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His teasing grin was hot enough to light the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center. ‘Did I get to second base?’
Skin vibrating at the thought, her smile was strained.
‘Sorry, only first,’ she said.
And technically, it was probably only half base, but she was having too much fun to clarify the exact nature of how their lips had touched.
‘Did I slip you the tongue?’ he said.
‘No.’
‘My loss,’ he said, and his mouth parted a bit, as if imagining righting that previous wrong.
The tiny peek at his tongue sent a shot of adrenaline through her body, surely leaving her glowing. Fine hairs standing on end.
‘And as first kisses went,’ she pressed on, ‘it could have been better.’
Mostly by being real.
The offended expression on Parker’s face was comical. ‘Could have been— Wait...first kiss?’ He shot her a skeptical look. ‘Either this was a really long time ago or you’ve confused me with someone else.’
‘I definitely don’t have you confused with someone else.’ When he looked at her as though he was beginning to suspect she truly wasn’t sane, Amber sent him a smile and gave up the pretense. ‘I practically grew up at your mother’s house because my mom worked as her personal assistant,’ she said. ‘Which was the fancy title for glorified gofer girl.’
There was a three-heartbeat pause that felt like thirty as Parker’s expression remained blank.
‘I’m Amber Davis.’
‘Amber Davis,’ he said slowly, as if pulling the name from a memory long buried. Recognition finally shot through his face, and his shoulders snapped back. ‘Well, hell,’ he breathed out. ‘You’re the one who tried to drown.’
Two
Fifteen years earlier
The Hamptons, Long Island, New York
Swimswimswim
Eyes fixed on the dock, the chant rang on and on in Amber’s head. She’d lost sight of her paddleboard ages ago, swept away by the Sag Harbor current. Crap, she was so getting in trouble for this.
Mom’s gonna kill me if I drown.
A fresh slice of panic surged. How was she going to marry Parker now if she died? At the stupid age of twelve. Jeez, she’d never even been kissed before! Frowning, she paddled harder. She should have played Spin the Bottle at Nancy Kruger’s last month. Okay, so Amber probably would have been stuck kissing Jimmy Stevens, better known as lizard tongue, but at least she wouldn’t be drowning with virgin lips. An epically lame end to the suckage that was her life.
All except for Parker.
Parker.
So what if he was in the eleventh grade and she was only in sixth. She’d loved him since she was eight years old. He’d briefly been replaced with Justin Timberlake from ’N Sync, but even she knew that was pretty unlikely to happen. And Parker was cuter. She wanted to marry him so bad that she’d picked out her wedding dress ages ago. Course, it had taken her four months to whittle it down to her top five favorites. Her obsession with tulle and satin and lace was growing pretty strong. This summer, in a fit of boredom, she’d planned the whole ceremony. Reese would have been her maid of honor cuz she was Parker’s half sister and Amber’s sort-of friend.
Stupidstupidstupid
Sneaking off and forgetting the life vest. But she’d really really wanted to get better on the paddleboard. Mostly cuz she wanted to impress Parker. Last summer he’d taught her how to stand and maneuver a turn, but this summer he was more interested in kissing Susie Frances. Amber scowled. And he never helped her bait a hook or capture crabs anymore.
The current was scarily strong, and the dumb dock was slipping farther away. The chill from the water seeped deeper with every passing minute, despite how hard Amber swam. Teeth chattering, her arms and legs grew heavy. So much so it was a struggle to control them now.
A sob ripped from her throat, and she fought back the fear, closing her eyes.
Giveupgiveupgiveup
Her muscles screamed for a break, her lips quivering, the taste of salt a mix of seawater and frustrated tears. The furious pounding of her heart was now just as much about terror as tiredness, and she was sure her chest was gonna explode.
Her thoughts began to drift and grow foggy. She knew there was something she was supposed to be doing. Swimming? Finding Reese?
‘Amber!’
The call shook her out of her daze. God, she really was drowning. Was she already in heaven? Now she was hearing Parker calling out her name.
The voice grew closer, the tone urgent. ‘Amber.’
Exhausted, she turned and spied Parker sprawled on his board, sleeves pushed to his elbows as he paddled toward her like a madman. She sucked in a breath, getting a mouthful of salt water that burned her throat, and she coughed and gagged, slipping beneath the surface. The cold closed over her head and she stopped fighting for a moment. It was peaceful. Quiet. And she was so, so tired; it was nice not to fight so hard to keep her head above water.
