“I didn’t have time to pack anything.” Miller was grasping at straws now and they all knew it.
“Don’t worry I packed some things for you to wear too. I think you’ll look fabulous in gold lamé.”
“Oh, God.” Miller paled.
Cyn could barely hold back her laughter. It looked as if she wasn’t the only one who was going to be playing dress up tonight.
For what seemed like the hundredth time tonight, Parker glanced at the antique clock over the large fireplace at one end of the ballroom. He had no idea what was keeping Cyn, but he was becoming antsy. His driver had picked them up over an hour ago from her friend’s hotel room. There was no reason she shouldn’t have been here by now.
Damn it. He knew he should have picked her up. He wanted to see her. No, he needed to see her. It had been a week since they were last together and he felt as if he was going through withdrawal. And now that stupid deadline was looming ahead and he was no surer of what her response would be now than he had been a week ago.
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Maybe he was a fool for trying to convince her to move in with him so soon. Maybe he should have told her he was thinking long term and not just a roommate with benefits.
In fact, he’d already spoken to Cyn’s father about his intentions. Perhaps he should have just spoken with her instead.
“Tell me something, Prince Brooding,” Solomon said as he walked up to Parker.
“This mysterious woman of yours doesn’t really exist, does she? Come on, you can tell me. You made her up, right?”
Parker glanced over at his grinning friend and frowned. “Not now, Solomon, I’m not in the mood.”
As usual, his words had no effect on Solomon. “Moodiness. Isn’t that a symptom of mental illness?”
“Do. Not. Push. Me.” Parker enunciated each word clearly and succinctly.
“Or what?” questioned his self-appointed pain in the ass.
“Or I’ll signal my mother to come over here. Then whisper in her ear nine simple words.”
“Which are?”
Parked grinned devilishly. “Solomon is looking a tad lonely, don’t you think?”
“That’s just mean.” Solomon held up his hands in mock surrender. “I thought we were boys.”
“Oh, look,” Parker glanced over Solomon’s shoulder into the far distance, raised his hand over his head and waved wildly. “There she is.”
“Shit.” Solomon didn’t even bother to look over his shoulder to see if Parker was lying or not before he hurried away from him.
Laughing to himself, Parker lowered his hand and resumed his uncontested dual with time. It was five minutes to nine, and Cyn was nowhere in sight. With a disgruntled grumble he turned his back to the clock and shoved his hand into the pocket of the stiff burgundy slacks. The pants were extremely uncomfortable as was the rest of his cheesy outfit. Whoever thought burgundy slacks with a yellow stripe and a powder blue jacket 108
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Head over Heels
with gold fringe was a good idea should be shot. He seriously expected some old scary chick to pop out of the corner at any time and shout bippity boppity boo at him.
His fingers brushing against the cool metal of his phone reminded him even more of their lack of communication. He debated with himself for several long seconds on whether or not he would give into his stalker-like urges and call her again, when he noticed his signal bars, or lack thereof.
“Fuck,” he muttered to himself. He didn’t even have a smidgen of a signal. What if Cyn had been trying to call him? Cursing under his breath, he headed for the stairs leading to the upper floor and the doors to the outside.
As he bounded up the wide staircase near the railing he noticed Cyn rushing down on the far side. With the throng of people between them he wasn’t able to capture her attention, but as he pushed his way toward her he noticed one of her slim, jeweled heels had slipped off in her haste. Surprisingly she didn’t stop to pick it up and instead just continued on her way through the crowd.
Parker turned and headed toward the area he’d seen Cyn lose her shoe, stooping to pick it up before trudging into the crowd after her. The dance floor had filled during his moment of morose woolgathering and it took him a few seconds to find the hobbling beauty. When he neared her, he grabbed her arm, startling her to the point she lost her balance. Her eyes widened and a smile wreathed her face when she realized who had a hold of her.
“Oh, Parker, Thank God. I thought I missed the deadline.” She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
His heart swelled, knowing she was rushing to see him to the point she would leave her shoe behind.
“That’s okay, baby. For you, I would have extended it.”
She pulled back and smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “Don’t tell me that now. I gave up a very precious shoe to get here on time.”
“I know, I found it.” He pulled the jeweled slipper from his pocket and presented it to her.
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Cyn gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my God, you really are my Prince Charming.”
“No, just the man in love with you.” Parker went to his knees in front of her. Cyn used his shoulder as a way to steady herself as she raised her dainty foot so he could help her with her shoe.
Once the slipper was on, Parker stood. He took her hand in his and stepped back to look her over. She was wearing a beautiful pale blue dress, with short cap sleeves, a full hoop skirt and a plunging neckline. Unfortunately, thanks to the swaying couples he didn’t get to stare long. People began to run into them, forcing him to pull her into his arms to join
