Charity Case: The Complete Series

by Piper Rayne

  “You said a bad word,” Jade scolds him.

  His head flicks her way at the same time my hand grabs his wrist to stop him from plucking something out of my crotch. An electric current shudders through my body.

  “Sorry.”

  “He says that all the time,” Henry says and him, and Jade talks about parents swearing. “My grandpa is the worst. He says the f word.” He lowers his voice once he gets to f.

  Jade’s jaw opens although I’d bet the house in Vegas her dad uses that language around her.

  “Once my dad put up the finger at someone in the car next to us. Then the guy rolled down his window and if I’d collected money for a swear jar, we’d be going out for ice cream after this.”

  Reed chuckles lightly to himself and excuses himself.

  “My grandpa yells at his neighbors, saying get the potatoes out of your damn ears.”

  Jade laughs uncontrollably, rolling all around the booth. “I don’t have a grandpa.” She doesn’t say it in a mean way,, she says it like it is the way it is. “I have a grandma though.”

  “Does she say funny stuff?”

  Reed returns with some napkins and water. “Here.”

  “Thank you. It’s not too bad actually.” I focus on the stain on my jeans which thankfully, should be fine once they dry.

  Jade continues telling Henry things my mom says. Reed is soaking in their conversation with a few looks my way.

  “My grandma says it’s a good thing my mom left my dad because a rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.” Jade shrugs not understanding exactly what it means.

  “Your parents are divorced?” Henry asks as though we’re not sitting right across from them.

  “Come on you guys, eat up.” Reed encourages them, now willing to set some rules.

  The two take a bite of their meals, but I know my daughter. “Yeah.” She looks at Henry. “Yours?”

  Henry looks over to Reed, not for permission, but something else. I just can’t put my finger on the way he looks at him.

  “My parents died.”

  Chapter Seven

  Jade’s eyes find mine and I honestly have no idea what to say.

  “I’m sorry, Henry.” I find my voice, wishing I had something more comforting to offer.

  Reed just smiles at Henry almost proud that he said it.

  “Who is he?” Jade asks, nodding toward Reed.

  Thankfully, I don’t have to do it. The boyfriend of the mom is out of the question.

  “He’s my big brother.”

  I nod, it all clicking together now. He took custody of his sister or brother’s child. Another check mark under good guy.

  “He’s old.”

  “Jade!” I widen my eyes at her.

  “Sorry,” she mumbles, her eyes peeking up at Reed.

  “It’s okay, I suppose I am to you.” Reed takes it all in stride, balling up the wrapper of his sandwich and then laying his arm along the back of the booth behind my head.

  “He’s not my actual big brother.” Henry shakes his head like she’s crazy to believe him.

  I guess I’m just as naive as Jade.

  Reed says nothing, letting Henry tell us everything and I admire that in him. He lets him dictate what he divulges to us.

  “I don’t get it?” Jade’s eyebrows crinkle.

  “I live with my grandparents, so they signed me up with a program and I got Reed, he teaches me how to be a man.”

  I spit out my drink and little droplets of Diet Coke splash on the table.

  “Dirty mind,” Reed whispers, blotting up my mess with a napkin.

  “Oh, I want one to teach me how to be a woman,” Jade says, and I close my eyes.

  “Why don’t you guys go play and if you get hungry, come back.”

  The two forget the conversation they were just having and run over to the play zone.

  I fall back to the booth. “I feel like I just went through therapy.”

  Reed laughs but doesn’t move from his spot.

  “You can slide on over to the other side.” I point, but he just smiles.

  “Would that make you more comfortable?” He waits for the answer. His arm still stretched behind me, his fingers dangerously close to my skin.

  “Yes.”

  “One day, you’ll want me here.” With his promise, he throws away his finished containers and slides into the other side of the booth.

  “You’re part of the Big Brother Foundation?” I ask just to clarify I caught on while Henry was talking.

  “Yeah.”

  “Admirable.” So admirable it might give him two check marks next to good guy.