She drifted, floating, until an arm circled around her chest and heaved her up. She had a vague sensation of being hauled onto something hard, but she couldn’t move. It took too much effort to breathe.
And then there were lips on hers and warm breath filling her lungs and she had an overwhelming urge to cough again. She rolled, gagged and then threw up a bunch of salt water that stung as much coming up as going down. Shattered, she collapsed again, drifting in and out, only half-aware as Parker paddled the board for shore and dragged her up on the beach.
That was when the shivering started for real. Water dripped down his nose as Parker gathered her close, fear making deep lines in his forehead. She gazed up at him, dazed, her heart pounding from the feel of his arms cradled around her. The feel of his breath, Parker’s breath, on her cheek was awesome. But the close-up of his face was just...was just... And as she blinked, her mind clearing, it hit her.
Parker had kissed her!
Her heart fluttered like a hummingbird stuck in a cage. Okay, true, it was more like he’d given her mouth to mouth, but still... She closed her eyes, remembering the hard press of those soft lips she’d been obsessing about for years. Pressed against hers.
OMG...it was almost worth drowning for.
His dark blond hair looked brown when wet. A smattering of freckles bridged his nose, and thick lashes framed the prettiest pair of green eyes in the history of ever. Eyes that always did funny things to her stomach when they locked on hers. Used to be they’d look at her with patience and, when she was really lucky, a hint of fondness. Now that Parker had gotten older there was a lot of irritation. But it wasn’t her fault his mother made him watch out for her and Reese when Amber’s mom wasn’t around.
She clutched his arm. ‘You can’t tell my mom,’ she croaked out.
‘Aw, come on, Amber.’ Parker’s face scrunched up tight. ‘You nearly freakin’ died.’
‘I did not.’
He rolled his eyes in that ever-sarcastic ‘yeah, right’ way of his. ‘What if you get sick or something?’ he said. ‘She needs to know.’
And be grounded? Amber had been looking forward to summer vacation for months. As the daughter of Ms. Michael’s personal assistant, Amber had practically grown up in the Michaels’ home. Parker never visited his mother in the city anymore, so summer at the Hamptons was the only time she got to see him.
She pulled harder, panicking now. ‘If you tell, I’ll—I’ll—’
Her mind sputtered as she scrambled to come up with a good threat. And then a memory filled her mind. A vision of Parker, lids rimmed red, sniffing as she stumbled on him down by the dock. He’d yelled at her, of course, scrubbing at his face as he’d told her to scram. As always, her heart hurt when Parker got that look in his eyes. And the only person in the world that could make Parker that upset was his mother. It had been a long time since she’d seen him sad about his mom. Lately, his reactions more often resembled anger.
She straightened up. ‘I’ll tell Susie Frances that I caught you crying like a baby.’
His gaze flashed to hers. ‘I was not crying,’ he said. ‘I got salt water in my eyes, is all.’
They both knew it was a lie, and she fought the temptation to look away. This was too important.
‘Fine,’ he said. And then he jabbed a finger in front of her face. ‘But you have to stop the creepy stalker stuff.’
Heat flaring up her face, she was horrified by the words. Had she been that obvious?
Suddenly, she wished she’d been swallowed up by the waters of Sag Harbor. ‘Fine,’ she said, mimicking him. But then her bravery ran out, her voice growing small. ‘I don’t suppose we can find the paddleboard?’
Parker stood, and right away she missed the heat of his skin. He swiped a hand through his hair, leaving it spikier than usual. ‘The board’s long gone.’
Jeez, it all seemed so unfair. Blinking back the tears, she looked across the water. Petrified Parker would see her cry, she dragged her hand across her eyes and sniffed. Another shiver racked her body, and the rustle of clothing brought her attention back to Parker.
He’d taken off his hoodie. ‘Don’t worry about it, Ace,’ he said gruffly, pulling his sweatshirt down over her head.
Her heart soared, both from the touch and the words and the protective tone in his voice. And she’d always adored his nickname for her. She jabbed her arms into the damp sleeves, savoring the heat from his body, the smell of Parker.
‘I’ll take the blame for the board.’ Those too-beautiful lips flattened grimly. A dark look crossed his face. ‘My mom already hates me, anyway.’
A needle pricked her heart, the sharp pain familiar. Ms. Michael was all Reese Reese Reese, spoiling her daughter rotten. But Parker? He barely even existed in the Michael household. No wonder he chose to live with his dad.
