Page 111 of Just This Once

He hadn’t called or texted once since I’d left him at the hotel dead asleep. I mean, that might be because I’d left him without even the courtesy of a goodbye. And I hadn’t messaged him either. But I’d kind of thought—Hoped? Dreaded?—that he’d contact me in some way, even if it was to say something rude and sarcastic likeYou’re welcome. Don’t mention it. Glad I could be of service with that bucket list.

But there’d been nothing. And it was driving me crazy.

“Ooh!” I said suddenly, gripping Alec’s shoulder. “Oaklynn said she and Damien got into V-Eleven with no problems on Tuesday, didn’t she? Let’s go and see if we can get in too!”

He contorted his face with indecision. “I don’t know. What if we show up, and they’re like, no…” Affecting his voice into a pretentious highbrow, he lifted his nose as he kept mocking. “You’re not on the list. Get lost before I call security.”

“That actually sounds kind of fun too. I’ve never been kicked out of a restaurant before.” I’d totally add it to my bucket list if we were. “Now wereallyhave to go,” I pressed. “Besides, why would Grumpy allow Damien and Oaklynn a reservation pass, and notyou?”

He nodded as if that made sense, but he still looked reluctant. “Man, Mom would be so jealous if she learned I got in there.”

“Hey, why don’t we just invite her to come with us,” I suggested, realizing I hadn’t stopped by to see Nina since landing in Westport. I’d been so busy trying to cram in as much time with Alec and bucket list activities that I’d forgotten about his sweet mother. A little ashamed about that, I nudged his arm. “Yeah, let’s. We can swing by and pick her up on the way.”

“Okay. Sure.” He seemed to like that idea. “I’ll give her a call.”

As he grabbed his phone and dialed his mother, I heard the faint rumble of a truck engine through the walls, so I wandered over to the high-set windows in Alec’s room and lifted onto my toes as I shifted the curtain aside with a single finger to see out.

My heart fluttered as Parker’s white Ford Raptor pulled away from the curb and took off down the street.

Was he escaping because of me? Had I scared him away?

Disappointment assailed me because I hadn’t gotten more time with him, even as I snorted, “Coward,” under my breath.

Not that I was any better. I hadn’t exactly paused to have a conversation with him when I’d come in the back door either. My heart had been thumping too hard, and my mind had gone blank of everything except the memories of us being naked together.

Dammit. Why had I not thought through the fallout better than this? I’d been so sure that everything could just go back to normal. Parker had never been the type to give anyone any kind of differential treatment. I’d assumed it’d be business as usual the next time I saw him.

I hadn’t counted on the fact thatIwould be the one to wig out and be unable to act naturally in his presence, though.

Everything inside me had coiled hot and ready in the pit of my stomach the moment my gaze had landed on him. I swear, I could feel him inside me again with his hands in my hair and breath in my ear.

Touching my lips, I relived all the different ways he’d kissed me in my head. The frenzied and urgent, starving and desperate for more; the languid and unrushed savoring; the teasing nips that turned into outright torture.

I shuddered abruptly and rubbed my suddenly chilled arms as I turned away from the window.

Alec was just getting off the phone. “She’s in,” he told me, beginning to look excited about our night out.

“Great!” I said, even though my reason for wanting to escape Archer House was no longer valid. “Let’s go.”

My brother paused, glancing down at his worn,Save FerrisT-shirt and weathered jeans. “Um… Should we change first?”

I paused. “Is there an enforced dress code there?”

Alec lifted one shoulder with a clueless shrug. “No idea.”

After thinking it through, I decided, “Screw it. Let’s just go.”

With a somewhat nervous laugh, Alec glanced at the ceiling, briefly addressing it. “Why do I have a feeling this is going to be one incredibly interesting supper?”

“Because—hello—I’mgoing to be there,” I answered as if that should be obvious while I looped my arm through his. Then I urged him toward the door. “Let’s do this.”

He grumbled what sounded like a prayer under his breath as we made our way into the hallway.

“I hope there’s lots of fancy, pretentious stuff on the menu,” I announced. “Because that’s exactly what I’m getting.”

“Hudson said their lobster bisque was the best he’d ever tasted.”

“Sounds good. But, ooh, what about caviar?” I asked, leading him up the stairs. I’d never had caviar before, so I mentally added it to my bucket list. “I’m totally ordering it if they have it.”

---