitcase in the overhead compartment and plop down into the seat below me.
“More people die in car accidents than plane crashes, Cashlynn. Just remember that.” My head snaps to the woman on my right, who’s staring out the small window at the asphalt below, muttering to herself.
Jesus. Of course I get seated next to the woman who’s talking to herself .
“Although our luck seems to be subpar anyway, which means we could be the one that increases the statistic. Oh God, this is how we’re going to die… ”
Fuck. This woman is afraid of flying. And even though it’s none of my business, if she keeps narrating her death in the third person, I’m not going to be able to ignore her.
The last thing I wanted to do on this flight was strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to me. I was actually looking forward to binge-watching the second season of Bridgerton . Hazel, my younger sister, is watching it too, and we are planning on talking about it tonight on the phone once I get settled into my hotel.
But now, I feel an obligation to calm this woman. She’s obviously afraid, and the last thing I want is for her to have a fucking panic attack mid-flight. Then someone might call out for a doctor, and I’ll be put in that uncomfortable position where—yes—I am a doctor, just not for people. And then I’ll have to explain why I didn’t just help her in the first place and look like an asshole who saves puppies but lets humans freak the fuck out.
“You’re not going to die,” I say, debating placing my hand on her shoulder and deciding against it.
She pushes her hair away from her face but keeps her gaze locked outside, her hands continuing to fidget in her lap. “I’m just trying to remind myself that the likelihood of me plummeting to my death in this plane is fairly low.” She clears her throat. “Sorry if I disturbed you.”
I remove my hand from the armrest and start to fasten my seat belt. “The worst part is taking off and landing, in my opinion. Once you’re in the air, there’s not much to worry about.” I snap the belt in place, feeling slightly less irritated now that I’ve tried to comfort her. But then she blows out a breath and turns to face me just as I lift my head. When our eyes meet, it’s like someone just punched me in the chest.
Holy shit. This woman is fucking gorgeous .
Silky blonde hair. Amber eyes that practically glow. Soft, full pink lips .
But her eyebrows are drawn together, every ounce of her fear etched in the lines of her face. My chest does some weird tightening thing and I want to reach out and touch her again.
Fuck .
This woman is exactly the type I should stay the hell away from—the kind that makes me feel something other than just horny. Although my dick definitely has some thoughts about our seat neighbor. Too bad he’s not running the show today.
“I just don’t do it that often, so when I do, my anxiety builds up, you know?” she says, pulling me back to reality. “For instance, I couldn’t sleep at all the last three nights just knowing I had to take this flight today.”
“Three nights?” I shove my laptop bag under the seat in front of me, hoping my heart rate will calm the fuck down before I look back at her.
“Yeah, which means I’ll at least sleep well tonight when my head hits the pillow.”
“That’s true.” We stare at each other for another moment, my mind and body at war before I finally remember my manners and extend my hand to her. “I’m Parker, by the way.”
“Cashlynn.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Sorry you had to hear me rambling about dying,” she says with a chuckle.
Suddenly, our conversation isn’t so irritating anymore. “It’s okay. Flying is a legitimate fear.”
“I know, but I don’t want to be that annoying person you sit next to on the plane and tell your friends about later,” she says, just as there’s a sudden bang from beneath us. Her eyes widen instantly. “Oh my God! What was that? ”
I glance around the cabin, expecting to see something out of the ordinary. “What?”
“That noise!”
My brain catches up to speed. “Oh, they’re just closing the luggage compartments.” Cashlynn closes her eyes and breathes deeply, in and out through her nose. “Are you going to freak out about every sound on this flight?”
She peeks one eye open. “Maybe.”
I huff out a laugh, surprised by how entertaining this woman is. “Is there, uh, anything I can do to help?”
“Do you happen to have any Xanax?”
I pat the pockets of my pants and the one on my shirt mockingly. “Nope, fresh out.”
“Not funny.”
I twist in my seat, facing her, hating how the more I look at her, the more I find myself wondering what her lips taste like.
