I barely slept that night.
When I arrived at work on Tuesday, Reid’s door was open, but he wasn’t at his desk. When I casually asked Sandy, she told me there was a problem in the server room and he’d been in there all morning. I didn’t hear his voice all day.
For the first time since I arrived, my computer appeared to be in perfect working order. Not a glitch in sight.
Wednesday, out of desperation, I jammed the printer and deleted a file I needed on purpose. Picking up the phone, I called Reid.
“Becca,” he answered in a flat voice. “What can I do for you?”
I ignored his bland greeting. “Reid, I’ve lost a file. I can’t find it anywhere. I was wondering if you could help me.”
“Send me the name, and I’ll look in the system and find it. You probably put it in the wrong drive.”
“No, wait!” I gasped, knowing he was going to hang up.
“Yes?”
“My printer isn’t working.”
I heard his low sigh. “Fine, I’ll be in shortly.”
Typically, he appeared right away. This time, I waited almost thirty minutes until he walked into my office, looking as if he would rather be anywhere else.
“You didn’t send me the file name.”
“Hello to you too, Reid. I hope the rest of your weekend went well?”
He looked shocked. “Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.”
“I see. So that’s your excuse for being rude?”
“I’m not being rude. I’m busy.”
I crossed my arms. “I’ve been here for weeks. Every day, you say hello. Every Monday you sit beside me at the staff meeting. Every day you talk to me, even if it is all about BAM. This weekend, you kiss me, and now you can’t say hello or come close? Did I do that bad a job on your hair I deserve the silent treatment? Or am I that bad a kisser?”
He gawked, his mouth hanging open. He shook his head wildly. “No.”
“No to what? The hair or the kiss?”
He sat down, defeated. Bending forward, his hands clutched between his knees, he lowered his head.
I waited, resisting the urge to drum my fingers on my desk.
Finally, he lifted his head.
“My hair looks great. Even Bentley told me it was an improvement. Usually, he only says something when he hates it. So for the cut, I’m grateful.”
“And?” I prompted.
He glanced behind me, not meeting my eyes. “Kissing you was the best thing that’s happened to me in a very long time. But it can’t happen again. I think we need to be friends.”
I held my temper and resisted telling him I didn’t appreciate him making the decision for both of us. “I thought we were friends.”
He smiled, but it seemed strained. His eyes looked tormented. “We are, and in order to stay that way, we need to be only friends.”
I had to stop myself from reaching out to him. “Whatever I said to upset you, I’m sorry.”
“You said nothing. I realized, though, that if we attempt anything else and it doesn’t work, it would be too uncomfortable for us working in the same office. So before we make that mistake, we have to stop.” He blew out a big breath. “Friends.”
I studied him, wondering if he knew what a shitty liar he was. One of his hands clenched and unclenched. The other tugged on the hem of his hoodie. His gaze was everywhere but on me. He gnawed at the inside of his mouth. He played with his hair. His tells screamed much louder than his words. He wanted to be only friends no more than I did. But I smiled at him and tilted my chin.
“If that works better for you, I understand.”
Disappointment and devastation crossed his face before he schooled his features. “Thank you for understanding.”
“That’s what friends do.”
He held out his hand. “I’ll look for that file for you.”
I waved him off. “I found it just before you came in.”
“The printer?”
“The cable was loose. I don’t need you anymore. It’s fine.”
His shoulders sagged, and he turned to leave.
He paused at the door, but I kept my head down. It wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
After he left, I shut my door and called Katy, Richard’s wife. She was my closest friend in BC, and I needed her advice.
After hearing about Gracie and Heather’s latest news, and how much Richard missed me in the office and she missed me in general, Katy cleared her throat.
“Okay, kiddo—what’s up? I can tell something is wrong. If you hate it there, say the word and Richard will have you back here in a second.”
“No, I like it here, it’s just . . .”
“Just?” she prompted.
I told her about Reid. Our little dance in the office. Kissing on the sofa and his sudden retreat. His odd behavior all week.
“I think I talked too much about my dad. I didn’t think about how it would make him feel since he doesn’t have parents.”
“I think there is more to it than talking about your dad. I think you hit a nerve, but I don’t know him, so what it was, I can’t say.”
“I was wondering about talking to Aiden for advice. Reid is close to him.”
She laughed. “Who would you talk to if you were here and needed some advice in the office? Who would know more than anyone?”
I answered without hesitation. “Laura.” She was Graham’s wife and his partner at The Gavin Group. She knew everything that went on in that office.
“Exactly. I think you need to talk to Sandy. From what Richard has said, she runs them all, the same way Laura does. She’s the eyes and ears of the place. She would have more insight than anyone.”
“Good advice.”
I heard the telltale cry of a baby in the background.
“I have to go. Heather woke up, and that means my twenty-minute reprieve from both of them is over. Once the baby wakes up, Gracie is done with her nap.” She sighed, but I knew she wouldn’t trade it for anything. “Just like her father. Opens her eyes, and she’s raring to go.”
I chuckled. “Kiss them both for me.”
“I will. Let me know how it goes.”
“You’ll be the first one.”
Thursday, I brought in cookies—oatmeal raisin. I left some in the lunchroom, then sought out Sandy. She was in the boardroom, preparing it for a meeting with the partners. I handed her the small container. “For you.”
She peered inside with a delighted smile. “Oh, my favorite! Thank you.”
“I was thinking of going to Remi’s for lunch. Any chance you’d like to join me?”
“As if I would turn down lunch at Remi’s—what time?”
“One?”
“Excellent.”
