Mitchell stared at me for the longest time. He opened his mouth twice to speak, then shut it.
I stood and gazed down at him. “This isn’t going to work. Us living together like this. I’ll start looking for a place tomorrow.”
Not saying a word, he got up and walked back into his place.
I followed him, my hands shaking as I grew angrier by the second. “That’s it? You’re going to let me move out?”
Mitchell reached for his keys, then turned to me. “I can’t force you to stay here, Corina. If you’re unhappy, then yes, you should leave. Do I want you to? No, I don’t. I know I fucked up, but if you’re going to throw it in my face every goddamn chance you get, then you’re right, this won’t work.”
He headed to the stairs that led down to his front door. My heart raced, and I knew I couldn’t leave it like this. Closing my eyes, I called out to him. “Mitch! You never asked me to the Pecan Street Honky Tonk.”
Stopping, he looked back up at me. “What?”
I swallowed hard and took in a quick breath. “The dance, you never asked me. And well, Lane asked me.”
Sadness swept over his face. “What did you tell him?”
Wringing my hands together, I answered, “I haven’t responded…yet. I was waiting for you.”
Mitchell rushed back up the steps and stopped in front of me. I don’t think I’d ever felt my stomach dip like it did when he raced toward me. He cupped my face and leaned in. My chest rose and fell with each breath as I waited for him to speak. His touch sent a flurry of butterflies through my chest.
“Corina, will you go with me to the street dance next weekend?”
My teeth sank into my lip, and I watched as his eyes filled with lust.
“Yes.” I smiled and added, “But only as friends.”
The corner of his mouth rose into a sexy smirk. God, how I loved that smile of his. “It’s a date, then.”
“As friends,” I added.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to mine. Before I could even process his lips, they were gone and he was stepping back. “I’ll take it. For now.”
Turning on the heel of his boot, he headed down the steps. Once I heard the door shut, my fingers slid across my tingling lips, and I couldn’t help the huge smile that formed.
I flopped down on the sofa and dropped my head back as I stared up at the ceiling. My emotions were everywhere. I was still angry at Mitchell, but I could feel the wall slowly beginning to fall. Milo jumped up next to me and meowed.
“Shut up. I know I said I was mad at him and I am.”
Milo added more to the conversation with one of his bark meows.
Lifting my head, I stared at him. “Keep your thoughts to yourself, buddy. I know what I’m doing. I think. Besides, you’re a traitor.”
Milo tilted his head and stared at me with his blue eyes. “That’s right. I saw you rubbing all up against his leg.”
He looked away.
“And the guilty shall prove they are guilty by avoiding eye contact!”
When he jumped off the sofa, I let out a chuckle. Goodness, I’m talking to my cat.
My cell rang, and I quickly ran into the guest room to get my phone.
“H-hello?”
“Please tell me you’re out of breath because you and my brother got your shit figured out and did the dirty deed…again.”
Laughing, I shook my head and laid back on the bed. “Nope, sorry to disappoint you, Waylynn. I’m still angry with him.”
She sighed. “Well, one of these days he’ll get tired of using his hand, and you’ll get tired of using a dildo, and y’all will bump uglies like you did all those months ago.”
I shook my head to erase the image that had appeared. Not because it was something that I didn’t like, quite the opposite. It was an image I could obsess over.
“How do you come up with this stuff?” I asked.
“You’ve never heard that before?”
“No!” I replied with a chuckle.
“Jesus, you’re more innocent than I thought. Put on that little black dress I saw Paxton slip into the bag. We’re going out.”
“We are?”
“I’ve had a hellish week, and yours has been even worse. We are going to dinner, getting halfway to drunk, then going to Cord’s Place tonight. It’s karaoke night, and we are going to sing and drink our sorrows away.”
“Yikes, what happened?”
Waylynn sighed. “The damn city won’t approve my application for the dance studio because old lady Hopkins thinks I’m going to be doing something inappropriate on the side.”
“Why does she think that?”
The phone went silent before Waylynn said, “It might be because she walked in on Jonathon and me releasing a bit of pent-up energy.”
Oh, no.
“Waylynn, you weren’t.”
