I took it from him and took a drink. The bourbon burned like fire and I coughed. “What did you do with my knife?” I asked, once I could speak without sounding three-packs-a-day.
“I put it back,” he said. “Let’s not answer the door with knives again, shall we? Odds are you’d only end up hurting yourself.”
I shrugged, heading to the couch where I sat, pulling my knees to my chest. “I didn’t have anything else.”
Parker followed, sitting closer than I thought he would have. “Do you own a gun?” he asked.
I looked at him askance. “Are you kidding? You know what a pain in the ass and all the crap you have to go through to own a gun in Chicago.” Which was why I hadn’t mentioned his having one to the cops. Parker would’ve gotten in big trouble having a handgun in the building.
We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, and the bourbon no longer burned as I sipped it. I felt much better now, and was embarrassed for how I’d fallen apart earlier.
“Listen, I’m sorry about losing it,” I said, keeping my eyes on the amber fluid that remained in my glass. “It’s just that nothing like that’s ever happened to me before, and it scared me.”
“You don’t have to apologize,” he said.
“Yeah, but I always thought I was made of tougher stuff than that, and when it came down to it, it looks like I’m a big marshmallow.” So much for channeling my inner Sarah Connor. Badass I was not. I upended the glass, swallowing the last of the bourbon.
Reaching over, Parker took the empty glass from me, setting it on the coffee table. “It’s not your fault,” he said. “You’re a secretary, not a cop.”
“Executive administrative assistant,” I mumbled, automatically correcting him.
His lips curved upward ever so slightly as he looked at me, the corners of his eyes crinkling. His blue gaze was captivating, even at this hour. I decided I could get used to this Parker, more relaxed and approachable than he was at the office.
“My mistake,” he said seriously, though his eyes twinkled.
I smiled a little, too. “Let’s not have it happen again,” I said, raising an eyebrow in mock admonishment.
Parker didn’t reply, the smile lingering as he looked at me, and his gaze moved over my hair and all the way down to my pink-tipped toes before returning to meet my eyes. My arms were wrapped around my knees and I tightened my hold, my fingers itching to reach for him. He should really go. My defenses were way down and I was inches away from doing something I’d regret.
“Thanks for coming here,” I said. “For helping.”
He must have recognized the dismissal because he nodded. Tipping up his own glass, he finished off the bourbon and set it alongside mine on the table.
“I’ll be going then,” he said, getting to his feet. I hurried to copy him. “You’ll be all right?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, nervously running my fingers through my hair. His eyes followed the movement. “So, you’ll take care of it? He won’t…come around again?”
At the mention of the guy, Parker’s face hardened and his eyes grew cold. “I’ll make sure of it. But if you see anything, if something scares you, call me, okay? I don’t care what time it is.”
“Okay.” No problem there. I had no desire to try and be the hero and deal with Mr. Gold Tooth on my own.
Parker nodded, as though satisfied I’d do as he said, then headed out the door. I watched him go, thinking how odd it seemed that, before last night, he’d never been to my apartment, and now he’d been here twice in as many days. Hurrying to the window, I saw him get into his car and drive away, and only then did it hit me that he must’ve been doing the exact same thing when I’d left his apartment earlier.
* * *
I slept until noon on Saturday and when I finally climbed out of bed, I felt much better than I had the night before. After brewing a cup of coffee with my Keurig, I checked my cell. I had a missed call and voice mail from a number I didn’t recognize. Curious, I listened to the message.
“Sage, it’s Ryker. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about our dinner tonight. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
Hmm.
With everything else going on I had forgotten all about our date, and I couldn’t