‘Thanks,’ she said, hoping she wasn’t tearing up like a baby again.
His lopsided smile appeared, leaving her weak in the knees as he said, ‘Let’s get you home.’
* * *
Parker gripped his whiskey glass.
Amber Davis.
Discovering the redhead’s identity had been like a cattle-prod shock to Parker’s nervous system, his mind reeling with the memories of his youth. He struggled to ignore the beautiful woman who’d trailed after him as a kid, hanging on his every word. His every move. The one who’d witnessed his most humiliating moment.
You were a mistake.
Tossing back the rest of his drink, he tried to focus on his goals for tonight. Avoid his mother at all costs, speak to Reese and tell her no and then get the heck out of here.
Attention firmly on him, Amber asked, ‘Do you remember—?’
‘Yeah,’ he said gruffly, fixing his eyes on his empty glass. No way was he letting her finish that question. ‘I remember.’
He could feel Amber’s gaze, but he needed a minute to adjust. Several of them, actually. Because he sure as hell wasn’t ready to face the lady who, years ago, had found him sniffling like a wussy little girl.
Thank God for his cell phone.
Parker glanced at the incoming number flashing in time with the vibration, answering with his pat ‘What’s up, Robby boy?’
‘Why aren’t you at Rosie’s Bar?’
Parker let out a discontented grunt, longing for the bar that was the watering hole for most of the fifty-seventh precinct. His gaze swept across the elegantly attired guests at the restaurant, the fancy venue most likely chosen for its bird’s-eye view of Manhattan. The only bright spot had been the pretty redhead that he’d known was too sweet and all kinds of wrong for him. Resisting a little harmless flirting had been impossible.
But, man, was that ever a freakin’ mistake.
‘I’m busy,’ Parker said to his partner as he shot a look at Amber.
Creamy skin, wide mouth and eyes the color of maple syrup. Her auburn hair was pulled back in some sleek knot that looked more professional than dressy. If he’d known she was gonna turn into a stunning redhead, he might have actually paid more attention. But she had been all knobby kneed, gap-toothed, with gangly arms and legs. A quiet kid.
A lamb among wolves at the Michael household.
He’d always felt a little sorry for her, a bit protective. Some of that had been drilled into him, to watch over Reese and Amber when Amber’s mother couldn’t. And more than anyone, he knew how it felt to be an outsider in the Michael household.
Now Amber was gorgeous, but there was still a lingering sense of the innocent openness that she’d had as a child. He could see it in her clear, honest eyes, the face that left everything on display. Parker couldn’t remember ever being innocent.
Had stopped believing in innocence long ago.
Gaze locked with the redhead’s, Parker spoke to Rob, who was waiting patiently on the other end of the phone. ‘Trust me,’ he said. ‘I’d rather be spilling a beer with my partner at Rosie’s Bar than at this fancy restaurant.’
‘Get your butt down here,’ Rob said.
‘Sorry, Robby boy.’ Christamighty was Parker sorry he was here instead of there. ‘Got something I’ve got to do first.’
There was a long pause on the end of the phone. ‘This isn’t about the Miller case, is it?’ Rob asked.
Parker’s insides felt as if they’d been hooked to two tractor trailers racing in opposite directions. Shoulders tense, he rolled them back. ‘No,’ he said, careful to keep his voice casual. ‘I’ve done this job long enough that nothing shocks me anymore.’
He knew his partner thought the turn of events had affected him. Was worried, somehow, that Parker was burning out on all they dealt with day to day. But he was more disturbed by the fact that he wasn’t affected. The latest case had taken a twisted turn that most people could never fathom and, yet, Parker hadn’t felt a speck of shock. Zip, zilch, nada.
The hollow darkness surrounding his heart expanded, and Parker refused to admit how much it scared the hell out of him.
Rob cleared his throat on the other end of the phone. ‘I hate that our number one suspect is a teen, especially given his parents are total dirtbags,’ he said.
Parker huffed in agreement. ‘Yeah, sometimes family sucks.’
Eyebrows tenting at his words, Amber frowned.
And as he said goodbye to Rob, Parker let out a sigh and addressed the redhead. ‘You got something you want to say?’
‘Just wondering if you’ve spoken with your sister yet,’ Amber said.
‘Haven’t had the time.’
‘Haven’t made the time.’
As if on cue, a feminine voice called his name, and he turned to face Reese. She was crossing the hardwood floor in a cocktail dress, her blond hair in a delicate twist.
‘Be nice,’ Amber whispered.