She laughed. “Hell yes, we were, and let me tell you, it was the best screw I’d ever had. Probably because he’s younger and the man knows how to use his tools…if you know what I mean.”
“Eww! Oh, my gosh I don’t want to know that!”
Waylynn let out an evil laugh. “Come on, Corina. If you go out, then that pansy ass sister of mine will go. Right now she’s probably riding her cowboy and having a good evening. I want a good evening, too.”
I ignored her comment about Amelia and Wade and stared at the dress already on the bed. “Fine. I’ll go, but only because I really need the night out.”
“Yay! I’ll meet you at Marco’s.”
My stomach rumbled. “I love that little restaurant.”
“Yeah, it’s one of my favorites. Remember, dress sexy.”
Walking into Marco’s, I took a deep breath. “It smells so good in here.”
Waylynn nodded and looked around like she was searching for someone.
“Are we meeting Amelia here?” I asked.
She stopped and turned to me. “What? No, she’s going to meet us at Cord’s Place.”
“Who are you looking for, then?”
“Huh? No one.”
I glared. She was lying. Waylynn was not a good liar. It was one of the first things I had learned about her.
The owner, Marco, approached us. “Good evening, Ms. Parker, Ms. Miller. Table for two?”
I waited for Waylynn to answer. “Um. Ah.”
“Yes,” I said with a smile. “Table for two.”
Marco grabbed two menus and headed into the restaurant. Waylynn was still looking around. “Look! My parents!”
My stomach dropped when I glanced at where she was pointing. The first person I saw was Mitchell.
“Marco, we’ll be joining my folks,” Waylynn said.
Grabbing my hand, she dragged me behind her. “Waylynn, did you set this up?” I asked as we made our way to the table that oh-so-conveniently had two empty seats. The moment Melanie saw us, she smiled ear to ear.
“You and your mother set this up, didn’t you?” I whispered.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Waylynn said with an evil grin. The same evil grin that her mother wore. “Hey! Fancy meeting y’all here.”
“Corina!” Chloe cried out.
With a smile, I leaned down and kissed Chloe on the forehead. “Hello, sweet pea. How are you?”
“Granddaddy is promising me a new goat!”
“Patches will have a friend. How fun!”
John, Steed, and Mitchell all stood as Waylynn and I took our seats.
“Steed, move down one so that Corina can sit next to Chloe,” Melanie said.
Doing as his mother asked, Steed moved, and I went to sit between him and his daughter.
“NO!” Melanie and Waylynn cried out.
“Chloe, honey, slide over so you stay next to your daddy,” Waylynn said. “I want to sit across from you.”
I was positive I was shooting daggers at both Waylynn and Melanie.
Once everyone had moved, I took my seat. The men sat, and I couldn’t help but chance a look at Mitchell. He was, of course, smiling as his blue eyes met mine.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he said.
With a grin, I focused on Waylynn. I was trying hard not to give her a look that said I was going to kill her later.
“We just ordered,” Melanie said.
Steed laughed. “And now I know why you kept stalling, Mom.”
Melanie cleared her throat and took a drink of water. “I have no idea what you mean, Steed.”
“Uh-huh.”
John picked up his glass of wine and took a drink. “Boys, there are some things in life you just accept. One of those things is women butting into other folks’ business.”
Melanie hit John on the arm. “You hush up, John Parker. There is no harm in giving two people a little push.”
I was positive my eyes grew wide at that. “Are you talking about me and Mitchell?” I had no idea why I asked that out loud.
“If the shoe fits,” Waylynn added.
My body caught fire as Mitchell’s leg pressed against mine. It suddenly got really hot in Marco’s.
“First off, y’all both need to keep your noses out of my business. And Corina’s.” Mitchell reached for my hand. “We’re friends, isn’t that right, Corina?”
Dizzy with desire, I tried to ignore his leg. His hand on mine. I tried not to focus on the way his eyes lingered on my lips, like he wanted to kiss me again.
His kiss. My lips tingled. The kiss he had given me on the stairs was so simple, yet it had nearly knocked me off my feet.
For Pete’s sake, Corina! It was a quick peck, not even a kiss.
Mitchell leaned in and asked in a hushed voice, “Are you okay?”
His thumb swept over the top of my hand, leaving a burning path.
