There’s a scuffle and I shriek when I see the knife, but it’s all in a day’s work for my heroes, and in no time the bastard is hogtied and wriggling to free himself. The plastic ties cutting deeper the more he struggles.
Moose has his back, and I can’t help but hurl myself into Parker’s arms.
Sobbing with relief, my emotions so mixed up but feeling like this is the only place I want to be in in the whole world from now on.
In his embrace, feeling his hard body pressed up against all my softness as I struggle to get as much of him in my hands as I can, I feel so grateful.
So relieved.
So much…?
Is it too soon to even say it?
I’ve heard of love at first sight, head over heels, and all that. Especially when there’s a hero-victim situation, but all this started long before Parker saved my ass just now.
The minute I saw him, I knew I wanted to be his.
I want him to want me like nothing else.
Want him to want me like I need him now.
Parker tells me to go inside, but I don’t want to go anywhere he’s not.
He then adds I should go pack, with Moose as my guard, because I’m not staying here a day longer, eviction or no eviction.
That’s all I need to hear, and I almost squeal with delight as I rush to pack what little I have.
Mostly panties and track pants, if the effect Parker has on me is anything to go by… I’m gonna need a change of underclothes more than anything for sure.
But what about my eviction notice. What about Otis the asshole landlord?
Before I go, with a single glance and a nod, silencing me with a finger to his own lips, Parker instructs me everything is under his complete control from here on.
Moose too nuzzles me softly telling me in his own way not to worry.
I can almost hear his own doggy voice in my mind. “See? I told ya!”
My hands tremble as I fish for things to take with me. My little backpack still looking half empty once I pack what I know I’ll need.
My whole life up until today suddenly becoming crystal clear.
I had no one and nothing until Parker.
Even my older brother, the family I had growing up seems vacant, lackluster.
Empty.
It’s Parker and me from now on, I know it. That simple little gesture of his finger on his sweet lips; commanding me to go get ready while he does his job.
While we both wait until the job’s done and he takes me away from here, so we can be alone again.
That’s all that matters to me now.
Moose watches with interest as I pack, then unpack.
Change my clothes and then change again, his head cocked to one side as he quizzes me in his own special way.
I want everything to be just right if I’m going with Parker.
If only I knew his first damned name.
I ask Moose what his partner’s first name is, but he only yawns, crouching down in front of me with his face on his paws as he looks up, waiting.
It’s minutes but feels like seconds.
The backup police arrive, and I can hear the muted conversation from behind my apartment door as Parker fills them in on what’s happened, hear my landlord cursing and resisting just that little bit more before he’s led away.
“I’ll get a statement from the victim,” I hear Parker say.
His voice is deep and rich with a certainty that makes me hope he’ll do much more than that when he gets me out of here.
Where exactly are we going again?
He knocks gently on my door and I open it, Moose snapping to attention with his tail wagging as he lets out another loud bark.
“He’ll be locked up until a bail hearing. At least next week at this rate, I’m guessing, don’t care how good his lawyer is,” Parker tells me a matter of fact, meaning I don’t have to worry about my landlord anytime soon.
“But I meant what I said, Naomi. You’re not staying here,” he adds firmly, kneeling to praise Moose one more time but recoiling as he makes a face.
“We should probably head back to Sasha’s salon,” he insists.
“To take down my note?” I ask, feeling stupid about the whole thing all over again.
“Yeah…” Parker admits. “But mainly so Moose can have a bath. He stinks!” he exclaims, and we both laugh, but Moose isn’t laughing, letting out a low whine of embarrassment.
I remember what Sasha said about not touching anything else, about locking up her salon and leaving it alone before she was taken in the ambulance.
But with Parker there, it should be alright. He can help me with Moose and get him pampered.
He deserves it after his heroics today.
Plus I really should take down that note with my phone number and address on it.
What the hell was I thinking?
“It was my first day at the salon yesterday,” I confess to Parker, wincing as I recall the events leading up to Sasha being taken to hospital.
He lifts his brow, but shrugs.
“Everyone’s first day is a nightmare,” he consoles me, adding that he’s never seen Moose more at ease with anyone apart from himself.
“Even Sasha?” I venture.
“Even Sasha,” he confirms, and Moose barks again, almost winking at me as he agrees with his master.
“Then let’s go,” I hear myself say. Feeling like I’m being reborn as I leave my apartment.
A part of me is thrilled but also a little scared too once I feel deep down that I’ll never be coming back.
CHAPTER SIX
Parker
I won’t have her here another minute, but I can’t just tell her what to do either.
I want to take her home, to have her all to myself. Just me and her.
Naomi.
But I figure seeing as Moose still needs his bath pretty desperately, and that we still need to get
