by Lexy Timms
Parker
Book 2
R&S
Rich and Single Series
By
Lexy Timms
Copyright 2016 by Lexy Timms
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to an actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2016 by Lexy Timms
Rich & Single Series
Alex Reid
Book 1
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CWJMKRM
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CWJMKRM
Parker
Book 2
US:
UK:
Sebastian
Book 3
US:
UK:
Zane
Book 4
US:
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DESCRIPTION:
Hot n' Handsome, Rich & Single... how far are you willing to go?
Parker can make anyone fit. His business, Fitness and Health Sports Club, is an incredible success, and women all but throw themselves at his feet for a chance to train under him. Most of them aren’t opposed to doing other things under him either. And Parker is happy to oblige them. Until the day he meets Jennifer Leandra.
Jennifer’s personal training business competes with Parker’s own, and Jennifer is determined to compete personally with Parker. Sparks fly – but only in a professional sense. Unlike most of the other women he’s met, Jennifer isn’t interested in getting in his pants.
Surprisingly, Parker’s fine with that. Really. He wouldn’t go to bed with Jennifer if she were the last woman on Earth, no matter how good looking she is. He has the pick of the pack, and he’s going to show Jennifer that he really can live up to his slogan.
Alex Reid is book 1 in the R&S Rich and Single Series. Parker is book 2. Fall in love with these hot and steamy men; all single, successful, and searching for love.
Contents
Rich & Single Series
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DESCRIPTION
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
R&S Series
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Rich & Single Series
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Prologue
Interview with Fitness Trainer, PARKER
It’s everyone’s favorite New Year’s resolution, and at the same time everyone’s least accomplished. In the early weeks of January, gyms are full of people trying to transform their bodies. Then life calls us away, and by February we’re back to Netflix nights and chips. Most of us would prefer the effect without the effort, but those looking for real change need look no further than Fitness and Health Sports Club, and the towering man who runs it.
Parker, the head trainer, gives the effort – and gets it.
His slogan claims that he can get anyone fit. Results so far have proven the truth of that claim, and his business is booming. In the last three years, he’s gone from a relative nobody to the owner of a fitness empire that rivals the holdings of veteran kings and queens of healthy living. I sat down with him to discuss his business – and his love life.
The man I meet at Fitness and Health Sports Club is tall and tattooed, muscled like an Olympian. It certainly boosts my confidence in his ability to push people to new physical heights (and I mean that in every possible sense of the phrase). He engulfs my hand in his own huge palm, and shakes it with a firm grip. I’m not ashamed to admit my knees are a little weak when I take my chair. He introduces himself only as Parker.
When I ask him about the mononym, he flashes a grin full of straight white teeth.
“Plenty of famous people go by a single name. I thought I’d get ahead of the curve.”
Planning ahead is always good strategy. Is that a big part of your work philosophy?
“For sure. You don’t make any progress without planning. I’d say, really, that planning is half your battle. You know exactly what you’re up against and what it takes to get past that, and you’re well on your way to victory. If you don’t have a map, how are you supposed to know where you’re going?”
What takes you the rest of the way?
Dark eyes lock on mine.
“Hard work. Those sayings about inspiration and perspiration? Totally right. Motivation can only take you so far. Eventually you run out of it.”
I know that I do.
“It’s habit that keeps you going when you hit that stage, and unless your habit is hard work, you’re not going to keep pushing forward. That’s why most of those New Year’s resolution people don’t last. They want the easy way; all the benefits without the work. It’s the same reason you’re constantly seeing all those thirty-day diets and two-week miracles. They never work, but people keep trying them anyway because they’re more attractive than the truth, which is that you’ve got to get your hands dirty if you want to grow something.”
Sounds like you don’t go easy on people.
“If I went easy on them, I wouldn’t be the man they want coaching them. There’s a reason people hire me.”
I could think of a few reasons to hire you.
His laugh is loud. It fills the room, booming off the walls and the ceiling.
“You’re not the first person to say that.”
Be honest, you have women falling all over you.
“Women, and a few men, too,” he answers, grinning again. “I’m universally popular.”
Do you ever worry that people only hire you for your looks?
The eyebrow he raises in my direction answers the question pretty thoroughly.
“No way,” he says anyway. “I’m sure you’ve seen the before and after pictures coming out of our studio. There’s no question that we do exactly what we say we do, and my clients – both former and current – will be more than happy to tell you just how effective we are. And trust me, we’re effective. My looks are just good advertising.”
