Page 64 of The Fire

“You would?” He looked skeptical and with really good reason.

“Sure,” I lied. “But it seems unnecessarily complicated, doesn’t it?”

“Let me understand.” Parker pursed his lips. “You thinkavoidingsex would make our being friendsmorecomplicated. How’s that work?”

I shrugged. “I find you…” Hot as fuck? Funny as hell? You make me feel like I’m finally opening my eyes to the light after a really long, dark night?Ugh. “… attractive. And heat has never been a problem between us.”

“Ah. So, it’s basic biology,” Parker huffed out a breath and it sounded like he was choking when he said, “Friends with benefits, then. For as long as I’m here.”

I made myself nod. I had told myself that very thing yesterday morning, right? Basic biology? Parker didn’t need to know about all the other messy, inconvenientfeelingsshit I had going on.

“Not good enough.” Parker shook his head, and for a second, my breath caught, because I swear I thought he was going to say that friends with benefits wasn’t enough. That he wantedmore. But then he continued, “I need to pay rent too. I wouldnevertake advantage of a buddy by mooching off him.” His lips edged up in a tentative smile. “And I don’t consider thewith benefitsto be payment, FYI. Because that’s just a little tooPretty Woman.”

Of course.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, more harshly than I intended. I jumped down from the counter and jammed my hands in my pockets. “I own this place free and clear. I don’t even have a mortgage. Save your money.”

Parker jumped down too. “If you insist, I’ll pay you in cooking,” he said in an overly-sweet voice. “All the chicken wings you can eat.”

I bit my lip to keep from smiling. “I remember you being competitive, but I don’t remember you being such a sore loser, Parkie.”

Predictably, his green eyes sparked as they came to mine. “I amnot—”

“It’s okay, buddy. Nobody’s perfect. You can be in charge of pancakes,” I drawled, making it clear I was only humoring him. I ruffled his already messy hair and when he knocked my hand away much harder than necessary, I laughed. “As I recall, you make good burgers. Remember the ones you used to make with the white bread and excessive ketchup?”

Parker looked up at the sky. “Onlyyouwould remember that.” He sighed. “What if I help you fix up the house? Paint andwhatever?”

I frowned, looking through the doorway to the dining room. It had to be kind of a record that I hadn’t thought about updating this place in a million years, and now suddenly I’d had not one but two guys offer to help me do it. But once again, it feltright.

And I was clearly fucked when he left anyway, right? Might as well go out with a bang.

“Yeah, okay,” I said, like I was the one doinghima favor. “You can help paint.”

One light eyebrow arched. “You promise?”

“We gonna pinkie swear? Like it’s 2002 up in here?”

Parker’s eyes widened along with his grin. “Did… did you just sayup in here?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, apparently itis2002.” He laughed.

“Shut it.”

“I’m just saying. You sound so old.”

“What’s that make you?” I demanded.

“Younger thanyou.By two whole years.”

I backed him playfully against the counter where he’d been sitting earlier, except this time I was right next to him, pressed up against his heat. “Then respect your elders, boy.”

Those gorgeous eyes lit with humor… and with something else entirely. Something that had me resting more of my weight against him and hissing when his hands came up to rest on my chest.

“If you expect me to call youDaddy, Jamie, you’ve got another think coming.”

I smiled, because the words were just a little bit breathless, a little bit needy, and a whole lot turned on.