Page 12 of Desirable
“You should wear those black flats you stole from me,” Tamsin says, her voice tinny from my phone. I’m working on my winged eyeliner on video chat, though I think the only thing she can see is my toilet.
“Nope. He also sent heels.”
“Real talk. I won’t judge, but are you a call girl?”
I step into the frame and scowl at her. “No, I am not a call girl.” Though after the things he and I have done, it almost feels like I am.
“Okay, so you just have a magic pussy that makes this man who doesn’t know you from Eve dole out thousands in dresses and flights and I don’t even want to know how much that painting cost, just because?”
“It’s because I’m his girlfriend.”
Tamsin laughs. “Okay. Try that again, but at least make it somewhat convincing.”
“I am telling the truth. He has expensive taste, and when we go places, I have to look a certain way. I’m not complaining. He sent me these gorgeous earrings.” I lean closer to show them to her.
“Hold still. I’m taking a screenshot of them. Did he say where he got them?”
“Uh yeah. The jeweler that does the rings for Mr. Eligible.” I’m back to working on my makeup, knowing that the clock is ticking before Parker picks me up.
“You mean Harry Winston. My god. You found yourself a sugar daddy.”
“I did not. Everything is aboveboard. We’re just two people giving it a try to see what will become of us dating.”
“I love you, and I mean this in the nicest way possible, but why you? You’re gorgeous and smart and funny, but this is a guy who dates models and women whose bank accounts aren’t constantly flirting with having $13 in them.” My face falls, and immediately Tamsin backtracks. “Maybe I just need to meet him. Since he’s flying you all over the world, you should convince him to visit us!”
“No, not happening, Tam. If this ever becomes more, then maybe. Right now, though, I’m going to be late for my date.”
I don’t give her a chance to answer. I blow her a kiss and end the call. Clutching my phone to my chest, I wonder if she’s not a little bit right, that I have no business with Parker. It’s good she said that. It keeps me from thinking too far into the future about us. This whole situation has an expiration date, and I can’t fall for him. Even if I already am.
When I get downstairs, Parker is waiting outside his car, thumbing through his phone. When I step out, his eyes lift and he slides it into his pocket.
“You’re going to make other women green with envy.”
I grin and push a strand of hair from my face. “Always a smooth talker. Where are we headed? Would it be faster to just take the subway?” Sometimes trying to get around the city in a car is the worst thing you can do.
“Not tonight. Tonight, we need the car to get to our reservation.”
What he actually means is we need to take the car to a helipad so we can take a helicopter to the Hamptons.
For the entirety of the thirty-minute flight, I hold tightly to his hand, glancing at the view below. It’s mostly too dark for me to see, but looking away from him kept Parker from asking questions. I’m terrified if I talk too much, I’m going to throw up.
When we’re safely on the ground in the Hamptons, I finally take a deep breath.
“First time in a helicopter?” he asks, gently rubbing my back. There is genuine concern in his blue eyes, but I flash him a grin and stand up taller.
“You say that like it’s normal to take a helicopter to the Hamptons for dinner.”
“I say that like someone who takes the helicopter to the Hamptons weekly during the summer.”
“You have a house out here?”
“It’s one of my many houses. One of my favorite restaurants is out here too, and I wanted to take you. Over the summer, there might be a few weekends that I’d like you to come out here. My sister and mother will be here too. It would be good for you to get to know them a little before the wedding.”
“We’d have to share a room,” I point out as we walk over to the black SUV waiting for us. I reach for the door, pulling it open just a little before Parker pushes the door shut. I whirl to face him, but he has me pinned to the car. His eyes are wild as he looks at me before tilting my chin back and claiming my mouth.
I moan into the kiss, grabbing his sides. My hands fist in his shirt, and as I run my hands up his chest, I can feel the way his heart is beating. Whatever weird feelings are growing from this whole situation, I know I can’t be alone.
Parker breaks the kiss and presses his forehead to mine. “I’ve been wanting to do that since you left Shanghai.”