“Haven’t you donated to his campaign before?” I asked, remembering a listing on one of his accounts.
He nodded. “He’s a good man, and God knows there are precious few of those in Washington.”
“Is he married?”
Parker eyed me. “No, why? Did you like him?”
Was that a jealous note in his voice? Good gravy. I rolled my eyes and let it drop. Men.
Dinner was good and the dessert especially. I savored the flourless chocolate torte, popping a raspberry in my mouth and chasing it with more champagne. Parker was talking to the man seated next to him and I eyed the untouched raspberries on his plate, wondering if he’d notice if I snagged one.
He glanced at me, his lips curving slightly as he talked. Picking up the pristine raspberry, he offered it to me. I reached for it, but he moved it beyond my grasp. Glancing quizzically at him, I saw him watching me, his conversation at an end as the man was now talking to his companion.
He offered the raspberry to me again and I could tell by the wicked gleam in his eye what he wanted. My eyes narrowed and I’d had just enough booze to lean forward and wrap my lips around the red fruit.
Parker’s eyes darkened as my tongue touched his fingers. He brushed my lips ever so lightly, then I leaned back in my chair. The juice of the raspberry exploded on my tongue and my gaze was locked with Parker’s.
The strains of a waltz filled the room and Parker stood and took my hand, drawing me to my feet.
“Dance with me.”
I shouldn’t.
But the words didn’t come and I found myself on the dance floor in Parker’s arms. We said nothing as he swirled me around, and I tried not to think. I wanted to enjoy the moment—a moment that had never been before and would likely never come again.
His arms were strong and solid, the scent of his cologne a lingering aroma that surrounded me. The touch of his hand was low on the exposed skin of my back, his fingers trailing up and down my spine. I couldn’t look away from his eyes, the blue deep enough to drown in.
“We should go,” he said after we’d danced to an endless stream of music.
I glanced around, realizing that the place was clearing out of people. “Yeah, sure,” I said, my face flushing. I’d gotten a little too wrapped up in the dancing.
The valet brought around his car and Parker held the door for me as I slid inside.
“Thanks for coming with me tonight,” Parker said as he drove.
“Mmmm,” I replied, leaning my head back on the seat. I was pleasantly warm and in a good mood, my mind finally quiet. Worry for Ryker nagged at me, but I tried to ignore it. I watched Parker, the dim glow from the dash casting his face in light and shadows.
His lips twisted slightly and he reached across to take my hand in his. It was sweet and nice and I didn’t pull away.
We ended up at my apartment and Parker took the keys from me to unlock the door. He checked out the inside while I stood in the kitchen.
“So what’s your plan if someone had been in here?” I asked him when he returned. “You don’t have a gun on you.”
“Don’t I?” he asked.
Hmm.
“But I guess with those moves you were pulling on Mac, you might not need a gun.”
He stopped in front of me and I had to lean back to look him in the eye.
“You liked the moves?” he teased, bracing a shoulder against the same wall I was propping up.
“Pretty badass,” I said with a shrug. No need to overdo it. Parker’s ego didn’t need stroking.
The sound of a key in the lock had me turning toward the door in time to see Ryker walk in.
Surprise and relief flooded me and I flew at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. His in turn circled my waist, holding me tight.
“You said you couldn’t come tonight,” I said, worry surging again with a vengeance. “Is everything okay?”
“No, everything’s not okay,” he said grimly.
I leaned back so I could look at him. “What’s wrong?”
But he didn’t answer that; instead he frowned, his hands moving from my waist up my back. “What the hell are you wearing?”
“I told you I had a work thing tonight,” I said, moving back so his arms dropped to his sides. I wondered what my dress had to do with anything, and I hadn’t liked the tone of his voice.
The buzz of Parker’s cell phone interrupted us.
“Tell me what’s going on,” I said, lowering my voice as Parker answered.
“What the hell do you want?” The tight fury in Parker’s voice caught my attention and I glanced over at him. “Go to hell.”
My jaw dropped and I took an unconscious step toward him. Who in the world was he talking to?
Parker’s head whipped around toward the windows.
“Incoming!”
Before I could figure out what that meant, Parker yanked me down to the floor in one smooth move, his body flattening on top of mine. Ryker reacted to Parker’s shout instantly, dropping the same as Parker had. I opened my mouth to ask them what was going on, and that’s when all hell broke loose.
CHAPTER ELEVEN