The Right Mr. Wrong

‘I’m glad you’re going,’ she said. ‘I know Reese will appreciate it.’

Thick dark lashes slowly blinked across a mesmerizing green gaze as he stared at her for several moments. ‘I’m not going just for Reese.’

Her breathing stalled, and she barely managed to murmur, ‘No?’

Two pounding heartbeats passed as she longed for him to clarify.

‘No,’ he said. ‘I’m also going for me.’

And while she breathed out a sigh of relief that he’d finally decided that he wanted family in his life, a small part of her was crushed he wasn’t going for her. She’d known all along the most she could hope for was to help him reconnect with Reese, and this was as good a start as any. In truth, it was a miracle he was going tonight. And while Amber was glad Reese’s wish would come true, the truth was, having him here—having him near her—was hard.

Because a part of her would always long to be loved by Parker.

‘Well,’ she said, shifting closer to the exit. Distance. She needed distance. Time to regroup. ‘Your sister will be happy to see you.’

‘Yeah, but I can’t say I’m thrilled with the idea of making polite conversation with my mom and stepdad,’ he said, his feet firmly planted in place. ‘Cuz I know things won’t have changed.’ His expression grim, he went on. ‘William Michael of the Park Avenue Michaels hates any reminder that he wasn’t my mother’s first husband. My mother is weak, petrified he’ll leave her. And, way back when, Reese was too young to notice,’ he said with a tiny shrug. ‘I’ve accepted all that.’

By the look on his face she knew it was true. He cleared his throat, suddenly looking uncomfortable.

‘I was hoping we could go together,’ he said. ‘Having you around might make things a little...smoother.’

A confusing mix of tenderness and disappointment flushed through her chest, and she picked up her purse, heading for the exit. ‘Then let’s go.’

Amber could feel him following.

‘But the other reason I came was because I wanted to see you first,’ he said.

Her feet stuck to the floor.

‘About—about what you said,’ he said from behind.

Clutching her purse harder, she turned to face him.

‘You know...’ He shrugged awkwardly. ‘Before.’

I’m falling in love with you.

The lag time from one heartbeat to the next seemed to lengthen to uncomfortable levels. So much so Amber was amazed she didn’t pass out.

‘As a kid—’ he puffed out a breath grimly ‘—it sucked not getting what I needed from my mom. And it’s...’ With a small scowl he plowed a hand through his hair before gesturing at Amber. ‘You’re...’ He dropped his hand, frustration etched in his every word. ‘You know everything I don’t want anyone to know.’

The raw, naked look on his face lasted several seconds before he let out a scoff.

‘Which makes you the last person on earth I should want to see,’ he said.

My God, this wasn’t getting any easier.

‘After that night,’ he went on. ‘I spent the first few days thinking you had some sort of...misguided sense of hero worship because of the whole drowning incident.’

She could hear the hesitation in his voice.

‘And then I spent the rest of the time hoping it was more than that,’ he finished in a low voice.

Her voice resolute, she said, ‘It is.’

Now the lag time between heartbeats was ridiculously short as she watched the emotions parade across his face. Relief. Followed by something that looked like contentment before landing on that cocky smile she loved so much.

Parker stepped forward, all awkwardness gone. The easy stroll was back, carrying him right up into her personal space, and her stomach swooped at the sight. The gorgeous green eyes. The ruffled hair. And that mouth, that beautiful, beautiful mouth that had first captured her attention oh so long ago. Little had she known then how good it would feel pressed against hers in a real kiss.

‘But the rescue was an incredibly awesome move on my part,’ he said with a grin.

She rolled her eyes, delighting at his responding bark of amusement. When he reached out to brush the hair from her cheek, her stomach swerved.

He paused, his voice uncharacteristically riddled with self-doubt. ‘Even the thought of trying for something that lasts past a few months scares the crap out of me.’

Inhaling slowly, Amber steadily held his gaze. She’d spent years pining after something that could never be hers. Parker, specifically. And as lame as the idea was, especially given she’d been just a ridiculous preteen, it was time to admit the years of unrequited feelings had had a profound influence on her choices in life. And the thought of putting herself in a vulnerable position again was almost incapacitating. But Parker had spent years hoping his mother would change, and was willing to venture back into her circle again with little likelihood that the relationship would improve.

‘That’s the thing about letting someone in,’ she said softly. And if he was willing to put his heart on the line for his sister, for himself...well, then maybe she should take a risk, too. ‘It’s both a beautiful and a dangerous thing.’

His eyes searched hers. ‘So why me?’

Drawing in a deep breath, she tried to put her thoughts into words.

‘I think over time,’ she said slowly, ‘the closer you get to a person, and the closer you let them get to you, the more the light and the shadows inside become more vivid. Clearer. More sharply defined.’

Love wasn’t easy. And sometimes, especially with a man like Parker Robinson, it would be especially difficult. But she loved the parts of him that were dark just as much, if not more, than she loved the lighter bits. Because they defined him the best.

And for a moment, she almost felt sorry for Reese and Dylan. A comfortable relationship would definitely take less work, but Amber wouldn’t trade the conflict or passion she shared with Parker for all the ease in the world.

She reached up to cup his face, and nothing, nothing would ever be as wonderful as the slight tip of his head into her palm. The contact wasn’t much. But enough.

Encouraging her to go on. ‘And knowing all those bits about a person makes it both more difficult, and—just as important, I think—more imperative that you take that chance.’

The tiny, nervous lick of his lips was almost heartbreaking.

‘So...’ he said. ‘You want to give this thing a whirl?’

r />

‘Do you think it will work?’

‘Almost definitely maybe.’ His mouth curled at the edges. ‘We have several things in our favor.’

‘Such as?’

‘First, I’m adorable and you worship the ground I walk on.’ She lifted her eyes heavenward with a ‘whatever’ look, and he let out a chuckle. Amber wasn’t sure if his shallow reply was a coping mechanism or if he just liked to see her reaction. She suspected it was a bit of both. ‘Second,’ he went on. ‘I want it to work. And third...’

Amber didn’t miss how quickly he’d rushed through the second, almost as if embarrassed. She’d let it slide. For now.

‘And third?’ she asked.

The quirk in his lips was adorable. ‘I’m just stubborn enough not to give up.’

Eyes stinging, she swallowed back the mushy words and sent him a smile.

‘I’m not going to have to handcuff you for every hug I want, am I?’ she said.

He reached out and took her hand. The gesture was hesitant, the fingers that squeezed hers gentle. But the light in his eyes?

Sizzling.

‘Oh, you’ll need the handcuffs, all right,’ he said, his voice husky.

And then Parker Robinson drew the sexy smirk like a gun from a holster. ‘Just not for a hug.’

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from The Taming of a Wild Child by Kimberly Lang.

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