How badly I wish it was Jenna sitting in that chair instead of you!
“Nothing.”
“You were a million miles away just then,” she says, and her nails continue to move over my hand.
I take notice that no sparks run through me with her touch. Jenna can look at my hand and it’ll tingle. When she touches it, electricity fills me.
“I’ve been working a lot lately. Just tired, I guess,” I offer for my attention problem.
I have immersed myself in work. It makes the time pass a lot faster. Late to bed, early to get up, has my days long and filled up.
“So, how is it a man of your good looks and money is alone, Reed?”
Because I fell in love with the same woman my brother did before me, and I’m giving her a chance to see which one of us she really wants, if either of us.
“The timing isn’t right for a woman in my life right now,” I say, instead of all that other stuff.
“Reed Manning has enough money to calm down a bit and make time for a woman in his life. As do I,” she says, then runs her hand up my arm as she scoots her chair closer. “And my bed has been cold and lonely for a little too long and needs heating up. If you know what I mean?”
Of course I know what she means!
“You just say what you want, huh?” I ask as I move back out of her reach, as her touch just isn’t doing a thing for me.
“I didn’t get to where I am by not going for what I want. And Reed Manning, I want you.” She sits back and puts one red nail on her lower lip, which is also red.
Her white teeth peek out between her plump lips as she smiles just a bit. I suppose she’s waiting for my response.
“Okay,” I say and look away, as I don’t know what the hell else to say to that.
“Okay? That means you accept my proposition? Me and you, a thing?” She leans in, and the top of her white shirt gapes open on purpose.
Her breasts are perfectly formed as they pour over the top of her white bra. And I think they’re too perfect. I look harder and know then they aren’t real.
My cock doesn’t move with the sight, and that’s a real eye opener for me. But Jenna has yet to get in touch with me and if she has news she is moving on to another man then I need a shoulder I can lean on when I get that news.
And Lana has nice shoulders!
“Do you like Chinese food, Reed?” she asks, as her hand runs over the top of my thigh.
Nothing! Not a single spark, and her hand is inches away from my dick!
“I do like it,” I tell her.
I don’t add the fact that my favorite Chinese restaurant is going to be catering a wedding for me in three months if Jenna picks me or Rod to marry. And if not, it will be a monster party for me and my brother to get the hell over her at.
I don’t think one giant party is going to do that for me, though!
Lana is a beautiful woman. She’s a little older than I am, at thirty, but she’s nice to look at. Her brown hair has some gold streaks in it. But they’re not natural like Jenna’s blonde hair, with its golden strands that occur naturally.
Her face is heavily made up, so I have no idea what she looks like under the thick layer. Jenna wears little to no make-up. Her creamy skin is perfectly tanned, and her cheeks are naturally pink tinged.
Jenna’s breasts are perfect. The left is slightly larger than the right, and the nipples can get erect really quickly. Sometimes with just a look from me.
My finger moves in a swirling motion on the tabletop as I think about running my hands over Jenna’s firm but squishy-in-the-right- places breasts.
“Reed?”
I look back at Lana. “Sorry, did you say something, Lana?”
“I did. I asked you about going to get Chinese food tomorrow in San Francisco. We can take my private helicopter. I love flying it.” She taps the top of her wine glass as she waits for me to answer.
“You know how to fly a helicopter?” I ask with a grin.
She nods. “ A trip in it along the California coastline tomorrow sounds like a great idea, and adding you into that plan sounds like an amazing day to me. How about you?”
“It does sound cool,” I admit.
“So?” she asks, as she stares at me.
I know this woman is not used to being turned down. But I’m feeling like this isn’t going anywhere anyway, and all I can think about is Jenna.
“I’ll let you know by tomorrow.”
She rolls her eyes. “I see. You know, Reed Manning, I never take no for an answer.”
My lips quirk up into a half smile. “Bet you don’t. But I don’t ever say yes to something until I think about it.”
Her lips form a tight line. I think she’s met her match and doesn’t like it too much. Then she smiles. “Reed Manning is a man of decisive actions, from what I’ve been told about you.”
Okay, this Reed Manning shit is getting old so damn fast!
“Lana, look, I don’t want you to feel like I’m wasting your time. I’m going to get right to the point here. If you’re looking for anything more than an occasional date, I’m not your guy,” I say, and watch her frown.
“Then why did you ask me out?” she asks with a snarl to her voice.
“Because you have texted me, instant messaged me, and called my phone a lot since we met at that meeting.” I watch her dark brown eyes grow large.
“Are you saying I was annoying you?” Her hand goes to her chest, and I can tell I’ve offended her.
“No. I’m saying I wasn’t up to dating, and your insistence on it may be bad timing. I think we have a lot of common interests. I like your idea of fun. I do. The timing is off, I think. That’s all.” I pick up my wine glass and suddenly feel like I need something much stronger.
I wave our waitress down and order a gin and tonic, to which Lana adds a Cosmopolitan.
Seems we both need something stronger than the wine!
“You have someone you’re pining after. I can see it in your eyes, Reed. But if this woman is daft enough to leave you hanging, I assure you, she’s not worth your time.”
