Read Parker’s Price for Free Online

herself anyone would need to be comforted after discovering her home may have been violated.
    Dean shortened his strides to match hers and they covered the two blocks in silence. The bistro was small, friendly and filled with the homey aroma of freshly baked bread. When a passing waitress, one of two bustling about, gestured for them to seat themselves, they grabbed a small, round table alongside the window. While Dean perused the laminated menu, Parker fought to keep her attention on the pedestrians on the other side of the glass—and failed miserably.
    How could she look anywhere else besides the man across from her? She’d dreamt feverish dreams where he’d played the starring role, but they’d been hazy. More sensations than concrete, visual, tactile details. She studied him. The long-fingered hands with broad palms. The big wrists she knew she would need both hands to encircle. The—
    “What’s good here?”
    You.
    He lowered the menu and looked at her, an eyebrow raised. For a panicked heartbeat, she feared the word had popped unbidden out of her mouth. However, he only repeated his question.
    “Uh, try the turkey, apple, swiss cheese and cranberry sauce panini.”
    The waitress, young, brunette and efficient, stopped by the table, notebook and stubby pencil in hand. Both she and Dean looked at Parker inquiringly.
    “Pineapple juice, please,” she murmured to the waitress.
    Dean ordered two of the paninis, a side of oven-baked shoestring fries and a bottle of water.
    “And another panini for her,” he added.
    Parker aimed a frown at him, but the waitress took off before she could nix the order.
    “I ate earlier,” she reminded him.
    “Humor me,” he said. “I don’t like eating alone.”
    He leaned forward, reached across the table and covered her hand with his. She flinched, but he simply linked his fingers around her wrist. She didn’t bother to struggle. The man would release her when he wanted to and not a moment sooner.
    “Now, tell me what happened back at your place.”
    Startled, she glanced at him. She’d been expecting more questions about her sudden rejection of him the night before.
    “What are you talking about?”
    “You were white as a sheet when you came out of your bedroom and you couldn’t leave your place fast enough.”
    “Nothing.”
    “What were you afraid of?”
    “Noth-ing,” she repeated, deliberately drawing out the two syllables.
    Not buying her answer, he scrutinized her until she was sure he could sketch her face from memory.
    “You didn’t leave your door unlocked,” he said finally.
    His fingers tightened on her wrist until her eyes met his.
    She exhaled softly. “I’m not that careless, no.”
    “Your lock wasn’t busted. Who has an extra set of keys?”
    “My mom.”
    Dean lifted a brow. “What about the ex?”
    “ No. Definitely not.”
    A small smile lifted his mouth, but he refrained from commenting.
    “Anyone else? A neighbor for emergency purposes?”
    Twin lines appeared between her brows as she shook her head. “No one. I’m not the most trusting soul.” She blew out a breath. “Maybe I did leave the front door unlocked. I’ve been so distracted and tired lately I very well could have.”
    She didn’t believe her own words and, from Dean’s expression, neither did he. However, she was granted a reprieve when the waitress chose that moment to swing by with their order. Dean released her hand so he could help the waitress rearrange the condiment containers on the table to make room for the new additions. To give herself something to do, Parker pulled the tall glass of pulpy pineapple juice closer and took a sip through the straw. The naturally tart but sweetened beverage went down easy.
    When they were alone once more, Dean gave her a measuring look, then pulled out a slim cell phone from his front pocket and flipped it open.
    “Who are you calling?” she asked, studying him suspiciously.
    “Gordon, my driver, to ask him to track down