“Do you know what time it is?” Flipping the lid open, she immediately apologized.
“I’m so sorry. I know. I know.”
He glanced at the watch on his arm. It was almost midnight. They’d been talking for almost two hours. Where had the time gone?
“Okay. I’m on my way.” She slammed down the lid on her phone and stood.
On her way. What the hell was going on? “Everything okay?”
“No, Miller is upset and ready to go.”
“Who is Miller?” Parker made it a habit to know the name of the men he planned to destroy. “Why do you care if he’s upset?”
“Miller is my friend. The one I was supposed to text two hours ago. He’s ready to go.”
“So let him go.”
“He’s my ride.” Cyn bent over to slip her shoes on and stumbled. Parker caught her and pulled her flush against him as he helped her stand.
“I can give you a ride.” In more than one way. “You don’t have to go now.”
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Head over Heels
“I do. He’s upset. Apparently he ran into his ex and things went south.”
She pulled back and he let her. It would do him no good to try to force her to stay.
“Cyn, wait.” She paused at the door and glanced over her shoulder. “I want to see you again.”
His words brought a smile to her pretty brown face. “You do?”
“Yes.” Thinking quickly, Parker grabbed his wallet and pulled out one of his business cards. He walked across the room and handed it to her, but didn’t let go. Instead, he moved in closer and used his free hand to draw her against him once more.
Cyn leaned into him and tilted her head back, awaiting the kiss they both knew was a long time in the making. And just as he went to lower his mouth onto hers, her cell phone rang again.
Cursing, he released his hold on her and the card both. “Call me. This evening has been…”
“Yes it has.” Her look of disappointment as she headed out the door was the only salve to his pride. At least she regretted the interruption as much as he did.
Parker was half way back across the room before he realized he didn’t have a way to contact her. He didn’t even know what her full name was. Spinning around, he rushed over to the door and looked down the stairs, but Cyn was long gone.
“Damn it,” he muttered infuriated. She’d call he told himself, or he’d turn this city upside down looking for her.
www.samhainpublishing.com 23
Lena Matthews
Chapter Three
As far as Cyn was concerned, she’d just earned her wings to good friend heaven.
Instead of spending her evening with Parker, who at this very moment could have been talking her into his bed, she was sitting on Miller’s floral couch, eating ice cream out the container with MeShell as Miller ranted on and on about his ex Yancy.
Cyn had never liked Yancy, even when he and Miller were dating. As far as she was concerned Yancy had been lucky to have Miller. Not only was her friend a great guy he also happened to be very attractive. Although average height and build, he had big dark eyes, closely cropped black hair and skin the color of rich dark chocolate. Looks and personality. The perfect package to anyone with a brain, which of course left Yancy out, who proved his lack of intelligence by cheating on Miller. She’d been more than happy when Miller dumped his ass. But now that Yancy was the reason she wasn’t getting any tonight, she really hated him. The things a girl gave up in the name of friendship.
“I don’t know why I let him do this to me,” Miller fumed in mid-pace. From the way he was wearing a path in his living room, he was going to have to re-carpet his apartment soon.
“Because you’re a drama queen with a massive self-destructive streak and lousy taste,” MeShell offered, snaring the cookies and cream container from Cyn.
Friendship dictated that even though Cyn secretly agreed with a couple of MeShell’s comments, she didn’t concur out loud. “I think it was a rhetorical comment.”
“My momma always said, tell the truth, shame the devil, girl.” MeShell passed the ice cream back.
“No one asked you or your momma,” Miller snapped. “What are you doing here anyway?”
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“Enjoying your meltdown. It’s practically Oscar worthy.” MeShell brought her spoon in front of her like a microphone. “The award for best dramatic actress in a very gay role goes to…”
Miller shot MeShell an aggravated look and the finger, much to Cyn’s amusement.
Cyn had her own theory on why MeShell had joined them, and it had nothing to do with cattiness. When she had come downstairs, Miller had been barely holding it together, while MeShell appeared as if she was seconds away from taking off her wig and throwing down. Cyn was beginning to think there was more behind their Sonny and Cher routine than met the eye.
“Great, my pain is your pleasure,” Miller lamented.
“Honey, all pain is my pleasure.” MeShell smirked. “That’s just the way I get down.”
That was far more than Cyn wanted to know. Ever. Also, thinking of getting down was getting her down. She could have been getting laid with a capital L.
Parker was too yummy. Why oh why did she let her stupid little morals get in the way? Though, to be honest, she had really enjoyed simply talking with him. They’d talked about stupid things, such as their favorite color and foods, and even a few deep things such as their views on religion and politics.
It was the best non-date she’d ever been on. Hell, those two hours were better than some real dates she’d been on. How sad.
Miller interrupted her selfish thoughts with one of his own. “God, I hate him.”
“No, you don’t,” Cyn felt compelled to say. “If you did, we wouldn’t be having this Waiting to Exhale moment.”
“I’m exhaling. I’m exhaling all over
