Page 30 of The Problem with Playboys

Unfortunately, there was still no sign of Chloe and the ballroom was quickly filling up to capacity with hundreds of well-dressed guests. It was great to see such a fantastic turnout. That meant more money raised, but it also made it that much more difficult to track down Chloe. And Parker could admit that was all he really cared about right now.

And then, like a dream, she stepped into his vision. She was wearing an off-the-shoulder icy blue satin dress with a very pleasing neckline. Her flame-red hair fell around her face in rolling waves. Even with the considerable cache of hot memories from their time in Miami, Parker could hardly believe he’d managed to survive the week since they’d returned. One look at her and his entire body was on fire. It was game on for cat and mouse, and he wasn’t about to lose. Winning could only involve seeing her dress on the foyer floor in his apartment. Or maybe thrown across the back seat of his limo. He had to have her again.

If he was lucky, again and again.

He wanted to play it cool, but he wasn’t going to play the fool. He wound his way through the crowd to get to her. When he was about halfway there, their eyes connected, and he relished the jolt of electricity he had to endure when the corners of her luscious mouth turned up into a smile. Every step closer brought more anticipation. He wanted to touch her. Smell her. Kiss her. A few feet away and he swore her beguiling scent filled his nose. He wanted to nestle his face in her curviest spots. He wanted to put his mouth all over her, wanted to taste her skin. “You’re here,” he said, reaching for her elbow and planting a kiss on her cheek. His eyes were drawn to the sumptuous curves of her cleavage, and his hands twitched with recognition of what it was like to have her velvety breasts in his hands.

“Of course I am. I told you I would be.” She slid him a sly grin. “You weren’t actually worried about it, were you?”

“Never. I don’t worry. I think you know that by now.”

“Oh, right. Remind me to get a lesson in patience from you at some point.” Her eyes flashed with a sexy glimmer.

“Not worrying isn’t the same as being patient. I assure you that when I want something, I don’t like to wait.”

“Good to know.” Chloe turned as a curvy brunette woman walked up to them. “Parker, meet Alexandra. Alexandra, this is Parker,” Chloe said, carefully studying them as they shook hands.

Parker was intrigued by Alexandra, but mostly because it helped him put Chloe in context. Alex was beautiful, but she was also very quiet. Almost meek. This was the woman Chloe had been trying to keep up with when she got engaged? Parker didn’t totally get it. “It’s really nice to meet you, Alexandra. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Alexandra blushed. “Please. Call me Alex. And don’t believe everything you’ve heard.”

“Oh. I didn’t mean the tabloid stuff. Just the things that Chloe told me about.”

“You’d have to be living under a rock to not know about the tabloids,” Alex said.

Chloe stepped closer to Parker and clutched his arm, which he loved. “Actually, I had to remind him about the story. He didn’t really remember it.”

“Seriously?” Alex asked, seeming shocked.

“Seriously,” Parker answered. He could appreciate that she must be feeling self-conscious about having been splashed all over the front page of several gossip rags. “You seem like you’ve emerged unscathed. So that’s good.”

Alex shrugged. “I’m trying.”

Just then, one of the women from the hospital tapped Parker’s shoulder. “Mr. Sullivan, can I have a quick chat with you? In private?”

Parker was both confused and disappointed. He’d finally found Chloe and now duty called. “Is there something wrong?”

“Just something I’m hoping you can help me with.”

He turned to Chloe, desperate for her to know that as soon as he finished whatever this was about to be, the rest of his night was all for her. “Don’t go anywhere, okay? I’ll be right back in a few minutes.”

Chloe smiled wide. “Don’t worry. I’ll stay put.”

“Good. I want you right where I can find you.”

Chloe didn’t want to admit how much she hated seeing Parker walk away from her, but she did. Especially when he was looking perfect in a classic black tuxandwas accompanied by such a beautiful woman. “I wonder what that was all about,” she said to Alex.

“Not sure. Is Parker involved in tonight’s event?”

Chloe shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought this was just a fundraiser he was attending, like any other event. He never said a peep about it before he invited me the other day.”

“Do you want to tell me what happened in Miami? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

Chloe knew her cheeks were turning bright red. “Things went to a place I wasn’t exactly expecting. Let’s put it that way.”

“Don’t worry. I get what you mean. And I don’t need the full breadth of details like Taylor does.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”