The UN Series Complete Box Set (186 page)

“You said you’re a nurse at the hospital?” he asks. I nod. “Standing on your feet for long periods of time must be stressful.”

“It can be,” I say. “But I love my job,” I say with a proud smile. “Your job must be stressful. You know? People hitting you in the nose.” I can’t help but laugh when he laughs. It’s deep and powerful and makes his eyes light up.
Ignore that feeling in the pit of your stomach and
keep your legs crossed.

“Yeah. I have those days where I run into the crazies.” He continues to laugh and I look down at my coffee mug. “But those are the ones that you remember the most.”

I look up at him and see him watching me intently. It makes me shift in my seat.

“Where did you learn to speak French?” he asks, tilting his head to the side.

The sudden change in subject doesn’t help my unease. “My mother was French,” I say, hating that I have to bring her up. Why didn’t I just say school? That would have been an easier answer.

“Was?” he asks.

“She’s dead.” Well, she’s dead to me.

His face softens. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”
I’m not.
I hate for anyone to feel pity for a dead mother who doesn’t exist.

I place my hand over my mouth as I cover a yawn and he stands to get my attention. “I should go so you can get some rest.” He starts to walk to the door and I stay seated like an idiot.
He may try to kiss you. And that can’t happen.
“Thanks for the coffee,” he says with a smirk on his face, and I have a feeling he’s laughing about something.

I look down at my dress to make sure I’m not flashing him. “Welcome,” I say awkwardly and his smirk grows.

He turns around and walks out of my house. I fall back onto the couch and let out a long sigh. I need sleep.

*****

I feel slobber on my face as Boner, my pit bull, licks me. “Stop,” I say trying to shove him off me. He plops down beside me, and I open one eye to see him staring at me as if he’s starving. I reach out and pet him and he starts to pant. My father got him for me four years ago. I came home from Oklahoma to spend his birthday with him, and he surprised me with a present. He said I needed protection and a dog would help him sleep better at night. I fell in love with him and he is great protection. Everyone who looks at him is terrified, but he’s just a big teddy bear. “Such a good boy,” I say, rubbing the top of his head and he rolls over onto his side. “Yes, you are…”

I sigh heavily as I hear my phone ringing. I pick it up to see
Sexy Motherfucker
display on my screen along with a selfie of Parker sitting on my couch from last night. That sneaky little bastard got on my phone while I was in the kitchen. And that’s why he was wearing that smirk when he left last night. He had gone through my phone and got my number. I go to hit ignore but find myself pressing answer.

“What do you want, Parker?” I stretch my body and can feel the tightness in my back.

“Well hello to you too, sweetheart,” he says with a chuckle.

I roll my eyes. “Why are you calling me so early?” I roll over onto my stomach and close my eyes waiting for his response. Boner licks the back of my head reminding me that he needs to be fed. “Why are you calling me at all?” is a better question.

“I’m calling to tell you to get ready. I’m taking you on a date.”

“Not happening.” Geez, this guy is persistent. “And it’s like ten in the morning.”

“It’s not up for discussion. Now, get up. No need for make-up. Or to fix your hair. You’re going to have to shower afterward anyway.”

My eyes spring open. “Are you entering me in mud wrestling match?” I put nothing past this guy. He seems like the type to like to watch girls wrestle.

“Damn. I must tell you thank you for that visual, but no, that is not it.” He chuckles again. “Now, get dressed.”

I roll onto my back and look up at my ceiling. Boner whines beside me, and I reach over to pet him.
I have nothing else to do today. Well, not until later.
“How should I dress?” I cringe at the thought of Parker O’Hare taking me anywhere. But my thighs tighten as I imagine looking at him.

“Doesn’t matter. You’ll be taking it off anyway,” he says matter-of-factly.

“I’m not going to go to a sex club with you, Parker.” I’m pretty sure they have those here in St. Louis. The question is—are they open this early?

“Is that all you think about? Sex?”

Sex. It’s been too long. “Isn’t that all you think about?”

“Touché,” he answers laughing. “Now. Seriously, I’m only about ten minutes away.”

“Parker…” He hangs up on me.

Placing my phone back on my nightstand, I angrily kick off my bed sheets and Boner barks. “I know,” I say running into the kitchen to put some food in his bowl. 

*****

Why did I answer my phone?
I ask myself as I pace back and forth in my entryway. I could be doing a lot of things today besides spending it with this idiot.

“Like what?” I ask myself out loud.

“Anything. I could go…”

The doorbell rings as I talk to myself like a weirdo. I take one deep breath to calm the nerves that I seem to have all of a sudden and open the front door.

“Who were you talking to?” he asks by greeting.

I allow my eyes to look him up and down like they always seem to do. He has on a white fitted shirt with the sleeves cut off. His tan and muscular arms are on full show and I swallow nervously. How am I going to be able to go anywhere with him without jumping on him? He wears a pair of black sweatpants that hang low and all I can think about is if he has the V. The one that makes all girls want to lick them. Yeah, that would do me in.

I clear my throat. “I was on my phone,” I answer his question before I grab my purse and walk out the door. Let’s get this date over with so I can get away from him.

I thank him as he opens up the passenger door for me. Hmm. He’s being way too polite.

He climbs up into the driver’s seat and starts the truck before pulling out of my driveway. I inhale the smell of his truck and my insides tighten. It smells one hundred percent man—clean and refreshing. And it surprises me to find the inside extremely clean. He seems like someone who would throw dirt on it just to give it the rough and used look.

He rests his arm on the steering wheel as he places his glasses over his eyes. I place my sunglasses on as well so I can look out of the corner of them to watch him.

“What type of music do you like?” his deep voice asks and I jump. He chuckles. “Nervous?” he asks, not looking over at me.

