Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14883 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Parker lowers his cap and chuckles darkly, a sound I’ve never heard him make. “Fat chance. Buddy, you’re cornering a woman in an empty alley. A woman who already refused to go with you for coffee in your apartment. You think I’m leaving you alone with her? Damn, you stupid or what?”
Parker doesn’t wait for an answer. He just shoulders his way between us and extends his hand. “Come on, Piper. Let’s go home.”
I reach for it, but Brent grabs my elbow. I flinch and snap my eyes shut, fear rolling through me.
But Parker rips him from me. When I open my eyes, he has Brent by the collar, lifting him easily and pressing him against the wall, Brent’s feet hanging a few inches in the air.
Brent claws on Parker’s hand, but it’s not doing anything. Parker just tightens his hold on him and growls, “I don’t think you understand, buddy. When someone says no, it’s a fucking no. It’s not your cue to negotiate, and it doesn’t give you an excuse to force her. Touch her, or any other woman who doesn’t want or welcome it, and I’m gonna beat you so bloody you won’t even recognize yourself.”
Oh. My. God.
Is it wrong for me to feel so hot for him right now? It’s not even just the way he came to my rescue, but every word coming out of his mouth makes my body tingly.
Who is this guy and what did he do with my annoying neighbor?
I’ve always had this weird attraction to him, and I hate it. Feelings, particularly love, make you vulnerable—just ask my mom. The last thing I want is to catch feelings for my neighbor and get my heart broken.
Right now, though, I feel something electric through my veins, my body heating up, desire pooling low in my belly. I’m not familiar with whatever I’m feeling toward Parker, but I’m not totally dumb and I know I can’t ignore it any longer.
It’s the wrong time to think about it, but maybe I just need to get it out of my system. Sleep with him one time and end this once and for all.
The only issue is I’m a virgin. So that means I’m giving it to him—my first time. He’s gonna be my first. Will he know it? Will he notice? As long as I don’t tell him, will he figure out I have zero experience in the sexual department?
“Piper?”
A hand grazes my shoulder, and I realize Parker’s talking to me. Brent’s nowhere to be found, and it’s just him and me and Thor.
“I’m sorry. What did you say?”
His forehead furrows, jaw clenching. “Are you okay? That was a shitty thing to experience.”
“Yeah, no. I’m fine.”
“You want to go to the cops?”
I shake my head. “He didn’t exactly do anything except crowd me and intimidate me with his invitation. At least not yet.”
“Who was he?”
“A co-worker. He’s been asking me out ever since I joined the company.”
“You should report him.”
“I will on Monday.”
“He doesn’t take no for an answer. A dangerous kind of guy who shouldn’t be around women.”
I wrap my hands around myself and dig the heel of my shoes to the ground. “Apparently not. Why were you here, anyway?”
Parker lifts one shoulder. “I was walking Thor.”
“Pigs need walking?”
“Of course.”
I’m about to answer something sarcastic, but I shut my mouth instead. I’m operating on instinct, which is to be combative and defensive even though he’s not doing anything to provoke me.
Parker has just saved me from Brent. I don’t want to imagine what would have happened if he wasn’t here. I froze while Brent talked, only because I knew I was powerless. If he even touched me, I might have fainted from fear.
“Thor needs a lot of loving, just like every animal, and he happens to enjoy walking and inhaling the night breeze.”
“Oookay.” I can’t help but stare at the pig by his feet. Is Parker just pulling my leg? Am I in on one big joke?
“It also helps if you stop looking at him like you disgust him. Pets have feelings too, you know.”
I sigh and rub a hand across my forehead. “Listen, I’m sorry for being a bitch to you.”
His eyes glint with amusement, and one corner of his mouth lifts. “Hmmm. That’s one way of putting it.”
“And thank you for helping me earlier.”
“You can thank me with a kiss.”
There he is again, flirting with me.
He probably flirts with everyone. I mean, I once saw him charming the pants off our elderly landlady. Hmm, now that I think about it, that may be the reason why she let him keep the pig. She’s so particular about cleanliness, and Thor is just… Thor.
Parker most likely expects me to act irritated again. Well then, I guess I have to be unpredictable just this once. I’ll surprise him and do something he doesn’t expect.