Page 10 of Scandalous Whispers (Alpha Billionaire #28)

PARKER

T he small red ball bounced around the court, then back in my direction.

With a swift, decisive swing, I sent it hurtling back toward Adam.

His fast footwork had him rushing across the square to swing and miss.

The ball sailed past him, bouncing in the far corner of the court, and he stumbled into the wall.

I chuckled, hoisting my racquetball racket into the air in victory.

“I told you, you’re getting old.” Our trash talk before the match had gotten us both riled up for the contest, but I had come out the winner, making Adam have to eat his words.

We played once a week during the winter to keep our skills up, and when spring came, we’d transition outdoors to the tennis court.

“Yeah, well you play dirty,” he said as he jogged over to the ball that had rolled to a stop next to our jugs of water. He stooped to pick his up and laid his racket down.

“All is fair in love and war.” I snickered as I joined him in a drink. The cold water was refreshing after that intense game. My heart was pounding, and I hadn’t even hit the indoor track yet for my run.

“Speaking of love, you have to have love in order to play fair. What gives, man? You’re going to end up a lonely old miser if you don’t find a woman in this world who will put up with you.”

Adam and I had been good friends for more than a decade, and in that time he'd made it a point to bring up my relationship status at least once a month. It was all in good fun, though I knew he cared about me. It was just something guys didn’t really talk about unless they had something to talk about—like Haley, who actually wasn’t on the agenda for discussion quite yet. I didn’t want to jinx it.

“Why don’t you worry about upping your game so I don’t destroy you every time we play ball?” It was my usual answer to his taunts, to deflect and change the subject, but this time, Adam was out for blood. Maybe it was because I had really played a little dirty today.

“Why don’t you at least go to the street corner and pick up a little something that can help you relax a bit? A street honey might just help your knickers get untwisted.” He gave me a playful push on the shoulder, and I chuckled at his absurd attempt to insult me.

“Why is it that you insist I need a woman to make me happier? Does Becky really make you that happy?” I knew she did.

Adam had met Becky and married her almost instantly.

They had so much in common, and it had really taken Adam a while to adjust to being married.

He only just recently got back into the habit of our weekly racquetball or tennis sessions.

“I don’t think I need to answer that.” He took a huge swig of his water. “You know how much I love her. I just watch out for you, that’s all. You talk about having kids one day and you’re not getting any younger, you know?”

“I know…” I sipped my own water, pretending his words didn’t make me think about how time was ticking by. A lot of men my age had adult children or teenagers. I had a chance a long time ago, but it wasn’t a good fit. Since then, I’d focused on my job. Nothing more.

My phone rang, so I pulled it out of my pocket and answered it, dodging any more lectures from Adam. “Hello, Parker Danvers here.”

“Uh, hey, Parker. So, I just got a call from my insurance agency.”

“Oh, hey, Haley. Good to hear from you.”

Adam’s eyebrows rose, and he smiled at me with that knowing look, and I turned away from him so I didn’t have to see his taunts while I talked to Haley.

“So, they are saying my car is totaled. I guess the hit caused damage that cost more than sixty-five percent of the value of the car. They are writing me a check for the car’s value and I have to find a new car.

I don’t know how long I’m going to need this rental for now.

” She sounded nervous, as if I were going to be upset by the fact that she had to keep the rental longer or that it would cost me more money.

“Don’t worry about it.” I knew this would happen, anyway.

I had told the insurance agency that if it was even close, to write the vehicle off.

I could have just had it fixed, but I saw that it was an older car.

She was likely having issues with it and things had started breaking down.

Maybe not, but if it was anything like my experiences with cars, she was putting as much money into keeping it on the road and safe as would have cost her for a new car, anyway. And I had a plan.

“Well, I’m not sure how long it will take me to find a vehicle I can afford. I will have a great down payment, but cars are expensive.”

I figured she’d say that too, which is why I had prepared my next answer. “Well, I have decided to offer you a bonus in the form of a company car. It would be yours to use for any purpose, and we can work out the details about how long you can use it for. How does that sound?”

“Wait. What?” She sounded confused. “You’re buying a car for the paper? But do newspapers do that? I mean I’ve heard of jobs where people travel doing that, but if I have to travel, it’s usually by plane.”

I chuckle a moment. “Yes, newspapers actually do this. Anyway, we can work out all the details later on, if that’s okay.

Maybe it will just be a perk you receive as a bonus for all your hard work.

Then we don’t have to worry about contracts and such.

I’ll get the lawyer on it right away. In the meantime, come to my office Monday morning and we’ll get the money issue settled.

You can go car shopping soon. Maybe I can join you. ”

“Oh, my gosh, Parker, this is too nice. I can’t let you do this.”

“Nonsense, Gordon destroyed your car. Your insurance agent even said that. Just let me make it right.”

It took several minutes of sweet talking her, but she finally consented to the deal and hung up. When I pocketed my phone and turned to see Adam’s suggestive smirk, I knew I was in for more taunting.

“What?”

“What? You’re seeing someone named Haley and you don’t tell your oldest, dearest friend?” He tossed the racquetball at me and I dodged it, not even trying to catch it. He was going to give me hell.

“Well, how do you know it’s not just a work thing?” I took another sip of my water and screwed the lid on, then set the bottle down on the floor. “I mean, she works for me.”

“So you’re dating someone who works for you?

” He raised his eyebrows. “I can tell you’re into her.

You don’t give stuff away for free. You’re giving her a car and using the paper as a laundering agent for your lusty affair.

” He laughed as he set his own water bottle down and picked up his racket. “Wait… Did you say Haley?”

I shrugged. “Yeah, why?” I jogged over to where the ball had landed and picked it up. As I turned around to head to the serving line and start our next match, Adam’s real lecture started.

“Parker, are you talking about Haley Spencer? The international news columnist?”

“What’s it to you?”

“She’s like twenty-four. You’re way too old for her.” I tossed the ball at him, letting him have the first serve.

“She’s twenty-five, and who cares? Age is just a number.” I tried to hide my frustration with his question, but I knew it would come out in the game. “You were just telling me I need to date.”

“I said date, not rob the cradle.”

“Look,” I snapped, turning on him. “Are we going to play a game or are you going to lecture me on my choice of women?”

Adam held his hands up defensively. I knew I had a tendency to overreact and this was something that I didn’t have to defend myself about. We were both consenting adults.

“Fine, I won’t say another word. But when this blows up in your face because you’re too far apart in age, and she works for you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He served and got the match started, and every bit of his doubting and lectures were forgotten. I played my best game since New Year’s Eve. Haley wasn’t a good luck charm, but she was amazing, and I wasn’t going to stop until she was mine.