Reid

by SJ McCoy

Grace chuckled. “We are. We come from different places, but it has the same outcome.”

  He cocked his head to one side.

  “You aren’t big on emotions; you don’t see the point in them unless they serve some useful purpose. I grew up not having the luxury of emotions being a factor. Just because something made me sad, uncomfortable, or afraid, it didn’t mean I could do anything about it. I learned to observe emotions, and since I couldn’t indulge in them, I at least learned to capitalize on them.”

  Reid nodded. “That almost makes you sound cold and calculating though, and I know that you’re not.”

  She smiled. “Another benefit is that I don’t care how I might seem—unless I can use it to my advantage. I know who I am; I know my intentions; the people who matter do, too.”

  Reid chuckled. “You’re a smart lady, Grace.”

  “Thanks, that’s a huge compliment coming from you. Now, do you want to come out there with me—or would you rather hide out in here?”

  “I’ll come out there. I’d like to talk to Daquan.”

  She laughed. “Just go easy on him? I think he might be a little tongue-tied around you.”

  Reid smiled. “We should do fine together, then.”

  Grace opened the door. “I think he’s in the kitchen. Do you want me to find him for you?”

  “That’s okay. You do your thing. I can find him.” He watched Grace greet people and stop and chat. She was good at this. A natural. He drew in a deep breath. He, on the other hand, was anything but a natural with people. He’d rather avoid them; he wouldn’t have chosen today to come to the center if he’d known it was an open house like this for book donations.

  He started to make his way to the kitchen, hoping he’d find Daquan there and be able to have a quiet conversation. He skirted the long line of people holding bags and boxes of books they were waiting to hand over. There were all kinds of people—young and old and apparently rich and poor, too. He stopped and did a double take when he spotted a small boy in the line. A small boy with a rapturous smile on his face as he swung his head as if to music.

  His heart began to thunder in his chest. It was Owen! And he was listening to music—he had Reid’s iPod clutched tightly in his little hand. His other hand was holding tight to his mom’s. It was her. The redhead with the big blue eyes and the long, long legs. He closed his eyes for a moment, half expecting that when he opened them again, she and Owen would be gone. They weren’t. They were still there—except now she was staring at him, and Owen was tugging on her hand. He let go of her and ran across the crowded room toward Reid with a big smile on his face.

  Reid squatted down to greet him. He wanted to hug the kid but knew better. So, it came as a huge surprise when Owen flung his arms around his neck and leaned his cheek against Reid’s for a brief moment. Then he stepped back and smiled. “Music,” he said happily as if that explained everything.

  Reid smiled back at him. “Music,” he agreed. “You like the music?”

  Owen nodded happily.

  “Owen!”

  They both looked up to see his mom staring down at them. “Don’t run off like that.”

  “I’m sorry.” Reid felt responsible.

  She looked into his eyes, and there it was again, that feeling, that connection. “It is you.”

  He got to his feet. “It is.” He couldn’t think what else to say. The nearness of her threw him. She was even more beautiful up close. She smelled good. She was a few inches shorter than him … and noting those facts wasn’t the best use of his time now he’d found her again! He smiled, and she smiled back. He had to pull himself together. He couldn’t let her walk away again. He held out his hand. “I’m Reid. I didn’t even ask your name yesterday.”

  She smiled and shook with him. The feel of her hand in his sent a current rushing through him. It took him all the way back to his childhood. Echoes of Shane’s voice rang in his head. The first time you ever touch a girl, watch her face, don’t worry about what she says, watch her face, especially her eyes, that’s how you can tell if she really likes you.

  If that were true, then she did like him. Her pupils dilated, a touch of color flushed her cheeks. “I’m Tara.”

  “I’m Owen, I’m Owen!”

  Reid dragged his gaze away from Tara’s to look down at the kid. “I know. It’s good to see you again, Owen.”

  Owen smiled up at him.

  “It’s good to see you again, too.”

