Page 42 of The Problem with Playboys

Parker spent his entire workday with electricity coursing through his veins. This was what Chloe did to him. She lit the match. She started the fire. She made him feel alive. And that was just from a phone call, which was a remarkable thing.

He was still amazed she’d passed along the publicity opportunity for Marcus. The Chloe of a month ago would not have done that. Or if she had, she would have made Parker squirm for it, at least a little bit. He couldn’t deny that she’d taken a surprising role in his life—she made him feel good about everything. Most important, he couldn’t imagine his day-to-day without her. Looking back on the way he’d been before Chloe? It all seemed so empty. He’d been so busy charging through life, working hard and playing harder, a long string of women who meant very little to him, all because he’d been so dedicated to the idea of not making the same mistakes his father had. Chloe was the one person who’d gotten to him. Her softer side made him appreciate the little things, like having someone other than his dog to be with at the end of a long day.

He left the office early and Benny drove him to the flagship Tiffany store on 57th Street, where he popped in to buy his gift for Chloe. The store was much busier than he’d expected, quite packed with shoppers. But there was one salesperson who had just completed a sale—a gray-haired man in glasses and wearing an impeccable suit with a name tag that simply saidMr. Russell.

“May I help you, sir?” he asked. His British accent surprised Parker, but it only added to the distinguished air about the man.

“I need a gift. For my girlfriend.” Finally, Parker had just come out with it. The relief registered in his body immediately. He and Chloe had been wading through murky waters, and she really struggled with all of that, especially the potential fallout from her mom. But it was time to be definitive about their relationship, especially when he knew it was true. She had become his girlfriend.

“I see. Special occasion?”

It was early April and Chloe’s birthday wasn’t until summer. With no romantic holiday in sight, Parker had to admit his true aim. “No. I just need her to know that she’s really important to me.”

Mr. Russell grinned, which Parker had to admire. He’d probably heard hundreds of men say something along those lines, and the sentiment apparently hadn’t lost its luster. “Do you know what you’re looking for?”

Not knowing exactly what he was looking for, Parker was left to explain to the salesman what Chloe meant to him. “I don’t know, exactly. We’ve only been together a little more than a month.”But it feels like I’ve known her forever.“She’s so beautiful, with flowing red hair and rosy cheeks.”She’s perfect.“And when she laughs, it’s like the whole world stops.”At least it does for me.

“And her name?”

“Chloe.”

“Chloe sounds like a very special woman,” the salesman said. “And how much were you looking to spend?”

“Oh. If it were up to me, I’d spend a lot. But I don’t think she would want anything too extravagant.”I don’t want her to freak out.

“I have several ideas. Let’s see if anything can live up to your lovely lady’s beauty.” Mr. Russell showed him various bracelets, and earrings, but it was a necklace with a delicate chain and a round pendant studded with diamonds that really caught Parker’s eye.

“That one.” He tapped the display glass.

“Excellent choice. Might I suggest the rose gold? It can be quite striking on a woman with red hair.” Mr. Russell pulled it from the case and presented it on its pale gray velvet stand. It caught the light from every angle, sparkling like crazy.

“Yes. That’s it. That’s the one.” In his mind, he could see Chloe wearing it. He could see her loving it.

“I appreciate your decisiveness. Not every man is so determined with his selection.”

Parker took some pride from that. He’d spent his life being noncommittal when it came to expressions of affection. But this felt right. “Thank you.”

“Very well then. I’ll ring it up and send you on your way.” Mr. Russell carefully packed up the necklace.

Parker watched Mr. Russell work, realizing that he reminded him quite a bit of his father, but it was more than the silvery hair. It was the romantic streak. And funnily enough, that was what drew Parker to Mr. Russell. It was what made him like him. Parker might have been too hard on his dad. There was nothing wrong with being soft-hearted when it came to romance. If anything, it was admirable.

Mr. Russell handed over the shopping bag. “I’d love to help you when you bring her in to pick out something for her left ring finger.”

Parker laughed quietly. The man’s romantic tendencies were no joke. “We’ll see how this necklace goes over first.”

In the car on the way home, Parker couldn’t sit still. Despite the outcome, his conversation with Chloe had been a bit off that morning, the two of them yet again feeling around in the dark, trying to figure out where they stood with each other. Chloe had seemed unsettled and unsure of herself. He’d thought that was just Chloe’s normal tendency to overthink everything, but now he was wondering if the thing she was unsure about was him. He took a deep breath and looked out the window as the city whizzed by. He couldn’t bring himself to worry about his fate. The one good thing about an expensive piece of jewelry—he’d definitely know how she felt after he gave it to her.

Back at his building and in the elevator on the way up to his floor, Parker’s phone beeped with a text. He fished it out of his pocket just as he stepped into his apartment. What he saw on his screen made him freeze right in his tracks. He flashed back to that morning in Miami, when Chloe got a text of a photo she was not eager for the world to see. Because here he was, presented with yet another compromising picture. This one was of Chloe and Parker in the hall outside the fundraiser, her breast peeking out from the confines of her bodice and Parker’s hand between her legs.

“How in the hell did anyone take this picture?” he mumbled to himself. He looked at it again. His face was buried in her neck. Her mouth was wide open, her eyes shut tight.So hot.And yet, Chloe was going tofreakwhen she saw it.

“Parker?” she called. “I just opened a bottle of wine.”

Who is this?he quickly typed, then set his laptop bag on the table in the foyer.

It was you all along, wasn’t it?

That was all Parker needed to know. It was Little Black Book. It had to be. And they’d finally figured out that it wasn’t Chloe who was trying to unmask them, it was him.