Beyond the Play (Out of Reach 3)

Before I know what’s happening, she’s slipping away from the wall and rushing onto the dance floor. This time, I follow her. I reach her just in time to hear her yell to Autumn that it’s time to go.

“Parker” I reach for her, but she’s fast and steps back.

“I’m sorry, Holden. I just can’t.” With that, she makes eye contact with Autumn. “I’m going to call an Uber.”

This time when she rushes away, I let her. I turn to look at her friend. “What did I do?”

“Nothing,” Autumn assures me. “At least not to her. She’s just not interested.”

I stare at her as I process what she’s saying. This is a first for me. I don’t know how to handle it. Not interested? “Can I have her number?” I blurt.

“Yeah, no. If you want her number, you have to get it from her.”

“How do I find her?” I counter, recalling a similar conversation I had with one of her other friends last week.

“There’s a coffee shop not far from the university. She goes there a lot to study. That’s as much as you’re getting out of me.”

“A name? Of the coffee shop, I mean.”

“Nope. I’ve said too much already.” She turns to look at Troy, who’s dancing all on his own, obviously feeling the alcohol he’s consumed tonight.

Autumn steps next to Troy and yells in his ear. I assume she’s telling him that she’s leaving before turning and walking away. I watch as she links arms with Parker, who is standing on the edge of the dance floor, then they turn and head for the door. I want to rush after her, but I don’t know what to say. I need to make sure my next play is the right one. Parker is not only a mystery to me but she’s also a challenge, and I never back down from a challenge.

CHAPTER 5

Parker

My heart is racing. No, it’s thundering in my chest so hard that if I didn’t know better, I’d think my chest was cracked wide open. With my arm linked through Autumn’s, we move to wait for our Uber outside the club.

“You good?” my best friend asks.

I nod. Forming words isn’t something I’m capable of at the moment. I don’t know what that was back there. I’ve never been kissed like that, and I’ve never felt so consumed by a man in my life. Stepping away from Autumn, I need some space. I can still feel his hands on my body. My shaking fingers move to rest over my lips. I can still taste him.

“Girl,” Autumn drawls. I manage to turn my head to look at her. “That was intense, Parker. And hot as hell. I think half the club got off watching the two of you.” She fans her face with her hands.

“W-What?” I croak. I swallow hard. “We were in the corner,” I defend. It’s a poor attempt, but my brain hasn’t cleared from the Holden fog he wrapped me up in. Panic sets in. No way if everyone saw us, will this not make its way back to my parents. I’m an adult at twenty-one, but being the daughter of a former professional baseball player has just as many pitfalls as it does perks. Case in point, they find out everything.

My soon-to-be-former best friend grins. “Got ya.” She laughs. “But for real, anyone who did happen to be watching couldn’t have done so without being turned on.”

“I lost my head,” I admit.

“Hey, we’ve all been there,” she says, placing her arm around my shoulders as our Uber pulls up to the curb.

“This was different,” I whisper once we’re headed to our apartment.

“What do you mean? How was it different?” Autumn turns to give me her full attention. I can feel the heavy weight of her stare, but I keep my gaze pointed out the window.

I don’t know how to explain this to her. “I can still feel him.” I close my eyes, resting my head back against the seat. “I can feel his hands on me. I can taste him, Autumn.” Turning my head to face her, I open my eyes. “That’s not normal.”

“That, my friend, is desire and chemistry. Something the two of you are not lacking.”

She’s right. There is no shortage of either desire or chemistry between Holden and me. However, there is a lack of a relationship. I’m a steady kind of girl. Hookups are not my thing. I want an emotional connection just as much as I want a physical one.

“Looked pretty emotional to me,” Autumn says, reading my mind.

“Get out of my head.” I chuckle.

“I know you, Parker. You did nothing wrong. A man like Holden, he’s potent, and when he decides to make you the sole target of all that testosterone and swagger, the strongest woman, even those with no experience, wouldn’t be able to defend themselves against him.”