Is she wearing flavored gloss? Would I taste coffee on her tongue? Or is she a Diet Coke drinker like…
Nope. Not going there, Parker .
“Then what can I do to help?” Color me surprised, but seeing this woman on the verge of a panic attack is really messing with me. And fuck, she’s piqued my interest like no other woman has in a long time.
It couldn’t be because she’s quirky, sarcastic, and beautiful… Right, Parker?
“Nothing. I’ll be okay.”
“I don’t know if you will.”
Both of her eyes fly open now. “Why would you say that?”
“I’m just thinking maybe you’re denying my help out of pride, not because you truly don’t want it. ”
“What on earth could you possibly do to help me through this?” she asks, right as the captain comes over the loudspeaker, signaling the flight attendants to complete their final checks. “Oh God. It’s coming.” She covers her face with both hands, and for the life of me, I’m not sure if I should be alarmed or if she’s going to snap out of it once we’re in the air.
“I could hold your hand,” I blurt, surprising myself.
Her hands fall from her face. “What?”
“You heard me. I’ll hold your hand. It might help.”
She arches a brow, like she’s considering it for a moment, then shakes her head. “No, that’s really not necessary.”
“It’s worth a shot.” I shrug. “Plus, I’ve been told I have very strong, capable hands.” I hold them up, fanning them out for her to admire.
“Did you really just brag about your hands?” she asks, laughing. “I’m sure they are very impressive, but I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.”
“No.” She shakes her head again. “No, it’s okay. I appreciate the offer, but…”
“You’re seriously denying me the pleasure of holding your hand?” I tease.
“Denying you the pleasure ? You sound like one of the men from Bridgerton .”
“Well, for your information, I intended to watch season two during the flight until you started rambling.”
She covers her chest with her hand. “Seriously? You watch that show?”
“Yeah.” I push my glasses up on my nose. “My sister got me into it, and I’m not ashamed to admit it’s really fucking good.”
She tilts her head, a small quirk in her lips. “Who the hell are you? ”
I clear my throat and offer my hand to her again. “I’m Parker Sheppard, your in-flight companion, and I think you should let me help you get through this.”
Her eyes drop down to my hands before lifting to meet my gaze. I can see the hesitation, the way she bites her bottom lip in contemplation. Then the plane starts moving and she lets out a small whimper that isn’t meant to make my dick twitch, but he definitely approves.
Before she talks herself out of the innocent gesture, I make one last attempt. “How about I play you for it?”
“For my hand?” Her eyes dart around me, watching the flight attendants check the cabin.
“Yeah. If I win, I hold your hand throughout the flight.”
“And if I win?” she asks, the pinch in her brow growing again as the plane starts to roll along the asphalt beneath us while we make our way toward the runway.
“Then you can suffer in whatever way you please.”
“What are we playing?” she squeaks out as the flight attendants begin their safety demonstration.
Leaning closer so as not to talk over the instructional recording, I say, “Rock, paper, scissors.”
She rears her head back. “Seriously?”
I arch a brow at her this time. “What? Afraid you’ll lose?”
“How did I manage to get seated next to you?” she asks rhetorically, but there’s a hint of disbelief in her voice.
“Flight attendants prepare for takeoff,” the captain says over the loud speakers as the plane continues to roll toward the runway.
“You’re running out of time, Cashlynn. Now what’ll it be?”
“Fine.” She sits up taller in her seat and twists slightly so we can face each other head on. “On three?” she asks as we both poise our hands out in front of us .
“Yup,” I agree. “One…”
“Two…”
“Three,” I say as she displays a closed fist and I flash my best set of spirit fingers underneath hers. “Ha! I win!”
“What the hell is that?” she practically shrieks. “That’s not a rock, or paper, or scissors!”
“Nope. That’s fire, baby.”
“Fire?”
I drop my hands back down as she follows suit. “Yeah, haven’t you seen Friends ?” I ask, chuckling to myself because only a true fan would know why I knew I was going to win this game from the moment I suggested it.
