That Secret Crush

by Quinn, Meghan

  Reid takes the tape. “I’ll have a hand in everything—that’s if Griffin can find someone to cover my shifts at the Landing.” He looks over to his dad, who laughs.

  “We can surely find some backup.”

  “Good,” Giselle says, collecting the design boards. “I’ll find samples of everything you want and bring them in over the next few days. I think we can have this place up and running in a few months. The bones are here, and since you’re keeping the layout open and exposing the natural architecture, there won’t be much we have to do building-wise beyond making everything pretty. Permits are set, so now you just need to settle on a name.”

  “Any ideas?” Reid asks as his dad nods slowly.

  “Knight and Port. Knight for the family, Port for the town. It’s a combination of the two things I hold closest to my heart.”

  Knight and Port—I can see it.

  I press my hand against Mr. Knightly’s arm. “I love it. It has so much meaning but feels modern. It’s perfect.”

  “Yeah, it is, Dad.” Reid glances around the space, unable to contain his grin. “Looks like we have a menu to create.”

  “And I have just the place to start,” Eric says, pulling a notebook from his back pocket. “Let’s get to work.”

  One hundred items.

  One, zero, zero—that’s how many things the boys have on the menu. At least that’s how many they had when I left.

  A little prolific when it comes to the ideas.

  I don’t even know how they could think of that many recipes, though they kept reassuring me they were going to pare everything down.

  With a headache looming, I cash out the bar at the Inn and bring the money to the back, thankful it hasn’t been a busy night. I’m exhausted from the sleepless night I had with Reid. He wanted to get in as much sex as possible before Eric came to crash on my couch, and after all the excitement and planning today, I can barely move one leg in front of the other.

  I crash into the office chair just as my phone rings. I dig it out of my pocket to find Harper’s name crossing the screen. I answer quickly.

  “Please tell me you have a masseuse at your house and are inviting me over for a rubdown.”

  “That’s one way to answer the phone.” She chuckles. “I don’t have a rubdown ready for you, but I do have some wine and the biggest charcuterie board you’ll ever see. Rogan is out for the night, and Ren is coming over—thought you could help us take down the cheese and crackers I overindulged in.”

  “Sounds amazing. I’ll come straight there if you tell me I can borrow a shirt and sweatpants.”

  “Done. Hurry up, we’re waiting.”

  That puts a pep in my step. I shoot a quick text to Eric, letting him know the apartment is his for the night, and then finish up my business in the office.

  It’s officially Eric’s first night back in Port Snow, and yeah, maybe I should spend it with him, but then again, I need some girl time. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Harper and Ren. Eric will be fine on his own.

  I’m out the door in record time, and Walter, one of the town’s Uber drivers, is waiting for me out front. During the drive, he drones on about the town gossip floating around—Franklin has a mole he’s getting checked out, Caleb’s seeing some girl over in German Town, and Tracker had an apparent pregnancy scare with a tourist—but I couldn’t care less. I tune Walter out and text Reid, letting him know I’m hanging with the girls and reminding him just how sexy he looked during the design meeting today with his backward hat and tight jeans.

  The man has been my fantasy for longer than I can even remember. It’s still a bit surreal, being able to text him things about his tight ass and how I wanted to stick my hands down his pants. He’s always been a pipe dream kind of guy—someone who could never see me as more than a friend. But with each encounter, each interaction over the past few years, something was growing between us until finally he made a move, right on the dance floor. Probably one of the most epic moments of my life, having Reid Knightly look at me as more than just a friend, more than just his friend’s sister—as someone he couldn’t keep his hands off of.

  These past few weeks with him have had their ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade the roller coaster for a steady carousel any day because the ups and downs have helped me come to the realization that I love this man. He’s it for me.

  My phone rings again, and I see it’s Eric.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “You’re really not coming home?” The whine in his voice makes me laugh.

  “Are you lonely?”

