Page 6 of Protected
She stepped forward, decreasing the distance between them. “The last time you wanted to talk to me, you talked me into yourbed. Wait, no, that’s not right. You talked me into a bed in one of the crash rooms.”
Saying it out loud made her feel even stupider than she’d felt after their steaming rendezvous. She had stopped by Supreme one night when she knew Parker was on duty. Most of the guys didn’t think much of seeing her since her brother and sister-in-law worked for the company. But Chelsey had been glad that she hadn’t really known the new guy who was on duty with him, and Parker had been getting ready to take a break.
After their breakup, she had struggled to move on. She thought that if they talked, and he made her understand why he had broken things off with her so abruptly, that she could move on. The breakup hadn’t made sense. No matter how she looked at it, no matter what he said, she couldn’t come to terms with it.
Which was why she had needed to talk to him that night. But one thing led to another, and before she realized what she was doing, they were going hot and heavy in one of the crash rooms. Those rooms were usually for the guys who had back-to-back assignments and no time to go home. The small suites were located on one of the top floors and contained a bed, sitting area, and attached bathroom. And she and Parker had used one that night for a quick tryst.
Parker extended his hand to her. “Just come with me so we can talk.”
Chelsey glanced down at his long, tapered fingers attached to a strong hand that had brought her more pleasure than she could’ve imagined. But she couldn’t go backward. She couldn’t get caught up with this man only to have her heart broken yet again.
Twice was enough.
After their little tryst six weeks ago, she foolishly thought that meant they were going to give their relationship another try.Wrong. While they’d been pulling their clothes back on, Parkerhad told her that what they’d done had been a mistake. That it shouldn’t have happened. Granted, he had looked contrite, as if saying the words were ripping him apart.
Still, that hadn’t stopped her from slapping him, then punching him in the stomach before she ran out of the building.
Fueled by a renewed anger, Chelsey shoved his hand away, and then he made the mistake of blocking her path to the stairs. She needed to make a few things clear once and for all, because soon she’d be working for Supreme full-time. That meant they’d see each other daily.
They were standing inches apart, close enough for her to get a whiff of his intoxicating cologne. She had to be firm. She had to be strong. No way could she show weakness.
In a low, lethal voice, she said, “You blew any chance you had with me. So you can stand there and risk me kicking your ass, or you can get out of my way. I suggest you stay the hell away from me before you see how I deal with jerks.”
Her threat was almost laughable. The guy had the ability to kill a man with his bare hands. Her threat to him was akin to throwing a water balloon on a forest fire—useless and pointless.
Parker huffed out a ragged sigh. “Dammit, Chelsey. We need to talk. It’s important,” he said, but still backed up. “At some point, you’re going to have to—”
“You’re dead to me, Parker,” she said with more bravado than she felt before shoving the door opened and running down the back stairs like her butt was on fire.
She was proud of herself. She didn’t fall for his handsome face, pretty eyes, and that irresistible body that could make a grown woman beg for just a taste of him.
Nope, she was over him.
Never again. I will never let him get near my heart again.
Chapter Three
The moment the door closed behind Chelsey, Parker turned and punched the air with so much force, it was a wonder he didn’t throw out his shoulder. Dammit! Thissituation with Chelsey was worse than he thought. It was going to take some serious groveling to get back into her good graces, and even that might not be enough.
His cell phone buzzed and for a second, he thought it might be her calling him. He pulled the device from his pants pocket and disappointment settled in. It wasn’t her, but why the heck would he think it would be? She was the most stubborn woman in the world. No way would she be calling him for any reason anytime soon.
“Yeah,” Parker growled into the phone, unable to keep the anger from his voice.
“You all right, man? I can stop Chelsey from leaving the building if you want,” Laz, his friend and coworker, said. Parker’s frustration spiked. “Or are you afraid she might actually kick your ass? I could totally see that.”
Parker hung up the phone and then approached the closest camera in the hallway, which was to his right, less than four feet away hanging near the ceiling. He lifted his middle finger andknew his buddy was falling out laughing. No doubt the jerk had listened to most, if not all, of the conversation.
Lazarus Dimas, who they all called Laz, was a former Atlanta PD detective who often skated on the line between right and wrong. He was also one of Parker’s best friends who didn’t miss anything.Though Parker hadn’t been forthcoming about his relationship with Chelsey, Laz somehow found out. All he’d said was—Kenton’s going to kick your ass if or when he finds out,but I’ve got your back.
Parker rubbed the back of his neck. What the hell had he been thinking confronting her in a hallway at Supreme? There were cameras everywhere. Thankfully, it was Laz who was monitoring them today and not one of the new guys or worse—Kenton, Chelsey’s brother and one of Parker’s best friends and coworker.
At some point, Parker would talk to him, but first he had to win Chelsey back.
Damn, I should’ve waited to talk to her.
Now he’d made a bad situation worse. He could’ve waited, gone by her house, and begged her to listen to him.
He growled under his breath, and when he glanced down the hall, Mason was standing near his suite of offices with his hands on his hips.