All Chapters of Baited: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

RebeccaRebecca leaned over the bathroom counter, her hair pulled up into a loose bun of sorts with strands framing her face. She touched her lip gloss to her lips and jumped as the buzz of her phone scared her. She reached for it and cursed. Trisha was earlier than she should be and was texting to say that she didn’t want to come up.Rebecca texted that she’d be down in a few minutes and stepped back from the mirror, holding onto the sink to step into her red high heels. She looked all of twenty-two herself with her make-up in ‘going out’ mode. She wore a tight black dress that hit mid-thigh, her jewelry and shoes the only true color in her outfit.A quick turn to make sure her butt didn’t look too flat, and she was good to go. No Jason or Kade to think about tonight, just her and her bestie going out for a few drinks and a night of dancing. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d gone out like this. She always turned Trisha down, complaining that she was tired, or busy, or workin

RebeccaThis was everything Rebecca had been waiting for, and yet it all just felt awkward to her somehow now. Kade’s hand in hers made her strangely nervous, and she kept wondering what to expect from him next. Why was he suddenly interested after all these years? As far as Kade knew, Rebecca had a boyfriend—and a serious one at that. Still, that didn’t seem to deter him from pulling her even closer as they danced. The idea that he would blatantly hit on someone else’s girlfriend—just assume that she’d forget all about anyone else at the sight of him sixteen years later—was slightly repugnant to her.What was wrong with her? This was Kade.“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”“No, but thank you.” She tried to relax and leaned into him as they danced around the floor, his smooth movements proving he had dancing ability and causing her to have to concentrate on being better than she was. It had been forever since she’d graced a dance floor, and where she was more than capa

Rebecca“I’m out with Trisha. What’s up? You okay?” Panic flooded her at the angst in his voice. Parker was rarely a basket case when it came to his emotions, but she could hear the tension in his voice.“I’m at your house. I just needed to talk.”“Oh. I’m stuck here at Nite Moves on FM 1960 in North Houston. Come get me and I’ll have an excuse to get out of here.” She looked around the parking lot, shocked that people were still piling in. It had to be after midnight.“You sure? I don’t want to mess up your groove or anything.” He laughed, but the sound fell flat.“My groove went to bed an hour ago, and things couldn’t be more awkward here, to be honest.” She shivered and moved back toward the door, yelping softly as her back hit the cold glass.“You okay?”“Yes, it’s just freezing out here and I don’t have my damn coat.”“Okay. I’m coming to get you. Be there in fifteen minutes or so.”She hung up and rushed back toward the entrance, slipping in with a group of older females and fee

RebeccaParker simply nodded and moved back, Rebecca reaching over to take his hand into hers and pull him toward the house. She’d only seen Parker in such a state a few times, one of the worst being when his former wife decided to have an affair and he’d walked in on her having sex with another man. That scenario had landed him in jail for the night, and Rebecca had bailed him out the next morning, as soon as she heard about it. He’d given his ex-wife the house and come to live with Rebecca for a month or so until he could find a new place and emotionally stand on his own two feet again.They walked up the long sidewalk to her place and took the elevator in silence. She kept rubbing his thumb with her thumb, a hopeful reminder that she cared for him and would help him heal and get past this mess that was his life.She moved in front of him to open the door, the draft in the hallway causing her to shiver. “Why is it still so cold here? It’s springtime.”“It’s Texas, Becca. The winter

Rebecca“Why is the fridge totally empty?” Parker’s voice yelled above the sound of the water from her shower.Rebecca yelped and covered herself, as if Parker could see through the thick shower curtain. She rolled her eyes and growled, leaning her head out and staring at him as he peeked through the slightly opened door.“Why are you talking to me while I’m in the shower?”“Because it’s hot, and I’m hungry.”She laughed and shook her head. “I’ll be out in a minute and we’ll go grab something at the grocery store to cook. Shut the freaking door.”He laughed and she heard the sound of the door shutting, leaning over to peek out once more to make sure he didn’t stay in the bathroom with her. The man had no couth at all, but she loved him all the same. The thought of spending the afternoon curled up on a couch next to Jason was a little more desirable than she cared to admit to herself, her will failing horribly in the face of carnal attraction. He was everything she imagined wanting, an