After Hurricane Nina, Reed's Resolution (Hot Hunks-Steamy Romance Collection Book 1)

by Natalie Ann

  That didn’t sound good. “Care to explain that?”

  She grinned. “I’d like to say it was the night we had. One where I said I was doing you a favor and then was going to walk away. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that way.”

  If his chest puffed up a bit, he tried to hide that fact. “Well then, I believe we are thinking alike.”

  He wasn’t about to admit his own confusion. That he’d mastered the get in and get out with a woman. Wine them, dine them, share a few nights of pleasure, and walk away.

  Yet here he was wanting something more with Taylor. Not a relationship. That’d be crazy since she didn’t want one just as much as he didn’t. But he wanted more and this was his compromise. And maybe if he stopped lying to himself, it could lead into the ‘R’ word.

  “If you say so,” she said.

  The waitress came over and took their drink and food orders, leaving them in private again. He’d purposely chosen this booth in the corner and was glad.

  “I do say so.”

  “So I have to assume there was a reason you wanted lunch, more than an excuse for why you haven’t seen me in a week. You could have easily passed by my office, but haven’t.”

  “There is a reason. Though I’ve been tempted to visit you, I really didn’t want to draw attention to you because I’m sure you’d get annoyed.”

  “I would have. Shoot. What’s the real reason for this lunch?”

  “I’ve got a proposition for you,” he said, then paused when their drinks were delivered.

  He picked his soda up and took a drink, wetting his throat. Why was it dry? When was the last time he was nervous over something like this? Why did it matter so much when it never had before?

  Was his family right? Was he really sick of the life he’d been leading? Well, he knew the answer to that—he was. Which was why he’d tried to avoid it for the past six months.

  But was he really ready for something more? That, he didn’t know the answer to but was willing to at least explore the possibility. Maybe.

  “I’m not sure I want to hear what you’re going to say,” she said and the air that was in his chest earlier was slowly leaking out like the squeaking from a balloon full of helium being pulled open by prying fingers.

  Here goes nothing. “Since we both have such a horrible opinion on relationships, I thought, we’re friends...”

  “Seriously?” she said, laughing. “You’re not about to ask me to have sex with you, are you? A friends with benefits situation?”

  “What’s so funny?” he asked, grinning at her. At least she didn’t stand up and walk away.

  “Do people actually ask to do that?” She was shaking her head like this whole thing was a joke he was playing on her.

  “When was the last time you had sex?” he asked, his smile still in place.

  Hers dropped. “None of your damn business.”

  “I’m guessing quite a while. Someone burned you and you’re staying away from relationships. You don’t picture me the type of person to go for a one-night stand when you have an itch.”

  “Not at all,” she said firmly. “Yet you are asking me this right now?”

  “I am,” he said. “But it’s not a one-night stand. It’s more.”

  “Until you get tired of it. No, thank you.”

  “Can’t we go into this with rules? Friends that could set boundaries?”

  “I can’t believe you’re serious.” She paused, then asked, “When was the last time you had sex?”

  He felt that the way he answered this was going to affect her decision. He was going for honesty. “Six months.”

  “No way,” she said.

  “I haven’t lied to you once about anything. Why would I lie about this?”

  She tilted her head, seemed to think about things, then said, “Why?”

  “Why what? Why haven’t I had sex in that long?” At her nod, he continued, “Because I’m tired of what I’m stuck in. It’s the only answer I can come up with right now.”

  “So you think friends with benefits is better than picking up some bimbo in a bar?” she asked, crossing her arms. “I’m sure you could find plenty of women to agree to this arrangement so I’ve got no idea why you’re asking me.”

  “Yeah, I could. But they’d want more and you don’t. If there is anyone that is more sour than I am about the opposite sex, it’s you. I can see it in your mannerisms and your tone. But I also didn’t miss how you reacted when I touched you the other night,” he whispered, leaning into her across the table. “I didn’t miss the way your hands wrapped around my neck or your hips involuntarily pressing into mine. The way your tongue was more aggressive, like you wanted to devour me rather than push me away.”

  Her face was flushing and he had her. He knew he did. She’d never deny it. “Not the point,” she said.

  “I think the point is, you’re very tempted by what I’m asking but are afraid to say yes.”

  “Why would I be afraid to say yes?” she asked, tilting her chin up.

  “Because that would be admitting you’re attracted to me and can be weak around a man. I’m giving you the opportunity to be weak in the bedroom and not worry about anything else. What could be so hard about that?”

  Ridiculous Suggestion

  Somehow Taylor managed to get through lunch with Reed after he’d made that ridiculous suggestion about being friends with benefits.

  He’d changed the subject before she could say no to him. He didn’t even kiss her before they left, which was a good thing because she was terrified she’d be weak like he said.

  And he’d left her alone for a few days to mull it over and wonder—would it be so bad to agree to it?

  The answer was no.

  She wasn’t going to lie to herself. She was lonely here. She didn’t have any friends. She didn’t even have a life. Her life was Angie and only Angie, then her job.

