She got lost in the sensation of his tongue lapping at her. She swiveled her hips in slow circles, mimicking the motion of his tongue. "I can see why people turn into s.e.x fiends."

"Hmm."

"I love the way your stubble feels on my skin."

He answered with a small nip to her cleavage.

"Maybe you should give up shaving for the next couple weeks."

He grunted.

"But not if you'll grow a beard. George Clooney good, Grizzly Adams bad."

She laughed as he flipped her over with a growl. The tip of his nose touched hers. "Sometimes you talk too much," he said. His voice was still raspy with sleep and it made her shiver.

"I don't think I do. In fact-"

He dropped his mouth down to hers before she got a chance to finish her sentence. Not that she cared. At the moment, Michael's method of communication was much more compelling.

"Need help with that?"

Olivia looked up. "Michael, that was almost a complete sentence, and this early in the morning."

"It's not nice making fun of people before they've had coffee."

She tugged her underwear up her legs and reached for her bra. "I'm just saying I'm a little surprised."

He pushed her hands aside. "I want to do it," he said in his rough morning voice.

He hooked her bra and slowly pulled up her straps, as if he were savoring the feel of her skin under his fingertips.

She shivered.

"Are you cold?" He didn't wait for an answer. Dropping a kiss between her shoulder blades, he grabbed her shirt from the pile on the floor and pulled it over her head. He lifted her hair out before guiding her arms through the sleeves. Turning her around, he kissed her belly b.u.t.ton before lowering the shirt. He gave her legs the same attention as he helped her into her pants.

She never realized being dressed could be as seductive as being undressed. It left her speechless-touched in a way she didn't want to be.

Michael looked just as uncomfortable as she felt. He cleared his throat. "Olivia-"

Aw h.e.l.l. This was the part where the regrets began. What could he have to regret? She thought she made it clear this was just about s.e.x.

"I know it's a little late for this, but we didn't use any condoms."

Oh-no wonder. After her brief pregnancy, she'd gone on birth control. There was no way she was ever taking chances again. "I've got it covered."

He looked relieved with a capital R. "Okay. And so you know, I'm safe. I've been careful with all the women I've-well, except you."

Hearing about his s.e.xual conquests over the years wasn't what she wanted after a night of spectacular s.e.x. "Don't worry about it," she said coolly. Then cruelly, she added, "But I've practiced safe s.e.x with all my partners too."

The lock outside clicked loudly. Olivia and Michael looked at each other and then rushed to the door. They reached it just as it swung open.

Olivia wasn't sure who looked more surprised-Michael and her or the guy standing in front of them. By the looks of him, he was movie crew. She'd certainly never seen him before.

Chapter Twenty-one.

The first thing Olivia saw when she walked into Grounds for Thought was her traitorous father reclined in a chair, legs crossed, staring at Elaine, who sat across from him typing intently. She had no idea what they were doing there, but it was just as well. She had a bone to pick.

Squaring her shoulders, she marched across the room to their table. "Fancy seeing you here," she said crisply.

Elaine looked up, pushing her gla.s.ses up her nose as a smile spread across her face. "There you are. I was worried about you. I didn't see you come back last night and no one would tell me where you'd gone." She shot an arch look at her boss.

Olivia frowned and studied her. Sincerity shined back, and Olivia knew without a doubt that Lainie wasn't involved.

She sighed internally, and a knot untwisted from her gut. The thought that Lainie had manipulated her had been surprisingly painful. The relief that she hadn't was almost euphoric. Which meant just Gran and Parker were involved. She could deal with that.

She turned to him. "Were you worried about me too?"

"You're capable of taking care of yourself. You've always been the first one to point that out."

Olivia feigned shock. "How amazing you remember that."

"Is there a point to this, Olivia? Elaine and I were in a meeting." He calmly sipped his coffee but his eyes never strayed from hers.

She felt rage boil in her blood. The urge to scream at him was powerful but Eve wouldn't appreciate a scene in her cafe.

She yanked a chair out and dropped into it. Leaning forward, she glared at him and said softly, "Stay the h.e.l.l out of my life."

She heard Lainie gasp but she didn't take her eyes off Parker's. It was like watching a cobra-the second she turned her back she knew he'd strike. She didn't want to be caught off guard.

He set his cup down and regarded her with his cold, intense gaze. Just as softly, he replied, "Like h.e.l.l I will."

She clutched her hands at her sides to stop their shaking. "What are you getting out of this?"

"Maybe I'm doing this for my daughter."

"Ha! That was a good one."

"Is that so hard to believe?"

"I believe you have a hidden agenda. The only thing that motivates you is your work. Not once in my life have I seen you do anything not related to getting ahead in Hollywood. You care more about that than you do me. You always have, you always will. What or how I feel has never been a consideration, as evidenced when you dumped me on Gran after mom died and when you took Michael away after high school."

