Deeper Than Temptation

When Aiden and Parker Finally Give In...

And now she knows I'm jealous, I realize, staring Parker down because I'm furious, but also because I can't help myself. It seems like when it comes to Parks, all I do is stare. I haven't been able to look away from her since the moment she became my twins' nanny. Right now though? I want to argue.

And undress her. Honestly, the reminder just pisses me off even more, but my anger is nothing in comparison to hers, and I can't really blame her. Minutes ago, my jealous inner fourteen-year-old escaped and I insulted her professionalism. It was a dick move.

Parker lifts her chin, dark eyes flashing. "You told me you needed me to 'handle things' because you didn't have time. Well, I'm handling them—and how dare you imply I was flirting with that guy!"

It's not funny, but I force myself to laugh anyway. 'That guy' is another kid's dad. He came by to watch Parker give a riding lesson to the twins because he wants to enroll his own kid in lessons, and after laying eyes on Parker, he wants her too. She has no idea how he was looking at her, how attracted he was.

But I do.

"You really don't know how he was looking at you, do you?" I ask.

She gapes at me. "Nothing was going on between Brandon and me. If you saw something, you're inventing it." She pauses, looking half a second away from tears, and it nearly rips me in half. "No one looks at me like that."

"I do." It's so quick it probably sounds like a line, but it's the truth—probably the biggest truth we've ever shared because I can't ever take my eyes from her. Call it instant attraction or lust at first sight or whatever, but I've wanted Parker since day one. It's totally out of line. I'm her boss. She's the twins' nanny.

And yet we can't seem to keep our hands off each other.

"In fact," I continue, "I look at you like that all the time, and you know it." Her breath quickens, and it pools heat in my gut. "And furthermore, I know you look at me the same way."

I also know it knocks the breath out of me every time.

Parks nods, and catches herself, eyes narrowing at me in annoyance. "Fine," she says at last. "I like looking at you. What of it? We have...a thing."

"We do," I whisper.

"Doesn't mean anything."

"Nope."

"Because it can't," she adds.

"Right."

"Exactly." We talk to each other like we're on the same page, and everything's fine. But my already small apartment kitchen suddenly feels even smaller. Everything is filled with Parker. She's doing that absent nod thing, blinking those doe-eyes the way she always does when she wants me, and I can't stop walking toward her. I can't stop until we're toe-to-toe, until she has to look up to meet my gaze. It makes her lick her lips, and I have to hold myself back from touching her.

"See?" I whisper, and she shivers. "You're doing it again: looking at me like you want me to kiss you."

"Maybe I do."

Shouldn't be possible, but I go even harder. My dick strains against my jeans, but I stay still. I'm never going to be the asshole who forces himself on a woman—let alone the asshole who forces himself on an employee. If she wants me, she's going to have to say it.

And without me uttering a word, the realization dawns in her eyes. She licks her lips again.

"So kiss me," she says, and my mouth goes dry. "Because I'm wondering if it's worth it."