Profited (Bound Together #2)

by Lacey Black

  Chapter Twenty-Four – Rubber Pants Are Itchy

  Reid

  Have you ever worn a black rubber suit, head to toe, in the month of June in the desert? Here’s a piece of free advice: Don’t do it. The material doesn’t breathe; therefore your body basically sweats profusely until you find yourself drowning in your own perspiration. In a fucking rubber suit. That’s what they’ll focus on in my obituary, too. This dumbass drowned in his own sweat while wearing a superhero costume. Fucking great.

  But the moment I rounded that corner and saw Ryan’s face? Nothing. Else. Mattered. His smile was so bright it could power a casino for days. That smile makes all of the discomfort and teasing I received from Jon, Scott, and Steven all worth it.

  “Batman!” Ryan exclaims as he peels himself out of his mom’s arms and runs towards me. I gingerly squat down and brace myself for impact. And the moment Ryan’s little body slams into mine, everything else melts away all over again.

  “I heard someone was having a birthday today,” I say in my regular voice because there’s no way I can mask it over the lump lodged in my throat. And even if I wanted to, I have no clue what Batman sounds like.

  “It’s my birthday today,” Ryan screeches while all of his friends start to gather around.

  “It is your birthday today,” I reply and look him square in the eye. “I knew it was your birthday because you are the most important person in the world to me. Every superhero needs a sidekick, so I thought I’d see if you wanted to be mine?”

  “Really? I can be your sidekick? But what about Robin?”

  “Well, Robin is getting older and is ready to take a break. He thinks it’s time that maybe he should settle down and have some kids.” Okay, so not my most creative explanation, but I’m winging it here, alright?

  “So I can be your sidekick now? Cause I’m your biggest fan. Even bigger than Robin,” Ryan says with that big toothy grin. God, I’ve missed that smile this past week. Hearing his voice on the phone was nothing compared to seeing his face light up as we talk face to face.

  “And I’m your biggest fan,” I tell him honestly. “I’m sorry I missed your party.”

  Ryan looks at me with confusion for only about two seconds before recognition sets in. “Dad?” he whispers.

  “Yeah, buddy, it’s me.”

  Ryan starts jumping up and down and laughing. “I knew it! I knew you were Batman! Mom, Dad is Batman! Dad is really Batman! THE Batman!”

  I look over Ryan’s shoulder and see the love of my life standing there with tears in her eyes. At least this time, they seem to be happy tears. That makes the ache in my chest only slightly better at the sight of her crying.

  “My dad is Batman,” Ryan exclaims as he turns to his friends who all have starry-eyed goofy smiles on their faces.

  I actually spend the next ten minutes having my picture taken with Ryan and his friends. As parents arrive to pick up their kids, I see them off alongside Dani. She has yet to speak to me, but I have yet to speak to her either. I have so much to say, so much to tell her, but I don’t want to do it while we have an audience.

  “Batman, big brother?” I hear the chuckle behind me and can’t fight my own smile as I turn around. Tara is grinning ear to ear as she snaps a picture on her cell phone. “That’s going out to everyone in my contact list,” she smarts off.

  “Come here,” I say as I pull her into a hug. Tara is stiff at first, but it doesn’t take her but a few seconds to loosen up. “I’m sorry I’ve been so cold and distant. For so long, I’ve been a shitty brother to you.”

  “You were fine. I know you went through a rough time with Reagan and then Mom. I don’t blame you for closing the rest of us off,” she says.

  “Yeah, but it’s no excuse. I promise to do better.” I give my sister one more hug and add, “I’m probably going to mess up a few times. This whole being a better person thing is harder than I thought.”

  Tara’s laughter erupts from her belly. “Apology accepted.”

  As I pull away, I can’t help but ask, “Scott Dixon, huh?” Tara instantly blushes a deep red and looks away.

  On our way here, Scott and Jon rode along, declaring their intent to not miss the opportunity to see me grovel…and wear a black rubber suit. Steven drove while Jon and Scott helped me get zipped up in this monstrosity. As soon as we stepped into the backyard, Scott’s eyes zeroed in on Tara, and I watched with new eyes as hers did the same. They’ve been standing off in the corner talking ever since.