  Reid looked back up Tara. Had he imagined that? No, judging by the now deep flush on her cheeks, she’d really said it. “It’s good to see you, too. I feared I never would.”

  She nodded. “I didn’t think we’d be able to get your iPod back to you.”

  He smiled. “It was a gift.”

  “Thank you. I think it might be his favorite gift ever.”

  “I’m glad.” Reid was still smiling at her, and she was still smiling back. The color was slowly fading from her cheeks. Her embarrassment might be receding, but this would get awkward quickly if he didn’t pull himself together, figure out what to say next. He looked at the heavy bag she had over her shoulder. “Are you here to donate books?”

  “Yes. I read a lot, but now I have all my books on my e-reader. I heard what they were doing here and wanted to share the escapes that I’ve enjoyed. Are you doing the same?”

  “No.” He almost wished he’d said yes. “I … err … my brother and his fiancée run the place. They’re behind the book drive. I’m just here to …err … help out.”

  She nodded, though now she wasn’t smiling.

  “Do you want me to take the bag for you?”

  “I’m fine, thanks. I should get back in the line.”

  “Can I join you?”

  Owen made the decision for them. He took hold of Reid’s hand and smiled up at his mom. “Books.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Tara drew in a deep breath. She could hardly tell Owen no, that he should leave the nice man alone. She didn’t want to tell him no. She just didn’t want mystery man to feel obliged to hang out with them. Reid. He was no longer a mystery man—unfortunately. His explanation that he was here to help his brother had made clear who he was. He was a Davenport. Oscar Davenport and his fiancée had been all over the local news with the good work they were doing here. There was a second brother—TJ, a vet who had also gotten involved, and there had been some speculation in the article she’d read about whether the third brother would make an appearance. And now he had. He was walking beside her, holding Owen’s hand—which was a minor miracle in itself.

  When they reached the end of the line, she stopped and turned to smile at him. “Thanks again for letting him keep the iPod. It’s very kind of you.”

  Reid smiled. He had an amazing smile. “It’s my pleasure. I’m glad it helped him.”

  “You were a lifesaver yesterday. He loves it. I did some research last night. I had no idea about classical music and brain frequencies.”

  Reid smiled. “Most people don’t. There’s been quite a lot of research done, but it’s not something most people ever need to know.”

  “Well, thanks to you, I know about it now—and it really does help him. He’s so much calmer and happier.”

  “I’m glad it can help him—and I hope that helps you.”

  “It does. You have no idea. He’s a good boy, but it’s hard.”

  He nodded. “I can imagine.”

  They took a couple of steps forward as the line advanced. Tara wanted to ask him how he’d known what Owen’s problem was yesterday—how he’d understood that the music would help. He’d said he didn’t have an autistic child—or any children, thank goodness. That reminded her. She surreptitiously peeked at his left hand. No ring. Yay! Then she felt stupid. What did it matter?

  He met her gaze as she looked back up. “You felt it, too, yesterday, didn’t you?”

  She wanted to ask what he meant, but she didn’t need to. She nodded.
>
  “I thought I’d blown my chance to get to know you. Now I’ve been given a second chance. What do you think?”

  This time she did ask the stalling question—but only because she didn’t want to make a fool of herself. “About what?”

  “Would you like to get to know each other?”

  Her heart hammered in her chest. Of course, she’d love to. But what did he mean? She knew Oscar Davenport’s reputation; he was that guy who slept with every woman who crossed his path. Was Reid the same? Was he asking if she wanted to sleep with him? Hell, yes, she’d love to, but hell, no, she wasn’t that kind of girl. “How?” was the only way she could phrase the question without making a fool of herself.

  He shrugged. “I thought maybe we could start with dinner?”

  She shook her head sadly, realizing that it didn’t matter what he meant. She couldn’t go for dinner with him any more than she’d jump into bed with him—she couldn’t leave Owen.

  His green eyes bore into hers. “You don’t want to?”

  She sighed. “I’d love to, but it just isn’t possible. I have Owen.” She smiled down at the little guy who was still holding onto Reid’s hand and moving his head to the music.

