"I had some news for you. But it can wait."
"Good news?" When he nodded, she snuggled closer. "Well, tell me now. After that encounter, I'm all about the good news."
"Remember in New Orleans how you mentioned that you wanted to take your makeup business to the next level? Get into skincare products?"
"I remember." She'd talked about it at length as they walked along the Mississippi, telling him how she made her own, experimenting to find the best texture and results, but also admitting that since she wasn't a chemist, she could only take her ideas so far. "What about it?"
"I told you about the trial for Tatum, right? The new topical that PCM is working on?"
She nodded, confused.
"Well, I was talking with the folks at the lab, and at least two of my chemists said they'd love to chat with you about what you have in mind. Maybe see if you can put together a sample of a product that you could test on your clients and refine."
Her breath caught in her throat, and she thought her heart might swell to breaking. She blinked, and a tear trickled down her cheek. "You did that for me?"
"Baby, I'd do pretty much anything for you."
The tears fell in earnest. "Yeah? In that case, I think you should make love to me now."
He chuckled, then lightly kissed her. "Happy to oblige."
Gently, he carried her to bed like she was the most precious thing in the world to him. He undressed her, then pulled her to him, and when they kiss
ed, it seemed as if the whole world fell away. It was only the two of them, with the future wide open in front of them, while fear and regrets were left far behind.
"Now," she said as she knelt on the bed, then held out a hand to tug him close. I want to feel you moving inside me. I want you to take me to the stars, and I want to take you right along with me.
"To the stars? Baby, you take me to heaven every day." He cupped her cheek, and she fell back against the pillows, drawing him down, over her. Into her.
She arched up as he thrust deep inside, filling her with his body and his love. And when passion cut through him, making him tremble, she held him close and followed him over, shattering into a million pieces, but unafraid. Because she knew that Parker would always be there to put her back together again.
When the electricity in her limbs finally calmed and she could breathe again, snuggled closer, then sighed. "You're mine, Parker Manning." She propped herself up on her elbow. "Just so you know, I'm not ever letting you get away."
"Good to hear," he said, the love in his eyes making her heart sing. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
Epilogue
The Night of the Mr. June Contest
* * *
Amanda eased toward the back of the bar, thinking that she'd slip out through the back exit to the alley while the contest was going on. Not that she wanted to miss the contest, but she definitely had someplace else she wanted to be right now. And though going out the front might make more sense, she didn't want to get waylaid by one of her friends.
Derek.
She sighed with happiness--and with anticipation--as all of her girly parts fired up at the prospect of seeing him again.
For almost a year now, they'd been meeting in secret whenever he came to town for business, usually every three months or so. It had started when he'd picked her up in the bar of one of his hotels. She'd gone in for nothing more than a drink and to soothe her own crappy mood, but his tempting smile and more tempting offer had won her over.
And he had very thoroughly turned her mood around.
They'd been clear from the get-go that the encounter would be nothing more than a fling. She wasn't interested in more, and he swore that neither was he. And when he told her that he was only in town for the night for business, the whole encounter had seemed like a no-brainer.
A fabulously sexy, decadently delicious, orgasm-inducing no-brainer. Seriously, the man had been the best sex of her life, and the glow of satisfaction afterwards had lasted for at least a week.
And the very best part? No strings.
Because the last thing that Amanda wanted or needed was an actual relationship.