Page 47 of Taming Waves

I didn’t. I went to work and tried to avoid Parker as much as possible, given our close proximity.

However, my luck ran out when I came down to find both of them waiting for me in the parking lot this morning. Heather had sent me a warning text. They’d bombarded her with questions as soon as she pulled up. We were supposed to go for a run so she could tell me all about her night with the sexy countrysinger. Instead, I ended up at breakfast with my parents, who gave me the third degree.

I tried my best to convince them that nothing was happening between Parker and me, but Dad insisted he could tell “that boy” had bad intentions. How he could have perceived anything from our two-minute interaction was beyond me, but he wouldn’t listen to reason. Instead, he reminded me why Parker Alston was trouble and why I should stay far away from him.

While he made valid points, I can’t avoid Parker entirely, but I do need to guard my heart and keep him at arm’s length.

Not that the infuriating man makes it easy.

Since arriving this evening, he has been flirting continuously. He enters my personal space and looks for opportunities to touch me whenever possible. Every time I glance up, I find his eyes on me, and I can feel the intensity of his gaze as I try to focus on my customers. He gets bolder every day despite my best attempts to keep our relationship platonic. And truth be told, I don’t trust myself not to succumb to his advances.

I want to. The attraction crackles in the air between us. If I don’t find a way to distract myself soon, I’m afraid I’ll do something I’ll regret.

“Hey, Audrey.”

I turn to see Warner Price standing at the end of the bar.

Warner grew up on the island but later moved when he accepted a position as a literature professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He’s a nice guy. We went on a few dates, but I didn’t feel any chemistry—at least not on my end.

“Hi, Warner. It’s good to see you,” I say as I set a mug of beer in front of the guy seated to his right. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Yeah, I’ll take a martini.”

I make his cocktail and take his card to start a tab.

“The band is good,” he says as I hand him back his card.

“Yeah, they’ve sure packed the house this week.”

“You’re a country music fan, aren’t you?” he asks.

“I am.”

“You should come to Wilmington for a concert sometime. My new place is within walking distance of Live Oak Pavilion. The venue hosts great bands. I saw Jelly Roll perform there last week.”

“Excuse me,” Parker says, reaching around me to grab a stack of cocktail napkins and interrupting Warner.

“That sounds fun,” I say, replying to Warner while ignoring Parker as his finger glides across the skin revealed by my shirt at my lower back.

“Are you free this weekend? I’d love to grab a cup of coffee and catch up or maybe have dinner,” Warner asks.

Parker growls as he reaches past me again to fist a handful of straws.

“Do you mind?” I ask, stepping out of his way.

“I’m working all weekend, but I can leave a little early tomorrow night if you’d like to grab a late dinner,” I tell Warner, ensuring Parker can hear me.

I believe Leena is ready to be on her own. I can transition her upstairs to the beer bar while Leonard and Parker manage the main floor. This way, as long as everything is running smoothly, I can leave around nine.

“A late dinner sounds great,” Warner says.

“Pick me up here at nine?”

“I’ll be here,” he says.

He walks back to a table where two other gentlemen are seated by the dance floor, and I take the order of the guy who steps up to take his spot.

Parker and I spend the rest of the night in relative silence. I can sense the anger radiating off him from across the bar, but he doesn’t act on it. Instead, he puts on a big smile and works his ass off.

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