Pulling my eyes off him, I glanced around the table. Melanie and Waylynn were leaning in, trying to hear my response. Chloe giggled. “Why is everyone staring at Corina?”
I swallowed hard and pulled my hand away from Mitchell. “Excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room.”
When I stood, John, Steed, and Mitchell all got up from their chairs. Oh, Lord. Why do they have to be so chivalrous?
Quickly making my way through the restaurant, I rushed into the ladies’ room. I placed my hands on the sink and pulled in a few deep breaths.
“Corina?”
I spun around. The same girl I’d seen Mitchell with at Cord’s bar was standing in front of me. I was pretty sure I’d heard Amelia say her name was Cassidy.
“I’m sorry. Do we know each other?” I asked with a confused expression.
She smirked. “We have a common interest.”
My stomach dropped. “We do?”
“Yes. Mitchell Parker. Rumor has it you’re living with him now.”
The room started to spin. Oh God. He’s been sleeping with this girl, and now she thinks I’m a threat.
“My house caught fire. Mitchell was nice enough to let me crash at his place until I can find other arrangements.”
She stared at me with nothing but hate in her eyes.
The bathroom door flew open, and Mitchell was standing there. “What in the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
I took a few steps back, not sure who he was talking to.
“Don’t get your jockstrap in a twist, Mitchell. I only wanted to meet my competition.”
“Competition?” I asked, my eyes darting between the two of them.
Mitchell took her by her elbow and led her to the door. “Get out and stay the fuck away from Corina, do you understand me?”
“Is she the reason we haven’t had sex in so long?” Cassidy asked.
Covering my mouth, I tried to hold back a gag.
“What in the hell are you talking about?” Mitchell asked.
“You bring me to your place the other day to have sex, then you have her move in? What game are you playing?”
I turned around. My head dropped as I tried to take in one breath after another. Mitchell had lied. He’d said he’d never had a girl in his place.
He lied.
This was not happening. Not with his parents sitting on the other side of the door. “Get. Out. Now.” With my eyes closed, I tried to get ahold of my emotions. I would not show weakness.
When his hands touched me, I jumped.
“Corina.”
“You lied to me.”
“What?”
Spinning to face him, I repeated myself. “You lied when you said I was the only woman to stay at your place. You had her in your bed.”
“No, I didn’t! She was in my place for all of ten minutes.”
My lower lip trembled, and it made me so mad. I didn’t want Mitchell Parker thinking he had this power over me. His words rattled my brain as I let them settle. “What?”
“I never slept with her, or anyone else, at my place. I’ve never had a woman in my bed, Corina.”
Lifting my chin and trying not to let his words affect me, I asked, “Why not?”
Mitchell blinked. “I don’t know how to explain that.”
My arms folded over my chest. “Now would be as good a time as any for you to try.”
He stared for the longest time before swallowing hard. “I don’t know. I’ve never met a woman I felt like I wanted to share a bed with. Until I met you.”
An instant heat rushed over my body.
“W-what did you say?”
“You’re the only woman I’ve ever spent the night with, Corina. The feelings I have for you are new. I didn’t know how to deal with them, and I’m trying so fucking hard not to mess up again.”
My heart raced, and I was left breathless. A part of me wanted to jump into his arms and kiss him. Tell him how I wanted him, how much I needed to be with him again. The idea of getting lost in his kiss was almost overwhelming.
But I didn’t.
Mitchell Parker was going to know that I wasn’t another girl willing to follow him around any time he smiled at me. Dragging in a deep breath, I took a step closer. His entire body seemed to quiver as I grew closer. The hint that I had such a strong effect on him did crazy things to my heart.
In a soft whisper, I asked, “Would you let me share your bed, Mitchell?”
His eyes lit up and my stomach fluttered. I had my answer before he even opened his mouth. His hand pushed a piece of loose hair behind my ear. “You’re the only woman I want in my bed, Corina.”
I lifted on my toes, and Mitchell leaned down, our lips inches apart.
“Nice to know,” I said. “Let me get back to you on that one.” Dropping down, I walked around him and left him alone in the women’s restroom.
I couldn’t hide the smile on my face as I walked back to the table.
Corina one.
Mitchell zero.