Page 25 of The Problem with Playboys

“I’ve decided not to go.”

“But we always go together. It’s tradition.”

“All they really want from me is a check. They’ll get their money.”

Parker couldn’t believe what his dad was saying. They’d attended the fundraiser for the cancer wing at the hospital since Parker was a teenager, the year after Parker’s mom passed away. “It still says something for you to be there.”

“It’s time for you to carry that torch. That’s the way your mom would have wanted it anyway.”

Parker wasn’t a sentimental guy and he tried not to think about his mom too much—losing her had been one of the most difficult things he’d ever experienced. “Do you think about her?”

“She creeps into my thoughts most days.”

Parker sighed. “Yeah. Me too.”

“But I don’t like to get too wrapped up in it, either. I loved your mother, but we did not have a perfect marriage. I don’t want to put her on a pedestal she might not wish to be on.”

“Do you think I do that?”

“You’re her son. It’s your job to not only put her on the pedestal, but to keep her there. Which is why I think it’s important that you’re the family representative at that fundraiser.”

“Oh, I’m definitely going. A few of my clients will be there.”

“All the more reason for you to go. But don’t let the whole night be about work. There’s more to life than that.”

Parker nodded, taking in his father’s words. He hadn’t counted on so much life advice. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.”

“Thank you for straightening things out with Oscar Bratt.”

“Yeah. Of course.”

“I’d better get going. I’m heading out for a round of golf in a few minutes.”

“Have fun.” Parker said goodbye to his father and ended the call. The phone was still in his hand and the things his dad had said were echoing in his head...don’t let the whole night be about work.Perhaps if he invited Chloe to the fundraiser, she would see that he really wasn’t the guy she thought he was.

Of course, she’d said thatshewould callhim. That made this tricky. And messy.

Then again, he liked messy.

And if he spent any more time thinking about it, he’d find a dozen reasons to talk himself out of it—why put yourself out there? Why risk the rejection? Why not call a woman who’d be eager to say yes? The answer was that he only wanted Chloe. So he pulled up her number and pressed the green button. With every ring, his confidence waned a bit more. Was she staring at his name on the caller ID and deciding whether she wanted to speak to him? That was a real possibility.

Eventually, the ringing stopped. “You’ve reached Chloe Burnett. Leave a message.” For an instant, he considered hanging up and moving on. He had other options. There were other women he could invite to the fundraiser.

But Chloe was the one occupying his thoughts. He couldn’t shake her. So he took a deep breath and went for it. “Hey, Chloe. It’s Parker. I hope you’re doing well.” He got up and walked over to the window, his mind racing for the right way to ask the question. “I know you said that you would call me, but this couldn’t wait. I have to go to a fundraiser for the cancer hospital Friday night and my dad usually goes, but he’s bowing out this year. I was hoping you might come with me. I guess I just felt like things were cut very short at the end of our trip. I’d like to be able to spend a little more time with you. If you’re up for it.” He drew in a deep breath, feeling as though he might have dug himself a very deep hole. “So, yeah. Call me if you’re interested.”

Chloe was late for brunch at her mom’s. She anxiously looked out the car window as Liam breezed north on Madison Avenue to the Upper East Side, having little trouble navigating the city streets on a Sunday morning. She was almost never behind schedule. She was a stickler for punctuality. But ever since Parker had left her that message yesterday, she’d been off-kilter. She thought she’d closed the door on any involvement with him, but apparently he wasn’t willing to take no for an answer. The thing that was really throwing her off was the event he’d invited her to. A hospital fundraiser? That wasnota date. Nor was it a recipe for seduction. So maybe he merely didn’t want to go alone. She wasn’t sure what he was after. She also wasn’t sure whether she wanted to provide whatever it might be.

She arrived at her mother’s apartment building on Madison at 89th St., just a block from Central Park, a few minutes after eleven o’clock. She rushed inside when the doorman let her in, only to find Alex and Taylor waiting near the elevator.

“You’re late,” Taylor said, tucking one side of her blond bob behind her ear. She was dressed in black from head to toe, which anyone else might find somber attire for Sunday brunch, but it was pretty normal for her.

“We figured we should wait and go up with you,” Alexandra said, smiling sweetly. She was her usual gorgeous self, in a fun and feminine deep teal dress that really brought out her warm brown eyes. Her dark hair was up in a high ponytail, highlighting her perfect cheekbones.

Chloe hugged both of her friends then pressed the button for the elevator. “Thanks for coming on short notice. It’ll make my mom happy. She’s still nursing her wounds from the divorce.”

“It probably doesn’t help that you took a job with her ex-husband’s son,” Taylor said.

Chloe should have known better than to tell Taylor about that little detail. “Please don’t say anything about it in front of my mom. She doesn’t know and I intend to keep it that way.”