Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“Where does she hide her cups in this place?” I know that voice. It’s been in my head way too much recently, making me realize it wasn’t a dream that he called me, where I told him I was sick and Parker demanded my code for the door. Now that I know who’s in my house, relief washes over me. It doesn’t stop me from walking down the small hall in nothing beneath my sheets that I have wrapped around my naked body. I’m going to blame the fever, my nose being plugged up, body kicking my ass. Technical turns for a nurse, I know.
“Parker, what are you doing?” Crap. Now my throat is hurting, as if razor blades are scraping me from the inside out. I could seriously kick Millie’s ass right about now.
“I told you I was coming over. Why are you out of bed?” I stumble back a step. The man who had no problem shutting me down, who said he’d come over, although I vaguely remember him asking or telling me that he was, is standing in my kitchen. Canvas bags are covering my counters. That isn’t the only thing that has me confused. It’s like Parker has two very different sides to him. The man I saw at the gala is completely different to the man who stands before me. Gone is the nearly ten-thousand-dollar suit, there’s no tie around his throat, and what I’m sure were designer shoes last night are not on his feet today. He looks, dare I say, normal.
“I asked you first.” God, talking is going to be out of the question today, as well as work. I’m due to be on shift later tonight, and there’s no way I’d ever attempt or contemplate dragging my ass in there for one reason alone—the kids. I work at the same hospital our charity is associated with, so it was imperative that we made as much as we could to help families in need.
“And I’ll tell you as soon as your ass is back in bed. Jesus, woman.” Parker, who was making a ruckus a few moments ago, now has a box in his hand, glasses perched on his nose. The fabric of a basic cotton shirt is stretched over his broad chest, he’s wearing gray sweatpants, his ankles are crossed, and he’s leaning against my counter without a care in the world.
“I’d argue this case more, but I feel like my throat has tiny gremlins scratching their way out.” I keep my voice low, barely above a whisper, trying to see if that gets rid of some of the pain. Too bad it doesn’t.
“Fuck, you’re worse than you let on. I’ll help you back to bed then get your medicine ready.” There’s only one problem. If he helps me into bed, Parker will realize I’m naked and, well, that would be hard to explain.
“I don’t need help. I’ll just take a shower, change the sheets, and go back to sleep. Thank you for bringing everything over, but you really should leave. No one should feel this way willingly.” He tosses the box on the counter, the box of what I can tell is medicine, and prowls towards me, glasses coming off, the arm of the glasses hung in the collar of his shirt. I should back up, turn around, and run for my bedroom, an impossible task with the gobs of extra fabric surrounding me.
“Vanessa.” He makes it to me in a handful of steps, less than my own would take with his long legs. A man on a mission is the only way to describe him. My head tips back the closer her gets, and my breathing gets choppier, though that could be from being sick. At least there’s an excuse, even if I’m squeezing my thighs together, core clenching, and my nipples… Jesus, could they please not choose this very moment to make an appearance? “I’m staying. I don’t get sick, and no way am I leaving you when you’re barely lucid enough to remember talking to me on the phone.” I furrow my eyebrows wondering how he knows. “Babe, you wouldn’t be wearing your bedsheets as clothes if you knew I was coming. Go do what you need to do. I’ll work on your bed sheets, then the soup. Once you get out, I’ll have your medicine and lemon lime soda ready for you. They were out of ginger ale as well as a few other things. Seems half the damn city must be sick.” I blink as unwanted tears are making a presence.
“Thank you,” I croak out. Parker chooses that moment to cup my cheek. This man in front of me is not the man from last night. He’s softer, sweeter, and I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t giving me emotional whiplash.