  He shrugs. “Well, if you knew how I started you might not think so since my intentions were purely selfish to begin with.”

  I wait for him to tell me more.

  He blows out a breath. “In high school, my parents wanted something good on my school applications, so I signed up for the mentor program at sixteen. At first, I felt so out of place and thought I had nothing to offer these kids. I mean, a rich kid from Winnetka who got everything they wanted? The more I did it, the more I enjoyed it. Once I turned eighteen, I decided to become a Big Brother and I’ve done it ever since.”

  “Jeez, I’m kind of blown away right now.”

  “Well, it shot my parents in the foot.”

  “Why? You’re a lawyer. What kind of parents aren’t happy with a son becoming a lawyer?” I sip my drink.

  “Victoria, Victoria, Victoria.” He shakes his head. “In my parents’ minds, I’m not a lawyer, I’m just an assistant district attorney on the government’s payroll.”

  Shit, I didn’t even know that. I figured he was like Pete, a defense attorney.

  Another check mark for Reed. But he is still a lawyer so that’s an X. Maybe the two cancel each other out.

  “Point?”

  “Families like the Warner’s don’t go into public law, we should be in the private sector making lots of money with which to rule the world.” He says it with a tone of arrogance he clearly doesn’t possess.

  “Well, sorry to offend.” I use the same accent and he laughs.

  “You’d fit right in.”

  “Well, I didn’t know any of that. I didn’t even know you were Reed from the Warners of Winnetka.” He points, clearly enjoying the fact that I’m playing along.

  “Get with it, Victoria.” He pretends to stand the collar up on his pullover, but it flops back down. “See, even my clothes rebel.”

  I glance over to the play zone and watch for a minute as Jade and Henry chase one another around. “How long have you been Henry’s big brother?”

  He follows my line of vision. “Two years. His grandparents raise him now. That’s why I drop him off on Mondays at school. Ned and Helen usually meet their friends for coffee Monday mornings.”

  “How did his parents die?” I ask, turning to face Reed again.

  It’s none of my business and if he wants to tell me to buzz off, I won’t be offended.

  “Car accident.” The corner of his lips turn down.

  My heart breaks for the small boy and I look over to him again. You’d never guess he’s been through so much, except for his quietness.

  “Ned is kind of old school—doesn’t want Henry running and jumping in the house. I think that’s why he’s quiet. But once you get to know him, you’d be surprised.” He stares over at him with such love and affection that I can practically feel my pupils morphing into cartoon hearts.

  I pinch the skin on my arm. Ouch, that damn well hurt, but at least I’m not looking at him all googly-eyed now.

  “Well.” I straighten in my seat, grab my notebook and pen from my purse and lay them out in front of me.

  “We’re back to business I assume.” His gaze flicks to my notebook.

  “Well, that’s why we’re here.” I poise my pen over the paper.

  “I wondered how long you’d let the casual conversation continue.” The smirk on his face says he’s not surprised that
I’m not acting like I’m all sorts of impressed after learning all the admirable things he does for Henry and this city.

  “I don’t want to hear it from Darcie, so we need to get going on this. If you don’t have any ideas, I have one.”

  He stands up, unzips the small zipper at the top of his pullover, grabs the hem of the jacket and pulls it over his head. His shirt rises, giving me the pleasure of seeing his love arrow in all its glory. His groin cleavage and happy trail are an arrow pointing south and everything in me wants to see where the road leads. Preferably with my tongue leading the way.

  The shirt falls down, covering my sneak peek, leaving only Reed’s amused expression on display.

  “So...” I swallow a large gulp and attempt to focus on the sheet of paper.

  His large frame slides back into the booth, where he clasps both hands in front of him on the table, waiting for me to continue. Thankfully, he makes no sly comment about catching me ogling his body.

  “I was thinking we do something different. Who’s paying for the tickets?”

  “Darcie said it was the parents,” he says.