“Didn’t get much sleep,” I lie. I actually slept pretty damn well. “And anything is fine,” I say answering his question.

He goes to turn the stereo on when my phone rings. He places his hand back on the steering wheel. I dig into my purse and see it’s Robert, the doctor that I allowed to take me out last night. I don’t want to talk to him, but I also hate to ignore him. I see the guy every time I work at the hospital.

“Hello?” I ask.

“I’m so sorry about last night,” he rushes out. “I don’t know what happened.” He takes a deep breath.

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. I saw that guy talking to you. I heard about how you and your ex got in a fight a few weeks back and then how he’s suing you.” I sigh. “And then I saw him sitting there with you.”

“That wasn’t my ex,” I say and Parker grins. I know he can hear Robert speak as well since he didn’t turn the music on.

“Oh.” He sounds disappointed. “Well, I got mad. And confused. I just want to tell you that I’m very sorry,” he says sounding disappointed in himself.

“No worries,” I assure him. There won’t be another date, but there’s no need to apologize. Nothing happened.

I hang up and place the phone in my lap. “Sorry,” I say, feeling even more awkward now that I answered the call.

“No worries,” he says, making fun of me. I give him a hard look as the truck starts to slow down.

“What are we doing here?” I ask as we pull up to a salon and day spa. “Are you trying to tell me something?” Do I need to get my hair colored? Do I have zits that need to be scrubbed off? 

He shakes his head as he chuckles but gives no answer. He removes the keys from the ignition and then lifts up his center console. I take a look in it, being nosy. My eyes widen in surprise when I see a set of handcuffs and a black handgun sitting in there. He grabs his wallet and then shuts it.
Were those the ones he used on me? At the time, I was pissed at the cop who held me down. Now, that thought turns me on. Would he be that rough with me knowing who I am? Or would he be soft?

“What?” he asks getting my attention.

I pull back quickly and look up at him. “Nothing.”

“I’m a cop. I always have a gun and a set of handcuffs with me,” he informs me, and I nod reaching for the door handle. I follow him inside, and he gestures for me to sit down before walking up to the desk.

“Hello, Mr. O’Hare,” the brunette says from behind the desk the moment she sees him.

I refrain from rolling my eyes as she pushes her nonexistence tits out. Parker eats it up as he smiles brightly at her. “Hey, Lindsey.” His voice has changed to more of a seductive tone and I can almost hear her moan.
Douche
.

I have to look away before I vomit. I reach over and pick up a magazine blocking out whatever they have to talk about.

I sit there for about fifteen minutes enjoying the silence as he sits beside me. I like that he’s not being much of a talker today. The last few times I’ve seen him, he’s either hitting on me or pissing me off. “Mr. O’Hare,” a woman calls out his name. “We’re ready for you guys.”

I look up at Parker as he stares down at me with that smirk on his face. I toss the magazine onto the table next to my seat and stand. He places his hand on the small of my back to guide me down the hallway to the back and I notice the look of disappointment from the girl sitting behind the front desk.

I shove Parker’s hand off my back as we walk down the darkened hallway. The lady I’m following comes to a stand and turns to face us after opening the door to a room. “You know the drill, Mr. O’Hare. I’ll be back in five minutes.” Then she turns and walks away leaving us together.

“What are we doing, Parker?” I whisper harshly.

“Come on.” He grabs my upper arm and pulls me into the room. It’s dark but not black. There’s a sound of a piano softly playing in the background. A dark brown color paints the walls, and there’s a soft light coming from under a brown lampshade tucked over in the corner. Then I look down in front of me and see two small yet long tables side by side. Each covered with a soft, white linen blanket. I finally realize what we are doing. We’re getting a massage. Together. Side by side.

“A couple’s massage?” I blurt out.

“Whoa,” he says placing a hand up. “It’s a little too soon to put a label on it,” he jokes.

I wanna slap that smirk right off his face. “No.” I shake my head quickly as I take a step back from him. “I didn’t mean you and me. I meant…” I place my hand out. “This…”

“Relax, Kat.” He gives me that little smirk that I’m growing to hate. “I was just joking with you.” He laughs and I narrow my eyes. “I just figured your tight ass could use some relaxation.” He takes a step toward me and I stand my ground. He reaches up and places his hand on my upper back. “You said your back was bothering you last night. I figured this couldn’t make it any worse.”

I go to speak, but he takes a step back, reaches down, and pulls his white shirt up over his head. I watch the muscles move in his smooth chest and his six-pack as he kicks his shoes off and then pushes his black sweatpants down his legs. I stand frozen and stare shamelessly. The way his leg muscles flex as he removes his pants makes my heart beat faster. It’s been so long since I’ve had sex, and say what you want, but I love sex. I’m not that girl who can go without it. I need it.

“Superman?” I question out loud not realizing it as he stands in his boxers in front of me. And what a sight that is. Maybe I was wrong about him being small.
Don’t drool, Katherine.

“Well, yeah,” he says with a shy smile. “I’ve always had a thing for superheroes. Superman was my favorite. I always wanted to fly.” He then turns around and crawls under the little thin sheet before lying on his stomach. I stand there staring at his back, the way the muscles roll like waves as he pulls the blanket up and over his ass. God, what an ass it is. I just wanna sink my teeth into it.

“Don’t worry,” he says, making me jump. “I’m not gonna watch you get naked like you just did me.” He turns his head to look over his shoulder and winks at me. “But I’m glad you liked what you saw,” he smirks before lying his head down to look through the little hole on the massage table.

I should say something—fire a comeback—but it’s too late now. And what would I say anyway? I literally stood there like an idiot and watched him undress. If I had dollar bills, I probably would have placed them in those Superman boxers just to feel that V that every girl drools over. Of course, he has one.