Page 38 of Parker

“Just remember to protect yourself, too, Park. If not for yourself, do it for those of us who love you.”

A broad smile lifted the corners of his mouth as a fist squeezed his heart. “Love you, too, Syd. I’ll call soon.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart.”

Ending the call with the sister he never had, Parker grabbed the newly filled pot and slid one of the mugs close. He’d just started pouring when he heard…

“Hey.”

The unexpected rasp pulled Parker’s attention to the room’s arched doorway on his left. Jinx stood in its center, the morning sunlight behind her creating a glow befitting an angel.

And that’s exactly what she looked like. A beautiful, blonde, uncertain angel he couldn’t stop staring at.

He was still staring into those intelligent, guarded eyes when a splash of burning liquid landed on his hand.

Parker hissed in a breath, reflexively pulling his left hand away from the overflowing mug. “Shit!” He sat the pot back into its cradle and flailed his injured hand.

“Oh, crap!” Alarm filled Jinx’s eyes as she raced toward the sink. Shoving the faucet handle all the way to cold, she grabbed his wrist and pulled him so the injured area was directly beneath the steady stream. “Stay just like that. I’ll get some ice.”

Before he could tell her it wasn’t that bad, she’d already snatched up a folded dishtowel from the counter next to the sink and was at the freezer, filling the center of the towel with ice.

“Here.” The focused woman turned off the water and used one corner of the towel to pat his skin dry. With the gentlest of touches, Jinx gathered the towel’s edges and pressed the makeshift icepack over the reddened area. “How’s that?”

“Perfect.” But his eyes weren’t on his hand.

Neither were his thoughts.

All Parker could focus on was how the blue-eyed beauty had stolen his breath for the second time in as many days. The first had been last night, when he’d gotten his first real look at her. But this time…

She’s even more beautiful in the morning.

He inwardly smiled when he realized she was wearing the black hoodie, jeans, and black lace-up boots he’d purchased for her last night. On the drive to the safehouse, he’d made an online order at a nearby big-box store that had curbside pick-up service, one of Hunt’s other guys picked it up and delivered it later.

It hadn’t been much. The outfit she had on now, something comfortable to sleep in, a few toiletries, a new bra and panties set…

That last one had been a guess, but she was wearing them, so he must’ve done okay on the sizes.

How do you know she’s wearing them? Maybe she’s a commando kinda girl.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” Jinx brought those stunning eyes to his.

Parker schooled his expression, praying she couldn’t somehow sense his most recent thoughts.

“It’s okay.” He didn’t dare admit to the real reason for the spill. “I should have been paying better attention.”

Their gazes held, the flakes of greens and blues in her eyes more vibrant in the light of day. Jesus, he’d never seen anything like them. Like two precious gemstones, their value incalculable.

But then she broke it off, her tone sounding almost too casual when she asked, “Was that Christian on the phone?”

She heard you tell Syd you loved her, and now she’s wondering if you’re trying to play her.

Having silently vowed never to lie to this woman again, he shook his head and answered honestly. “That was Sydnee Blake. We grew up together.”

“Oh.” She shrugged. “I was just curious. I thought maybe the guys found Oreo.”

Her tone was breezy, as if it hadn’t mattered to her one way or the other. Parker knew better.

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