Page 29 of Scandalous Whispers (Alpha Billionaire #28)

HALEY

A fter learning from the insurance adjuster Saturday afternoon that my car would have to have a complete paint job, I was angry and discouraged.

To top it off, my phone died midday Saturday and I hadn’t thought to bring my charger.

I wanted to go to the store and buy one, but Dad encouraged me that due to the situation I was in, I needed a few days out of contact.

It had been the best advice ever. I used Dad’s phone to let Rachel know I was okay, and she came out for Dad’s cookout today.

Now I was exhausted. The insurance company gave me a rental to drive while they fixed mine, and I parked it in the garage in my spot.

The trek up to my apartment felt like I was climbing Mount Everest. We’d played volleyball and horseshoes at Dad’s and day drinking had worn me out, despite being fully sober when I left to come home.

I trudged down the hallway toward my door and noticed someone sitting in front of it.

The closer I got, the more familiar that person became, though in an unfamiliar way.

Parker sat with his back against the door, phone in his lap, dozing.

He wore shorts and a Polo shirt, very different from his professional look, which was the only way I’d really seen him be other than casual day or the time he wore jeans when he took me out.

It was sweet, his waiting for me to get home.

I sighed and crouched next to him, debating how I should wake him.

If I opened the door, he’d likely fall over, so no matter whether I wanted to talk to him or not, I had to wake him.

I glanced at his watch and noticed the time read after eight p.m. I wondered how long he’d been waiting on me.

I left that message late Friday night, then missed a call from him.

He called again Saturday morning, but I was on the phone with the insurance company.

It wasn’t long after that when my phone died.

I brushed his hand gently, but he didn’t stir.

I felt bad waking him from his nap, but he had obviously been wanting to speak with me or he wouldn’t be waiting at my door.

So I rubbed his arm until he stirred. He looked up at me in shock, then blinked his eyes and rubbed them a few times before fully waking.

“Haley?”

“Hey. I’m home.” I squeezed his elbow but remained crouching next to him as he pulled himself out of his drowsy state. “You look uncomfortable. Why don’t you come in and we can sit on the couch?”

“Listen, you two. I’ve complained to the landlord about the noise in this hallway.” Mrs. Wilson stood in her open doorway holding her dog. I hadn’t even heard the door open. “It’s very disrupting.”

“Martha, please. We’re practically whispering. Stop being a busybody. If the landlord thought this were a serious complaint, he’d have come told me by now.” I stood and backed up so Parker could get up.

“Well…” she huffed. “I never.”

I wanted to snap at her because I was tired, but I realized she was just an old lady who needed attention.

“Thank you for watching out for me and making sure I’m safe.

” I acknowledged her need for validation.

She literally watched the hallway like she was on the Neighborhood Watch committee. “I hope you rest well tonight.”

She sighed and her expression softened a bit.

It was amazing how just a little kindness would go a long way.

I’d gotten to know her so well over the years and I knew she, like everyone else in this world, just wanted to be recognized and loved.

Parker brushed his pants off and I unlocked the door, looking back over my shoulder at Mrs. Wilson as Parker entered my apartment.

“You’re welcome, dear. I just worry about you sometimes. Are you sure that guy is safe?” She bounced her dog like he was a baby.

“Yeah, he’s my boyfriend.” I smiled at her. “I’ll bring you some cookies tomorrow or something and tell you all about it.” That would feed her need for gossip, and it brought a smirk to her lips.

“Goodnight, dear.”

With a wave, I entered my apartment and shut the door.

If I moved to LA, I’d miss things like this—the little intricacies of life where you’ve settled in and built a community.

Like Dodson down the hall. I didn’t know his first name, but I knew he drove a muscle car and that he loved pizza every Monday evening at four p.m. on the dot.

And Pam who always did her laundry at seven in the morning on Wednesdays because it was when the laundromat in the building was empty. I didn’t want to leave all this behind.

I dropped my key on the table and scanned the room, seeing Parker seated on the arm of the couch watching me. He looked tired and sad. “I’m sorry. I stayed with my dad for the weekend and my phone died.”

“Well, that explains a lot.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”

“I said I’m sorry.” I didn’t know if he was upset or if his curt tone was just because he only woke up a few minutes ago.

“That’s what I love about you, Haley.”

I shed my light jacket and tossed it across the back of a chair.

“What’s that?” After kicking my shoes off, I walked to the fridge to grab a beer for each of us, and Parker followed me.

“That you are so kind, even to people who don’t really deserve it.” He leaned on the counter, sleep still heavy in his eyes.

“Well, kindness goes a long way.” I grabbed two beers out of the fridge and opened them, then handed one to him. “You should try it.”

Instead of grabbing the beer, he grabbed my wrist. He pulled me into his chest and held me, and I nearly broke down. Feeling his arms around me was like warmth on a cold winter day—soothing and comforting. I missed him so much.

