Page 102 of You Make Me Feel
“We have some time before our reservation,” Autumn says.
I wince. And Parker notices.
He gives me the slightest of nods. Then grabs her hand. “No we don’t. We’re going.Now.” He leans down, and whispers something that makes her eyes widen.
Also, not on my list of things I need to know.
Whatever he says, Autumn giggles like a teenager, but this time she doesn’t protest as Parker all but drags her toward the restaurant.
“Saved by Parker’s stomach,” she calls out at me over her shoulder. “For now.”
Parker shakes his head and ushers her toward the restaurant. I watch the door close behind them, because I need them to forget I exist before I go back to my apartment.
Where there’s a woman waiting for me, who trusts me more than she should. Who deserves to get everything she wants.
If that doesn’t make me the luckiest bastard alive, I’m not sure what does.
SADIE
Wrapping a fluffy towel around my body, I walk into the bedroom and sit down at the dressing table, plugging in the hairdryer as I take a look at my reflection. I feel edgy, but in a good way. My skin is tingling, and not just from the heat of the shower.
I press my hand to my heated face, remembering how he looked at me when he slid the key across the table.
I’m not sure any man has ever looked so intensely at me before. He was so in control, yet he understands me in every way.
He makes me feel like I’m the center of his world. And I like that too much.
“It’s just a game,” I murmur to myself, turning on the hairdryer. Because that’s all it is. Yes, he’s taking care of me, but he’s a gentleman.
Or he can be. When he’s not being the hunter.
The hum of the hairdryer fills the silence of the room, and I close my eyes as I fluff up my hair, letting the heat do its work. I’m not going to bother styling it, there’s no point if I’m only going to sleep on it.
Or do other things.
I keep glancing at the bedroom door, wondering when he’ll come in. But the longer the minutes stretch, the more aware I am of how quiet the apartment is. No footsteps. No creak of the hinges. No low murmur of his voice as he says something dry and inappropriate.
I finish drying my hair and unplug the dryer, setting it aside with shaky fingers. My nerves are all over the place, but not from fear. From something else entirely.
From him. Where is he?
I check my phone, but there’s nothing there. But as I go to put it down the screen lights up.
Something came up. I could be a while. – Zach
Is this part of the game? I’m not sure, all I know is that I’m impatient.
I want him here. Telling me what to do.
Trying not to pout, I stomp over to my suitcase and pull out my pajamas. Shorts and a cami that feel soft against my overheated skin. And then I walk into the kitchen, fullyintending to help myself to the wine bottle I saw earlier in his refrigerator.
But before I can reach for the door, all the lights in the apartment go out.
And every nerve in my body shoots to high alert.
The fridge hum dies mid-breath. The glow from the stove clock vanishes. Every bulb, every socket, every subtle hum of electricity dissolves into nothing.
I freeze, my heart thudding against my ribcage.