I’ll second that. Can you tell me a little bit about how your company got started?
“It’s actually a pretty simple story. When I was younger, I worked construction. It wasn’t a bad job, but it wasn’t really what I wanted to do with my life, and by the time I was out of high school I’d decided that there had to be better options. So when I was looking at college, I decided on Kinesiology.
“From there, it was really just working. You can’t have fitness without effort, and you can�
��t have a business without effort. I picked a partner – Jackson – with a good head for business and advertising, and we started out of my studio apartment, offering house calls. I knew from the start that I didn’t want to work at a big gym, with someone else telling me what to do. I’d done that for a summer and it just wasn’t my thing. I don’t really describe myself as a control freak, but I’m not the follow the leader type either. That’s why I jumped into my own personal training business right from the start, and as you can see it’s paid off big time. I really believe that the people who have the courage to step outside the lines and go their own way are the people you’re going to hear about.
Although, to give credit where credit is due, Jackson was a big part of why I rose so quickly, and he’s still a huge part of my success. In the technology age, where everyone is constantly plugged in to their smartphones and they can watch a thousand workout videos at home for free, you can’t just be good at what you do. You have to be good at it in a way that makes other people sit up and pay attention to what you’re doing, because a thousand other people are doing it, too, and they’re all out there clamoring and shouting for attention just as much as you are. You could be the best fitness instructor on the planet, but unless you’ve got a genuinely unique social media presence you’re only going to find business in your own little corner of the country.”
So you’re pretty big on the internet?
“I let Jackson take care of most of that, but, yeah. We’ve got a website, a Facebook page, an Instagram. Loads of social media. I don’t even know what else off the top of my head, although I’m sure he would. All that social media stuff? Fitness and Sports Health Club is the name attached to all of it, so make sure to look us up and check us out if you want to see what we do and find a trainer who’s going to take you all the way to the top.”
When have you been the most satisfied in your life?
“Honestly? I’m sure that you’re expecting me to name some big moment, but I’d say that where I’m the most satisfied is in the gym. Endorphins, you know? That’s powerful stuff. Even I have days where I don’t want to get up and work out, but once you push past that reluctance and you hit the point where you really start flying? That’s the best thing in the world.” He grins at me. “Well, almost the best thing in the world. The bedroom is a pretty satisfying place to be. Lots of endorphins going around in there, too.”
I hope you’re not the only one satisfied there?
“Oh, trust me, babe. My lovers don’t leave my bedroom anything less than euphoric.”
That’s quite the claim. I’d ask for details, but I don’t think my editors would appreciate it, so I’ll get back to the script. What three words would you say describe you best?
For a moment, I don’t get an answer. Parker pauses for the first time to think. “Competent. I know my stuff, because I pushed myself to know it well. And hardcore. I’m pretty hardcore about it and everything. There might be a better word to put there, but I’m a fitness instructor, not an English teacher. Bottom line is, I don’t believe in doing anything by half measures. Do it all the way or don’t do it at all, right?”
And the third word?
“Well, some people have described me as intimidating, but honestly I’m pretty nice once you get to know me, though most of my clients don’t really get to see that side of me. Can’t be too sweet in this business, you know?”
You’ve mentioned that. What about your family? What do they think of your work?
“My family has been very supportive, and I’m more than grateful to them for that. My parents helped put me through college even though they really had pretty limited means, and they’ve always believed that I would go the distance. They’re the ones who taught me the importance of hard work, and I’ll always be grateful to them for that. Without their lessons, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
I imagine they’re pretty glad they helped you through.
He laughs. “I’ve paid them back for it, for sure. They’re living a little higher on the hog these days, and pretty content there. I’ve got a little sister who’s going to Yale this year. She’s a genius. You asked me earlier when I was most satisfied, and I kind of answered with a joke, but being able to help Em pay for college is something that I’m really proud of. Even if that was been the only thing I managed to do through this, I’d consider myself pretty accomplished.”
So you really do have a soft center under that muscle? What do you do with the money that you don’t give to your family?
“I’m a man of many layers. As for the money, I’ve kept some of it myself. Obviously. I have a nice house in the city, and one outside it on some land, for when I get tired of the hustle and bustle and noise and all the people constantly milling everywhere. I don’t know how common knowledge this is, but I grew up in the country and I’ve never really left it behind. Somewhere down deep I’ll always be a bit of a farm boy.” He scoffs, as if embarrassed to have admitted it. He adds, “In addition to the houses, I have a couple of cars. I like to travel.”
