Page 50 of Heartless

“No,” I said firmly, glancing at Clem and Hannah, who both tried unsuccessfully to hide their smiles.

“Hi, Parker,” they both chimed in like one.

He looked between us three and narrowed his eyes. Then he settled his gaze on me. “Am I missing something?”

“We’re just talking about boys,” Clem explained.

Parker raised a brow my way and smirked.

“Any particular boy?” He took the last two steps that separated us and leaned closer. I looked up at his beautiful smiling face. “Hi, cupcake.”

He used that nickname because he knew I hated it. And God, had his mouth ever been so close to mine?

My lips parted slightly. I tried to inhale but I felt like my lungs were on pause. They simply didn’t expand. He leaned a little closer. His minty breath fanning my lips. He was about to kiss me. There was a part of my brain that still worked properly, reminding me that it was what couples did. They kissed hello. They kissed goodbye. But we weren’t a real couple and we hadn’t discussed the level of intimacy we would show while fake dating.

He waited, his mouth an inch away from mine, giving me the opportunity to deny him somehow. I didn’t. I just continued staring up at him, while he slowly erased the last inch of space between ourlips. His brushed against mine with a feather-light touch. So soft and brief, and yet heat spread all over my body.

Parker leaned back a little, his eyes narrowed, assessing me.

I blinked up at him and he straightened. I finally made my lungs work again and inhaled deeply, the scent of his cologne invading my nostrils.

“How is the most beautiful girl in the world doing?” He asked, not tearing his gaze away from mine.

“Great,” I said a little out of breath. “Thanks.”

“I was asking about Daphne,” his lips lifted in the corners and embarrassment mixed with anger replaced the inappropriate feelings his kiss stirred in me.

Clem burst out laughing. “I think she might have her aunt’s attitude problems. She’s been screaming at me the entire day.”

“Tell me if you find a way to deal with that. I will gladly try it with this version over here."

He sat down next to me and placed his hand on the back of my chair, his fingertips slowly drawing circles on my shoulder. I wore a long sleeved dress today, so at least that wasn't skin to skin contact. It still affected me though. So much so that I willed my body to stay as still as possible and not to betray me.

“Do you want something?” Clem asked, looking between Parker and our brother.

“I want to sit next to my fiancée, if that’s okay with you,” Tyler said and Clem moved, leaving him the chair next to Hannah. The kiss my brother gave his future wife was not as sweet and gentle as the one Parker gave me. I saw more tongue than I needed to.

“What are you having?” Parker asked, his lips almost touching my ear.

I turned to face him, our mouths inches away, and whispered. “I don’t eat carbs.”

“And you never surrender to temptation?” His gaze fell to my lips. “Haven’t you ever craved something so much that you just couldn’t resist? Something you just had to taste?”

My mouth was dry but I managed to sound unaffected when I answered. “I guess some people are strong-willed while others are not.”

A feline smile curved his mouth. “Is that a challenge,cupcake?”

“Stop calling me that. It gives me the hives.”

“Is it?” His gaze traveled up and down my body. “I don’t believe you. Maybe you should show me.”

I rolled my eyes and he laughed. His fingertips still caressed my shoulder and I pretended I hadn't noticed.

“How did your day go?” He asked, his voice a little louder now, including the others in our conversation.

“Good. I think I found a baker I could work with.”

I forced myself not to look at my sister as I said that.

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