All Chapters of Baited: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

43 Chapters

I Need a Man

Baited/Ali Parker

Rebecca“Is there really any point?” Rebecca huffed as her best friend Trisha stared her down from across the small table. Rebecca glanced around the bar, which was filled with people and buzzing with excitement.“You’re not going to be a killjoy tonight. We’re going out this weekend if it kills us. I’m stuck at home with four kids all day, not living the glamorous life of an entrepreneur.”“I’m not sure who sold you that lie, but I’ve got some oceanfront property in Arizona …” Rebecca smiled.The bar was busy, but the restaurant was dead around them, which always seemed to be the case on Thursday nights. Their ritual beer at five was a must-not-miss event and neither of them did, unless death or some other large-scale occurrence called them from it. They’d been friends for as long as Rebecca could remember, and yet she’d never grown tired of sharing life with Trisha.“What are you thinking? You have that look in your eye.”“What look?” Rebecca held up her empty beer mug, the waiter w

Still Thinking of Him

Baited/Ali Parker

RebeccaRebecca pulled up to the large electronic gate, the apartments looming above her. It wouldn’t be long before she’d be in her new house, the builders hopefully sending out the new contractor on Saturday to do a final walk-through of the structure and talk about the design for the pool. If nothing else in her life was working out, at least her house was almost done and her business was booming.Having graduated at the top of her class from the University of Houston in business, she’d worked for a few accounting firms and gained a reputation for being brilliant, bold and innovative. A few years after working hard for the man and bringing him and all of his good old boys loads of money, she’d left and opened Martin and Co, a company led by a group of hard-working business professionals. She had an MBA and her license in accounting, and Parker, her business partner, had his masters in marketing with a specialization in multi-generational advertising. They were a one-stop shop for b

You're the One

Baited/Ali Parker

Rebecca“There you are. I was starting to think someone snatched you up at the bar last night, but then I remembered that Trisha was there.” Parker looked up from the reception area as Rebecca rushed in, out of breath.She stopped and let her briefcase land in a nearby plush crimson chair, their waiting room quite impressive for the small operation they ran. Appearances were everything, or so Parker always reminded her.“I got home late last night and meant to shower and didn’t, so I promised myself I’d get up this morning—”He cut her off. “But you didn’t, or you did, but late.”She rolled her eyes, collected her bag and walked toward her office, the small hall that led from the front lobby to all of the offices decorated in St. Patrick’s Day paraphernalia. “Is our receptionist missing in action too?”“She quit.”“She what?” Rebecca slipped into her small office, depositing her stuff and walking back out to stand beside Parker. She put her hands on her hips, her black pencil skirt ge

Things Are Looking Up

Baited/Ali Parker

RebeccaRebecca worked without interruption for a few hours, a small sound of reminder coming from her computer right before lunch. She was meeting with a client for an introductory consultation and then getting on a call on her way back from work with the new contractor that was coming out to inspect the work on her new house. She’d fired the last one a few weeks back, not able to put up with their sliding fees and jacked up timetable. Moving into the house was important to her, but not so much so that she was willing to give up quality or extra dollars.She was wealthy for a reason.“I hope your appointment with Mr. Vandenbilt goes well.”Rebecca stood, turning to smile at Jason over her shoulder. “Me too. Thanks for watching the front this morning. You know I was just kidding about the promotion.”He smiled and nodded, tugging at the light blue tie that sat perfectly around his muscular neck. “I figured as much. I can’t understand why someone wouldn’t want to work here with us. Eve

Is It A Date?

Baited/Ali Parker

Rebecca“You know, if you’re not busy, some of us are grabbing a drink in a few minutes at O’Malley’s down the street.” Jason moved into her doorway, Rebecca looking up from her stack of papers on Vandenbilt, a smile on her face.“Oh yeah?” She looked over at the clock on her computer, leaning back a little and then realizing the position jutted her chest out. She corrected it quickly, blush touching her cheeks. She stood up and smoothed down her skirt, her eyes remaining on Jason. “I think I’ll probably just work late and then head to the house. It’s been a long day, and I’m hoping to make some serious progress on my new house this weekend.”He leaned against the doorframe, a smile on his handsome face. Crossing his arms, he lifted his eyebrow. “You’re going to work on your house this weekend? As in decorating it or building parts of it?”For a younger man, he had the confidence of one a few years older than her. It was none of his business what she was doing for the weekend, and yet