  “It’s okay. Scott’s a great guy. You may not have noticed, but I’ve seen the way he’s always watching you. He can’t take his eyes off you.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s too bad your friendship comes before anything else. He won’t make a move because he’s afraid of pissing you off,” she says with a sad smile.

  “You let me worry about that,” I tell her, vowing that my next conversation will be with my buddy, Scott. Well, after I talk to Dani.

  “Aunt Tara, did you know my dad was Batman?” Ryan asks, coming up behind us.

  “I didn’t know that. He hid his secret very well.”

  “I knew he had to have a super cool job. When I was little, my mom always told me that my dad had to be gone a lot for work but that he loved me and was always watching out for me. I knew it was something totally awesome like a superhero.”

  “Your mom is a very wise woman,” I say, looking over his shoulder at the woman standing on the deck cleaning up the remnants of the party.

  “I’m going to head home. I’ll see you both soon,” Tara says.

  “I’ll walk you out,” Scott says, walking up to us, wearing a shy grin.

  After watching my sister and one of my good friends walk away, I turn towards the backyard and start moving chairs and taking down tables. Steven, Jon, Scott, and Dani’s dad, Robert, join me in the yard and before I know it, we have the backyard back in pre-party order. Every once in a while, I catch a glimpse of Dani in the kitchen cleaning up the dishes and whatnot with her sister. It kills me not to go in there now and demand to explain myself. If she only knew the real reason I was late to the party…

  “I’m going to run Jon and Scott back to the office to get their cars. Do you want me to come back for you?” Steven asks.

  “No, go ahead. If I need a ride, I’ll call. Or better yet, I’ll take a taxi.”

  “Well, son, let’s hope you don’t need a ride,” Steven says with a smile.

  “Yeah, well,” I start and look up at the kitchen window once again. Dani is laughing at something with her sister. I’ve never seen a more beautiful woman than when Dani is laughing. “Let’s pray she doesn’t kick me out and lets me explain.”

  “She will,” he says with a hard slap on the back. “She will because she loves you too.” I give my friend a half-smile, then turn to watch them leave.

  A few minutes later, Robert comes out and takes a seat next to me on the deck. “Ryan’s in the shower,” he says casually.

  “Good. I bet he’ll sleep good tonight,” I say in way of small talk.

  “Oh, I’m sure. The Batman costume was a nice touch,” he says with a smile.

  “It’s hotter than hell,” I tell him, resulting in a hearty laugh.

  “You could probably change now.”

  “Yeah, about that. I thought about it, but I just realized my clothes are in the back of my car that left about ten minutes ago.” That makes Robert laugh even harder.

  “Laugh it up now,” I reply, unable to fight the smile.

  “Well, this could get interesting then. I’m almost sad I have to leave.”

  We both sit in comfortable silence as we watch Trysta and Dani scurry around the kitchen. “You know, when Danielle was little, she had the biggest heart. She’d bat those baby blues at me, and I was a goner. She has always worn her heart on her sleeve, and would give the very shirt off her own back for someone who needed it.

  “The day she told me she was pregnant, I smiled. Not because she was making me a grand
father and not because she was crying happy tears of joy, but because she was destined to be a mother. I knew that she would be the best mother possible for her son or daughter. She’s caring and sensitive and loves with her entire heart. When she’s mad, you’ll know it, but if she loves you, it won’t take much to gain her forgiveness.” Robert pauses and gives me time to soak up his words. “Do you love my daughter?”

  It’s a simple question and requires the utmost truth. “With my entire being.”

  “Then get your ass inside and make this right.” I watch as Robert gets up and walks inside. He throws his arms around Trysta first, then Dani second. Though I can’t hear the words he’s saying, I can see the reaction to them on her face. She nods her head up and down a few times before he slips back outside.

  “Ryan is already in bed, and Trysta is going to watch a movie upstairs. I think that leaves you and my daughter with some time to talk,” Robert says. I jump out of the chair, the rubber suit squeaking a bit against the plastic seat, but before I can go inside, Robert sticks out his hand. “Good luck to you, Reid. I hope I see you again soon.”