  “Okay, I have an idea. We get a car from a junkyard, remove the fluids, and anything else that’s dangerous. Then we sell tickets to let someone have at it for a few minutes to release all their pent-up aggression.”

  His smile grows as he leans back in the bench seat. “I like it. I think a few of the moms—Darcie included—could unleash a shitload of sexual frustration. Will she approve it though?”

  “I didn’t plan on telling her. I was going to make it a surprise.” I look over at him with my most serene, full-of-shit smile.

  “Man, I knew I always liked you.”

  I roll my eyes and a second later a fry hits my forehead. “Did you just throw a fry at my head?”

  He glances over his shoulder and points to the elderly woman in the next booth.

  The smile won’t stop teasing my lips as I look at him. He’s so easy. Too easy. There has to be something wrong with him.

  Duh, my subconscious chimes in—he was the best man at your wedding and he’s a lawyer. Double whammy!

  Chapter Eight

  On Monday, despite myself, I’m giddy knowing I’ll see Reed again. The fact that I bought a new outfit yesterday and dragged myself out of bed early this morning to do my hair and makeup is because I want to feel good about myself, not because I care whether Reed Warner notices me or not at school drop-off.

  Jade and I are trying to avoid the cracks on the sidewalk as we make our way to St. Pats, playing that old school ‘step on a crack break your mother’s back game.’ When we’re only a block away, a car slows down next to us.

  “Jade!” Henry screams out the window and Reed raises his hand in hello and then returns to the task of tying his tie, the clip between his teeth once again.

  And there goes my stomach on the new rollercoaster ride it seems to be finding so much enjoyment on. Yes, he’s in the back of an Uber, but it’s an intimate portrait of the man as he readies himself for the day. Every man is different. Pete used to have to stand in front of the mirror to do his tie up in the morning and it was always a studious process. I miss that part of being a couple—knowing the intimate details no one else does.

  “Hi Henry!” Jade’s voice draws me from my thoughts. She runs down the street trying to keep up with the car. “I’m gonna beat you!”

  “Hit the gas!” Henry yells at the driver.

  “Jade,” I warn, stepping up my pace, but she ignores me. It’s not that she’s so far ahead I can’t see her, but there are so many cars coming and going at this time of day that I worry someone won’t see her when they’re leaving the parking lot to our right.

  A short sprint later and I’ve caught up with her. I’m sure all my efforts at appearing put together were wasted after the impromptu morning jog Henry and Jade forced on me. Not Reed though, the man strolls from the car like he’s a half hour early to an appointment and doesn’t have a care in the world, looking completely put together in his grey three-piece suit. He slides his wallet into the front pocket of his suit and rounds the back of the car.

  “Did you hear what happened?” Georgia asks Darcie to my left.

  Not really feeling like getting into the St. Pats’ gossip mill this early on a Monday morning, I set my gaze on Jade who’s now talking to a group of kids at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Morning Sunshine,” Reed says when he reaches me, his voice smooth and sultry.

  “Hi.” I smile nicely and then tap Jade on the shoulder.

  She turns, holds up her finger and then continues telling her friends how she and Henry went to McDonald’s on the weekend. Henry offers a smile but adds nothing to the conversation. She says something about the toys and all the kids laugh. Then I see why Jade is such a perfect friend for Henry. The other kids initiate conversation with Henry about what happened and Jade steps back, letting Henry take all the credit for whatever they all find so amusing.

  I choke back tears realizing that the divorce, the move, the less than involved father hasn’t screwed her up too badly because she knows how to be kind and compassionate to someone who needs it.

  She turns to face me and must see some of the emotion on my face because she gives me a funny look for a second. “Bye, Mom.” Jade wraps her small arms around my neck and squeezes.

  “Have a great day, okay?”

  “I will.” She leaves me without another look. “Let’s go, Henry.”

  Henry says goodbye to Reed with a fist bump and then the two of us stand in the middle of the concrete walk-up watching the two of them enter the school with a crowd of other kids.