  “I had noticed. I think he’s okay with me.”

  She smiled. “You have no idea how much more than okay with you he is. He won’t hold anyone’s hand—not even my sister’s. I couldn’t believe that he let you carry him out yesterday, and today when he ran to you, I was speechless.”

  “I was kind of pleased myself. So, since I like Owen and he likes me … Why can’t you go for dinner with me?”

  “Because I can’t leave him.”

  Reid reached up and straightened the collar of his polo shirt. “You don’t have anyone to babysit?”

  “It’s not that. I can’t leave him with anyone. He doesn’t do well. When you saw us yesterday? That was the first time I’d left him in months. He stayed with my sister while I went to the hotel for a massage. He got upset. She had to bring him to me.”

  Reid nodded slowly. “I see.”

  Her heart sank. He was going to accept her explanation and that would be an end to it. She wondered how long he’d continue to even stand in line with them.

  He smiled. “Where is he comfortable?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I can hardly invite myself over to your place. I could ask you to come to my place, but my place is a room at the hotel—and I’m guessing he won’t be very comfortable there after yesterday. Even apart from the fact that you shouldn’t accept an invite to a stranger’s hotel room when you don’t know that I’m not a serial killer.” He sounded serious, but the corners of his lips curved up in a small smile as he spoke. “So, is there someplace he likes to go to eat? Or a park where we could take a picnic?”

  She stared at him for a long moment. She’d expected him to accept her refusal, and here he was trying to come up with ways to make it happen anyway.

  His smile faded. “Or did I miss the point? Was Owen just an excuse to give me the brush off?”

  “No! I’d love to go to dinner with you, to get to know you. I just …” Her mind was racing. How could she make it work? “You can’t exactly invite yourself over to my place, but I can invite you. I’d love to have you over, and we both know Owen would.”

  He was even more handsome when he smiled. “In that case, thank you. But let me bring dinner?”

  She laughed. “If I didn’t know better I’d think you’d already heard how terrible my cooking is!”

  He laughed with her. “No, but that information has now been logged for future reference.”

  That made her smile. She’d love to hope that he might need to refer to that information in the future, but she doubted it. Snippets of information about the third Davenport brother were trickling back into her mind. He didn’t live in LA. He lived in Washington state.

  “How about I bring whatever your favorite takeout is?”

  She wanted to pinch herself. She must be dreaming. Mystery man was coming to dinner; he was good with Owen, and now he wanted to bring her favorite so that she didn’t have to cook.

  “I’m a woman of simple tastes.”

  He smiled. “So, what am I bringing?”

  “Veggie pizza. Of course, that means you can bring whatever you like, too.”

  “A large veggie pizza it is, then.”

  “There you are.” They both looked up as a guy put his hand on Reid’s shoulder. “I was wondering where—”

  They all looked down as Owen screamed. He tugged on Reid’s hand, trying to get him away from the newcomer. Tara bent down to him, but Reid beat her to it. He scooped Owen up and rested his forehead against his. To her amazement, Owen stopped screaming and focused intently on looking into Reid’s eyes.

  “It’s okay, Owen.” Reid spoke in a slow monotone. “That’s TJ. He’s my brother.”

  Owen slid a sideways glance at TJ and then looked back into Reid’s eyes. “He hurt you.”

  Tara felt tears sting her eyes. She couldn’t believe that Owen was already so attached to Reid that he wanted to protect him.

  “No. He doesn’t want to hurt me. He loves me. I love him.” He reached his arm out, and TJ stepped closer. Reid slung his arm around his shoulders and smiled. “See? He’s good.”

  Owen sat back and eyed TJ suspiciously for a long few moments. Then he smiled. “Good.”

  “This is Owen,” Reid told TJ.

  Owen wriggled, and when Reid set him down, he took up the same position he’d had before—by Reid’s side, holding his hand.

  TJ smiled at him, and he smiled back. “Good.”