Lainie gasped again. "What?"

Olivia turned to her with a bitter smile. "Didn't you know that? Michael and I would probably be married now if my father hadn't offered him the chance of a lifetime. He stole Michael from me." She faced her father. "Good thing Mom died, huh? One less complication in your grand design to get ahead."

As soon as she said the words she wished she could take them back. She covered her mouth, horrified at herself.

Pain flashed in his eyes, but he masked it just as quickly as it'd flared. "You sound bitter, Olivia. Frankly I expected better from you."

Anger rose. Why did he have to do that all the time? "Yes, well you never made a secret of how I disappointed you."

"Stop it," Lainie hissed, slapping her palm down on the table. "I've had enough. You two should be ashamed of yourselves. This is hardly the forum for a discussion like this."

"Well, it can't very well take place at home since he"-she pointed a finger at him-"turned it into a zoo. Not that it's surprising. He doesn't care about anything other than work."

Lainie frowned at her. "That's enough, Olivia. I won't let you talk about your father that way."

"You won't?" he asked.

Lainie ignored him. "Your father is a caring man. His methods may not be ideal"-she shot him a reproving look-"but he means well."

"He's out to get something, Lainie. He forced Michael into shooting the movie at the farm." She turned on him. "I don't do manipulated anymore. I control my own life, and you can d.a.m.n well keep your b.l.o.o.d.y hands out of it."

Elaine sighed. "Olivia-"

"He locked Michael and me in the shed together. All night long."

That stopped her cold. She faced Parker. "Is that true?"

Her unflappable father fidgeted uncomfortably. "I hardly see that it signifies."

"Of course it signifies. Olivia is a grown woman. Her life is her own. She's right. You have no right to interfere in her business."

"I-"

"No, Everett, you don't." Lainie pointed at Olivia. "And no gloating from you. This is enough. It's time you two declared a truce."

Olivia snorted. From the expression on Parker's face, she could tell he wanted to as well.

Lainie rolled her eyes. "Did any good come out of being locked with Michael?"

Olivia blushed, remembering the o.r.g.a.s.ms and how each one was more powerful than the next. That probably wasn't what Lainie meant though.

Lainie nodded. "So can't you forgive your father for his methods?"

"I've got to go. I'm late opening the store." She stood up, not caring if he could see through her excuse. She just needed to get away. s.p.a.ce to think.

"Olivia."

She looked over her shoulder at Parker.

"I do care, you know," he said quietly.

"Yeah, but is that enough?"

Before he could reply she left, thoughts of a latte and scone abandoned. Food was the last thing on her mind right now.

Olivia lay in bed, watching the moonlight dance on the walls. She was exhausted but sleep was elusive.

Her bed felt so empty.

Just when she started to doze, a tapping on the window stilled her awake. She turned to look, reaching for something to use as a weapon, but then she saw who it was.

"Michael," she said in shock as she climbed out of bed.

"That's harder than I remembered it to be." He grinned and pointed at her weapon as he climbed in. "What were you planning to do? Bore your intruder into submission?"

She looked at the copy of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion in her hand and shrugged. "It was that or lubing you to death with my moisturizer."

"That sounds promising."

She shook her head, watching him close the window. "You're insane."

"At one time I'd have disagreed." He stood before her and grazed her bottom lip with his forefinger. ""But, yeah, you're right. I'm out of my mind."

Sinking both hands into her hair, he tilted her head back and traced her lips with his tongue.

Dropping the book on the floor, she pulled his head down for better contact. She heard someone moan and was surprised to realize the sound came from her.

Panting, he broke their kiss. His thumbs caressed her cheekbones before sliding down her neck to rest on her shoulders.

"Your hands are cold." She shivered but she knew it was more from his touch than the coldness of his hands. His hands may have been chilled but his gaze as he looked her over was scorching.

"You can warm them up." He fingered the spaghetti strap of her tank top. He dropped to his knees, hands around her waist, and nipped a path around her belly b.u.t.ton to her piercing.

"I didn't get to do this last night, and I've been dying to since I came back," he said, and then he sucked the tiny hoop into his mouth, tugging lightly.

She clutched his shoulders, dazed by the shock of pleasure shooting through her body.

He placed a kiss on each of her hips before placing one in the center. He gazed up at her, his thumbs rubbing back and forth. Slowly, his eyes still connected to hers, he pressed his lips right over where she throbbed most. As he nibbled her over her underwear she thought for sure she was going to die.

She gasped, her hips arching forward with a will of their own. His teeth worked her gently but persistently.

"Take it off," she commanded.

He yanked down her panties and sank his tongue into her.

She didn't know who was taken by more surprise by her o.r.g.a.s.m-him or her. She cried out, dizzy as each wave crested through her.

He lifted his head and scooped her in his arms. He kissed her, walking blindly toward her bed. She tasted herself on him and moaned into his mouth.