“The TV show?”
“Yeah. Fire beats everything, at least according to Joey Tribbiani.”
Cashlynn blinks at me, still trying to process what just happened, but I reach for her hand just as the plane starts careening forward, the speed climbing higher and higher. She closes her eyes and whispers, “Oh my God, oh my God…”
“Shhh, it’s okay,” I murmur and squeeze her hand, stroking it with my thumb, and wrap my free arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to me. Big mistake.
Fuck. She smells incredible, like citrus and vanilla, with a hint of coconut in her hair. And the way she leans into me, her breasts press into my bicep, doing things to me that are not at all helpful right now.
“Just breathe, Cashlynn.”
“I hate this.”
“It will be over before you know it.” Just as the words leave my lips, the plane lifts off, climbing toward the sky. Cashlynn squeezes my hand so hard, I swear I hear a bone crack. “Easy there, Tiger.”
“I’m sorry…”
“It’s okay, I just really need my hands for work.”
Her grip loosens slightly. “What do you do?”
“I’m a vet,” I say proudly as the force of the plane sends us back into our seats. My ex wasn’t as proud of that title, opting to tell people I was a doctor instead—because saving animals wasn’t as impressive as saving humans in her book.
Fuck, now’s not the time to think about Sasha, Parker.
“That’s a pretty demanding job,” Cashlynn says shakily as the plane continues to soar.
“It can be, but I live in a small town, so it has busy days and slow ones.”
“Where do you live?”
“Carrington Cove. Ever heard of it?”
Her eyes widen slightly before falling to her lap, and I wonder if I said or did something wrong. “I, uh…haven’t.”
She’s quiet for a moment before she clears her throat and asks, “Why are you flying to Philadelphia, then?”
“For a dental hygiene conference.”
She snorts, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. “Sounds like a party.”
“Hey, I’ll have you know that veterinarians are fun people when we want to be,” I say a little too defensively.
“I’ll take your word for it.” Her lips twitch up with a hint of a smile.
As the plane starts to level out, Cashlynn’s grip on my hand finally loosens. “How are you doing?” I ask.
“Can you do me a favor and shut the window thing?” She flicks her head in the direction of the window behind her.
“Of course.” Keeping her hand in mine, I reach around her, pressing our bodies even closer together, which doesn’t help the tent forming in my pants. Once I’ve closed the shade, I slide back into my seat. “Window thing is closed.”
She leans back and looks up at me. “Thank you.”
Our eyes dart back and forth between one another, and neither one of us speaks.
Fuck, her eyes are mesmerizing. They’re like warm honey swirled with chocolate, dotted with flecks of gold around her irises. And those lips. Jesus, I’m seriously cursing the man upstairs for putting me in this situation.
My brothers would have a field day if they could see me right now. They’d read me like a book and pressure me to make a move.
But do I want that?
It has been a while since I’ve flirted with a woman, hoping it might actually lead somewhere. It’s not something I actively seek out anymore. After the way my engagement ended, it just doesn’t seem worth the risk. I’ve been in no hurry to put myself in that position again, not that I expect anything to happen with Cashlynn. But there’s something here, and I can’t help but wonder if I should play my chances and see how things pan out.
Shit. I’ve been staring way too long.
“Anytime.” My voice comes out rough, betraying my wayward thoughts.
Cashlynn looks down at our intertwined fingers. “Do you need your hand back?”
“That’s up to you. Like I said earlier, I am fully prepared to spend this entire flight with only one functional hand.”
She smiles softly, amusement flickering in her eyes. “I know your hand won’t save me if we plummet to our deaths, but…it’s nice not to feel alone.”
Damn. She has no idea just how hard that hits home.
** *
“So how long is the conference?” Cashlynn asks after the flight attendants serve us drinks. I opted for a Coke, my usual go-to, while she ordered a ginger ale. We separate just long enough to open our Biscoff cookies, and once we’re done, she reaches for my hand again. I’m surprised by how much I like that she still needs me.