The drinks arrive, and I take a nice long drink of mine. I hold up a finger, telling the waitress to bring me one more, and she leaves us to do that.
When I pull the glass from my lips, I say, “Lana, you don’t understand. I don’t care to discuss this with anyone. And I won’t. Because it involves too much information on a party who is not present, and it might hurt her if she ever found out I spilled her secrets. But the fact is, I am holding out for a certain woman.”
“Where is this dumb woman?” Lana takes a drink and places it back on the table. I can see she’s getting ready to make a case for me to move on.
“Working and taking the time I told her to take to figure out who it is she loves.” I find my leg shaking, as I hate having to discuss this with anyone.
“She loves more than just you, then?” she asks with a smirk. “Who would the other man be? My God, you’re the catch of the century! Who else could she be in love with?”
I shake my head, as there is no way I’m going to tell her that she loves my grease monkey, ass-whipping brother too.
Who the fuck would understand that?
“Lana, this has been great, but I’ve got to go. Maybe we can do this sometime later. I’m sorry about this. I just wasn’t ready. You’re a great girl.” I get up and walk away, leaving her at the table glaring after me.
I don’t look back. I keep walking until I’m out the door and catch the first cab I see.
The lights flash through the window as he drives me home and I call my mother to see how her day went. “Reed!” she answers.
“Hi, Mom. How are you this evening?”
“I got back home yesterday and I am loving it! I just got off the phone with Jenna to talk to you and was telling her how great it is to be in my own home after what seems like an eternity in the rehab facility.”
“How is she?” I ask, as I run my fingertips over the window and p
retend it’s her face.
“She’s doing great over there in Tempe. They’ve offered her a teaching job there, and she’s still dating that principal,” she says.
I stop her. “Still?”
“Yes. She says he’s nice and has this ten-year plan to become the superintendent there. He sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders. I think he’s very good for her,” Mom says, and my heart is thumping hard in my chest.
“Oh.” That’s all I can say.
My head hurts; my heart hurts; my whole body hurts.
Mom’s voice goes soft. “You know, Reed, I think you and your brother are better off without her. Rod’s doing great. He’s just working and going home. Staying out of the bars and away from skanky women.”
“Glad to hear that.” I look out the window at the dark night and feel so alone. “I’m glad he’s doing well. I am, Mom.”
Wish I was …
“He’s calling me, Reed. Do you mind if I get off here?” she asks.
“No. Bye, Mom.”
I end the call, look at my phone, and wish like hell Jenna would fucking call me.
After five minutes of thinking that, I press the buttons that take me to Lana. “Hi,” she says.
“Lana, I think I’d like to tell you I’m sorry for my previous behavior.”
“Not a problem, Reed. I accept your apology. Why don’t you come to my place and we can talk some or do whatever you want to?”
“What’s your address, Lana? I think I need to crawl into someone else’s bed for a while,” I say, and feel very numb inside.
But knowing Jenna is dating someone Mom says is good for her has me very full of nothing. No hope, no feelings, and no more wanting to wait.
“Hand the phone to the cab driver, Reed,” she says.
I hand him the phone and sit back and close my eyes.
Will I be able to take it if Jenna has moved on?
Chapter 35
JENNA
Though I’ve told no one about the deadline Reed and Rod gave me, I am asking my mother about how Rod really seems to be doing, as Sue is always talking so positively about Reed and Rod that it’s hard it’s believe.
I have a month and a half to make my decision. My heart has hung on to Reed, but if his family is better off without me around then I’ll leave him alone. But I know Steven is not the guy for me.
I’m still dating him, but not even once a week do I go out with him. It’s mostly a thing at school. We eat lunch together, and all the other teachers leave him alone. I kind of think he’s hanging on to me just to keep the other single women away from him.
They seem to bother him, for some reason.
“I see Rod about once a week when we go into Prescott to get groceries,” Mom tells me.
“Do you talk to him?”
“Your father and I have on a couple of occasions. I know what Sue says, but she’s here in Jerome, and he’s off in that city. The fact is he still rides that motorcycle, and his beard is still long, and the man still looks like trouble.”
“How about Reed? Have you seen him around?” I ask.
“I saw the two of them with a boat one day a while back. Guess they were going on a fishing trip together. They seemed like they were getting along well.”
“That’s what Sue says too,” I say, as I drum my fingers on the countertop I’m leaning on in my little kitchen.
“Have you talked to Reed?” she asks.
“No. I haven’t talked to either of them. But I still have it bad for Reed, Mom. But if I’m that much of a problem for their family that I can break it all up, then I’ll leave him alone.” I turn and look out the dark window at the night sky.
“What about that new fella you’ve been seeing?” she asks, and I hear my father clearing his throat, which means he wants to talk to her about something.
“He’s not the one for me. But I hear Dad, so I’ll talk to you later.” I hang up and look at the phone long and hard, then call Rod.
“Hello,” he says as he answers.
“It’s Jenna,” I say.
“Hi!” I hear something clank and clang and some more racket, then a door shuts. “How are you?”
“Not real bad, not real good. How are you?” I ask, as I put my head in my hand and don’t know why I’m calling him when it’s Reed I want to talk to.