  “Want a ride?” Reed’s voice has me turning slowly in his direction.

  “No, thank you.” I sip my coffee and step toward the sidewalk.

  “So, I guess dinner is out of the question?” he asks, and I stop.

  He doesn’t fidget, his cheeks don’t flush. In fact, his hands are in his pockets and he’s rocking back on his heels. You’d never guess that he just put himself out there and asked me on a date. I’m sure he must know the answer before I even say anything, yet, he’s not too intimidated to ask me anyway.

  “I’m not into dating right now but thank you for the offer.”

  He clasps his heart dramatically, his head falling back while he groans.

  “Don’t even act like I just ruined your life.” I shake my head with a smile.

  He stands upright. “You can deny me, but don’t do it so politely. Tell me the real reason you won’t go to dinner with me.”

  I glance to the side finding Darcie and Georgia watching on with narrowed eyes. What do they care? They each have diamond rings on their fingers worth more than my annual salary.

  “You’re a smart guy, Reed. I’m sure you can figure out why this won’t work.” I motion with my finger between us.

  “I’m not friends with Pete anymore. Maybe an acquaintance, but—”

  “It’s not just Pete. I mean that’s a huge part, yes. You have two strikes against you though. You’re a lawyer like my ex and you were the best man at my wedding.”

  A deep intake of breath followed by a murmur has me glancing across the small courtyard.

  The MM’s—Mean Moms—are gathered together, Georgia’s mouth ajar.

  “Now we’re the scuttlebutt.”

  He follows my gaze and then steps forward.

  “I’m nothing like Pete.” His voice is lowered so we can’t be overheard. When I don’t answer, he lets out a sigh and says, “Come on, let me give you a ride. I’m due in court this morning and it’s right near your building.”

  “How do you know where I work?” I cross my arms over my chest.

  “I’m the ADA for the county, I know almost everything.”

  I stare at him and he finally smirks.

  “I may have Google’d.”

  My heart does a leap in my chest that it shouldn’t. What I should be thinking is that his behavior is borderline stal
kerish, but instead I’m finding it worthy of a TV rom com.

  “I’m just getting on my feet again after our move. Trust me when I say that I have so much shit you don’t need to deal with.”

  He nods to the waiting Uber. “It’s just a ride to work, Victoria.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.” I place my hand on his arm and he looks down at it. Is he feeling the surge of energy between us, too? I quickly retract my hand and turn away to head to the train station.

  I don’t have the guts to turn around. Instead, I keep my eyes forward and thankfully my cell phone rings in my purse. Happy for the distraction from the magnetic pull drawing me back to him, I answer on the first ring.

  “Hi, Hannah.”

  “Victoria, how far away are you from the office?”

  I can tell from her voice that she’s flustered.

  I glance in front of me at the houses on either side of the road as I walk. “I’m just about to hit the train station,” I fib.

  “This new dog I got has gone into heat and I have to drop her off at the veterinarian. I told myself not to book an appointment for a Monday morning. NO!” she screeches. “My new Persian rug. God, how much blood can come out of one dog?”

  “I’ll get there, Hannah, you take care of Lucy.”

  “Thanks. Can you pick up a pastry plate or something? My meeting is at ten and I was going to stop, but now…”

  “Yep. I’ll handle everything.” I sling the strap of my purse further up on my shoulder and quicken my pace.

  “Come on,” she pleas, to the dog I assume. “The dog won’t walk on a leash. How do you get a dog to walk on a damn leash?”

  I stifle a laugh. “I have no idea. I’m a cat person.”

  “I should be a cat person. Thanks, Victoria, you’re a lifesaver.”

  Click, the line dies and I’m about to climb the stairs to the L train when I realize there are people standing everywhere. It’s even more crowded than usual and taxis are arriving in droves and driving away just as fast.

  “What’s going on?” I ask a woman who is about to climb into a taxi.

  “Not sure, but it’s delayed by like an hour I heard.”

  I cringe. “Seriously? Can I share the taxi with you?”