8. Parker
Chapter eight
Parker
T he next few days pass without much opportunity for Chloe and I to hang out. Apparently, Holt has given her a few more listings since he’s so short-staffed, and she’s been busting her pert, little ass trying to stay on top of everything. It really sucks, and I find that I miss her. Yeah, I definitely want to have sex with her again, but I also just like being around her.
I’ve sent her a few texts, but each response I get is just a different way of telling me she’s busy.
Sorry, Holt gave me another house. I have to go look at it this evening.
Grr…I need to finish putting some random listings together for Holt.
Can’t, I have to organize a house showing tomorrow.
Releasing a long, frustrated breath, I lean back in my office chair and stare up at the ceiling. What am I supposed to do? I want to see her, but I don’t want to cause her any more stress than she’s already under. I’m not her boyfriend, so it’s not like I can just show up at her house out of the blue…right?
As I’m sitting there, twirling a pen absentmindedly in one hand, I remember our night together and how good it felt to touch her…kiss her…slide deep inside her…
Suddenly, my cellphone buzzes and yanks me out of my wandering, dirty thoughts. When I see that it’s Chloe calling me, I scramble to answer.
“Hello?” I say, then I clear my throat and try to act cool. “Long time no talk, gorgeous.”
“Hi.” She sighs, and I hear the exhaustion in her voice. “Sorry, things have been crazy. I just wanted to call and apologize for ditching you so many times the last few days.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” I assure her. “Holt’s been putting a lot on your plate. I get it.”
“Yeah,” she grumbles. “I wanted to work on actual listings, but this is crazy. He keeps pushing all the extra work onto me. He just assumes I can take it all with no issue because I’m not married and don’t have kids. Then, there’s also this client I’m working with who’s just been a headache…ugh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to rant.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “Rant away! I’m all ears.” I mean it, too. I’m not just saying it to score extra points. After days of not really getting to talk to or spend any time with her, it’s nice just to be able to catch up. Plus, I know what it’s like to need to vent after a long’s day work, and if I can provide her with a sympathetic ear, then I will.
“Alright,” she concedes with a deep sigh. “So, this client, right? He has absolutely no idea what he wants. One minute, he’s insisting on a house in the suburbs. The next, he wants a penthouse in downtown. And let’s not even get started on his budget, which seems to be as flexible as a rubber band. To top it all off, he’s constantly requesting meeting times and then canceling at the last minute. It’s incredibly frustrating.”
“Sounds like a piece of work,” I reply.
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” she answers. “It’s just…everything is so overwhelming right now, and I feel guilty. I wanted Holt to give me a chance and have me do real work, but it’s getting to be too much.”
My heart twists in my chest, and I want to reach through the phone and wrap my arms around her. I don’t really know if there’s anything I can do to help, but I hate knowing she’s feeling so stressed.
“How about you come over to my place after work? I can go over some of your listings with you and help you put a game plan together to tackle them all. We can order pizza and relax a bit. Does that sound good?”
She doesn’t respond for a few moments.
“That actually sounds really good,” she finally says. “Are you sure, though? I don't want to be taking up your time when you could be doing something else.”
I chuckle, twirling my pen between my fingers more swiftly.
“Chloe,” I say, “I can’t think of a better way to spend my evening than helping you. Besides, I’ve been missing you.”
Her breath hitches audibly over the line, and I just know she’s blushing. Thinking about it makes me grin.
“Alright, then,” she replies after clearing her throat. “Should I bring anything?”
“Just yourself and anything you need for work,” I instruct. “I'll take care of everything else.”
“Okay,” she murmurs. “Thank you, Parker.”
“Anytime, Chloe.”
We say our goodbyes, and I hang up the phone. Leaning back in my chair, I can’t keep the smile off my face. For the first time in days, there’s something to look forward to: an evening with Chloe. I find myself looking forward to the night with excitement. It’s not just about helping with her listings. It’s about being a part of her world, easing her stress, and maybe, just maybe, experiencing more of the mind-blowing pleasure we shared the last time we were together.