A Beautiful Lie (Playing with Fire #1)(45)

Garrett heard and felt the moan that escaped from Parker, the sound making him increase the pressure of his hand on the back of Parker’s neck and pulled her harder against his mouth. He wanted to consume her. Her lips were like silk and her tongue was the perfect combination of soft and firm as it glided against his. Garrett plunged his tongue slowly in and out of her mouth, wishing more than anything that he could mirror that same movement inside of her. He was grateful for the table covering his lap because Parker’s lips and tongue were threatening to make him lose control.

Neither one knew how much time had passed; they were too lost in the kiss to realize something in the atmosphere had suddenly changed while they sucked, licked, nibbled, and devoured each other.

The cheers from the guests and the clanging of silverware against crystal had been replaced by silence.

Garrett slowed the kiss, leaving one last light press of his lips against Parker’s before pulling away and glancing around.

Everyone was staring at them with smiles on their faces, the encouraging shouts abandoned some time ago.

"And that is how it's done, my friends!" Fernandez said jovially. "Let us make our way into the Red Room to finish our coffee and discussions.

Everyone began scooting away from their table and talking again.

Garrett realized as everyone left that his hand was still wrapped around Parker's neck and her fingers still grasped the hair on the back of his head.

He turned to face her as the last of the guests filed out of the room and the sound of their laughter echoed and faded out in the hallway.

Parker had never acted so unprofessional in her entire career. She'd forgotten everything around her when she kissed Garrett. She'd always prided herself on being diligently aware of her surroundings. Garrett made her throw all of her training out the window.

Even as he looked at her and realized she'd been staring at him all along, all she wanted to do was kiss him again.

Garrett removed his hand and reached back to pull Parker's hand out of his hair.

He reminded himself to just put the wall back in place and everything would be fine.

He pushed his chair back from the table and tossed the napkin from his lap onto the table.

"Nice work there, Park. That was sufficiently believable. You're pretty good at your job."



<> ~ <>



Parker sat in the Red Room next to Garrett as he chatted with the Vice President’s wife wondering how he could be so unaffected by that kiss. Her skin felt like it was on fire, and she wanted to take him into the nearest empty room and do it again. She’d practically clung to him like a leech after he ended the kiss, and Garrett just stood up and tossed out a comment about her job like it was no big thing that just happened between them.

"You're pretty good at your job," Parker muttered angrily to herself under her breath as she brought the coffee cup towards her lips. "I'll show you good at my job, *, when I take you out in the woods and leave you for dead."

"Did you say something?" Garrett asked as he leaned his head towards Parker on the love-seat they shared.

Parker gave him a bright smile that threatened to crack her face.

"No, honey. You must be hearing things."

Garrett cringed at the overly sweet sound of Parker's voice. She had been pissed at him since they sat down in here. He knew he'd taken it a little far with that kiss, but it's not like she'd stopped him. Once his mouth was against hers, Garrett forgot all about the guilt he should have been feeling about kissing his friend and just reacted.

Garrett looked at his watch and wondered how much longer they would have to wait for a minute alone with Fernandez when the man in question walked over to where Garrett and Parker sat.

"Mr. and Mrs. Miller, come, walk with me."

He turned on his heels and walked towards the door leading to the hall.

Parker and Garrett looked at each other in shock and jumped up off the couch. Parker set her cup down on the closest table, and the two walked quickly out in the hall to Fernandez.

They found him standing in the hallway staring up at a painting. Garrett and Parker walked up to his right side and looked at the picture with him.

"This was my mother. My father had this painting commissioned on their honeymoon," Fernandez explained.

"She's very beautiful, sir," Parker told him.

"In their time, marriages were contractual agreements. The parents of the bride searched high and low for a suitable partner for their beloved daughter. They found the perfect man for her a few towns over. He was a local business man and quite wealthy."

"Your father, I presume?" Garrett asked.

Fernandez laughed.

"Not quite. My mother was rather enamored with a young man that worked on their farm. They grew up together, playing in the fields since his parents had a small home on the edge her family's land. He was her best friend and the love of her life."

Fernandez turned and began walking slowly down the hall, hands clasped behind his back, Garrett and Parker walking with him.

"It turned out they were both in love with the other, but were afraid to admit their feelings. So time went on and my mother found herself being dressed for her wedding to the businessman. She was left alone before the ceremony when her friend, the farm-hand burst through the door. He professed his love for her, and they sneaked away and ran off to be married."