“I’m good, Jenna. Are you calling me to tell me you’re ready to give us a try before your deadline?”
I hesitate, then say, “No, Rod. That’s not why I’m calling you. I’m actually calling to find out how you’d really deal with things if I married Reed. I have to know if you would really do what you said and accept it or not.”
“Oh.” He’s dead silent, then I hear him open a beer. “I thought you were seeing some principal.”
“I’ve dated him some. So how would you take it if I went back to Reed?” I hold my breath for his answer.
“Didn’t Mom tell you, Jenna? Reed has another woman. She’s rich, like he is. She sells real estate like he does. She flies a helicopter, and they came to Jerome in it a couple of weeks ago. They took Mom and Dad on a ride. I thought Mom would tell you about that. I’m sorry to be the one to break that news to you, Jenna. I really am.”
My legs go weak, and I go in slow motion down to the floor where I lay out like I’ve just been shot. “He’s moved on?”
“Yeah, baby. I’m sorry.” I hear him take a drink of the beer. “But I’m still here waiting for you, baby.”
I can’t think. I can’t breathe.
He moved on …
“Baby?” I hear Rod say again.
“I’m here. Um, about you, Rod. I will always have love for you in my heart. I will. We were young and dumb and I forgive you for all we went through together. I do. Honestly. But Rod, I don’t love you like I did back then. It would be a short-lived thing if I came back to you. I don’t want to do that to you or your family. Not that Reed would care, obviously. But I don’t want to do that to you.” I roll over and hold my hand over my eyes to try to hold the tears which are burning the backs of my eyelids.
His voice cracks as he says, “Let me come visit, Jenna. Give me a shot.”
I lie on the floor and open my eyes and look up at the bright kitchen light with its naked bulb in the center and then close them again. “No.”
“Jenna, I really am sorry, and if you could give me a chance I could make it up to you. I know I could,” he says, and I can hear the tears in his deep voice.
“I’m not that girl, Rod. I’m so different now. I’m a kindergarten teacher, and I love that about myself. You drive old trucks and loud motorcycles, and that’s cool. But that’s not me. You can find a woman who likes the things you do. You should do that. I’m not going to have fun riding on your bike or going to bars with you. That’s not me.” I try to get up, but can’t, so I lie on the floor and let my body just give up.
“I can change,” he croaks out, and I know he’s crying pretty badly.
“Why would I even want that, Rod? You’re this dangerous cool guy and a real badass and women love you. Why would I want to make you into something you aren’t, just to please me? And if you did change, then how long would that last?”
A long sigh is all I hear before he says, “You’re right. I know you are. You were a Sunday school teacher when I met you. I wanted to change you then, and I tried so hard to. And for a little while, you and I met in the middle. But in the end, it wasn’t enough for either of us. When given the chance, you went back to the good woman you always were, and I went back to the life I yearn for.”
I let the tears flow then, as this is the first time he and I have ever been this real with one another. “Rod, you’re not a bad man. You like to live life on the edge, and you’re good at it. The things you like, even the sexual things, there are women who like that rough stuff too. Find yourself one of them. And I swear to you, I will only wish happiness for you.”
“You don’t hate me, Jenna?” he asks, and I really break d
own.
“Rod, did I hate you at any time? After anything you did to me, did I ever hate you?”
He waits for a long time. “No. No, you never did. But I have to know this. If you had still been single when I came back, would you have given me another shot? If there had never been Reed, would you have tried it again with me?”
I know that answer, as it was in my head long before I saw Reed that day at the grocery store in our hometown. “No, Rod. I wouldn’t have. I got myself back, and I was never going down that road again. No one will ever change me again. Not ever. That’s why I have no wish to change you, Rod. Be who you are. You’re a free spirit who loves to fuck hard, play hard, and ride hard. Fucking be that badass motherfucker, Rod!”
He laughs and so do I. “Jenna, you are phenomenal! Can I still call you my friend?”
“You sure as hell better! And I will always call you mine. I love your mean ass, Rod Manning! I always will.” The tears dry up, and I feel like Rod and I have put the past right where it belongs.
“I love you too, girl. You know what? I feel better than I ever have, Jenna. I really do. I’ve been beating myself up over what I did to you and now, since you’ve forgiven me, I can stop that shit and move on with my life. I do like to fuck hard!” He laughs like a wild man.
“That you do!” I laugh along with him. “And some woman is going to love that shit and beg you to spank her ass and you and her will fall madly in love and have those rugrats you wanted. And you better introduce me to that bad bitch when you find her contrary ass!”
His laugh goes up a few notches and mine goes right along with his. I feel free. Really free, for the first time since I can recall.
I take in a deep breath to regain my composure and feel very happy it’s from laughing and not crying. “So, are we good, Rod?”
“We’re good, Jenna. Love you, girl. I’m going out and shooting some pool and being okay with who the fuck I am. Thanks to you, I finally feel okay about that guy,” he says.
“Go! Have fun. Love you too, Rod. Bye.”
“Bye, Jenna.”
I hang up and laugh a little as I pull my ass off the kitchen floor and go to my bedroom.
His Sweet Torment: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance Page 47