  And with that he slips out the gate and heads to his car.

  I give myself a few minutes to get my thoughts in order before I go inside. Like the bullet points I review before a meeting, I need to have them organized and ready to fire at the drop of a hat in case Dani isn’t hearing me.

  When the kitchen light goes out, I tuck my tail between my legs, grab ahold of my Batman cape, and open the back door.

  Ready to duke it out with Dani.

  Ready to fight for my family.

  Chapter Twenty-Five – Not All Superheroes Wear Capes

  Dani

  I flip off the light a few moments before I hear the backdoor open. Knowing that my dad walked out just a few minutes ago, I turn around fully expecting to see him coming back inside. What I wasn’t expecting was to see Reid.

  “I thought you left,” I mumble the first words to Reid since his arrival at Ryan’s party earlier this evening. The truth was I had hoped that Reid would have talked to me before he left. When I didn’t see him around the backyard and thought he had cut out, the sadness that had evaporated when he arrived had started to return. And that’s just silly talk because Reid is here for his son. Period.

  “I told Ryan I’d give him a hug good night,” he says casually, those eyes focusing all of their energy on me. They’re like little laser beams burning into my bruised and battered soul.

  “He’s in bed. Go on back,” I tell him as I step aside to allow him to pass.

  “I’ll be right back,” he says as he slips around the corner and heads down the hallway. I realize instantly that Reid is still wearing the superhero costume from earlier. He took the mask off when they were cleaning up chairs and tables, but he has yet to remove the rest of the suit.

  Grabbing a bottle of water for my parched throat, I head into the living room and tuck my legs underneath me on the couch. The deeper into the evening we went, the more exhausted my body became, so sitting down right now is almost orgasmic. My muscles are all sighing in sweet relief. It was a hot day and I still feel grimy and sweaty in my jean shorts and tank top. A shower is definitely in my very near future.

  Ten minutes later, Reid comes into the living room. He seems hesitant to cross the threshold of the room. I can only assume he has other plans for his Saturday night. Maybe plans with Cythina. Planning their pending nuptials.

  And suddenly I’m nauseous.

  “Dani, do you think I can speak with you for a minute?” he asks, taking a tentative step into the living room.

  “Sure,” I reply, forcing my voice to sound chipper. I’m sure he wants to talk about Ryan, maybe work out his weekend schedule from this point forward. “Have a seat.” I expected him to take the rocker recliner, but he doesn’t. Reid walks over and slides down onto the couch next to me. Even through the squeaky plastic of his suit, his unique scent permeates my senses. I have to close my eyes briefly as the memories of our past flood my mind. It’s the worst kind of torture.

  Grabbing my foot, Reid absently starts to knead at the soles of my foot. “Dani, I have so many things to say to you,” he starts with his head and eyes cast downward as if watching his hands work my sore muscles. “First off, I never meant to hurt you. You have to know that.” Reid’s eyes focus back on mine. They appear to be carrying the weight of a whole mixture of emotions, and the intensity causes me to swallow hard over the lump in my throat.

  “It’s okay, Reid. You don’t have to explain anymore. You explained it all Monday night. We really don’t need to go through it again,” I tell him, not sure my heart could take a repeat performance of Monday night. His hands are still on my foot, and it takes everything I have not to moan from the pleasure of skin on skin contact.

  “Dani, Monday night was a hundred ways of fucked up.”

  “Reid, it’s okay, really. We share a son, and you’re welcome to stop by whenever you want to see him. We’ll work out a schedule that’s convenient for both of us. I just can’t do this tonight. I don’t want to rehash any of this right now. I’m exhausted and gross from the party. I just want to go take a shower and go to bed. Besides, I’m sure Cynthia is waiting for you,” I say, her name biting my tongue, as I pull my foot back. With that, I stand up and wait for Reid to follow suit.

  “You’re beautiful,” he whispers, almost audibly.

  “What?” I’m sure I misheard him.

