Page 77 of Just This Once

My stomach fluttered. “Parker,” I said softly as I watched the guy in front of me begin to load the conveyor belt with his purchases. “It’ll be fine,” I promised. “No one will know. It’s just one time. And afterward, it’ll be like it never happened. The only thing different will be that I’ll know what climaxing on a cock feels like, right?”

He took a turn not to answer.

The guy in front of me completed his purchase. I sighed and started to load my groceries onto the conveyor belt as well.

I was reaching for my dented can of olives when Parker finally murmured, “See you tomorrow,” and he hung up for real.

With about thirty-twohours to prepare, I left the grocery store and barely paused at my apartment to drop my food off before I was back in Parker’s Lucid Air and heading toward a shopping mall.

I stopped at a cosmetic store first and loaded up on makeup, lotion, perfume, and all the at-home waxing essentials. Then I visited a lingerie boutique and tried to fulfill number eight on my bucket list by picking out my favorite slutty little piece without looking at the tag. But once I had my hands on the teddy I liked most, I couldn’t help myself. I peeked at the price tag.

And I immediately put it back on the rack, claiming, “Nope.”

Damn. I’d have to go to a Dollar Tree before I could actually buy anything I wantedwithoutlooking at the price.

Dropping that particular bucket list item for now, I returned home, needing a rest. Even shopping was wearing me out too much these days. That couldn’t be good.

Not really hungry, but knowing I had to put something in my stomach, I opened the olives and ate a couple straight from the dented can before taking a long nap that was interrupted by Dr. Paul when she called to check on me and ask how my appointment with Dr. Kepler had gone.

After assuring her that Kepler hadn’t changed any of her prescriptions, I noticed that I had a message from Alec, inviting me to Archer House for supper. And while I wanted to spend every free minute with him I could get, tonight I felt a little too traitorous to face him.

So I bit my lip and declined, lying my ass off by saying I had some old school friends to catch up with. But I promised I’d see him again on Sunday or Monday. Probably Monday. I hada feeling I’d need a whole day to recover from his best friend before I could look him in the eye again.

God, I was the worst sister ever.

But I didn’t alter my plans or call Parker to cancel. I shaved, waxed, and smoothed my body with all the cleansers and lotions I’d bought. I practiced just the right way I wanted to put on my makeup, and I tried on the teddy at least three times, parading in front of the mirror, to make sure it looked okay.

By six-thirty that evening, I was completely ready, and I couldn’t help but gaze enviously at the time, knowing I could’ve been having sex in just half an hour if I hadn’t botched everything by putting it off for another day.

Idiot me; now I had a full twenty-four hours to stress and think and probably work myself up into such a nervous wreck that I’d never be able to relax enough to have an orgasm.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I muttered, slumping onto my couch just as my phone buzzed with an incoming text.

I swiped it up eagerly and drew in a sharp breath when I saw Parker’s name.

All he said was:

Chateau Cove. Ask for your key card at the front counter.

I rolled my eyes to mask the leap in my belly. But of course, he’d chosen one of the fanciest, most well-known hotels in town.

Chateau Cove was located on basically the only bluff Westport had to offer and looked out over the Gulf so you could see the whole city, the bay, and all the surrounding barrier islands for miles.

People could seeitfrom miles away as well. I’d never stepped foot on the property, worried they’d have me removed on sight for loitering, but I’d always wondered what it was like.

Hell, if I’d thought of it before, I probably would’ve putstay the night at Chateau Coveon my bucket list.

Lifting my brows, I wondered if the room was already available. Parker hadn’t said if he’d only booked it for tomorrow or not. I mean, it wouldn’t make sense for him to reserve it for more than one night. But he also hadn’t said what time to pick up my key card, either, which might leave one to assume that it was ready…now.

Decision made, my curiosity was too great to curb this particular inquiry. It wouldn’t hurt anything to mosey over there, plot the lay of the land, and—you know—get a sense of things.

For tomorrow.

It was good to be prepared. Right?

Right.

So I hopped into the Lucid Air and drove to Chateau Cove.

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