Playing Dirty (Risky Business, #2)(50)

“Don’t look so shocked,” I retorted, taking the black shorts and tank top she handed me. “I work out.”

“Only when I threaten you.”

Okay, that might be true.

“So Parker’s just going to let you go work out during work hours?”

“Um, well … I’m kind of working out … with him,” I said.

Megan choked on her Red Bull. I slapped her on the back a few times. “Are you serious?” she managed, once she’d stopped coughing.

“It’s training,” I hastened to explain. “He’s going to show me some self-defense moves.”

“Parker. Is going to show you … self-defense.”

I nodded. “Yep.”

She just shook her head. “You be sure to let me know how that goes.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I said. “It’s nice of him, actually. Lessons like that cost money, so if he already knows this stuff and doesn’t mind teaching me, that’s good, right?”

Megan just looked at me. “Right,” she said at last, skepticism written on her face. “And how does Ryker feel about you learning self-defense from Parker?”

I glanced at my watch. “Gotta go.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she called after me as I hurried away.

I heard from Ryker around mid-afternoon. I’d had my cell sitting on my desk and had kept an eagle eye on it all day, hoping it would ring. I snatched it up before the second buzz.

“Hey, babe,” he said when I answered.

“I’ve been so worried,” I said. “Is everything okay? What happened?”

“I can’t talk about it over the phone,” he said. “Just wanted to call and tell you that I’m okay, but can’t see you tonight.”

My disappointment was a lead weight in my stomach.

“Why not?”

“I’m looking into that video we got of your accident,” he said. “Forensics finally finished enhancing and cleaning it up so I’m going by the station. But I need to make sure I’m not followed.”

“Okay.”

“Have someone take you home tonight,” he said. “Don’t go alone. I would if I could—”

“It’s fine,” I interrupted. “I have a work thing I have to go to anyway.”

“All right. I’ll come see you as soon as I can. Gotta go.”

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Be careful.”

“Ditto.”

He ended the call.

I tried not to worry, but it stuck in the back of my mind for the rest of the day. Relief that he was okay, but worry over what he hadn’t been able to tell me.

The workout place was literally just around the block, so Parker and I walked there. He kept me close with a hand around my arm while he walked on the outside of the sidewalk. I noticed his eyes were moving constantly, watching everyone around us.

I changed into Megan’s workout clothes, wincing a little as I looked myself over in the mirror. The shorts were crawl-up-my-ass short and the tank top was a size too small for my breasts. Some other women had on less, but I usually wore workout leggings, so felt a little uncomfortable. Shrugging it off, I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail and went to meet Parker.





CHAPTER TEN


He was waiting on one of the mats, talking to another guy who was just as big as he was. Parker had changed into a black T-shirt that had to have some spandex in it, the way it clung to him—not that I was complaining. He’d put on workout shorts, too, but they weren’t tight like the shirt was. Dammit.

Parker caught sight of me and waved me over. His gaze ran from my head down to my bare toes still adorned in A Good Man-darin is Hard to Find, and I watched his Adam’s apple move as he swallowed. The other guy was talking and I saw Parker’s lips moved as he replied.

“Hey,” I said once I was close enough. It felt strange to be with Parker in this setting, but he slid his hand around to the small of my back like it was no big deal.

“Sage, this is Mac,” he said. “He’s my sparring partner.”

“Nice to meet you, Sage,” Mac said with a smile as he shook my hand. He had an accent I couldn’t place, with brown hair and gray eyes.

“Same here,” I said, feeling a little intimidated with these two huge guys flanking me.

“I’m going to show Sage a few self-defense moves,” Parker explained.

“A little Krav Maga for the lady?” Mac asked.

“Hey, if you’re going to teach self-defense, might as well do it right,” Parker said with a shrug.

“What’s Krav Maga?” I asked.

“It’s a form of self-defense created by the Israeli Defense Force,” Parker explained. “Its premise is not only defense, but counterattack to disarm and disable your opponent and come out the survivor of any physical confrontation.”

“It looks like she could’ve used a lesson a few days ago,” Mac said, eyeing the bruises and scrapes on my legs before his gaze landed on my stitched shoulder.

“Tell me about it,” Parker replied grimly.

“You want to show her a demo?” Mac asked.

“Sure.” Parker motioned for me to stand aside so I moved off the mat to lean against the wall.