He did? Since when? I couldn’t remember ever telling him where I lived or why he’d have cause to know it. This new information kept me quiet…for about a mile or two…then my nerves started acting up again. We were really close, like in proximity to each other, and it was nice. Too nice.
“So thanks a lot for taking me home,” I said too brightly. “Usually, I’d just take the bus, but at this time of night, probably not a great idea. The driver in the mornings knows me, and he waits for me because I’m almost always running late. I gave him a Christmas gift last year—a box of fudge I’d made. I love fudge. I make a ton of it every year. I brought some in to the office, too, remember? Jane in HR asked me for my recipe.”
Nerves were making me babble and although Parker didn’t say anything, I saw the corner of his mouth lift slightly in the low light from the dash.
Deciding to get back to business rather than continue to discuss inanities such as my Christmas baking habits, I said, “I’ll make sure to get those files done first thing tomorrow.” Then I rethought that. “Though I guess it’s already tomorrow, right? I mean, today is tomorrow, so I mean I’ll get those done today…” My voice trailed off. God, I sounded like such an idiot. In my defense, I’d been up since six a.m. Okay, six-thirty.
“Tonight was rough,” Parker said. “And it’s late. If you want to take tomorrow off, you can.”
I thought about that. He was offering me a day off? No, wait, not really. I was sure I’d have to take a sick day. This wasn’t a freebie.
“Are you taking tomorrow off?” I asked instead, because I already knew the answer to that. Parker rarely took time off, which is why I wasn’t surprised to see him shake his head.
“No.”
“Then neither will I.”
“Your loyalty is…appreciated,” Parker said. “Thanks for not telling Ryker about the gun.”
“Sure,” I said. “I mean, it’s none of my business why you keep a gun in your closet.” I waited, hoping he’d enlighten me, but no such luck. “You said something about what Ryker told you earlier today…?” I prodded.
Parker glanced at me, then back to the road.
“He’s investigating the murder of an informant, a prostitute, who said she had information for him on a drug supplier. Unfortunately, she was dead when he arrived. And unfortunately for me, she was holding my business card when she died.”
I gaped. “Your card? But why would—” And I stopped. I probably didn’t want to go there.
He seemed to read my thoughts. “I wasn’t a customer,” he said dryly.
“I didn’t think you were,” I lied.
“Sure you did.”
Now my face was so hot, I was glad the inside of the car was dark enough he couldn’t see how red I had to be.
“I’m sorry—” I began.
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s just that your bills had been absent florists, jewelers, or expensive dinners out lately so I’d just assumed.” Yeah, I should really stop there. I covered my burning face with my hands, vowing not to say another word. Not that it mattered if he was dating anyone. Sex was freely available to a man like him and I knew he had his share of one-night stands.
“No, I’m not dating anyone,” he said.
Confirmation that Parker Anderson was decidedly available had me peeking through my fingers.
“Are you?” he asked.
I dropped my hands to my lap, my mouth suddenly dry. “I told you I got dumped,” I reminded him.
“Yes, but then you had dinner with Ryker tonight.”
And I was having dinner with him again tomorrow night, I thought, but didn’t say.
“I don’t think having dinner with someone necessarily says you’re dating them,” I said, evading his question.
“Then what does it say?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just…dinner.”
Parker glanced at me, but I looked away, afraid he might see too much in my eyes. I was too tired to be on my toes with him, and didn’t want to argue about Ryker. It was quiet until we arrived at my apartment.
“Thanks for the ride,” I said, my hand on the door handle, but he was already turning off the car.
“It’s late. I’ll walk you up.”
Okay then.
My apartment was on the top floor of a building that included a doorman, though Harvey wasn’t manning the door this late. My key let me in to the lobby and though we both knew it was