Page 80 of Someday You Learn

Hazel giggles. Full-ongiggles. “Believe me, as I watched him draw on me, I couldn’t fight the way my body reacted. It was like his touch flipped a switch connected directly to my clit.”

I bark out a laugh. “I bet.”

“But when he was done, he just stood from the chair, thanked me, and left.”

“He didn’t ask for your name? Or number?”

“Nope. He was gone before I could even process what the hell happened.”

“Do you think he’s local?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve never seen him around here before. He was probably a tourist—this town is full of them, as you know. But it was one of the most exhilarating moments of my life.”

“I can’t believe that. It’s so romantic and…”

“Unreal, right?”

“Yeah… Why do you think it was a sign from your dad?”

Hazel stares down at the bird. “When he was dying, I asked him if he would visit me, and he told me I was stupid to think he wouldn’t. He said he would come to me as a hummingbird because he knew how much I love them. So now, whenever I see one, I like to think he’s here with me.”

I blink away my own tears threatening to fall. “I love that. I definitely believe it was him, Hazel.”

A tear slips down her cheek. “Maybe. But now the question is, what was he trying to tell me?”

“I wish I had an answer for you.”

She looks up at me and shrugs. “And I wish I had an answer for you about my brother. But I think you’re on the right track. If worse comes to worst, I can go over there and slap him around a bit,” she teases.

“Oh, I’m sure he would love that.”

We both laugh and Hazel moves to the kitchen for the pastries. As I share the progress I’m making on my business and she tells me more about her photography business and her brothers, I realize for the first time since I moved here that I feel like I have a friend.

Hazel is the type of girlfriend you could only dream about, and her brother is the man Ihavedreamed about.

It’s time to be honest with him. I know what I want, and I’m tired of us dancing around our feelings. Shit is about to get real. I just hope that Parker can handle it.

***

When I walk into Parker’s house a few hours later, I find him in the kitchen making a sandwich. He’s in a plain white T-shirt and black athletic shorts, his hair a sexy, disheveled mess. I have to say, I love the way he looks in his button-down shirts, slacks, and ties when he goes to work, but this version of him—relaxed, raw, and unguarded—is my favorite.

When I shut the door behind me, his eyes flick up to meet mine. “Good morning,” I say because it’s barely after ten, yet I feel like an entire week of agony has passed since last night.

“Morning. I was surprised to find you gone when I woke up. I’m nearly always up before you.”

“I—I couldn’t sleep.” Crossing the living area, I move to stand on the other side of the island, facing him head-on. “I think we need to talk.”

Parker inhales deeply, exhaling slowly and looking back down at his sandwich, holding a butter knife. But then his jaw tightens as he squares his shoulders. “What do you want to talk about?”

The way he acts as ifI’mthe frustrating one hasmesnapping now. I slap the counter with my hand. “Damn it, Parker! Enough is enough!”

The knife he was holding clatters against the marble, the sound echoing around us. “What’s gotten into you?”

“What’s gotten intome?” I shout as I round the island and stand right in front of him. “You! You got into me. You fucked me last night and then walked away like it meant nothing.” His jaw tightens but he still doesn’t say anything. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep denying what’s between us.” Placing my hands on his chest, I move in closer to his body. “I need you to talk to me. Please.”

“You’ve been pushing me, Cashlynn,” he says, his voice gruff and low. “Torturing me, taunting me with your body, and I gave in. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

My heart races as he confirms what he said to me last night in the heat of the moment. And even though I’m regretting the decision of messing with him now, there’s no going back. “Yes, I did. But I figured you’d open up to me afterward.” I reach up, cupping his face, forcing his eyes to meet mine. “You hurt me when you just walked away.”

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