Page 83 of Only for the Season

“And miss how adorably grumpy you are when I mention it?”

Adorably grumpy? Is she softening toward me? “Do you forgive me?”

Her nose wrinkles. “You haven’t apologized yet.”

I blow out a breath. “Parker Shaw, I’m sorry I paid for a year of rent for the loft.”

“And you’re sorry because?” She motions for me to continue.

“You don’t need my money, and you can save your damn self?”

She studies me for a long moment. “Good enough.”

I inch closer to her. When she doesn’t back away, I dare to close in on her until I can see the little flecks of gray in her blue eyes.

“I really am sorry, Parker. I shouldn’t have paid the rent, but I hate the idea of your suffering.”

“My apartment isn’t that bad.”

“Do you want me to list all the reasons your apartment should be condemned?”

She grunts. “No.”

I palm her neck. “I know I was an asshole who treated you like a money grubbing gold digger, but I want to resume our arrangement.”

“An affair until you leave the island?”

My stomach clenches. New Year’s Day is less than two weeks away. I can’t imagine saying goodbye to Parker in two weeks. But I don’t know what else I have to offer her. I’ve never managed to have a healthy relationship.

“What about more?” I ask before I can overthink the situation.

“More?” She narrows her eyes at me. “What does more mean?”

“Honestly, I have no clue. I just know I don’t want to say goodbye to you.”

She stares up at me from beneath her lashes. “You don’t?”

I squeeze her neck. “I don’t. You intrigue me, Parker.”

“Because I threw your money in your face?”

“And you’re sweet and funny and have a strange obsession with mermaids and have an otter for a pet and smell of chocolate and taste like coffee and sugar. You have curves I can’t get enough of, and I love the way you let me lead in the bedroom.”

She frowns. “I don’t let you lead in the bedroom.”

I lift a brow.

“Not all the time.”

I nod to concede her point.

“What do you say? Do you want to try ‘more’ with me?”

She nibbles on her bottom lip. “How will this work? I live in Smuggler’s Hideaway. You live on the other side of the country.”

I shrug. “I also own a private jet.”

She rolls her eyes. “You had to bring up your jet.”