“Friday through Sunday, but I’m staying a few extra days. My boss insisted.”
“Sounds like a nice boss.”
“He could tell I needed a break. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a workaholic.”
She chuckles. “That checks out for a doctor.”
I smile. “Guilty as charged.”
She licks her lips. “Can I ask why you became a vet?”
Her question feels genuine, the kind people usually ask when they find out what I do. “If I said it’s because I’ve always loved animals, would that just add to my list of clichés?”
She shrugs, but her lips are lifted in a soft smile. “If it’s the truth, then I don’t see the problem.”
“We don’t deserve pets,” I say, easing into my story. “When I was ten, we had to put down our family dog, Daisy Mae, because of old age. She was the best fucking dog,” I say, thinking back fondly to our sweet puggle that gave my family fifteen years of her love and loyalty. “I just remember crying so hard, yelling about how it wasn’t fair. That there had to be something we could do to save her.”
Cashlynn’s bottom lip juts out. “You’re gonna make me cry. ”
I huff out a laugh. “Sorry. The point is, that was the day I decided I wanted to make sure that all animals got to live their best lives like she did.” I look away. “I don’t know… That moment stuck with me, so I pursued veterinary medicine.”
She gently rubs the back of my hand with her thumb. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
When our eyes meet again, something shifts in my chest, and I try to ignore the dull ache building from the memory and from opening up to this woman that I just met. “So what do you do?” I ask, wanting to know more about this woman the longer we sit here, especially given that I’ve shared more with her than most of my family and friends.
“Oh, I’m, uh…” She looks away from me, biting her lip.
“Did you forget what your job is?” I tease.
“No,” she says with a nervous laugh.
That’s when I notice the paint under her fingernails. “I’m going to guess artist or teacher.”
She looks down at our clasped hands. “What makes you say that?”
“The paint under your nails. I figure that means you’re either doing arts and crafts with tiny humans, or you’re an artist yourself. Either way, you just became even more interesting to me.”
She tilts her head, her lips curving into a smile. “That detail made me more interesting? So you were already interested?”
I take a sip of my Coke, my eyes locked on hers. “I shouldn’t be, but I am, Cashlynn.” I can practically see the wheels turning behind those gorgeous eyes, but she shakes off the thought, saying nothing. “Does that mean that you’re not interested?”
“No, I am I just…” She sighs. “This is the last thing I expected when I jumped on this flight.”
You and me both, beautiful .
I take a sip of my Coke and decide to steer the conversation to safter territory. “So what brings you to Philadelphia this weekend?”
“Philly’s home now. I flew down for a meeting in Raleigh.” She shudders slightly, as if recalling the experience.
“Did your seat mate offer to hold your hand on that one?”
She shakes her head with a grin on her lips. “No, she didn’t even speak to me. She was knitting the entire time with earbuds in. I’m pretty sure she was listening to a spicy romance novel.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”
“Well, she would stop knitting and stare off into space at some points. Then she’d start shaking her head and fanning herself, and I mean”—she shrugs—“seems like something was getting her all worked up.”
Laughter erupts from me. “Fuck, you’re probably right.” I swear, I’m having so much fun talking to her that I’m almost wishing we were flying to the West Coast so we could have a little more time together.
“Maybe. Either that or she was having a hot flash.”
“Also a valid guess. So, you had a meeting in Raleigh…” I say, prompting her to continue.
“Yes, and now I’m flying back home.” She darts her eyes to the side, avoiding my gaze. “Uh, where is Carrington Cove by the way?” When her eyes return to my face, she smirks. “It sounds like a magical place.”
God, I love that this woman is sarcastic and has a sense of humor. “It’s on the coast by Camp Lejeune, north of Wilmington.”
“Have you lived there your whole life?”
I nod. “Yeah, except for the time I spent at UC Davis getting my veterinary degree.”
“That’s a lot of schooling.”