Possibly A Cheater

Baited/Ali Parker

Rebecca“You still here? Damn, Becca, it’s eight o’clock.” Parker walked in and sat in one of the open chairs in front of her.She turned and tilted her head a little, the look on his face one of built-up tension. “Why are you still here? You have a life, I don’t. Work fills that hole for me.”He smiled and shrugged. “I’m thinking Jason would fill a few—”She cut him off. “Hey … shut it. Too much information between friends.”He laughed as he leaned forward, his smile draining from his features. “Come with me for a drink. I need to talk to a friend.”Rebecca felt the change in his persona and realized that he wasn’t being comical or jovial anymore. Something was on his mind, and as his partner and, even more so, as his best friend, she’d need to man up and spend her evening playing counselor.“Okay. Let me pack up and I’ll meet you in the lobby.” She turned and started to shut down her computer, stowing it away, along with a huge handful of papers, in her briefcase. Parker left withou

And Now He's Flirting

Baited/Ali Parker

RebeccaRebecca slid into a booth at the back of the restaurant, the sound of the crowd filtering back to them, but in a muted sense. Meanwhile, Parker slipped out of his thick leather bomber, his own figure well-constructed from years in the gym as well. He was sinewy and more of a swimmer than a weightlifter, all of which Becca could appreciate. She ran most mornings and kept herself in shape, but it was more about wanting to live long and healthy than attracting someone of the opposite sex. Every date she’d been on in the last year had been a torrential joke. A couple of the guys were already married and just looking for a bit of side action. She’d laughed them all the way out of the restaurant, and she and Parker had spent several hours killing themselves laughing over the drama that was her dating life. He was like a brother, a best friend—a male Trisha.“What are you having to drink?” Parker’s voice brought her from her thoughts.“Are you drinking or am I?” she responded.“You g

You Should Strip

Baited/Ali Parker

RebeccaParker shook his hand and pointed to Becca. “Yes, well, I was just going to go home and entertain my lovely young bride, but my partner here wanted to spend more time together. The woman is insatiable.” Parker smiled as if batting the ball into her court.Jason laughed and looked over at Rebecca. “I asked her to come with us, but I’m thinking it must just be your personal attention that she craves.”Rebecca rolled her eyes. “You both can sit on something and rotate. I wanted to go home, strip out of these clothes and soak in a hot bubble bath until the water turned cold.”She smiled knowingly, as she was sure the male minds before her visualized the image she’d painted without much color or skill. She laughed and reached for her drink. “Stop behaving inappropriately. I’m still your boss—and your partner,” she said, looking at each of them in turn.Jason smiled and moved back a little. “That’s hard to do around such a beautiful woman, Miss Miller.”Parker nodded. “I agree. You

Rejected

Baited/Ali Parker

RebeccaThe image of Parker enjoying his food slipped from her vision as memories of Kade took its place, the sights and sounds of the bar fading into nothingness as the warm hum of remembrance rushed across her.Kade. His smile illumined by the sun as it splashed across his features on the lake that day. They’d been fishing together, the air chilly and the morning quiet. Her shorts were short and her T-shirt fitting. The hope was to grab his attention in any manner possible and make him want her the way she wanted him. There was nothing like heading out to Lake Conroe and taking Kade’s daddy’s boat out into the water. She was fine fishing, but she wasn’t baiting her hook, and she sure as heck wasn’t pulling a catfish off of it. She’d seen her own dad get a nasty cut across the middle of his palm, thanks to the jerking of an angry catfish. “Whatcha thinking about, Becca?” Kade’s voice brought her attention back to him, the water shimmering just beyond the edge of the boat. A smile

Sex Starved

Baited/Ali Parker

Rebecca“Hey,” Parker’s hand touched her arm, and her eyes shifted a little to bring him back into focus. “You okay? I didn’t mean to upset you. Just wanted you to know that every man in this place has checked you out three times.”His smile warmed her and she laughed, shaking her head and stabbing a few things on her own plate. “No, I’m good. Just thinking about a boy from high school that messes with my mind from time to time.”“Oh Lord … we’re talking about Kade McMillian?”His name being spoken made her longing to see him again all the more real. He wasn’t just a figment of her imagination, but someone that had seemingly stolen her heart and had yet to give it back. He was probably married or maybe even dead, not even on the radar of possibilities anymore.“I didn’t know you knew Kade.”“Yeah. His older brother Tad and I were on the baseball team together.”“Oh yeah, that’s right. Wait, how did you know that’s who I was talking about?”“I still remember the way you looked at him w

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