  The problem with that was, she didn’t work on the weekends and every other weekend Angie was with Jack and his family. That left her all alone with her thoughts.

  Before she moved here, she had friends and family, a job and Angie to occupy her thoughts and her time. It seemed she never had a spare moment to breathe let alone think.

  Here she had too much of it and some of those thoughts were about her sexy boss that was invading more than her dreams.

  She had to be losing her practical mind to even be considering this, but she’d thought that about his wingman suggestion and that turned out decent. Or she should say that was what caused this other situation to occur.

  “Mama,” Angie said, rubbing her eyes while she watched TV. It was almost bedtime.

  “What, sweetie?”

  “Can I watch another show?”

  “Not tonight, Angie. You’re tired and you know the rules. In bed by seven.”

  Her lower lip came out and she was preparing herself for a little temper tantrum. Taylor wasn’t in the mood. There were nights she just wanted to cry herself to sleep too. She had no one to turn to. No one to ask for help. Nothing.

  Her body was just pent up and coiled tight. Wouldn’t a release be helpful?

  Urgh! Was she really thinking of sex and orgasms to help her function better in her life? It has been proven to relax the body though, she argued with herself.

  Why was she so confused?!

  “Just one more,” Angie asked.

  Taylor sighed. “No. But I will let you watch an extra show on Friday night this week. Since you’re staying home with me this weekend, you can sleep in on Saturday. We can watch a movie Friday night. How does that sound?”

  “How many days away is that?” Angie asked.

  She was learning all sorts of things in daycare, but hadn’t figured out timeframes so much when it was more than an hour or two. “Just two days away.”

  “Daddy lets me stay up later than seven,” Angie argued.

  Her jaw hurt while she ground her teeth down. She’d known that. She knew that Jack made his own rule
s, or more like had none at all, which was why Angie came home on Sundays tired and cranky and it took days for Taylor to get them back to a routine.

  “You’re not at Daddy’s house right now. You’re with Mommy.”

  Tears were forming in Angie’s eyes and Taylor’s shoulders were starting to ache as much as her jaw. She was wound up tight and knew she’d have to take a hot shower after to try to relax her muscles or she’d never get any sleep.

  Single parenthood really bit the sour rotten apple and she didn’t see any sweet juicy ones in sight.

  “Can I play in the tub?” Angie asked. Her daughter knew ways to get what she wanted.

  “We can run the tub now to give you more time if that is what you want. But that means you’re done watching TV early.” She learned to stand her ground or her daughter walked all over her. She got that trait from her father unfortunately.

  “Okay,” Angie said, standing up and wiping her hand under her nose.

  Once Angie was tucked into bed, Taylor let Mutt out who’d been quietly lying on the floor for the past hour. Why couldn’t everyone be as well behaved as her dog? “Mutt, go guard Angie for me.” The dog went and lay down in front of Angie’s door and she knew he wouldn’t leave until she was out of the bathroom.

  She’d turned the hot water on in the single bathroom, removing all the toys from the tub and putting them in a basket in the closet. Stripped and tense, she stepped into the tub and pulled the curtain closed, letting the scalding water hit her back and shoulder blades.

  Her muscles weren’t relaxing like she desperately wanted them to. Instead they slumped over and she felt the tears form in her eyes. The only place she’d let them fall was here where no one would see them or know.

  After her run of sniffles was over, she grabbed the soap and started to lather it in her hands, then glided it over her sensitive body.

  Her nipples were hardened and begging for a touch more than she could give them. She was positive another part of her body was swollen right now too and was nervous about sliding her hand down there.

  Maybe Reed was right. What could it hurt? It sure the hell might make her feel better.

  Time to make a decision. Time to set some ground rules like he’d said.

  Time to feel like a woman again.

  ***

  Reed was just shutting the TV off in his room, hoping to get some sleep.

  It’d been two days since he’d talked to Taylor. He hadn’t even texted her since their lunch. In his eyes he left the ball in her court and if he even stepped a foot over the line, he was sure she’d call foul and end the game.

  His phone went off and he reached over to grab it to see who was bugging him at almost eleven at night.

  Yes.

  That was it. That was all it said. And it was from Taylor. The best way to respond would be to keep it simple so he typed back. Yes on my end too.

  She sent him back a smiley face and then there was radio silence. He shut his eyes and surprisingly fell right to sleep.

  The next morning, he was trying to figure out a way to go see her, or call her. Anything.

  “Reed?” Josh said to him on site.

  “Yeah.”

  “I just got a call from our supplier that there is a shortage of sheetrock and it might cost more to get it here earlier. Pretty much buying everything he’s got now to cover us.”

  “Shit,” Reed said. He hated when stuff like this happened, but it was part of the business. Sometimes it was easier to float the cash now and put the supplies in storage than run the risk a project could be put behind or cost the homeowners more.

  “I know. It sucks. They said they’ve got a lot now, but if we don’t put an order in for it, someone else will,” Josh said.

  “Why are they letting us know over someone else?” Reed asked.

