“Like a digital version?”
“Yes.” She moved back to the putting green and placed her ball on the grass. “But my program combines our old system with the new digital developments, so it costs less. Plus I built in user profiling. Means the instant you open your phone, you get updates aimed at your interests.”
“Pictures of you in skimpy outfits?”
Like clockwork, a flush rose to her cheeks, and Parker’s grin only got wider. “You’re bad,” she scolded.
“I’m very good. I thought we established this.”
She hit her ball harder than she should have, and it jumped from the green into the rocks beside the path. Parker solemnly fetched it for her, passing it back with a wink. “Your program sounds great. Good on you for staying innovative.”
“Sweet praise from a man who started a dating service.” Lynn sank her ball on her second try. She turned to him with a satisfied smile. “It’s true, though. You can’t assume anything these days. I turned down a promotion a couple of years ago because I saw the writing on the wall. Sure enough, within six months the entire department was axed, and ninety percent of them got laid off.”
“Sucks for them, but you were right on the money in your decision.” Parker squeezed her arm, his fingers lingering as he moved past her into position for the next green.
He tapped his ball. It rolled all the way down the green, bounced off a sidewall and straight into the hole all in one shot. He did a victory dance, catching Lynn in his arms and twirling her until she was laughing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.
The next hour vanished in a happy blur. They finished their golf game and moved to the go-karts, spinning around corners as Parker pulled one fast move after another, always slightly ahead of her no matter what she did.
“I want to see you on 280 during rush hour.” Lynn dragged her fingers through her hair in an attempt to straighten the tangles after the high-speed game they’d just finished.
Parker stroked his knuckles along her cheek before tucking a loose strand behind her ear. “I know how to get the job done.”
Her heart rate picked up. A simple touch and she was already craving more. God, this man had cast a spell on her.
He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers briefly before stepping back, those observant eyes dancing over her face. “Are you hungry?”
What she wanted to say in response wasn’t very PG-appropriate, and since they were currently standing in the middle of families and teens, she swallowed the dirty and said, “Starving.”
It wasn’t a five-star gourmet restaurant, but with his arm around her waist and his masculine scent surrounding her, every one of her senses was in overdrive. Add in the aroma of popcorn and corndogs, and her mouth watered.
Parker kept her tucked tight to his side as he ordered enough food to feed an army. His palm pressed against her lower back, warmth rising along her spine in the most delicious tease. His fingers slid to her hip then away as he shifted to pick up the tray. Lynn hooked a finger into his belt loop, trailing behind him as he maneuvered through the mass of laughing, screaming children and their parents.
He guided them out of the restaurant area and toward the back of the park.
“Where are we going?” Lynn asked.
“Picnic area.” He glanced at her, lips twisting into a smile. “Little quieter, and a lot more private.”
They ended up under a tree, his jacket spread out as a picnic blanket for the assortment of carnival food he’d purchased.
Lynn sank her teeth into a fully loaded hotdog, the burst of flavors making her moan happily as her eyes rolled skyward. “Oh, that is so good.”
Parker held out a container toward her. “Here, try the cheese sticks.”
She licked off a bit of sauce from the side of her mouth as she pulled a couple from the container. He watched, mesmerized, as she took a bite. Every swallow, every taste, his gaze remained fixated on her lips.
It should have made her feel uncomfortable, but instead his obvious fascination sent her temperature soaring. “Are you going to have something to eat?”
A low rumble escaped him.
Lynn licked her fingertips one after the other, looking up with her pinkie still in her mouth to find Parker staring as if being tortured.
He swallowed hard, adjusting his position beside her. “You don’t play fair.”
“Were we playing another game?” she asked primly, pleased to hold her own in teasing him. “I could have sworn we were having dinner.”
He leaned over, planting a hand on either side of her hips as he pressed his chest over hers and pinned her to the ground. “Just so you know,” he warned, “I plan to have you for dessert.”
Low, needy. The words forced out as if he could barely restrain himself.