No Regrets (A Stepbrother New Adult Novella)(10)

As he and his Dad approached the women, he caught the tinkle of her laugh, something he rarely heard since he evoked the opposite reaction from her most of the time. When she first noticed him across the room he saw something there, something different in her eyes, right before she put her walls back up.

He nodded her way, and then the two of them found themselves swept up in conversation with other guests. He took great pains not to look at her. He was almost relieved when he saw a familiar face.

“Hello, Amelia.” He smiled at his ex.

“Parker, I’ve been looking for you! How exciting for your father.” She beamed up at him.

“Yes, it is. He’s very happy. So, I haven’t seen you in a while. How are you?”

“I’m okay. Things have been busy, but I’m always happy to see you, Parker. I understand you're going home tomorrow. You always know where I am,” she said with a wink. She left nothing to the imagination. She made it clear there was an open invitation—she was available.

Not sure what to think about Amelia’s presence, he smiled and took another drink. He wasn’t even sure how he felt about her invitation. Maybe that was exactly what he needed to get himself together again.

It was then that he knew Liv nearby. He caught her eye, and immediately knew that she had heard the blatant invitation from Amelia. Why did it matter, anyway? Liv was off limits, and he needed to re-direct his thoughts.

“As always, I look forward to it,” he said to Amelia with a sexy smile, and she sauntered off to talk to another friend.

He looked around for Liv again, but she was gone. It was just as well, really. The less time they spent together, the better. He noticed the crowd was thinning, and he said good-bye to the guests as they left. He wasn’t able to stop looking around the room for a blue dress, and he felt some concern over her absence.

Where had she gone? He made his way outside, and that’s where he found her. She was by the pool house; he would have missed her altogether if he hadn’t seen her slip around the corner. When he found her, he was more than a little surprised. Liv was swaying in the air, as if dancing with herself. She was obviously a little drunk.

“Parker, Parker, Parker,” she giggled, and he couldn’t help but smile at her.

“You don’t normally drink, do you, Olivia?” He caught her as she leaned to one side.

“No, no I don’t. I didn’t know this stuff had alcohol in it until I felt a little queasy. By then, I had already had too much.” She hiccupped. “Then, I couldn’t find my way back to the party, so I stayed here.”

She was more than just ‘a little’ drunk, obviously, and part of him enjoyed this relaxed Olivia very much. He helped her sit down on the couch in the pool house, surprised when she pulled him down with her.

“Did everybody go home? How is my Mom? I’m so happy for them.” She started to get weepy, and Parker hated when women cried.

“Yes, they did, but I can call and let them know you’re fine, if it makes you feel better,” he said to distract her. She nodded, and he called his Dad quickly. “I’ll make sure she’s okay, Dad,” he said into the phone. “I know. Goodnight.” He hung up and sighed as he noticed that she had fallen asleep, curled up on the couch.

It was wrong. He knew it the moment he tucked the loose hair behind her ear. He shouldn’t be here, not like this. Not looking at her the way he was. He had a willing, hot, available woman waiting just down the street. Yet here he was—with Liv. She moaned in her sleep.

“Parker.” Her voice saying his name floated over his skin like a touch, and his willpower was waning.

“I’m here, Olivia. I’m here.” He sat closer to her on the couch, leaning on one elbow as he watched her.

“I like that you call me ‘Olivia’, and I like when you kiss me.” She sighed, never opening her eyes.

Fuck, she’s so beautiful.

She giggled as she rolled over to face him. She was more awake, but still not thinking clearly, he knew. She moved her hand over his, and he felt himself tighten up. Her fingers moved again, up his chest, slowly, as she lightly touched the buttons on his shirt. He held his breath and tried to anticipate her next move. He needed to stop her before it got out of hand, but part of him wanted her touch so badly. She didn’t even know what she was doing, though. He grabbed her hands and gently placed them on her stomach.


“You don’t like me, Parker,” she said softly, surprising him into silence. “I’m not skinny—I know that. But, you still kissed me.” She sat up until she was close to his face. “Why don’t you want to kiss me again? You did it before.” She bit her lip in concentration.

He groaned. God, she smells unbelievable. “Olivia, I very much like kissing you. Too much, in fact. And you’re a beautiful, silly girl. Go to sleep, Olivia. You’ll have a headache in the morning.” He was trying to be a gentleman, he really was.

She shifted until she was pressed against him. “Prove you like to kiss me.”

She was too close. He could breathe in her scent, and it was pure torture. He kissed her—he had to, he couldn’t deny himself anymore. He was gentle at first. She tasted so good that he felt himself slowly losing control. He pulled her hair down until it spilled freely over her back. He shoved both hands under her hair and pulled her even closer to him. This is crazy. But still, he couldn’t stop.