  “Because they like me the best,” Josh said, grinning. Josh was always grinning and Reed just wondered what it would be like to be that happy again. Josh should be married with a couple of kids right now, but he was holding firm to bachelorhood too. Or as Josh always complained, “I can’t find a woman just like my mom.”

  “I’ll head over to the office now and see what we can get ordered and have someone make room in the warehouse for it. Keep an eye on everything here,” he’d said, enjoying the fact that Josh had just given him the reason he’d been looking for to seek Taylor out.

  It didn’t take him long to drive to the office. He was going over the speed limit more than normal and was glad there weren’t any police cars around to snag him.

  He hopped out of his truck, went in the front door, making his way down the hall where Taylor’s office was. She could tell him what the cost was before he talked to Wendy to place the order.

  He rounded the corner and then walked into Taylor’s office to see her head down and her hand moving a mile a minute over the number pad on her keyboard. She hadn’t missed a beat, she hadn’t looked up, she hadn’t even noticed he was there.

  And she was alone.

  “Where’s Wendy?” he asked.

  Taylor’s head snapped up fast. “She’s off today. How long have you been standing there?”

  “I just walked in,” he said. “Guess you’re engrossed in your work.”

  “I was. Something I can help you with?” she asked around a smirk.

  She was playing with him and he was enjoying every minute of it when he never had before from another woman.

  “Work related, yes. I need the cost of something and then I was going to have Wendy make a call and place an order for me. It has to be done today.”

  “I’m sure I can handle it if you let me know who to call and what to get.”

  “I’m positive you can handle anything thrown your way,” he said, sitting in the chair across from her.

  “Shoot then. Let’s get the work out of the way because I saw it in your eyes the minute you knew I was alone. Your purpose for the visit was changing rapidly in your mind.”

  She knew him better than he might feel comfortable with.

  Once the work part of the visit was out of the way, he said, “So, want me to shut the door?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “Okay, give me your rules. I know you’ve got them.” If his body was starting to respond to her sitting there with her light eyes dancing mischievously, he was telling the buddy in his pants to settle the hell down. There was a time and a place to grab her and now wasn’t it. She’d said yes, but she could easily say no and he’d walk away.

  “I don’t care where we spend time together, but it’s not going to be at my house.”

  He didn’t want to argue, but he’d never brought a woman to his house. Not once since Whitney died. That was going to be his rule but knew he couldn’t say that. The other choice was a hotel and that seemed kind of stupid.

  “You took the words out of my mouth,” he said.

  “You didn’t want to go to my house either?” she asked.

  “I’m used to going to the woman’s house. But this is different, so I can compromise.” That sounded reasonable to him or he was going to convince himself it was.

  “Maybe this won’t work,” she said much quicker than he thought.

  “Not a problem,” he assured her. “What other rules?” he asked. He was pretty much going to let her make them all. He wasn’t stupid. She’d run faster than a jackrabbit with hound dogs on her tail otherwise and he just wanted this way too much.

  “I need some notice. My time is limited after work.”

  He wanted to know why but felt it might not be smart to ask just yet. “That works. How much notice?”

  “I’ll let you know, but during the week is out of the question. At least after hours and, well, I work during the day. So that means weekends.”

  “Or your boss might give you an afternoon off now and again,” he said, grinning.

  “I’d have to run that by Jamie,” she said, winking at him.

  Jamie was her immediate supervisor. “Jamie r
eports to me, no worries.”

  “No one at work is to know,” she said firmly.

  “Works for me,” he agreed.

  “I’ve never done this before,” she said. “I don’t want to feel cheap and I’m struggling with that, if you want to know.”

  “I don’t want you to feel that way. We’re friends. We’ll go out and do things.” He’d never done that before with other women, but he kept reminding himself...this was different so he had to treat it that way.

  “Okay. Last rule. If either of us wants to call it quits, we can with no arguments and no hard feelings. I can’t risk my job, but I don’t think you’re the type of person that would make it difficult for me.”

  “No. I wouldn’t. I can promise you that.”

  She nodded her head. “So what are your rules?”

  “I don’t have any,” he said, laughing.

  “I’m not sure what to think of that, but I’ll just say if you think of any, then bring them up.”

  “Will do. So, when’s our first date?”

  “Thank you for saying it that way,” she said softly. Her head dipped down, almost embarrassed, and he felt a twist in his chest reminding him he might have to take this slower than he was planning.

  “It will be a date. I’m not as crude or crass to say when is the first time I get to slap your ass.”

  Her face flushed. “Maybe we need some other rules.”

  He burst out laughing. “Don’t worry. I’m not into whips, chains and the like.”

  “Good thing. Because that’s a deal breaker.”

  “So again, when’s our first date?” he asked.

  “Eager?” she asked.

  “Very. You?”

  “Possibly.” She was smiling at him. Not laughing now, but something more. Something more than wanting, something a little deeper. He was telling himself to not think about it. “I’ve got plans this weekend. Next Saturday would work for me.”

  “Then next Saturday works for me. Do you trust me to plan the date or would you like input?”

  “I trust you,” she said.

  And it was the first time any woman said that to him...ever!

  What Are You Wearing