“I’m sorry, Haley. I’m sorry for being short with you and for not opening up and telling you how I was feeling about things. I am sorry I wrecked the trip and was in a foul mood with you all week. I love you. And I’m an idiot.”

“No excuses? No explanation?” I asked the questions in a calm tone. I didn’t want him to feel cornered and lash out at me.

“No. That’s not how an apology goes. I was wrong, and I admit that. Please forgive me.”

I pushed away from him and looked up at his face, handing him a beer. He had to know about the opportunity at Global. I’d deduced that much. I didn’t want to open a raw wound, so I told him about the car instead, which made him angry anyway.

“I can’t believe people would be so stupid. So the insurance is going to fix it?” He chugged the beer and set the bottle on the counter before we even moved out of the living room.

“Yeah, I have to pay a five-hundred-dollar deductible, but they will have it entirely resprayed for me. Just a pain in the butt. I have a rental in the meantime.” I sat on the couch, and he sat next to me.

Parker rubbed his face with both hands and angled his body to face me. “It makes me livid that people would involve you in this.”

“In what?”

“The lawsuit. I didn’t even get a chance to tell you because I was in such a foul mood Friday. Jack and Gretchen filed. They want half a million dollars in damages. It’s nothing, really, and I can just settle, but to see how they are dragging you through this too makes me so angry.”

“Whoa, really?” I set my beer down and scooted closer to him. Now I understood everything. I knew something had to have been bothering him on Friday. He'd never treated me like that before. “I’m so sorry. It’s because of that trip, isn’t it? They know we went together.”

Parker shook his head. “I’m not sure. But you know what? I’m not putting up with it. I’m not going to settle and give them what they want. I’m going to fight this. You don’t deserve this, and neither do I.”

I grabbed his jaw and forced him to look at me. “You are the most incredible man I’ve ever met, Parker. I have never had anyone fight for me the way you do. The way you care about me, and the way you love me.” I rose up and pressed my lips to his. “I love you, and I need you to know that.”

He leaned back, offering a confused look.

His eyes searched my face as if seeking a deeper meaning behind my words, and I leaned in and kissed him again.

He had no idea how sexy it was to me that he was willing to fight those bastards for me in court just to defend my honor.

And that sentiment, coupled with the fact that it had been weeks since we connected, drove me.

I kissed him hard, rising up until I was on my knees next to him, leaning over him.

His hands rested on my sides for a moment, then slid down over my hips.

I straddled him, settling in and thinking that maybe we’d connect right there on the couch, but he held me against his body tightly, then stood.

“If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right.

” His hot breath against my mouth sent a shiver down my spine.

His hands slid around my ass and stopped under my thighs as he carried me toward the bedroom.

I clung to Parker’s neck, kissing him, letting my tongue roll across his over and over. I needed this so badly. It was as if I hadn’t seen him in years, like some serviceman returning from war. I craved his body against mine, the feel of his hands on my skin.

“God, I miss you.” I ran my hands through his hair, combing it out of his eyes as he tilted his head upward to meet my lips.

I pushed away all the moments of hurt I’d felt over the past few days, every single thing I thought that might separate me from him in this moment, and I poured everything I had into that kiss.

“I love you, Haley, and I never want to hurt you again.” He carried me through the dark bedroom, stopping when he reached the bed. The moment he set me down, I was tearing my clothes off, and he did the same, only to crash into my naked body like a breaker on the ocean sucking me under.

He crawled across the bed with me beneath him scooting backward as he advanced on me.

I struggled to reach for my nightstand drawer, and he helped me, fishing out a condom with ease.

I felt his hardness between my thighs. It had been too long.

We both wanted each other. His lips returned to mine and at the same time, his hand found my breast, eagerly grabbing and squeezing it.

I spread my legs to him, letting him settle between my thighs, then reached between our bodies and found his dick and stroked it.

It made my body want him all the more. I slid my hand through my own moisture, then returned my grip to his cock and pleasured him, stroking and squeezing.

His intensified kisses combined with nips of his teeth on my lower lip.

“You keep doing that, I won’t even need the condom.” His lips trailed down my jawbone to my earlobe where he breathed in my ear, hot, racy breaths. I raised my pelvis, grinding against him as I let go of his dick. I didn’t want him to go so soon. I needed him inside me.

“Just put it on. I need you inside me right now.” I bit his shoulder, raking my fingers across his back as he pressed his hips against my body.

His dick, pinned between us, rubbed over my clit, smearing the moisture I made.

It teased me, causing involuntary twitches that shook my frame.

My pussy ached to be filled. I thought I’d go insane from lust. “If you don’t get inside me now, I’m going to cry. ”

Parker pulled away and hovered over me, looking down at my wanton face. “You want this?”

“Yes… please.” I clawed at his sides then watched as he tore open the package and rolled the condom on. I clenched instinctively, watching him stroke himself a few times. This was going to be amazing…