Page 16 of This Wild Heart

I yanked off the jersey and fished through my clothes until I found a bralette. Once that was on, I slipped on the first T-shirt I could get my hands on.

“Okay. I’m good.”

Parker turned, arms crossed over his chest, which honestly didn’t help anything because of what it did to his biceps. God, my blood pressure would never survive this man. Who just … walked around looking like that?

“Just as a reminder, I’ve seen everything, considering I’m the one who covered you last night after you stripped your clothes off and tried to ravage me.”

“I did no such thing,” I gasped. “I was … I was drunk off my ass. And lonely. And…”

“And your fiancé, who somehow managed to keep you around for four years, was shit in bed and didn’t know how to get you off.” He arched an eyebrow. “I know.”

My jaw unhinged as cold pricklies of the worst kind of embarrassment climbed up my skin. “I … I told you that?”

He nodded. “I learned a lot about you last night, Anya Hennessy.”

Then he set his big hands on his slim hips, his entire upper body on display again. There was a flash of ink on the side of his ribs, the outline of three black birds, and my skin felt tight as I tried not to study it.

“Please put a shirt on,” I begged.

His grin was quick and lethal, and with shaky legs, I sat on the couch behind me. It was a pretty blue velvet, and I decided that studying the material was far safer than watching Parker clothe himself.

I’d spent four years dating someone who also played football, but I can promise you, Max Bridges never looked like that in his entire life. He was a defensive lineman, so his body had always been on the stockier side. Warm. Comforting.

Until itwasn’tcomforting because he couldn’t keep his manwhore penis zipped.

When Parker’s chest was covered and it felt safe enough to stop fondling the couch, I watched him with wary eyes as he took a seat in the chair to my right. Once settled, he watched me with all this patience and understanding and … and only the slightest of dark circles still under his eyes.

My brow furrowed. I’d noticed those dark circles last night, hadn’t I? Noticed how tired he looked.

“Did you get any sleep?” I asked.

His eyes were guarded when he answered. “More than I usually do.” Then his mouth hooked up in a crooked grin. “Maybe you’re my good luck charm.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose and settled back into the couch while he laughed softly. “You learned a lot about me last night.” I dropped my hand back into my lap. “I feel like I’m at a disadvantage.”

My thumb pressed against the simple gold band, and Parker stared at it for a few seconds before he sucked in a sharp breath through his nose.

“You already know me.”

I gave him a look. “No, I don’t. How am I supposed to trust your version of events? Last I remember, you were taking sad shots right along with me, buddy.”

He held up a finger and walked around to the table near the entrance to the suite, then picked up an envelope. “Vida knows you very well. She said you’d need convincing.”

I snatched the paper from his hand, blood leeching from my face when I saw her messy, drunk handwriting.Mrs. Parker Wilder Hennessy or whatever you’re calling yourself this morning.

“She knows?”

He quirked an eyebrow. “She was our witness.”

With trembling hands, I ripped open the envelope.

Yes, you wanted to do this. Enthusiastically. Yes, I think he’s the hottest specimen I’ve ever seen, and if you don’t enjoy those marital perks, I’ll disown you. And yes, I think you’re fucking crazy for offering to do this. But I love you.

Bonus! Max will lose his mind when he finds out.

In the bottom corner of the letter, I’d clearly decided to add my own version of proof for my future, hungover self. In messy lines and circles, I’d drawn a rough sketch of a bride tossing a bouquet over her shoulder. Not my best work, probably because I was drunk as shit, but on her face was a wide, happy smile. It was meant to be me, judging by the jean shorts and the flip-flops.

It was like someone packed sand in my throat when I tried to swallow.

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