  “A little.” We both laugh.

  “Work on the menu. I need some girl time.”

  “What about some bro time? We have three whole years to make up for. I know you like to say that things are cool with us, but I can still detect some tension, Eve. Are you trying to avoid me tonight?”

  Yes, there’s tension and maybe a little bit of awkwardness, but that will go away with time. The more we work together and mend the open wound in our relationship, the more we’ll get comfortable again. After all, we’re family, and family always sticks together.

  “I’m not avoiding you, I promise. Harper just offered me wine, cheese, and crackers. What can you offer?”

  “Nothing, because that’s what you have in your fridge. Absolutely nothing.”

  “Looks like you should take a trip down to the general store then. Maybe say hi to Oliver. You two were friends growing up.”

  “Until his boating accident. After that happened, he pretty much sequestered himself to his shop.”

  “Well, reach out. He might need a friend. I’ll be home later. And don’t go snooping in my things; you never know what kind of vibrating objects you might find.”

  “Jesus, Eve.” I laugh, hard. “That wasn’t necessary.”

  “It really was. Talk to you later, bro.”

  When I hang up, Walter looks up into the rearview mirror with a brow raised. “Vibrating objects?”

  Shit.

  Of course Walter overheard that tidbit.

  I can count on my little comment being broadcast around town within an hour. Reason number one for never answering my phone while getting a ride from Walter: whatever you say is guaranteed to get spread from one mouth to the other like a kissing virus.

  But his eavesdropping gives me an idea.

  “Say, Walter, did you happen to hear—”

  “That you don’t want anyone exposing your relationship with Reid to your brother? Yeah, that’s old news.”

  I smile to myself. For the first time since I can remember, I actually appreciate the gossip in this town.

  “I don’t think you’ll be getting these pants back.” I flop onto the couch and rub my hand over my leg. “This is the softest fabric ever. Where did you get them?”

  “Rogan got them for me. I think he likes the way it feels when he runs his hands up and down my legs.”

  “Sounds about right. The Knightly men seem to all have one thing in common, besides those devastating blue eyes—they’re all horny.”

  Ren snorts as she sips her wine. “Yeah, that’s one way to describe it. Did I ever tell you about the first time Griffin and I had sex?”

  “No,” Harper and I say at the same time, leaning in.

  “It was after we went on a camping trip with everyone. Brig and Reid were doing everything in their power to keep us from having sex, and Griffin was so frustrated. We made an excuse to go back home with one thing in mind . . . doing the deed. But then Griffin was pulled away by his family, cockblocking of course, and then my parents showed up just as Griffin and I started to get handsy. He had to sneak out the back of my house with the biggest boner ever and trudge across the neighborhood to his house. That night, we met up on the beach—”

  “Oh my God!” Harper says, slamming her hand on the couch. “Hold up. That rumor of you two doing it on the beach is true?”

  Ren slowly nods.

  “Wait, you did it on the beach in Po
rt Snow, where anyone could catch you?” I ask.

  “Yup, see? Horny men, all of them.”

  “Rogan is the same way; it’s like he’s reliving our teenage years again, trying to sneak it in wherever he can. I can’t even tell you how many times we’ve done it in the manor at this point. Poor Gina, she must regret being Rogan’s assistant. I’m almost positive she’s heard us at least a dozen times. I told Rogan she needs a raise.”

  “What about Reid?” Ren asks. “I’m guessing he’s just as bad.”

  “Worse,” I answer. “Not only are his hands always all over me, but he’s also so perverted, constantly making sexual innuendos.”

  “Yup, sounds about right,” Harper says and then turns to Ren. “That boy has always been sexual, ever since I’ve met him. Didn’t he lose his virginity at like thirteen?”

  “Sixteen,” I correct, hating that I know such an intimate detail. I remember the day he bragged about it to Eric—I was so heartbroken. “It was with Kelsey Littleton. I got to hear all about it when he told Eric.”

