Page 238 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
A thousand responses shot through my mind, none of them appropriate. I was suddenly fixated on her lips. They were plump, the color of ripening strawberries, the corners upturned. Looking at those lips made me want to do terrible, unspeakable things.
“Hello?”
She spoke again, jolting me out of my reverie. I opened my mouth to reply but nothing came out. Her golden eyes narrowed, and for a moment she looked concerned. Then recognition flitted across her face, softening it.
She knew me.
I could suddenly speak again.
CHAPTER 2
EMMA
Another Monday. The start of another week buried in work at Dad’s office. If I wasn’t here to keep things in order, the bills would never get paid. The customers would never get called back. Hell, Dad and Matt would probably forget to eat and sleep. Maybe even breathe.
Still, I loved my boys and my job. Even if it, and they, dominated my life to an extent that left room for little else (like a love life, for instance), I didn’t think I’d be happy anywhere else.
And who knew? Maybe that was all about to change. My eyes on the glass doors, I watched as an incredibly handsome man walked into the office. He was gorgeous, with the body of a Greek god and a face that could be plastered across magazines. What was he doing in Shadow Security?
He had dark hair, cut short, with a mustache and just the right amount of stubble so that I knew it would tickle my skin when he kissed me. Kissed me? Boy, I’ve got it bad already.
Brown eyes that had a depth I hadn’t often seen stared at me, perched in tan skin. His features were strong, and so was his muscular body. I always hesitated to give men a perfect 10, but this guy looked like an 11 if I ever saw one. So who was he?
A fancy new client? A male model with a psycho female stalker? I really couldn’t blame a girl for going over the edge for a guy like this. Or maybe he was a rich heir to an empire who needed security for his black-tie event. I doubted it. This guy looked buff enough to take on an entire army of thugs himself.
I recalled my sense of professionalism just as he reached my desk. I greeted him, asking how I could help. In reply, he just stared at me.
I wondered for a moment if maybe I had something in my teeth. The silence stretched out between us. “Hello?” I asked, my voice coming out in a croak that I hoped he didn’t notice.
The god’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. I traced the angles of his face with my eyes, thinking that he didn’t need to be able to talk. A man that looked that good could exist on his appearance alone.
Then it hit me. I knew this guy.
And then he spoke.
“Jack Walsh,” he said, his voice a deep rumble that did strange things to my insides. “I’m starting today.
Starting what? I wondered. Starting your starring role in my naughty daydreams?
He thrust out a hand towards me and I stared at it for a moment like an idiot. What was Jack Walsh doing here?
When I took his hand, a tingle of electricity tap-danced up my arm and into my chest. “You’re home,” I said, unable to think of anything else. Then I realized he probably didn’t remember me. I’d only been 15 when he and Matt had shipped out.
“I’m Matt’s sister, by the way,” I blurted out, hoping he couldn’t see the heat rushing to my cheeks.
“I remember you, Emma,” he said, his voice low.
He remembered me! Why did that make a thrill run through me?
I pulled myself together long enough to remember my job there. I showed him into the office, pointing out the reception desk where I worked, the printer and fax machine, the water cooler, and every other inane piece of office furniture on the way to the conference room. I knew I sounded like a blathering idiot but for some reason I couldn’t help myself.
We entered the conference room and I asked him to have a seat. He did, and we locked eyes again. I felt like I couldn't catch my breath, so I pasted on a smile and said, "My father will join you soon." Then I turned tail, silently berating myself for letting a handsome face affect me. It had really been too long since I'd been on a date.
I hurried towards Dad's office, wondering why I was the last to know that Jack was joining the team. Before I reached it, I saw Matt in the break room so I veered off course, making a beeline for my brother.
"Hey," I said, elbowing him hard and making him awkwardly swallow the gulp of coffee he'd been taking. "Guess who's in the conference room?"
"Someone with sharper elbows?" he wheezed.
