In Your Eyes (Man of the Month 6)

"Tell me what you're thinking."

There was a pause, but then she answered, her eyes still on the jet. "I'm thinking that I wasn't expecting a plane. A car, sure. A taxi, maybe. Even a horse drawn carriage around downtown. But Parker, a plane?" She turned to face him. "I'm not sure that I should--"

"Do you trust me?"

"What? I--It's not about that."

"Of course it is. You're standing here trying to decide if it's wise to get on a plane with a man who's trying very hard to seduce you."

Her throat moved as she swallowed. "Maybe."

Well, that was progress. He pulled out his phone. "I don't own this jet," he said. "I'm just renting it. This is the contract," he added, showing her the screen. He opened a text message and forwarded it to her. "Send it to Griffin. Send it to all your friends. Send it to Kasey back in Los Angeles."

Her eyes widened at that. "You remember Kasey?"

"The friend from your apartment building. She came to a few parties with you."

"Well, that certainly explains a lot."

He shook his head, not understanding.

"How you managed to become such a big deal businessman so fast. You have a seriously impressive memory."

It was true, he thought. He did. But it was the most impressive when it was focused on facts and people that he cared about.

"The point is that the contract has all the information about the plane and the pilot. You're nervous about flying off and disappearing from Austin, but you don't have to be." This time, he did take her hand, and she let him. "You can trust me," he said. "I promise."

"I do trust you."

Those simple words filled him with more joy than he'd expected.

"I'm just not sure I trust myself."

He saw the shadow in her eye, and was sure she was thinking of Carlton. "But you do trust yourself," he pointed out. "That's why you're in Austin. That's why you came to talk to me about the contest yourself. That's why you're not dating Griffin even though it would be so easy to fall into that pattern with a friend."

"I think you're seeing serendipity more than me trusting my instincts. But it's a sweet thought," she added, before he could argue.

She lifted her head to focus on the plane, then drew in a deep breath even as he held his in anticipation.

"Will you tell me where we're going?"

"If you want me to."

"No," she said, squeezing his hand. "You're right. I do trust myself. And I trust you, too." She met his eyes, then smiled. "Wait to tell me until we're in the air."

* * *

The surprise, it turned out, was New Orleans, someplace Megan had never been, and so she was completely giddy when he told her that it was only an hour flight, and that they'd be having a late dinner at Commander's Palace before returning to the French Quarter for a night of jazz, drinks, and dancing.

Giddy, yes. But also confused.

Because despite the electricity that zinged between them--despite the fact that they'd been sitting side by side on the plush leather loveseat for a good fifteen minutes now--Parker hadn't made any sort of move to seduce her. Hell, he hadn't even touched her, and, frankly, she missed the way his finger had felt when he'd teased her thigh in the car.

And her body still ached from the way he'd eased her skirt up, his fingers coming so deliciously close to her sex that it had taken all of her willpower not to either squirm or beg.

Not to mention those sensual, seductive words with which he'd teased her. Words that had melted her, making her long for more than just talk.

But now, as they soared over Texas and Louisiana, he made no move at all. And, dammit, his lack of attention was starting to give her a complex. Especially after she'd logged onto the plane's wifi in order to text Griffin to find out who won the contest--Parker, of course--and he'd flat out told her to use a condom, to get at least a little sleep, and for God's sake not to lay her heart on the line.