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“You okay?” I could feel the heat rising from my chest, and my ears were warm as I started blushing with embarrassment. I almost lost my footing as Derrick grabbed my elbow to steady me.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just clumsy, is all. Happy birthday, and thanks for the dance.” I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and headed over to the bar. Swirling around the dance floor had given me the effects of the wine I consumed earlier. Not losing my footing, I held my own as my head started to spin as much as I was being spun around by Derrick. I had liked Nicole and Derrick from the moment we met; they were both friendly and down to earth.
I’d never known Nicole had a brother. Damn, he was hot. He was all I had thought about since seeing him earlier. I spotted him at the corner bar. I wondered if he was dating or had a girlfriend. I headed to the bar area and waited for the bartender to be available.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
I smiled and looked into Parker's eyes. God, I could get lost or drunk in those smoldering eyes. It was the most unique color of green I’d ever seen.
With a soft giggle, sounding extremely girlish, I said, “Well, you could, but you’d be getting ripped off. It’s an open bar.” Instantly, I hated myself for my dry sense of humor. I could tell by the blank look on his face that he didn’t know quite howto take me; how could he? We’d only known each other for a few hours. Trying hard to be a bit classier, I played with the earring dangling off my ear as I searched for something to say and salvage the situation; nothing came to mind. So, I simply said, “But I’ll have a glass of wine since you asked.” He smiled, turned to the bartender, and ordered me a wine. We stood there in silence for what felt like a decade.
Being so physically attracted to someone who didn’t talk much unnerved me a bit. I wasn’t used to being around someone so quiet. I was afraid I’d stick my foot in my mouth, so I kept it shut. I could feel myself grow warm in all the right places.
Swigging my wine like it was water, not ladylike at all, I guzzled what was left and set it on the bar for a refill. It came to my attention that all my womanly manners had gone out the window. I was giggling like a high school girl and sucking down wine like an amateur. Was there anything else I could muster up to embarrass myself and show my level of maturity? I wondered.
I stood up straighter and tried to find what little dignity I had left. “How long have you lived next door?”
“About two years.”
Okay, I figured I would need to start asking open-ended questions if this man was one of few words. Thus far, he’d only answered with short responses, not extending any type of indication he even wanted to have a conversation with me, I thought as I chewed on the inside of my lip and fiddled with my earring.
Suddenly, he interrupted my thoughts. “I’m sorry about your mom. My realtor told me the owner had passed away about six months before I bought the place.”
I nodded to confirm. “Yeah, I’ve been away for most of the past three years.”
“You look familiar. Like I’ve seen you somewhere before, I just can’t put my finger on it.”
I blushed, knowing it was probably in a magazine, maybe even one he was looking at to buy his girlfriend something.
“Maybe. I mostly can be found around the Miami and Keys areas.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you planning on staying a while?”
Was that a bit of hope in his voice that I heard?
“Not sure yet. I’m meeting with the realtor tomorrow. There’s someone interested in the house.” I let out a sigh and glanced over to the dance floor. I was contemplating the decision I would soon have to make.
“Oh, I didn’t realize it was for sale.” The sound of hope faded from his words as he penetrated through my thoughts.
I brought my attention back to Parker, saying, “It’s not officially. I haven’t decided whether I’m ready or want to sell it.”
As I looked at Parker, I watched him take a deep breath, and I could sense wheels turning in his mind when he finally spoke, breaking the awkward silence. “Do you take the boat out often? I mean, when you’re around.”
“We used to all the time. I miss living here, where we could drop the boat in and just go.” The silence between us returned, but my body had a language all its own as it respondedto every move he made, every breath he took. I wondered if it was as awkward in his bed as it was talking to him.
“Would you like to come over sometime for dinner?” The next thing I knew, I was blurting out an invitation to him for dinner at my place. No doubt I must be nuts; hell, was I a glutton for punishment? As soon as I’d spoken the words, I wished I could take them back. What would we talk about over dinner, for fuck’s sake? I could tell he was surprised at the invite as a smile started to curl his lips, and he swallowed the drink he’d just taken a sip of before he choked. I almost let out a giggle and reminded myself I was a lady.
“Sure, when were you thinking? I’m always around by noon until the circuit starts anyway.”
Circuit? I wrinkled my brow, something my agent was always on me to stop doing before I got frown lines; I asked, “The circuit?”
“Yes, I’m a pro golfer. I play the circuit at least twice a year.”
I nodded, impressed;this guy gets better and better: looks, intelligence, and a prominent career. Wow, just wow. Now, we might get somewhere if he could simply hold an intelligent conversation of more than simple answers.
I smiled, my voice growing raspy. “Nice. I bet you’re good.”I can’t believe I just said that! He makes me blurt out the darndest things!Suddenly, feeling exposed, I looked down at my feet, sure my face was turning red. My feet had started to ache from the heels and from sticking them in my mouth every time I opened it. I looked up at Parker, and his eyes changed from their normal shade of vibrant blue to a darker, sexier color with mystery in their depths. I decided to rest my chin in myhand at the bar in hopes of stabilizing my ridiculous self. I was sure the wine was having a field day in my head.
“I’m not good, I’m great,” he said in a deep throaty voice.
