Page 46 of Parker

“She’s pretty cute. Wren.”

“Best baby in the whole world,” I say. “Until Tanner and McKenna have one.”

“Or Sawyer and Ivy.”

“Or Hunter and Isabella.”

“Or Parker and—”

“I’m okay being single right now.” I interrupt him, thinking about my crappy lunch date with Rick Jones. “Guys can be such assholes.”

“Present company no exception,” he says softly.

“I don’t know about that,” I say, turning around to face him. “Hanging out with you tonight is about a hundred times better than having lunch with Rick. No contest. I mean it.”

“What happened? Was he fresh with you?”

“I’ll say! He licked cotton candy off my breast!”

The change in Quinn’s face is instantaneous. His eyebrows disappear into his hairline. His eyes change from green to black. His lips thin. His nostrils flare.

“What the fuck?”

“It was dessert,” I explain.

“What was? Your breasts?”

“No! As we were leaving the restaurant, they gave us a little puff of cotton candy on a paper cone. A little of it drifted onto my shirt—on my…” I gesture loosely to my breasts. “…and Rick…well…he leaned forward and licked it off.”

I didn’t realize Quinn’s eyes could open wider, but they do. “I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill him for touching you like that.”

“No,” I say, reaching up to put my hands on his shoulders. “You will not. I already took care of it.”

“The hell you did, Parker. He needs a beating.”

“Quinn? Look at me. Quinn!” His eyes find mine, but his chest rises and lowers quickly, with the quick, shallow breaths he’s taking. “It’s not your fight.”

He scans my face, then suddenly, without warning, he puts his arms around me and pulls me against his chest. Holding me, hugging me, I can feel his heart beating against mine like a stampede of wild horses. He’s furious. He’s protective.Of me.

Rationally, I know it’s Quinn Morgan holding me, and I should probably pull away, but it feels so nice that I release the breath I’ve been holding, lean into him, and close my eyes. My hands, which were resting on his shoulders, loop around his neck, and I sigh.

Ilikehaving his arms around me.

Iwanthim to hold me.

So Ilethim.

***

Quinn

She’s in your arms.

Parker Stewart.

You’re holding the girl of your dreams in your arms.

My brain whispers these words, though my heart, which races like a runaway train, already knows them.