“About?”
“Can we talk about it later?”I’m not having this conversation standing in the middle of a coffee shop. I’m not going to let the world know how pathetic I am.
For a moment Rafe looked as if he was going to ask something, but he bit back anything he was going to say. “Sure. I’ll grab the coffees, and we can talk and walk.”
Once they were outside, Parker took a fortifying sip of the caffeine and looked around, taking in his surroundings. It really was a gorgeous day. People everywhere, most of them laughing and chatting as they took in the sights and enjoyed the perfect weather. Music filled the air, punctuated by shrieks from the nearby rides. The scent of fast food mixed with the salty tang of the sea breeze.
“You want to go on the roller coaster?” Rafe asked.
Parker snorted. “Not on your life.”
“The Ferris wheel?”
“You’d really go on that with me?” The Ferris wheel had to be the tamest, most uncool ride there was.
Rafe’s smile widened. “Sure. Why not? So what do you say? Want to give it a go?”
Parker gazed up at the huge rotating wheel. “Nah. Maybe later in the week. But a walk sounds good. Here, hold this.” He thrust his cup out, and Rafe took it, freeing Parker to rummage in the messenger bag he had slung across his chest. He pulled out a khaki cap and a tube of sunscreen.
Rafe waited patiently while Parker put on the hat, then slathered his face and exposed skin with sunscreen, topping up what he’d already put on his morning.
“Here.” Rafe touched his cheek. “Missed a bit.”
Parker felt his face heating as Rafe rubbed the sunscreen into the area over his cheekbone. “Give it to me.” Rafe held his hand out for the tube and squeezed a little more on his fingers. “We can’t have you burning.” His fingertips were gentle as he smoothed the lotion across Parker’s nose. He finished by adjusting Parker’s cap. “Perfect,” he said with a soft smile as he stood back and studied him.
There was a tightness in Parker’s throat as he said thanks. Rafe’s subtle caring was so unexpected, as was the flare of desire he saw in Rafe’s gaze. He cleared his throat. “C’mon, let’s walk. We can check out the original Muscle Beach if we head that way towards Venice.”
They headed south from the pier, wandering along the sandy footpath of the Ocean Front Walk as they drank their coffee and took in the sights. The area was bustling with people—walkers, cyclists, people pushing strollers, kids and adults alike on skates and scooters, and people exercising. While children used the swings, athletic-looking people in gym wear worked out on grassed areas or the sand and utilised the various pieces of equipment. They sat on a bench seat to finish their drinks, observing all the beautiful people with their sculpted bodies and acres of tanned skin. Parker sighed.
“What was that for?”
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
“You said the same thing back at the pier. What’s on your mind? I don’t like seeing you look so worried. You should be enjoying the break. I mean, it’s gorgeous here.”
“Too gorgeous.”
“Now you’re not making any sense. How can it be too gorgeous?” Rafe looked around, and Parker knew he must be seeing what he was seeing—the perfect weather, the amazing beach with the expanse of glistening blue ocean behind, the fit people laughing while they exercised. Rafe, with his arms spread wide across the back of the bench, looked relaxed and the ultimate in gorgeousness.
He sighed again.
“Parker?”
“It’s not going to make sense to you. But being here, being with you, all of the stuff that’s going on, it’s just made me realise—no, not realise, because I knew all along—it’s just reinforced how different we are.”
“And?”
“And what? We’re chalk and cheese.”
“I’m not sure that’s true, but even if it was, I don’t see how that’s a problem.”
Parker huffed. “You’re cool. You’re a super-sexy superstar with fans.Fans, Rafe! You have people who ask for your autograph and want their photo taken with you. I’m not like that.”
Rafe took his hand, sending a shiver up his arm. “I like you just the way you are.”
Parker rolled his eyes. “Hmm.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t sell yourself short. Are you saying I have bad taste or I’m a bad judge of character? Because I mean it, Parker, Ireallylike you.” He chuckled. “I think you should probably give up this argument, because you’re not going to win. Where’s this coming from, anyway?”