I shrug. “I actually made it through in record time. I took some college classes while I was in high school, so I only had a year and a half to spend on my bachelor’s before moving on to the veterinary program at the best school in the country on a scholarship .”
“Damn. Smart and handsome.” She shakes her head at me, the curve of her lips drawing me in even more. “How am I supposed to resist you?”
I lean toward her a bit more. “Does that mean you’re trying to resist me?”
Our eyes bounce between each other. “Let’s just say that meeting a handsome stranger wasn’t expected, let alone one who makes me wish the flight were longer.”
I stroke the back of her hand with my thumb. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She chuckles. “You should. Especially since you now know how I feel about flying.”
***
“So, you save furry lives during the day, but what about after you leave the animal hospital? What keeps you entertained then?” Cashlynn takes a sip of her drink as we continue to sail across the sky.
“Mostly, I just work out, read, or watch TV. I live a pretty simple life.”
“That sounds boring.”
“What did you expect? That I jump out of airplanes for fun?”
She shakes her head. “No… I guess I just figured you were more of a social guy.”
I scoff. “Yeah, well, the only people I can stand to socialize with these days are my family and a few close friends. Sometimes, even that’s pushing it. ”
“I guess that’s normal for a small town, right?”
“I mean, Carrington Cove is more of a tourist town, so there are people to meet and places to go, but that’s not really my scene.” I shrug. “Never has been.”
“So meeting strangers and offering to hold their hands isn’t your usual M.O.?”
I look Cashlynn dead in the eye when I say, “Not at all. This is a first for me.”
She licks her lips, her eyes lingering on mine. “Me too.”
“So if flying weren’t an obstacle, where would you want to travel?”
Cashlynn hums as she thinks, and waiting to hear what she says next has become the most unexpected form of entertainment on this flight. “Greece, Egypt, and France.”
“Nice choices. Why those specific places?”
“The water in Greece seems unreal, so I feel like I need to see it to believe it. Egypt’s history has always fascinated me. And France for the art.”
I glance down at our intertwined fingers, stroking the top of her hand again. “So, you do paint…”
“Uh, yeah…you could say that.”
“What do you paint?”
“Mostly scenery, sometimes abstracts. I’m more of a mood painter, so I let my brain tell me what to create.”
“Have you always been artistic?”
“Yeah. My mom was big into creating art, so I guess I got it from her.”
“My mom is a fantastic cook, and luckily, she handed that talent down to me.”
Cashlynn smirks at me. “Okay, now you’re just not playing fair. You’re a handsome doctor who wears glasses and you can cook? ”
My eyebrows shoot up. “The glasses do something for you, huh?”
She nods slowly. “Apparently so. I think they up your sophistication factor. But then I remember that you made me play rock, paper, scissors, and I’m confused.”
Chuckling, I ask, “Why confused?”
“I don’t know. You seemed irritated when you first sat down, like there was this cloud hanging over you.” Fuck, she had you pegged from the beginning, Parker . “But you’ve surprised me.”
I look away from her, not sure how I feel about her accurate assessment. If a complete stranger could pick up on my foul mood that easily, that’s telling. I’ve walked around with this chip on my shoulder for four years, so it’s not that easy to get rid of.
But this woman makes you feel more at ease, doesn’t she?
I swallow hard and Cashlynn’s eyes dart down to my throat as I do. “Do you happen to be free tonight?” I ask, surprising myself but going with this gut feeling to step outside the box for a change.
She tilts her head curiously. “Yes.”
“Good. Because I think you could probably use a drink after this flight, and I’d love to buy you one, if you’re interested.”
“Um…” She bites her bottom lip in contemplation.
“No pressure. But if you’re unsure, we could always play rock, paper, scissors again…”
She licks her lips, smirking. “I actually think a drink is exactly what I need.”
** *
“Fuck,” I hiss as I deepen the kiss, pulling Cashlynn closer. I bury one hand in her silky blonde hair while the other squeezes her hip as I draw her closer to my chest.
