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Parker and his arm still securely around me. However, I’m not on the couch.   Lifting his arm off of me, I scoot out of the bed I’m now in. Parker rolls onto his back.   I hold my breath at the sight of him moving, willing him not to open his eyes.
    He must have carried me in here last night.   Wow, I must have passed out hard.   I quickly move my hands over my hair, smoothing it into place.
    Looking back down at Parker sleeping so peacefully, I let my eyes scan over his body in the daylight.   Last night didn’t do his body justice.   He’s more beautiful now than before, and I didn’t think that was even possible.   I let my eyes linger over him, tracing every ripple, outline, and curve that forms below his hips into that one hot, muscular V.   So hot.   I reach out and slowly trace it with my fingers.   He’s a lot tanner in the light. It matches his blond hair and blue eyes perfectly.   He’s textbook perfect.   Well, maybe if he had a tattoo or two he’d be textbook perfect.   But, with or without them, he’s pretty damn close.
    I step quietly out of his bedroom toward the living room, looking for my clothes.   Once I find my thong and bra, I quietly put them back on, while looking for my dress that Parker tossed aside.   I find it on the floor where one of my shoes fell.   I bend to pick them up.   When I start to step into my dress, I check the clock on the TV stand.   8:26 am.
    Holy shit!
    I finish getting dressed at lightning speed.   I find my other shoe just in time for me to panic at the thought of not finding my purse.
    It’s not that I have anywhere to go, but the sudden need to get out of here before Parker wakes up comes over me.   I don’t think I could face him after last night.   Awkward.
    I turn in circles, looking for my purse.   I blame the alcohol.   Okay, that’s a lie.   But the alcohol did play a factor.   I find it sitting between the living room and dining room.   I don’t remember putting it there last night.
    I don’t remember much of last night aside from Parker: kissing, tongues, our bodies moving together, and God all mighty , having the best orgasm of my life.
    With my shoes in my hands, I walk over to pick up my purse.
    The kitchen is off to my left.   I take in the granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.   There isn’t anything on the counters. Not even a piece of mail.   His apartment is modern with gray and blue tones throughout.   Turning to head toward the door, I notice a picture of him on an end table.   He’s with two older people: a man and a woman.   His parents?   I wonder how old he is.   Maybe late twenties?   Early thirties?
    Okay, Aundrea, move along.   Stop thinking about how old Mr. Handsome is.
    I decide not to put my shoes back on so I don’t wake Parker.   I think about leaving my number, but then remember what this was supposed to be.   A one-night stand.   Nothing more.
    I bump into the corner of the wall as I walk toward the door and drop one of my shoes onto his hardwood floors.
    “Shit!” I hiss.   I hear Parker stirring in the bedroom, which causes me to move faster.   Picking up my shoe, I keep walking forward.
    “Aundrea?” Parker calls from the bedroom.
    I don’t look back.   I open the door and close it too loud, heading for the elevator.   I push the elevator button multiple times, willing it to reach my floor as if continuously pushing it will make it go faster.   When I hear loud movements and banging coming from inside his apartment, I can only speculate he’s getting dressed to come after me.   I see a door under an exit sign by the elevators with another sign reading “Stairs.”   Opening it, I take two steps at a time.   I make it to the ninth floor where I stand and wait in the stairwell.   I stand there for minutes before I walk the rest of the way down crossing my fingers that I don’t see Parker in the lobby.
    Or ever again.

Chapter Four

    Exiting Parker’s