  “Oh, that must have been fun.” Ren sips her wine.

  “Especially since you were crushing on Reid big time, right?” Harper says.

  “You were?” Ren asks.

  I nod, reaching over and grabbing a few cheeses and grapes. “Oh yeah. Typical brother’s-best-friend crush. I was infatuated with him, but he was clueless.”

  “Eh, I wouldn’t say that,” Harper says. “I remember the way he used to look at you back then. It was puppy love.”

  I shake my head. “No, because if that was the case, he wouldn’t have gone after every other girl in our grade until he went off to culinary school.”

  “Who knows—maybe he was too nervous to take things to the next level with you.”

  “Okay.” I laugh. “I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the case at all. But it doesn’t matter at this point, now that we’re together.”

  Ren and Harper exchange looks before Harper says, “Do you love him?”

  I raise my glass of wine to her. “I should have known this invite was going to be a shakedown for information.”

  “Oh please,” Harper counters. “You were up my ass when it came to Rogan. It’s only right that I do the same with you and Reid.”

  It’s true. I was relentless when she was thinking about getting back together with Rogan after so many years of being apart. But that’s what best friends do, right?

  “Can’t fault you for that,” I say and twist my wineglass by the stem as it rests on my leg. “Yes, I do. I love him, and it’s scary and exciting and consuming. I’m not sure if he feels the same way, but what I do know is that he’s working really hard at being the man he thinks I deserve.”

  “Gah, my heart. Oh, Reid. Look at him, all grown up.” Harper clasps her hands over her chest.

  Suddenly, the front door whooshes open, and in come the four Knightly men, all looking as handsome as ever. Rogan leads the group, followed by Griffin and Reid, with Brig bringing up the rear.

  When Reid sees me, his smile stretches across his face, and we stare at each other, savoring the moment. I love that smile so much, that look in his eyes whenever he sees me. Talk about butterflies: they’re constantly floating in my stomach when he’s around.

  “Hey, I thought you were all going out,” Harper says as Rogan plops down beside her on the couch.

  “Brig was bringing us down, so we thought we’d come back here and make him even more depressed,” Rogan answers before planting a kiss on her lips.

  With both hands on the armrests of Ren’s chair, Griffin bends at the waist and gently kisses her on the mouth. I watch them for a moment before my own Knightly scoops me up and sets me on his lap, his arm wrapping around my stomach, his lips connecting with the side of my head.

  “Hey,” he whispers before tugging on my earlobe with his teeth.

  Shivers roll up my spine, and goose bumps spread across my skin.

  “Hey,” I answer back, feeling a little shy.

  “Well, isn’t this just fucking lovely,” Brig says, standing in front of all of us, his arms crossed. Sarcasm drips from his voice as he looks over each couple. “None of you fuckers were looking for love, and there you are, all smiling idiots with a girl in your arms, while I’m over here, tit-less, with no prospects in sight.”

  “Maybe because you’re calling yourself tit-less rather than single,” Griffin points out.

  “Whatever. I’m texting Walter. I’m getting out of here. I don’t need to be thrown down a well of depression because you’re all insensitive to my struggles.” He turns and heads out the door, slamming it behind him.

  I try to hold it back, but I can’t. And neither can the rest of the group—we all burst out laughing. Oh, poor, poor Brig.

  “Maybe if he stopped trying, love would find him,” Ren says.

  “He’s too sensitive about what happened in New Orleans. He’s on a hunt to make sure the curse is broken, and there’s no stopping him,” Griffin says.

  Harper scans the room. “You can’t possibly think that thing is real.”

  None of the boys answer. Instead, Griffin stares down at his fingers, examining his cuticles with more intent than a man should. Rogan’s eyes seem to find the ceiling quite intriguing at this very moment, and Reid, well, he cuddles closer, making it impossible to see his reaction. Unbelievable.

  “Want to get out of here?” Reid whispers, breaking the silence.