You’ve donated some of your money as well, I know.
“About five million, all told, although I don’t like to brag. Some of it has gone to cancer research. Some to animal sanctuaries. Homeless shelters. Environmental protection groups. I believe that we all have a responsibility to help make the world a better place and to help the less fortunate, especially those who can’t help themselves.”
A noble belief. Do you have any other tips for our readers?
“Don’t give up. Progress takes time, and real progress never comes easily. Even if you have talent, you’ve got to cultivate it if you want it to take you anywhere. So keep pushing forward until you get what you want; every time you have to start over, it gets harder. Think of how you’ll feel once you reach your goal, and just go for it.”
Solid advice. One more question, and we’re done.
“I’m pretty sure I can guess the question, but I’ll let you ask it anyway.”
I’m sure you can. Are you single?
“Absolutely and totally single. Readers looking for something permanent might be disappointed, because that’s not really what I’m about, but if all you want is a good time, feel free to look me up. I’ll give you that and more.”
Chapter 1
Parker cranked the key in his ignition and pulled out of the long drive, then onto the street in front of Alex Reid’s mansion with a crunch and spin of tires against gravel. It hadn’t exactly been the night he’d hoped for.
Scratch that.
It wasn’t remotely the night he’d been hoping for, thanks to a certain billionaire with a stick up his ass. Reid wasn’t supposed to be home yet; Gina had assured him that her boss would be out until at least eleven, if not midnight or later. Parker really hoped the poor girl hadn’t been fired for that mess. She didn’t deserve it.
The whole thing was way overblown, and Reid needed to learn to chill. It wasn’t like they’d caused any property damage or cost him any of his precious money. Even if they had, Parker would have been more than capable of paying for it. Reid wasn’t the only rich guy around.
He’d met Gina one day when she’d dropped by Reid’s mansion to leave him some files during the work day. She’d stepped out of the house, and Parker had stopped to stare, because yes, sir, that was the kind of woman you stared at. Dark-haired and dark-eyed and built leggy. New York Italian at a glance and man, did he like the fiery ones. No way he was going to turn down a chance at that.
So he’d approached her. Chatted her up. The conversation hardly had to start before there were sparks flying between them.
--
“Parker,” she said, reaching out to take the hand he was offering her. “Gina Leandra. I’m Mr. Reid’s secretary. It’s very nice to meet you.”
The words were professional, but the way she was looking up at him through her dark eyelashes was definitely flirtatious. Parker wasn’t complaining in the least. He leaned back against the sun-warmed metal of his
truck and crossed his arms over his chest, watching her gaze follow the ripple of muscle. He grinned. “So, Gina, what’s your opinion of the guy?”
“Of Mr. Reid?” She looked surprised out of her staring for a moment. “He’s a good man. I’ve been working for him since he started the company, and I really can’t say that I’d rather be anywhere else. Why do you ask?”
Parker personally thought the man seemed kind of uptight, but maybe some women liked that. He lifted one shoulder in a shrug and let it fall. “Just seemed like the kind of small talk you’re supposed to make. I guess I’m not so great at it.”
She laughed. “What kind of small talk are you good at, then?”
“Oh, you know. What are our macros? How much do you lift?” He grinned again. “I guess I’m a little too wrapped up in my job.”
“Well, your dedication has paid off.”
She was looking at him again like she wanted to eat him, and Parker shifted a little, his pants feeling tighter than they had a moment before. “I work hard for what I have. And for what I want.” He met her gaze directly as he said it, and he watched understanding spark in her eyes an instant later.
Her smile widened. “And what is it you want?”
That was permission enough to take it the next step, and Parker let the grin stretch into something a little hungrier. “Maybe I want you.”
Her eyebrows lifted, but she looked more arch than surprised. Teasing little minx. “What makes you think you’re going to get that?”
Parker uncrossed his arms and took a step forward, reaching out and catching her suddenly around the waist to pull her body against his own. She was pressed to his chest, then, her hands on his shoulders and her head tipped back so that she could look up at his face. For an instant, she was stiff enough against him that he wondered if he had misinterpreted after all, but then she relaxed, melting into his chest and sliding her arms up around his neck. He let his hand fall to the small of her back.
