Chapter 26 #2
“There’s nothing wrong with getting in the water, either,” he said. “Or going for a hike. Being active. Maybe going bowling,”
he ventured. Most people could handle that.
She laughed. “I have gone bowling. It’s been a while. I threw mostly gutter balls. My boyfriend . . .”
“Wait. Boyfriend?”
The blush made another appearance. “It didn’t last long. He found someone more glamorous.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“She was French,” Alice said as if that explained it all. She veered away from France with a perky, “How about that movie?”
“Okay, let’s do it,” he said. Wrong choice of words. Now he’d never be able to concentrate on the movie.
Moneyball was streaming, but not for free. He offered to pay, but she insisted on taking care of it.
“I’m hosting tonight, and this is a business expense,” she said.
“Okay, fine,” he said. There was no point fighting her on it. She was determined.
Once again, they sat on opposite ends of the couch, her hugging a sofa pillow, him wishing he was hugging her. He really was
falling for this woman. He had to be insane. Everyone in her life wanted him out of it.
He sneaked some peeks her direction as the movie played, observing her reaction, noting how she leaned slightly forward, entranced.
She was like a little kid, enjoying her first Disney movie.
“That was fascinating,” she said afterward. “I loved how passionate Billy Beane was about finding a way to improve his team.”
“He loved the game. All of us who ever played it do,” said Parker. “Did you ever play softball?” he asked. “When you were
a kid? At a picnic?”
She shook her head regretfully.
“Would you like to try sometime?” he asked. “We play every year when the station has its annual picnic.”
“Oh, I couldn’t hit a ball,” she protested.
“Maybe you could if I took you to a batting cage and gave you some pointers.”
“Maybe. I’m not very athletic, but I think I’d like to go to a game. I’ve learned a lot about it hosting your show.”
“Want to share that tomorrow?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“I’m glad you feel like you learned something,” he said. Then had to spit it out. “I have, too.”
“You have?” she prompted.
“I’ve gotten some things wrong. I’ve made a lot of sweeping generalizations.”
And there were more to come. He thought of his book deal and the dinner he’d enjoyed suddenly sat like lead in his gut. “I
wish I’d stuck to sports on the show.” And not just on the show. He’d had enough of sitting on the opposite end of the couch.
He closed the distance between them. “Alice, I’m sorry I was such a jerk when we first met. Sorry about the debate.”
He was sorry about so much. Now it was too late. His mom was right. His angry man book was going to follow him down the road.
She hugged the pillow. “You were a better debater.”
“But not a better person. I cut you off and never gave you a chance and I was an even bigger jerk in front of your store.
I should never have gone along with that dumb stunt. I’m no hero. But I’ve got to say, I wish I was.”
“You’re not hopeless,” she said, her smile teasing. “You did buy a book.”
“Don’t let me off that easy. Alice . . .”
He stalled out at her name. He needed to tell her about the book deal, but he couldn’t get the words out. They were in a huddle
at the back of his throat.
She was looking at him expectantly, still hugging her pillow.
“I told your mom I like you. She’s not very happy about it. But it’s true. In fact, I don’t just like you, I admire you. I
wish we’d met earlier.”
Before everything had gone sideways.
“But then we wouldn’t have had a very interesting story, would we?” she said. The sweet look she was giving him made him feel
like a skunk.
“Alice, I need to tell you something.”
Her expression changed. She suddenly looked supercharged. She tossed aside her pillow. “Don’t tell me anything,” she said
as she hurled herself against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and mashing her lips into his. She hit him with enough
force to send him backward, her on top of him. Whoa, what the heck?
He couldn’t help himself. He ran his arms up her back and held on.
It had been an impulsive move, but Alice didn’t regret it. Parker wasn’t the only one who’d been changed since they first
met. She had, too. She didn’t care if the books she read had the hero seducing the heroine. She didn’t want to wait to be
seduced. Or courted. Or anything. She’d been reading about romance long enough. It was time to reach out and grab it IRL.
And grabbing Parker Black was the most satisfying thing she’d done in a long time. So what if she wasn’t a great kisser? He
didn’t care, because here he was, kissing her back and her insides were turning to goo. And she was proud of it.
She ended the kiss, opened her eyes and studied his face, wondering what she’d see.
“Whoa, what was that?” he asked, smiling.
“That was me going for what I want,” she said simply.
“Since when?”
“Never mind,” she said. She had no intention of telling him she’d wanted him ever since she first checked out his pictures online, that she’d wanted him even when she actively disliked him.
And that now, with him turning from a beast into a prince, she could finally give herself permission to do something about it, to break out of her shell and grab for her own happy ending.
To start pulling love off the pages of books and planting it in her own life.
And if he didn’t end up loving her back?
She’d take that chance. “Please. Kiss me again.”
“Okay,” he said, and did.