  “Well, I was supposed to be having a girls’ night.”

  “Have a girls’ night with my dick.”

  I turn to face him. “Are you telling me your penis is a woman?”

  He cringes. “I guess that didn’t come out right, did it?” I shake my head. “Then let me be more clear. My dick wants to play with your vagina, so please let her come out and have a good time.”

  “Did Reid just ask your vagina to come out and play?” Harper butts in.

  “Hey, no one asked you to listen in on our conversation,” he snaps back, as if she were his very own sibling.

  “Hard not to when you’re breathing heavy like that.”

  Rogan squeezes her leg. “Good one, Harp.”

  “You are breathing pretty loudly,” Griffin points out. “It’s getting weird, dude.”

  “I am not. Fuck all of you.” Before I know what’s happening, Reid stands, still holding me in his arms, and walks to the door. “Say good night to your friends—you’re coming with me.”

  “Reid, my clothes,” I call out, just barely able to snag my purse from a side table.

  “We’ll get them later. We’re going to show these old farts how to have a good time.”

  “Are you going to record it for us?” Rogan calls out.

  Reid throws up a middle finger in response before hurrying through the night air to his truck and setting me in the passenger seat.

  “Where do you think we’re going?” I ask after he hops in and settles himself behind the wheel.

  “To my place.”

  “What if Eric gets bored and decides to visit you? Might not be the best idea.”

  Reid’s hands clamp around the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white with frustration. “Damn it. Uh, okay, let’s go to the Point.” He roars his truck to life.

  “The make-out spot for high schoolers?”

  “Why not?” He smiles wickedly. “Could be fun.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  REID

  Shit.

  Fuck.

  Ahhh . . .

  “Babe, I’m . . . fuck, I’m going to come.” My hand is tangled in Eve’s long brown hair while she’s bent over the console, sucking me off.

  Talk about every childhood fantasy come true. When I decided to bring Eve to the Point, it was on a whim, but now I’m the most grateful motherfucker ever. After I felt up and sucked her tits for a good twenty minutes, I fingered her to completion, and she went ahead and returned the favor. She’s had her mouth on my cock for five minutes, and I’m already about to ex
plode.

  Instead of moving her mouth, she sucks harder and grips my cock tighter at the base, shooting all my blood to the tip.

  Her tongue swirls; my balls tighten.

  Her tongue flicks; my hips thrust up.

  Her tongue swirls again, and with one last suck, I’m gone. I’m coming so hard that white spots start to impede my vision and a low, long groan explodes out of me.

  “Mother . . . fucker.” I breathe as I release my hand from her hair, realizing I was gripping it rather hard. “Ah, shit, babe. Are you okay?”

  She nods as she looks up at me, her eyes watery but happy.

  “I didn’t mean to pull on your hair like that.” I massage her scalp. “I kind of lost control.”

  She works her way up my body, pressing kisses against my bare chest and then across my lips. “It was hot, Reid. I kind of liked it.”

  “Yeah?” I ask, brow raised. “Got a little kink in you?”

  “Maybe a little. So keep that in mind when you want to start getting creative.”

  “Christ, I think you just made me hard again.”

  She rolls her eyes and adjusts her shirt so her tits are securely back in place. Despite my dick wanting to hang out longer, I stuff it back in my jeans and buckle up before turning to watch Eve smooth out her hair.

  She’s the same girl I’ve always known, the girl I crushed on for so many years, but somehow even more beautiful. Her strong-willed personality and intelligence turn me on, and add that to her insatiable need for me every time we’re around each other, and I’m just a man head over heels in love.

  No doubt in my mind. I just need to find the right time to tell her. And inside a truck right after she’s blown me is not that time. I want something that’s going to make her swoon and leave her with no choice but to say the words back.

  “Oral at the Point . . . can’t say I’ve never done that before.”

  “What?” I ask, whipping my head around, making her laugh.