THE BENNETTS' CHRISTMAS (The Bennett Family and the Masters Family #6) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,84

inside for a while when he took her home, he had no excuse to linger. He had thought about going over to Sebrina’s table to speak before leaving. But then he’d figured it would be best if their dates didn’t pick up on the intense sexual tension between them.

There had never been a time when he’d ached for a woman and hadn’t done anything about it. Unfortunately, this ache wasn’t something he could easily do something about. Because he only wanted her. And she didn’t want to want him.

And he shouldn’t want to want her, either. He had big goals, life goals, and couldn’t afford to let any woman get under his skin. By this time next year, he would be leaving St. Paul for Tampa, and he didn’t want anything holding him back.

Nor did he want to have any regrets.

A short while later, he was in bed, flat on his back and staring up at the ceiling. Although he didn’t want to think about it, he wondered if Sebrina would be coming home tonight. He was aware of the ‘no sleep-over’ house rule, so he knew that she and the guy wouldn’t be coming back here. But they could go his place. The thought of that guy doing all the things Parker had been dreaming of doing to her was keeping him awake.

He glanced over at the clock and figured that he’d been home for nearly an hour. Granted she had barely started on her entree when he had finished dessert, but still, he wouldn’t have thought it would take this long for them to finish their meal. Again, he was wondering if she’d gone to that guy’s place. Was it any of his business if she had?

Maybe not, but that didn’t stop the green-eyed monster from rearing its jealous head. He had shifted positions, laying on his side when he heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. Sebrina had come home after all. Needing to see her, even if only to open his door and take a peek, he got out of bed and slipped into his robe.

Sebrina removed her coat and hung it in the closet, glad her date with Bob was finally over. Before they’d left the restaurant, Bob had gotten upset when she’d refused to go home with him. Then he’d had the gall to ask if he could spend the night at her place, since Monica was out of town.

That’s when she’d had to tell him the truth, and not in such a nice way. First of all, they hadn’t gone out together in over a year. So why did he suddenly assume that one dinner date would give him bed rights he’d never gotten before. Then she’d informed him that although Monica was out of town, they had a new housemate. So him coming home with her was out of the question, even if she’d wanted it. Which she didn’t.

Acting like a little kid who’d had his toy taken away, he had barely waited for her to get out the car before taking off, leaving her in the driveway. He hadn’t even bothered to walk her to the door. The jerk!

There was only one light on—the lamp near the stairs—just the way she had left things. That meant Parker probably hadn’t returned yet and he likely wouldn’t tonight. She could always check to see if his car was parked in the garage but why add salt to the wound? What he did and when he came home was his business. Even if they had paid more attention to each other than their dates at the restaurant.

After turning on the security alarm, she crossed the room to switch off the lamp. She was about to head upstairs when she heard her name. She turned, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Parker standing in the doorway of his bedroom.

The brief light pouring into the room from his bedroom’s lamp cast enough illumination on him to make her heart race even faster. He was wearing a robe, which meant he had probably been home a while. His hair hung around his shoulders and she could tell, from his open robe, that he was bare chested and wearing just his PJ bottoms.

His devastating sexiness caused a distinct warmth to surge through her. Swallowing deeply, she answered. “Yes?”

“How was your date?”

Should she tell him the truth or pretend everything had gone fine? Considering the two of them had spent a lot of