All I Want(52)

“What?”

“Pick the right man, is all.”

Zoe’s butterflies took flight again. “Like you just said, Darce, it’s just a date.”

“Well, that’s how I’d look at it, but you’re not wired like I am. Follow your heart, Zoe.”

The doorbell rang. Zoe stilled. “My heart’s confused,” she whispered.

“No, your heart is never confused. It’s just rusty from lack of use.”

“Dammit,” Zoe said. “When did you become the smarter sister?”

“Always have been,” Darcy said smugly. “But it’s good to finally be recognized.”

Zoe disconnected and ran down the stairs. Or, more accurately, did her best to hustle down the stairs without breaking her ankles in her heels. She crossed the empty living room—so much for the showstopping entrance she’d imagined—and stood there, heart pounding.

She didn’t want to do this, not with Kel . . . “What is wrong with me?” she asked the door.

“You going to open it, or just talk to it?” Parker asked from just behind her.

She froze. Did he like the view? Not sure she wanted to know, she turned and faced him, expecting to see a smug, wry smile on his face.

No smile. And his eyes . . . She swallowed. They were dark, nearly black, and so hot she nearly caught on fire.

Yeah, he liked the view.

He was in a pair of cargo pants and a faded T-shirt that fit him like a second skin.

She liked her view, too.

“You look . . .” He shook his head. “Amazing.”

“So not like I’m going to bingo, right?”

Eyes still flaming, he gave a slow head shake. “Amazing,” he repeated.

She liked that he didn’t sound surprised. She also liked the low, husky quality in his voice, as if he couldn’t help but be bowled over by her. “Thanks,” she whispered.

And then because they were just staring stupidly at each other, she turned back to the door, drew a deep breath, and whispered to the wood, “Iwanttocancel.”

“What?”

She dropped her head to the door and thunked it a few times. She wanted to cancel. She should’ve cancelled— The bell rang again and she straightened up and shook her head, trying to clear her mind. No. This was what she wanted. And maybe some of that had become cloudy in her mind because of the very hot, very annoying man behind her, but since when did she plan her life around a man? She’d wanted this date. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t going to be the hot, annoying guy. He’d had his chance.

Now this was hers.





Nineteen




Holding her breath, determined to make the best of the evening, Zoe pasted a smile on her face and opened the door to . . .

Kaylie.

The little girl stood there looking up at Zoe with her huge eyes. “Can I play with the kitties?” she asked hopefully. “My mama said if it’s okay with you, I could bring them back to my house for one hour on accounta I cleaned my room real good. So can I?”

Parker went up the stairs and reappeared with the two kittens, riding shotgun on each of his shoulders.

Kaylie laughed and clapped with delight.

Parker carefully handed them over, and then he and Zoe watched as she carried her precious cargo to her house and vanished inside.

Zoe looked at her empty driveway. “Parker?”

“Yeah?”

She heard the huskiness in his voice and would bet her last dollar he was staring at her ass. Good. “What time is it?”

“Quarter after seven.”

“What the hell?” she said. “Am I wearing a sign that says Hi, stand me up?”

“Maybe he called or texted you,” Parker said.

“No, I have my phone right here . . .” She pulled the phone from the small cross-body bag she’d thrown on before coming downstairs and stared at the missed call and unread text from Kel. “Well, crap.” She accessed the text.

Zoe, I’m sorry, one of my deputies called in sick and I have to go out on a call. I tried to catch you on your cell. I’ll try again later. Rain check?





It must have come in when she’d been on the phone with Darcy and hadn’t noticed it. She blew out a sigh, pivoted on her heels, and headed straight for the kitchen. Her laptop wasn’t there, but Parker’s was and she flipped it open.

Of course, he followed.

“By all means,” he said. “Go ahead and help yourself.”

She tried to access the browser but was thwarted by a pop-up window asking for the password. “This night sucks,” she said.

She felt more than saw Parker lean over her. His scent came to her: warm, sexy man. The inside of both his arms brushed the outside of hers as he reached around her and entered in his password.

“Thanks,” she whispered, determined to keep her shit together. Because if she let out one single tear she would—

“What happened to Kel?”

“Got a call,” she said. “One that was far more interesting than a date with me.”

“Zoe,” he said quietly. “You know if he’s on call and something comes in, he has to take it.”

She craned her neck and sent him her best bitch look. “You’re defending him?”