Blame it on the Tequila by Fiona Cole (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

come up with a solution, but you shut down; you didn’t even give us a chance. But you know what, Nova,” I closed the distance between us, bending my knees to meet her eyes. “I want you enough to push through the hard stuff.”

“That’s not fair,” she whispered, her eyes glossing over. “You know there’s more behind me not wanting to throw myself to the public. You know I want you.”

I did know, and it was the first mention of her avoiding the spotlight because of the past. She hid behind so much frustration that I think she forgot it was there fueling her decisions. But, like I said, I would push through it all.

Standing tall, I took a step back and undid the top button of my shirt. “Then show me.”

“That’s not fair, Parker. Besides, even if I did try—what if I can’t? Would you just leave me again and go see Sonia?” She sneered Sonia’s name like it left an acidic taste on her tongue.

“I choose you,” I answered simply, continuing to undo the buttons.

She watched me, her chest rising and falling, her eyes flashing between anger to push me away and needy desire. I got through three buttons when she managed to shove her anger to the forefront.

“No.” She shook her head, tendrils of hair falling from the messy mass of hair piled on her head. “I can’t do this. You need to leave.” Another button undone, and she stomped her foot. “Get out.”

With the most perfect timing, because I couldn’t ignore her demands much longer, a knock rapped on the door.

“I’ll get that.”

I took the sheet from the concierge and gave him a hefty tip before turning back to find Nova still standing in the same spot. Stretching the paper out to her, I waited for her to stop staring at me and take it.

“I knew you’d be stubborn, but I hadn’t expected this. But if showing you is what it takes to make you believe me, then I’ll happily show you.”

I shook the paper, pushing it closer for her to take. She finally grabbed it, and I waited.

For the first time, I questioned myself.

What if this wasn’t enough?

What if I showed her, and she still made me leave?

I guess I was about to find out.

NOVA

Parker and Sonia no more?

Parker Callahan from The Haunted Obsession and Sonia Caravin from the upcoming movie, The Harlots, looked anything but together tonight. Check out these exclusive pictures from the Music Programs Rock charity event tonight in Cincinnati. The couple has been on-again and off-again for almost two years, but tonight, Sonia’s scowl looks anything but together again. When asked, Parker announced that he hadn’t been with Sonia for a while but appreciated her friendship. Ouch! Talk about friend-zoned. When questioned about if he was already with another special someone, he clammed up tight. Me thinks drama lurks in the shadows with this juicy story. But don’t worry, Caravin fans, our beloved didn’t seem too torn up when she was spotted with male model, Aaron Jones, canoodling (quite heavily, I might add) in the corner by the end of the night.

Parker left alone before the event ended—not even giving this reporter a chance to soothe his broken heart.

Maybe next time.

Until then...

—Muah.

I looked over the photos beneath the article. Sonia looked like a modern Jessica Rabbit with a sparkly red bustier and black leather leggings. She also looked pissed.

Parker looked…exhausted.

I looked from the Parker in the photo to the one standing in front of me. I almost couldn’t handle the intensity of his blue eyes.

Hope, arrogance, nerves, fear, confidence, heat. So much heat.

He did this for me. He went against his management…for me. He put me first.

“What about Aspen? The contract?”

“I’ll take my chances, and I’d do it again for you, too—a thousand times over. I’d only seen her once when we were in Seattle, and I told her then I was done. Aspen planned the whole New York thing. I almost blew a fucking gasket when I had to give up looking for you. She means nothing to me. Nothing. It’s always been you, Nova.”

“Parker.” My heart thundered too fast like a pack of wild horses, and my lungs worked overtime to keep up. I closed my eyes, trying to read his face while also trying to decipher the whirlwind taking place inside me.

“I want you, Nova.”

“It wasn’t just her, Parker. There’s more between us—”

“Then I’ll tear it down with my bare hands,” he gritted out like a wild animal. “I’m done, dammit. I’m done with just missing you. I’m not letting you slip through my fucking fingers again. I won’t do it.” As if to prove his point, he closed the gap and gripped my biceps, leaning his forehead to mine. “I want you, Nova.”

The desperation and pleading bleeding from his words almost took my legs out from under me, and I held on for support. My resistance crumbled, and everything that seemed so important before faded away, leaving just me and him pressed together—no one or nothing else holding us back for the first time since we first laid eyes on each other.

“I know it’s not perfect. I know we have things to work on, just please don’t ask me to leave.”

“I can’t—”

“Please,” he whispered before I could finish.

Sliding my hand up his chest and around his neck, I held him to me as I tipped my head just enough to bring my lips a breath apart from his. “I can’t let you slip away either.”

A puff of air hit my lips like he’d been holding his breath, and my words punched his gut, setting it free.

It was the last gentle thing from him.

With a growl, he attacked my lips, and I met him with equal ferocity.

His hands abandoned my biceps and gripped my ass, hoisting me up, where I wrapped my legs around his waist. We spun, and things crashed to the floor when he swiped the dresser clear. We slammed against