Suddenly, she pushes me away, her eyes wide and chest heaving, with her hand still firmly planted on my pec as we both struggle for air.
“What floor is your room on?” she asks breathlessly.
“Eleven.”
“Take me there.”
We abandon our drinks as I take Cashlynn’s hand and lead her through the hotel bar to the nearest elevator, hoping no one notices the outline of my cock in my pants. Once we’re inside—alone, thank God—I press her up against the wall and bury my hands in her silky strands again.
“Parker…”
“Fuck, Cashlynn. You’re sure you want this?”
“Hell yes. Fuck me, Parker. I need it.”
I move my mouth down to her neck, kissing and nibbling the skin there as I squeeze her ass in my hands, bringing her hips to collide with my torso so she can feel how much I want her. “You’re so fucking gorgeous. You feel what you do to me?”
She pulls my mouth back to hers, kissing me desperately until the elevator dings, signaling our arrival on my floor. With her hand in mine, I lead her down the hall, pass the key card over the sensor, and push the door open just enough for us to slip inside before our hands and lips are back on each other.
When I sat next to a random stranger on that plane today, I never imagined this would be how our night ended. But all it took was one drink for us to realize what we both wanted—and now that my body is primed for what comes next, I’m definitely not complaining .
Cashlynn pushes me up against the door and then drops to her knees, her eyes locked on mine the entire time. Those amber eyes are silently making promises as she pops the button on my pants and yanks down my zipper.
“Fuck.”
“I can’t wait to taste you, feel you in the back of my throat.” Her words make my dick even harder as she pushes my jeans down along with my briefs and wraps her tiny hands around my aching cock. “God, you’re thick,” she says before licking me from base to tip.
“Jesus, Cashlynn.” My hand finds the top of her head as her mouth envelops me, taking me as deep as she can before sucking me back out. With fascination, I watch her bob up and down on my cock, dragging her tongue along my length, swirling her tongue around my crown, and repeating the process over and over again. I love how eager she is, not letting up even as I hear her gag when I hit the back of her throat.
Who knew that showing kindness to a stranger would lead to one of the best blowjobs of my life? This is so much better than watching Bridgerton .
“Shit,” I grate out as she sucks in her cheeks and pulls me in and out even more rapidly. “You’re gonna make me come if you keep doing that.”
She immediately releases me with a pop and stands back up. “We can’t have that yet now, can we?”
I pull her mouth to mine and back her into the room with my pants still down around my ankles. I help her out of her coat and rip her shirt up over her head, tossing it to the side, revealing a deep emerald lace bra containing her perky and fucking perfectly sized breasts.
But it’s her ass that I’m dying to see, preferably with my handprint on it soon. The moment she stood up on the plane, revealing those beautiful curves, I nearly drooled as I followed her down the aisle. She’s so fucking sexy and my heart is thrashing at the idea of claiming her.
“Get naked, beautiful.”
We don’t take our eyes off each other as shoes, pants, and underwear hit the floor. Finally, we’re both standing bare, mere inches apart, waiting for the other to make the first move.
My eyes roam all over her body, memorizing the dip in her waist, her rosy nipples, the trimmed pubic hair above her pussy, and those thick thighs I can’t wait to feel wrapped around me.
She eyes me appreciatively before stepping up to me and running her nails up and down my stomach, tracing the V of my hips. “God, your body. You must work out a lot.”
I chuckle. “I try.”
She nods, licking her lips. “Your effort is appreciated.”
I whip my glasses from my face and set them down on the dresser. With my hand stroking my cock, I nod toward the bed. “Lie down.”
Cashlynn doesn’t speak as she moves to the bed, our eyes locked on one another, crawling up toward the pillows as I reach down to my pants and take out the just-in-case condom from my wallet.
I toss the condom onto the bed and begin crawling forward, making my way closer to this woman and the sweet heaven between her legs. I dip my head down toward her pussy, pushing her thighs open with my shoulders to expose her to me, and Cashlynn doesn’t even hesitate.
“Lick me, Parker.”