“You do that so well,” she said with a happy sigh.
He traced her jawline with his finger. “Aww, you’re just saying that ’cause it’s true,” he joked.
“I was never a very good kisser,” she confessed. She hadn’t exactly had a ton of practice.
“You have great potential,” he murmured, and kissed her once more.
But then he sat them both back up. “Okay, we need to stop.”
“Shouldn’t it be me saying that?” she joked.
“Not this time. I want more of this,” he said, fingering a lock of her hair. “But this isn’t a novel. It’s real life, and
real life is messy. I have some stuff I need to figure out,” he continued, not quite looking her in the eye. “Let’s get through
tomorrow first. Then we’ll talk. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said. But she didn’t understand.
He left the couch, and she trailed him to the door, watched while he put his coat back on.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” he said. Then he opened the door and was gone.
She’d hoped he’d kiss her good-night. Take her in his arms. Why did they have to get through tomorrow? Maybe he wanted to do things right, start them on the road to romance with dinner out once he was back from Arizona.
She touched her lips where his had been. No wonder so many fictional heroines did that. Anything to try and hang on to the
blissful feeling. She’d been kissed by a pro.
A man who’d kissed heaven only knew how many women. A man who could have any woman he wanted.
But he wanted her. His arms wrapping around her proved that.
She texted her sister. Parker was here for dinner.
Her cell phone rang immediately. “Alice, what are you doing?”
“We had to get ready for the show tomorrow.”
“Is that all you did?” Scarlet demanded.
“No. Oh, my gosh, Scarlet, it was amazing.”
“Amazing? You didn’t sleep with him, did you?” Scarlet demanded, her voice threaded with panic.
“No,” Alice said, offended. “But he kissed me.” After she’d gone after him. She decided not to share that detail. “Scarlet,
he’s like a real romance hero.”
“He is not! Honestly, what are you thinking?”
“We’re putting the past behind us,” Alice said. “Really, we’ve had the most amazing two days.”
“Two days! Do you think you’re in Vegas or something? Stay away from that man. He’s poison.”
He sure didn’t kiss like it. And he hadn’t talked like it. He’d shared so much of himself.
“He’s not genuine, Alice. You’re nothing more than a publicity stunt.”
“The stunt ends tomorrow,” Alice said.
“And are you going out tomorrow?”
“I don’t know.” Would he have time before he had to fly to Peoria? “Maybe not tomorrow, but we will,” said Alice.
“Did he say so?”
“Well, no.”
“He wants you to be a good little bunny until after his show, then it will be, ‘Bye, Alice, nice using you.’ I know he’s hot
but he’ll burn you.”
“You’re wrong. His whole attitude has changed. And now I’m sorry I said anything to you. I thought you’d be happy for me.”
“I want to be happy for you.”
“Then let me enjoy this. Scarlet, for the first time, I’m living a romance instead of reading one.”
Scarlet groaned. “Oh, sis. Be careful.”
“I’ll be fine,” Alice assured her.
She was done simply reading about romance. She was now writing her own. She called her mother. Mom would understand.
“Mom, I just had the most incredible night with Parker. I think something amazing is starting between us,” she began. “He’s
not at all what we thought he was. Not anymore.”
“That’s what he says.” Her mother’s reaction wasn’t as intense as Scarlet’s had been, but it wasn’t exactly enthusiastic.
“He means it,” Alice insisted.
“Just take things slow,” her mother advised.
“I’ll be fine,” Alice assured her.
Her whole life had been slow. Slower than a drugged tortoise. Alice was ready for speed, and she could hardly wait for morning
to come, bringing her more time with Parker.
Crap. Crap, crap, crap. Parker was in such deep shit he was choking on it. Alice now thought he was Prince Charming. What
was she going to think about him once he told her about the book? Would she understand? How would she feel about him out there
promoting it?
Of course, she’d understand. It was cultural commentary, that was all.
Okay, aggressive commentary. Passionate commentary.
And some rude and insulting commentary. But he’d written it long before she and her band of romantics had come along to show him another side to relationships.
She’d understand that. He was worrying for nothing. He’d tell her right after the show.
He had to. David had sent the deal announcement to Publishers Weekly, the big industry magazine. For all he knew, that magazine had already showed up at the store and was kicking around the
back room, like a bomb waiting to go off.
If only he had time to take her to dinner, or at least lunch. But he had a plane to catch.
Okay, Plan B. He’d offer to fly her down to Arizona. Get her there in time for the big Saturday night bash. He and Jay had
a suite. He’d stick Jay in a room with Arne and Butch and put her in the suite with him. He’d take her to games, introduce
her to the players. She’d love it. They’d forget about the stupid book. And when it finally came out, they’d laugh about it.
He’d promote it and it would all be a big joke. Everything would be okay.
He was in deep shit.