Page 58 of Taming Waves

I shake my head. “It’s so much more complicated than that. Plus, we work together,” I say.

“Pfffft. Don’t use that fraternization excuse. He’s a temp, not an employee. Besides, none of us adhere to that rule anyway.”

“You don’t?”

“God, no. We all fuck like rabbits. We just do it behind your back.”

“Heather!”

She waves off my scolding. “Let’s not get distracted. We have five more minutes, and you have to pull it together and steer this ship. Are you good?”

“No,” I grumble.

She stands and reaches for my hand to tug me up. “Then, you’ll just have to fake it,” she says as she drags me toward the door. Then, she stops and looks back at me. “Unlike last night.”

It’s a slow Sunday. I’m usually off, but I took the lunch and dinner shifts so Leonard could attend his parents’ anniversary party. It was the least I could do since I’d cut out early yesterday. He and Leena will be coming in to relieve me at five.

I calmed down halfway through the first shift. I realized that Heather was right about one thing: Parker and I are both adults, so we should be able to handle working together after a one-night stand, and that is exactly what last night was —an incredible night of sex, just a physical release. So, I practiced what I would say the next time see him.

Heather and I are eating a snack at the bar while reviewing my carefully crafted speech when Parker saunters in.

“I’ll just be over there,” Heather says, pointing toward the empty dance floor. She gives me a look that says,Eek, then scurries off.

Parker grabs a chili cheese fry from the plate we were sharing and throws it into his mouth as he sits on the stool she just vacated.

“What are you doing here? You’re not on the schedule today,” I ask as I swipe my mouth with a napkin.

“I came to see you,” he says as he continues to steal my fries.

I smack his hand away. “Hey, that’s my lunch.”

“Sorry. I worked up an appetite last night, and I’ve been starving all day,” he says as he tosses another fry into his mouth.

I roll my eyes. “Do you want a drink?”

“Nah. I just came to ask you if you had plans tonight.”

“Parker, we agreed that last night was a one-time thing.” I start reciting the words I rehearsed all afternoon. “I’m not goingto spend the night with you every night. We aren’t dating. We aren’t anything.”

“You done?” he asks.

I blink at him. I expected him to be upset and argue with me, but instead, he just grins.

“First, it was a three-time thing, four if you count the shower this morning. And I’m not here to ask you to spend the night again,” he says before adding, “Who’s the conceited one now?”

I can feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

“Then, why do you want to know if I have plans?”

“The fall carnival is at the wharf today. We’ve all been hanging out there, and Amiya, Avie, and Leia want to see you. They sent me to see if you’ll join us when you get off. There’s gonna be fireworks at eight.”

“That sounds an awful lot like a date to me,” I say.

“It’s just friends spending time together, eating kettle corn and funnel cake while watching the kids play games and collect candy in their costumes.”

“I don’t know. I’ve been on my feet since noon, and as you know, I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

His eyes flicker with heat. “You have a couple of hours left in you. Don’t make me give Amiya your phone number,” he threatens.

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