  Reid gets up and stands directly in front of me. “You heard me. You’re beautiful. You said you were gross, but all I see is the most beautiful woman in the entire world, with her long, gorgeous blond hair and mesmerizing blue eyes. Long tan legs and a stunning smile. And this birthmark. Right here,” he says as he touches the side of my hip. Even through my shorts, I can feel the heat of his touch.

  “You can’t say that to me anymore,” I whisper. God, it hurts too much to hear him say this, yet my heart is screaming “more, more.”

  “Yes I can. Do you know why?” I can’t answer with real words, so I just shake my head. “I can say that to you because it’s the truth. And do you know what else is the truth? That I’m in love with you. One hundred percent, crazy in love…with you.”

  Holy shit. Kill me now.

  “Reid,” I start, his name choking me along with the air I try to breathe. “Please don’t do this. Please don’t say that. It hurts too much.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Dani. That’s the last thing I want to do, sweetheart.” And because I’m weak, I let Reid pull me into his arms when he steps forward. I don’t want to. I know I should disentangle myself from him as soon as possible. It’s the only way to walk away with any of my heart, even if it’s only a sliver.

  “Then why are you here?” I look up into his eyes, trying to gauge where he’s going with this entire conversation. Of course, the fact that I haven’t moved out of his embrace hasn’t gone unnoticed. By either of us.

  “I’m here for you and our son.”

  “But you can’t have us both. You will always have your son. I am your past; a distant memory that should be kept there from now on.”

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong, Dani. You are my future. Do you want me to prove it?” I can’t answer him. Part of me is screaming at the top of my lungs to have him prove it, while the other part doesn’t want to hear what he has to say for fear that, at the end of the day, he’ll still walk away.

  “Today, I missed one of the most important days in our son’s life. Do you realize how much it pained me to do that? I would rather go ten rounds with Mike Tyson than ever experience the pain I felt today when I was stuck in the office instead of helping you celebrate our son’s birthday. And knowing that it caused Ryan an ounce of hurt? Excruciating. Do you know what I was doing today?” Again, I can’t answer, so I just wait. “I was meeting with Cruz. I’ve spend the past two days, eighteen hours a day, with my legal team figuring out how to get out of the contract that I already signed.”
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  Okay. Now he has my full attention.

  “That’s right, sweetheart. I wanted out. I wanted out so damn bad that I was willing to risk everything, lose everything, to be with you. I was ready to go into this meeting and renege on that very contract I signed. The one that I wanted more than anything in my world because all I saw was what I was gaining. The one I was willing to sell my soul to the devil himself for. Profit. That’s what I was after. Well, I’m tired of living my life like that. I’m tired of letting business and returns and my overwhelming need to win rule my life, because the way I see it, if I let you go, I’m not winning; not in the least bit. I’m the biggest fucking loser of all.” Reid continues to gaze down at me, his eyes bright as I shake with nerves. I wish I knew where this was going.

  “When you walked into my office, I knew in that moment that I had made the third biggest mistake of my life. I signed the contract mere hours before you showed up, and I knew I was wrong.”

  “The third mistake?” I whisper through my desert-dry throat.

  “Yeah, the third. The first mistake was the night I let you slip out of my tent without finding out your name or how to get a hold of you. That mistake is quickly followed by walking out of my apartment Monday night without fighting to the death for you. All mistakes that I plan to rectify right now.

  “Today, my team and I met with Cruz who owns Bravado Resorts. We found the loophole that I’ve needed. We were able to get out of the contract without being dragged into court for a yearlong litigation and breach of contract lawsuit. Oh, this whole mess won’t go away without some sort of financial loss on my part, but no amount of money is enough if it gets me out of that damn contract.”

  “I don’t know what that means,” I state, trying to keep the hope from bubbling to the surface.

  “It means the contract doesn’t exist anymore. Hunter Enterprises is not acquiring Bravado. There is no merger planned. But more importantly, I’m not engaged to that woman.”

  I can’t fight the tears that leak from my eyes by this point. They fall in earnest, unchecked, as Reid swipes them gently from my cheeks.