Head Over Heels (3 page)

“Let me know when you do.”

“Do you always move this fast?”

“This seems fast to you?”

“Speed of light fast.”

“Damn I’m good.”

“I’ll have to take your word for that.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Really?” Cyn took a sip of her soda. She was feeling mighty parched. “You have references?”

“No. You can just judge for yourself.”

“Hello. Speed of light.” Cyn flexed her toes against the carpet, stretching the ligaments in her feet. She was going to pay dearly tomorrow for twenty minutes of vanity tonight. “You’re bad.”

He chuckled. “I was just answering your question.”

“What am I going to do with you?” His smile grew wider. “That was rhetorical.”

“I didn’t say a word. I was being good.” Parker glanced down at her feet. Then glanced back up at her with a frown.

“What?” Cyn glanced down too.

“Are your feet hurting?”

“A little. What a woman won’t do to look good.” Or to please their picky gay friends.

“Put your feet up here and I’ll massage them for you.”

“Uh, no.”

www.samhainpublishing.com 17

Lena Matthews

“Why? And if you say it’s because you don’t know me, we’re going to have words.

I’m offering to rub them.” He wiggled his fingers. “With my hands, not my tongue. It’s not my kink.”

“That’s good to know, but still…”

“For Pete’s sake, woman.” Parker moved to the floor and picked up her right foot, much to her surprise. Before she could snatch her foot away, he placed the ball of his thumb against her arch and began to move it in a circular motion.

The sweet sensation took her breath and every ounce of protest she might have voiced melted away. “Oh God,” she moaned, dropping her head back. It had been so long since anyone rubbed her feet.

“That’s right,” he teased, adding more pressure. “Who’s the man?”

“You are.”

“Who has the best hands in the world?”

“You do.”

“And who are you going to reward with a kiss?”

Without hesitation, she answered, “You.”

“Damn straight.”

If the boys could see him now. The thought had Parker grinning devilishly. No one would be surprised to see him alone in a room with a sexy lady like Cyn. The shock would come from seeing him on his knees in front of her. The role was normally reversed, but something about the way she moaned under his touch told him she wasn’t someone who was pampered often.

For the life of him, he couldn’t tell why. From the little bit of time they’d spent together, he was ready to shower her with rose petals. If his hunch was right and she was single, Parker was going to make it his mission to get to know her better. Much better.

“Mmmm.” Cyn opened her eyes and smiled down at him. She looked all kinds of relaxed. Her sable, shoulder length hair was tousled a bit from when she laid it back against the couch, giving her a sexy, tousled look. It was almost as if she had just climbed from her lover’s bed. From his bed. “Can I keep you?”

18

www.samhainpublishing.com

Head over Heels

Even though the remark was a teasing one, he couldn’t help but be encouraged by the implication. “I should warn you, I’m not house broken.”

“I know how to roll up a newspaper.”

“S & M.
Nice
.”

Laughing, Cyn pulled her foot away and sat up. “You are too much.”

Parker frowned. He felt the loss of her touch instantly. He’d never been affected by a woman so quickly before. This was more than attraction. It was downright obsession.

Parker made his way over to the bar, uncomfortable with the direction his thoughts were taking him. He needed a drink.

A real one.

“Would you like another drink, Cyn?”

“I still have my soda.”

“I meant a real drink.” Turning, he flashed his most disarming smile. The one that charmed hardened nuns and suspicious mothers alike. It was a mask of the highest quality and unlucky for him, she saw right through it.

“No, thank you.”

“Still don’t trust me?”

“I still don’t know you.”

Parker turned away and made himself a bourbon and coke, all the while thinking how her words didn’t sit right with him. With his drink in hand, he made his way back to the couch and sat down. This time a bit closer to her.

“What would you like to know? Ask away. My life is an open book.” Thanks to the paparazzi. “If you ask, I’ll answer.”