Jesus. This woman is something else .
“With pleasure,” I mumble against her inner thigh before dragging my tongue through her slit, tasting her sweetness that only intensifies my need for her .
“God, that feels good,” she moans as I keep licking her, flicking my tongue back and forth over her clit and sucking the little bud between my lips. “Parker…yes…right there…” Cashlynn guides me to where she needs me most and then stuns me by saying, “Put your fingers inside of me…please.”
I suck two fingers in my mouth, then slowly push them inside, watching her pussy stretch around me and suck me in as I stroke her G-spot. God, it’s so hot, so carnal, so out of this world that my dick twitches as I go back to sucking her clit and finger fucking her until I know she’s close.
This woman is unraveling me and I couldn’t even stop it if I tried. Her confidence is sexy as hell, her sounds are like a soundtrack I didn’t know I was missing from my life, and feeling her tighten around my fingers makes me feel like the luckiest fucking man on the planet—that this woman is giving herself over freely to me.
Fuck, I’m already addicted and I haven’t even been inside her yet.
“Oh, God…right there. Yes, Parker!” On a scream, Cashlynn comes all over my hand, soaking my fingers with her release and bucking herself against my mouth, seeking out the pressure and friction that she needs.
When her body collapses on the bed, I kiss her inner thighs and tease her clit again with my tongue as I reach for the condom. I tear it open, covering myself as I move to hover over her.
Her eyes snap open, meeting mine before she pulls me down to her, swirling her tongue against mine and opening up her legs so I can slide right inside her. It takes a few thrusts, but when I bottom out, we groan simultaneously.
“Jesus, you’re tight,” I manage to grate out as her pussy squeezes and sucks me in.
“It’s been… a while,” she moans as I thrust in and out of her .
“Me too. Fuck, Cashlynn. Suck me in, baby.” I lift her leg up and wrap it around my hip so I can slide in deeper, making us both moan.
“Keep going, Parker. Harder.”
The bed slams against the wall with each thrust as I pound into her. For a second, I contemplate our neighbors on the other side, but the thought is fleeting as I feel Cashlynn tighten around me. Her nails dig into my back as I suck and nibble along her neck, moving down to her breasts and sucking one of her nipples into my mouth, making her moan louder.
She moves her hand down to her clit, circling her bundle of nerves as I pick up my pace, helping her get there.
“Yes, yes…God, yes!” Cashlynn comes again, and watching her beneath me, tossing her head back as her release overtakes her has me finding my own orgasm at the same time.
Completely spent, I roll to her side as we both come down from the high. I lie on my side, facing her, tracing along her collarbone while her eyes remain closed.
I wonder if she’s up for a long night of fucking… After having her once, I know without a doubt I want her again.
But before I can say anything, her eyes pop open and she launches herself from the bed, rushing to find her clothes.
What the fuck?
“Uh, is everything okay?” I ask as I watch her naked form dart around the room.
“Yup!” she replies, about two octaves higher than her normal tone, avoiding my eyes.
“You sure?” My dick is still half hard and this woman is acting like there’s a fire in the building. Was the sex not satisfying for her? I mean, she sounded like she was enjoying it. Hell, if she was faking it then she must be one hell of an actress .
“Everything is perfect, Parker. I just…I need to get going, okay?” I watch as she puts her clothes back on before I can even process anything, and then she’s grabbing her purse and heading for the door.
I jump from the bed, intent on chasing her, but then I think better of it.
That’s all this was supposed to be, right? No strings attached sex.
Then why do I feel this overwhelming need to convince her to stay?
“Thanks for the orgasms,” she says over her shoulder, taking one last peek at my dick with a smirk before stepping out of the hotel room. I’m left standing there in nothing but my birthday suit, wondering if this is all I should have hoped for—if this is what the rest of my life will be like since I’ve sworn not to fall for anyone ever again.
Little did I know that seeing Cashlynn again was inevitable—and that when I did, I’d be wishing I never gave in to my attraction to her at all.