“Oh.” I straighten. “Okay. I mean, that’s cool. I just—”
“I’m fucking with you.” She gently shoves me. “Granted, I can definitely see the attraction in not dealing with men. Some of you act like children. But, for the most part, I like what your gender has to offer.”
“Duly noted.”
“My first kiss was John Tyler. He didn’t schedule it with me. It just happened while we were at laser tag.”
“Laser tag?”
“Don’t tell me you never went to laser tag when you were a teenager. Where you wear those silly vests and go around with a laser gun pretending to kill people.”
“I know what laser tag is. I was quite skilled at it.”
“John and I were on the same team and were hiding behind one of the pillars in the arena. The rest of our team was already out, and the other team was closing in on us, so it was only a matter of time before we were ‘killed’, too.
“As we were huddled together, he told me he didn’t want to die without kissing a girl. He was really playing up the dramatics of the game. I had to give him points for the amount of effort he exhibited just to kiss me. So I went along with it. Of course, while we were kissing, the other team eliminated us. But it didn’t matter. It was a memorable first kiss, even if it wasn’t great. I doubt anyone’s first kiss is the type Grandma Estelle reads about in her monster erotica.”
I chuckle, taking another drink from my glass. “I’ll never look at her the same way again.”
“Glad I could make your stay at the Inn at Holley Ridge a memorable one.”
“More than you’ll ever know,” I respond softly, eyes locking with hers.
In a heartbeat, the atmosphere shifts from light and playful to something else. Something heavy.
She darts out her tongue and licks her lips, drawing my eyes to her mouth, her chest rising and falling in a quicker pattern.
The air crackles between us, and I curve toward her, my pulse slowly increasing with each inch I erase.
Just when I can all but taste her lips on mine, she abruptly pulls back and jumps down from her barstool.
“I…,” she stammers, her complexion flushed as she averts her gaze. Then she draws in a deep breath. “I need to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, cursing myself for what I was about to do.
What was I thinking? Parker has bad idea written all over her. It’s one thing to hook up with a woman I meet in a hotel bar when I’m scouting properties or overseeing development.
It’s another to hook up with the woman whose property I’m trying to buy.
“Do you want another?” I gesture to her empty wine glass.
She bites on her bottom lip. “Probably not a good idea.”
“Right. Of course. I’ll settle up and meet you in the lobby.”
“Sounds good.”
I watch as she walks away, unable to stop looking at her. Even when she catches me unabashedly checking her out, I still don’t stop. I expect her to shoot daggers at me, or give me some sort of look of disapproval.
Instead, as she continues toward the lobby, she sways her hips a little more, glancing over her shoulder and winking before disappearing from view.
It’s official. If I’m to spend the night in the same room as her, I’m going to need a cold shower.
I signal the bartender and ask for the check, draining the rest of my scotch. After charging our drinks to the room and leaving a generous cash tip, I head out to the lobby.
As I’m waiting, I notice a gift shop with an assortment of souvenirs, including Christmas pajamas. Figuring we’ll both be more comfortable sleeping in something other than our clothes, I slip inside and grab a set for Parker, as well as a pair of snowman boxer shorts for me, returning to the lobby just as she rounds the corner.
“Buying more souvenirs?”
