CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT

PARKER

I had a great time. Talk to you later. Ryan.

I balled the note up and threw it across the room. I thought he was different, but this proves how wrong I was. Jerk. Like all the rest, he got what he wanted, and he’s gone. I don’t know why it surprised me. I just wish I would have had the chance to tell him that last night meant nothing. I won’t make this mistake again because I’m through with him. Finished.

I’m in my office downstairs when I hear the door open. I glance up and see it’s Jack, a new customer I’ve been working with. He’s a doctor in Denver. He bought a house outside of Manning Falls to relax on the weekends. The guy is good-looking, with short blonde hair and dark blue eyes. You can tell he must work out by how his clothes fit.

“Hi, Jack. I didn’t know you were coming in today.” I meet him halfway across the room. “I haven’t finished the plans yet.”

“That’s fine. The contractor had some porch questions. I thought since I was here I would ask you out for lunch. I hate eating by myself.”

I have no desire to go out with him. He’s already asked me several times, and I’ve always turned him down. The guy is cocky, and it rubs me the wrong way, but I don’t want him to drop me since I’m almost done with his design.

“I can have lunch. Then I can discuss my plans with you.”

I want to make it clear that this is not a date.

“Fine, we’ll make it a working lunch.”

“Great.” I grab his file with all my plans before heading to the door.

Jack mentions going to the steak house, but I suggest the diner since it’s closer and quicker. And since it’s after one, we shouldn’t have any trouble finding a table because it won’t be crowded.

I don’t look around when we enter, keeping my attention on finding a table. Once we sit, I see Ryan sitting with his brothers and staring at me. He seems pissed if the scowl on his face is any indication. I don’t know if he’s mad at me or something else. It shouldn’t be me; I’m not the one who took off without a word and never got hold of me since.

Trying to ignore him, I open the file and show Jack my plans for his house. The waitress interrupts us when she comes and takes our order. I get the Reuben sandwich; it’s my favorite. Elle is the one who told me about them; she gets them every time she comes here. They are my favorite, too.

The waitress leaves and I show him the rest of the changes. He seems pleased. The tricky part of getting this done right is the additional input from Jack’s parents. I didn’t anticipate designing it for three people when I accepted this job. Jack’s parents are going to be staying at the house, too.

I’m almost finished reviewing everything when I sense someone beside me. I look, and it’s Ryan glaring down at me.

I want to ignore him, but he won’t leave until I talk to him.

“Do you need something?” Jack asks.

“I need to talk to Parker,” Ryan says.

We all can tell he’s mad. I don’t want to make a scene, so I stand, and Ryan takes my hand, steers me through the tables to the back door. I’ve said nothing yet, but I’m pissed, too.

We walk through the back door and face each other in the alley. “What the hell?” I say, shoving his shoulder. “You have no right.”

“Are you on a date?”

You’ve got to be kidding me; he’s jealous?

“What if I am? You have no right to be jealous. You got what you wanted and left. I’m sure you’ve moved on to some other willing bed partner. Asshole…”

His lips press against mine, stopping me from saying more. I’m still pissed, but I can’t prevent my body from melting into his. I give in for just a minute before shoving him away. I can’t do this. He makes me so mad.

I touch my swollen lips and then look at him. Despite my desire to surrender and let him devour me, I cannot. I need to fight him because if I don’t, it’s going to hurt when he leaves me again. He might be attracted to me at the moment because I’m new, but eventually, he’ll lose interest and that will be painful.

“I can’t do this with you.”

I turn and march back into the restaurant, duck into the women’s bathroom, and clean my face before rejoining Jack at our table.

“Sorry about that. He needed to ask me an interior design question.”

I take a drink and ignore the look Jack throws at me. Thankfully, he says nothing.

Our food arrives, and we eat. The air between is less friendly, and he can’t seem to get away from me fast enough after lunch. I don’t think I’ll have to worry about him flirting with me anymore. I’m just hoping I didn’t lose him as a client.