“Really?” The idea seemed to intrigue her. Cyn eased up on the couch and tucked her legs underneath her. The black skirt rose high on her thigh, teasing him with a sexy flash of brown flesh. His palms tingled to touch her, but he knew if she didn’t trust him to pour her a drink, she wouldn’t trust him to partake of the sweet chocolate flesh before him.

www.samhainpublishing.com 19

Lena Matthews

“Yes. What do you want to know?” He braced himself for an onslaught of questions about his job and income. When he’d given her his name earlier, she didn’t respond. So either she was the best actress on the face of the earth or she didn’t have a clue.

“You asked me earlier what I thought of your club, why don’t you tell me what you think of it.”

The question took him back a bit. Parker hadn’t been expecting that. “Umm…”

“Is that a no-no?”

“Not at all. It was just surprising.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I was expecting something along the lines of materialistic stuff.”

“Please.” She rolled her very expressive hazel eyes. “I so don’t care about those sorts of things. I mean it’s obvious you must have some money, you do own a club.”

“Part of a club and to be honest, not a very big part.”

“Either way, it’s your business, not mine. Besides, knowing what kind of car you drive won’t tell me anything about you, except where you shop. It’s not what you do that’s important. It’s who you are when no one is around that matters most.”

She amazed him. Her insight was as refreshing as her honesty. “Who are you?”

She lightly laughed. “I’m Cyn, the lady asking the questions.”

Either his life had become overly jaded or he needed to get out more. He’d forgotten women like Cyn ever existed. Mentally shaking his head, he thought about her question.

“I’m sure it’s a good investment, but I’m not sure if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”

“What do you want to do for the rest of your life?”

“I have no idea. I have a great job now but it’s getting old. Or I am.”

“You, old? I doubt that. How old are you, gramps?”

“Thirty-five. You?”

“Twenty-five.”

“Aww…you’re a baby.”

20

www.samhainpublishing.com

Head over Heels

“Whatever, old man.” She tsked. “You seem to have accomplished a lot at such an early age. Your parents must be proud.”

That was laughable. “Proud isn’t exactly the word I’d use.”

“Why not?”

“I could make money hand over fist, but until I deliver upon my parents’ steps a dutiful wife and strapping young heir, they’ll never be pleased. My father wants a namesake and my mother wants a grandchild to brag about over tea at the Country Club.”

“Do they beat you?”

Her comment startled him. “No.”

“Are they evil drunks who touched your little boy places when no one was looking?”

“No.” She really was too much
.

“Then it could be worse,” she said with a smile and a shrug of her shoulders.

“Well, when you put it that way…” he laughed. “What about your parents?”

Her smiled dimmed. “My mother is dead and my father is gullible.”

“Gullible?”

“Big time. He used to be normal back in the day, but now this hag he’s in lust with has him on a leash. And not the hot sexy kind either.”

Hot sexy leashes. A woman after his own heart. “Yes, but did he beat you or touch your little girl places?”

“Nope.” She smiled. “So it’s not that bad.”

“Not at all.” Parker took a drink from his glass. To his utter amazement, Cyn held her hand out for his glass. He handed it to her and watched as she took a dainty sip, then gave it back. Her actions spurred him on. It was definitely a step in the right direction.

“Next question.”

Cyn continued to barrage him with off the wall questions all the while taking sips from his drink. Parker stood to refresh the glass at least twice and each time she waited until he took a drink before partaking herself. He decided he liked the interesting little ritual they’d created.

www.samhainpublishing.com 21

Lena Matthews

He also liked the way she lined up the glass to match almost exactly where his lips had been with her own before drinking. It was as intimate as a kiss, sexy even, but not as fun.

For every question she asked, he would ask one of his own. They talked and laughed and spent the evening getting to know each other on a level Parker had never been to with another woman.

She’d discovered more about him in their time together than a decade worth of interviews by experienced reporters had over the course of his career. The woman could charm the birds from the trees. It was a good thing she didn’t know what kind of gold mine the information was.

In the midst of a funny story about silly fears, Cyn’s cell phone rang. It was the first interruption they’d experienced since entering the room. And it was a very unwelcome one. Frowning, she pulled the phone from her little black purse and gasped.

“What’s wrong?” He asked worriedly.

“Do you know what time it is?” Flipping the lid open, she immediately apologized.