  “Sorry about that,” TJ looked up at them.

  “Please don’t apologize,” said Tara. “You couldn’t know.”

  “It’s fine,” said Reid. “You just startled him.”

  “And this is Owen? From yesterday?”

  Tara looked at him and then at Reid.

  “Yes. From yesterday.” He smiled at her. “I told him about meeting you.”

  “You did?” Tara was stunned. She’d believed that he’d probably forgotten all about her the moment the cab door closed.

  He nodded. “And sorry, Tara, this is my brother, TJ. TJ, this is Tara.”

  TJ smiled at her. “So, we know your name now.”

  “We do.”

  “And you just happened to be here donating books today and ran into this guy again?”

  “I couldn’t believe it when I saw him—well, it was Owen who spotted him.”

  “Quite a coincidence, huh?” Tara got the impression that TJ didn’t believe it was a coincidence, but there was nothing she could say to convince him otherwise. She couldn’t even blame him. Now she knew that they were the Davenports, she could understand it; they probably had women stalking them all the time.

  Reid gave his brother a warning look. She wanted to reassure them both, but she knew she’d only make it worse if she tried.

  She was relieved to see the old guy in the wheelchair coming toward them wearing a big grin. “Miss Tara. You’re still here?” He noticed the way Owen was still clinging to Reid’s hand. “I didn’t realize you guys know each other. What’s the story?”

  Tara looked at Reid. She didn’t know how to answer, and it seemed he didn’t either. He laughed. “We haven’t written it yet, Terry.”

  Chapter Six

  “Are you coming over for dinner tonight?” Grace asked Reid.

  The center was much quieter now, and they were all sitting in Grace’s office.

  TJ frowned. “You haven’t told them?”

  Reid shook his head. He already knew that TJ was suspicious of Tara. He could understand why, randomly running into each other two days in row seemed a bit of a stretch, but Reid knew that far-fetched as it seemed, it really was coincidence—a very happy coincidence, as far as he was concerned.

  “Told us what?” asked Dani.

&
nbsp; “That the woman he ran into at the hotel yesterday just happened to show up here today and invited him to dinner tonight.” TJ was still frowning.

  “She was here?” Dani looked delighted.

  Reid smiled at her, glad that she shared his enthusiasm. “I couldn’t believe my luck.”

  “I can’t believe it’s just luck either,” said TJ.

  “Somebody fill me in,” said Oscar.

  “He met a woman in the hotel lobby yesterday. Then she just shows up here today,” said TJ. “I don’t like it.”

  “You’re just too suspicious,” said Dani. “I think it’s amazing.”

  Oscar gave Reid an inquiring look.

  “I understand where TJ’s coming from. It does seem like too much of a coincidence. But she was as surprised to see me again as I was to see her.”

  “What happened yesterday?” asked Grace.

  “Nothing really. I saw her when I was checking in. Just noticed an attractive woman. Then I saw her again a little later, and her son was upset. I talked to them, gave the little boy my iPod because I knew the music would help calm him. Then I put them in a taxi, and they left.”

  “You didn’t get her number?” asked Oscar.

  “No, but as soon as she’d gone, I wished I had.”

  Grace looked thoughtful. “I’m with TJ. I find it a bit suspicious.”

  “I don’t,” said Oscar. “I think it’s awesome.”

  Dani grinned. “I think it’s like fate. It was meant to be.”

  Reid chuckled. “I don’t know about that.”

  “And you’re going for dinner with her?” asked Grace.

  He nodded.

  “Tell them where,” said TJ.

  “I’m going to her place.”

  Grace frowned. “I don’t like that. Why there? Why not go out somewhere? It’s not just women who are safer in a public place. It could be some kind of set up.”

  Reid shook his head. “It’s not. I know it isn’t. It was my suggestion.”

  Grace and TJ exchanged a look.

  “Come on, guys. I’m not stupid. Owen, her little boy, is autistic. She doesn’t go anywhere without him. I thought he’d be more comfortable if I went there.”