Page 3 of Steamy Dunk
The elevator stopped at her floor and Violet stood in the doorway, holding the door open as she looked back at Parker. "Six o'clock in the lobby. And you really think this is a good idea?"
Parker's smile was infectious. "Best idea I've had in awhile."
"Uh, OK. I guess I'll see you at six."
Violet took a step back into the hallway and heard Parker say "See you then, Violet Petree!" just before the doors shut.
This was ridiculous. A little flattery about her work at The Cheshire Cat persuaded her to go on a date with a man she had met five minutes ago in her building lobby. Yep, totally ridiculous.
Violet wasn't kidding about the dress though. She had a go-to in her closet for black-tie restaurant openings for her projects. Dressing up for a formal charity event was an easy thing for her to do.
But going with a basketball player she just met? Well, that part would be interesting.
Chapter Two
This was the worst idea Parker Blakeman had come up with in a long time.
He didn't mind doing local charity events and his Chicago Ignition basketball team even encouraged it. Tonight, he and some other players were going out to support the children's hospital in the city. Parker even volunteered to help with the auction to help raise extra money.
All that was great.
But what wasn't great was Katherine. His ex.
There was a reason he had to move into a new apartment in Chicago. His ex broke up with him and started dating a doctor in the same building they lived in - or rather he lived in. It was his damn place that she moved into before cheating on him.
He saw Katherine and Dr. Whatever in the lobby together too many times. It was just too much.
And yes, Dr. Whatever was a pediatrician who worked at the children's hospital he was raising money for tonight.
So yes, Parker did something stupid and irrational and invited a hot woman from his apartment building to be his date tonight.
Parker took one more look at himself in the mirror to make sure everything looked good. It wasn't easy to find someone who could properly tailor a tuxedo for a six-foot-ten basketball player but Del was the best in the city and there was a reason the entireteam went to him for suits. He did an amazing job with this one. Velvet collar on the jacket and a velvet stripe down the side of the pants. It was a little different than a typical tux, a little more modern but still sharp.
Parker wondered if Violet would like it.
He had thought about maybe canceling on her. Maybe he could ask Charlie at the front desk which apartment she lived in so he could let her down in person. But the look on her face when he said the event was at The Cheshire Cat tonight made him realize he couldn't break her heart like that. She seemed more excited about going there than going with him for some reason. He wouldn't read into it.
The elevator took forever to get to the top floor of his apartment - he would have to remember that for the future - and dropped him off in the lobby with its cushy dark chairs to match the deco of the old building.
That's when he saw her sitting in a chair checking her phone. Long green dress that looked kind of slinky and silky, red shoes with red soles that stood out in the dim light.
Violet looked up and saw him and he could tell she gave him a once over before a smile crept across her face. Then she stood up and holy crap. That dress was a slinky column dress with draping over just one shoulder and a flow to it that made him briefly wonder what was under that.
"Hello," she said with a smile as he approached.
"Hi." He leaned down and gave her a peck on the cheek. "You look lovely."
She looked up at him and smiled. "Little better than the sweatpants this morning, right?"
Um, alot better. Who knew she was hiding this body under those sweatpants? But he just met her today so he wasn't going to say that just yet.
"It's an upgrade," he told her instead with a teasing smile. "You ready to go?"
She nodded and slid her hand into the crook of his elbow as if it just naturally belonged there. It felt nice to feel like he was wanted again even if it was for a brief moment and this was just a date of convenience.
The black SUV was already waiting outside for them and his usual driver was standing next to it and opened the door for him. The company always made it a point to accommodate the basketball players by moving the seats around for extra legroom, which is why Parker always made sure to book a car with them.
Violet settled into the seat next to him and pulled her phone out of her purse. "I know this is weird that I'm asking now considering I'm all dressed up and everything, but can you give me your phone number?"