“I’m so sorry. I know. I know.”

He glanced at the watch on his arm. It was almost midnight. They’d been talking for almost two hours. Where had the time gone?

“Okay. I’m on my way.” She slammed down the lid on her phone and stood.

On her way. What the hell was going on? “Everything okay?”

“No, Miller is upset and ready to go.”

“Who is Miller?” Parker made it a habit to know the name of the men he planned to destroy. “Why do you care if he’s upset?”

“Miller is my friend. The one I was supposed to text two hours ago. He’s ready to go.”

“So let him go.”

“He’s my ride.” Cyn bent over to slip her shoes on and stumbled. Parker caught her and pulled her flush against him as he helped her stand.

“I can give you a ride.” In more than one way. “You don’t have to go now.”

22

www.samhainpublishing.com

Head over Heels

“I do. He’s upset. Apparently he ran into his ex and things went south.”

She pulled back and he let her. It would do him no good to try to force her to stay.

“Cyn, wait.” She paused at the door and glanced over her shoulder. “I want to see you again.”

His words brought a smile to her pretty brown face. “You do?”

“Yes.” Thinking quickly, Parker grabbed his wallet and pulled out one of his business cards. He walked across the room and handed it to her, but didn’t let go. Instead, he moved in closer and used his free hand to draw her against him once more.

Cyn leaned into him and tilted her head back, awaiting the kiss they both knew was a long time in the making. And just as he went to lower his mouth onto hers, her cell phone rang again.

Cursing, he released his hold on her and the card both. “Call me. This evening has been…”

“Yes it has.” Her look of disappointment as she headed out the door was the only salve to his pride. At least she regretted the interruption as much as he did.

Parker was half way back across the room before he realized he didn’t have a way to contact her. He didn’t even know what her full name was. Spinning around, he rushed over to the door and looked down the stairs, but Cyn was long gone.

“Damn it,” he muttered infuriated. She’d call he told himself, or he’d turn this city upside down looking for her.

www.samhainpublishing.com 23

Lena Matthews

As far as Cyn was concerned, she’d just earned her wings to good friend heaven.

Instead of spending her evening with Parker, who at this very moment could have been talking her into his bed, she was sitting on Miller’s floral couch, eating ice cream out the container with MeShell as Miller ranted on and on about his ex Yancy.

Cyn had never liked Yancy, even when he and Miller were dating. As far as she was concerned Yancy had been lucky to have Miller. Not only was her friend a great guy he also happened to be very attractive. Although average height and build, he had big dark eyes, closely cropped black hair and skin the color of rich dark chocolate. Looks and personality. The perfect package to anyone with a brain, which of course left Yancy out, who proved his lack of intelligence by cheating on Miller. She’d been more than happy when Miller dumped his ass. But now that Yancy was the reason she wasn’t getting any tonight, she really hated him. The things a girl gave up in the name of friendship.

“I don’t know why I let him do this to me,” Miller fumed in mid-pace. From the way he was wearing a path in his living room, he was going to have to re-carpet his apartment soon.

“Because you’re a drama queen with a massive self-destructive streak and lousy taste,” MeShell offered, snaring the cookies and cream container from Cyn.

Friendship dictated that even though Cyn secretly agreed with a couple of MeShell’s comments, she didn’t concur out loud. “I think it was a rhetorical comment.”

“My momma always said, tell the truth, shame the devil, girl.” MeShell passed the ice cream back.

“No one asked you or your momma,” Miller snapped. “What are you doing here anyway?”

24

www.samhainpublishing.com

Head over Heels

“Enjoying your meltdown. It’s practically Oscar worthy.” MeShell brought her spoon in front of her like a microphone. “The award for best dramatic actress in a very gay role goes to…”

Miller shot MeShell an aggravated look and the finger, much to Cyn’s amusement.

Cyn had her own theory on why MeShell had joined them, and it had nothing to do with cattiness. When she had come downstairs, Miller had been barely holding it together, while MeShell appeared as if she was seconds away from taking off her wig and throwing down. Cyn was beginning to think there was more behind their Sonny and Cher routine than met the eye.