I appeared by her desk five minutes early and swallowed to clear my dry throat when I saw Reid there. He looked tired and despondent, talking quietly to Sandy. I straightened my shoulders.
“Hey, Sandy, are you ready?”
She stood, gathering her purse.
“Hi, Becca,” Reid mumbled.
I smiled brightly. “Hey, Reid. All okay with the server room?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“I heard there were cookies today.”
“Yep. Oatmeal raisin.”
“I didn’t get one before they were all gone.”
Sandy looked between us, ducking her head. “Becca brought me my own container. Wasn’t that kind?”
“I usually get one too,” Reid muttered.
I laughed, hooking arms with Sandy. “I didn’t know if you liked oatmeal raisin. You’ll have to be quicker next time. Or, you know, tell me what you’re thinking.”
We headed to the elevator, Reid staring after us.
Once we were inside, Sandy pressed the button.
“Well, this should be interesting.”
* * *
Sandy listened to me talk, not saying anything until I was done. She finished her chick
en piccata, laying down her fork and knife and patting her lips with her napkin.
“So, Reid spent the day, kissed you, you cut his hair, you two talked about your pasts, and he walked out?”
I pushed my eggplant parmesan around my plate, my appetite nonexistent. “Yes.”
“Well, you did a good job on his hair. He looks tidy for a change.”
I half smiled and set down my fork. “I think I upset him talking about my dad. It was insensitive of me to talk about how close we were when Reid has no family.”
She raised her eyebrows. “He told you that?”
“Yes.”
“What else did he tell you?”
“Not much. I think his past makes him uncomfortable.”
She pursed her lips and sipped her mineral water. “Tell me exactly what you said.”
I repeated the conversation as best I could remember.
Sandy nodded her head. “It’s not that you’re close with your father. It’s your father’s advice.”
I grimaced. “Not to let men take advantage?”
Sandy sighed and patted my hand. “You are a lovely girl, Becca. Incredibly intelligent. I think you’d make a good match for my Reid. That boy is lost and needs someone to ground him.”
“Thank you . . . ?” I had a feeling she had more to say.
“But as intelligent as you are, you’re missing the big picture.”
“Which is?”
“I cannot betray Reid’s confidence, but I will say this—think about what your father said to you. Carefully.”
I mulled over the words, my eyes growing round.
“Reid. Oh my God, is he a recovering alcoholic?”
She shook her head imperceptibly.
“It’s not drugs. I’ve heard his views on drugs.”
Her head barely moved.
My mouth formed an O.
“Reid’s been in jail?”
“You would have to ask him that question.” She bent close, tapping the table. “And if you choose to ask him, I expect you to have already decided to listen to what he has to say and realize people move on from their mistakes. If not, I suggest you do exactly what Reid has requested and remain friends.”
My heart beat hard in my chest. I thought of Reid. How he treated everyone around him, including me. With respect and kindness. The pain on his face the past week. How much I missed talking to him. The way I felt when he kissed me. How incredibly sad I would be if that never happened again.
I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea Reid had been to prison. Whatever had landed him in jail must have been huge. Sandy was right, though. He had moved on. His coworkers at BAM clearly liked him and held him in high regard. Obviously, the partners knew his story. I needed to show him enough trust to confide in me as well.
I lifted my chin. “I can listen.”
“Good. I thought you would.”
“I like him,” I admitted. “A lot. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Then don’t. It’s simple. If he chooses to tell you his story, and you can’t accept it, walk away. If you opt to stay with him, know you will have to support him fully.” She raised her eyebrows. “Even against your father. You decide how much this affects you. Nobody else.”
She was right.
I squeezed her hand. “Thanks, Sandy.”
“Don’t make me regret being so gossipy.”
I laughed. She’d scarcely said a word, instead allowing me to work it out myself.
“I won’t.”
“You need to make sure Reid comes to your place Saturday.”
“You think he might not?”
She exhaled, her expression sad. “Regardless of what Reid tells you, I will say this; he is vulnerable in ways my other boys are not. His life experience is limited. You need to remember that. If he is feeling at risk, he might send someone else.”
“Shit.”
She crossed her legs and signaled for the check. “You’re a smart young lady. I’m sure you can ensure it’s Reid who shows up for the install.” She pushed my hand out of the way when I reached for the bill.
“Ensure it?”
“He’s a bit dense, but he is a man.” She winked. “All men are territorial. Even dense ones.”
“Ah.”
She snapped the billfold closed and stood. “See? I knew you were intelligent.”
Laughing, I followed her out of the restaurant.
* * *
I made more cookies on Friday and dropped by the IT department, making sure they got some. I chatted with Craig and Dean longer than necessary, feeling Reid’s eyes on me as he worked on something in the server room. Later that afternoon, I locked myself out of my computer on purpose and called Reid for help.
He was still uneasy and quiet as he worked, resetting my password. He pushed my laptop toward me. “You’ve never had problems remembering your passwords before now, Becca.”
I shrugged. “I changed some earlier as per your protocols. I guess I forgot to write this one down.”
“Okay. It’s all set.” He stood and strode toward the door.
“Oh, Reid.”
He turned at the door, not speaking, his face showing his emotions despite his attempts otherwise.
“You haven’t mentioned it, but do you still plan to come by tomorrow, or will you send one of the other techs to do the install? Craig is great, if that works better for you. He makes me laugh.”
I knew he had seen me talking with Craig earlier. Reid’s hand tightened on the doorframe, and his voice was dark. “No. I said I’d do it. I’ll be there.”
I shrugged, acting nonchalant. “Whatever.”
He looked furious. “Craig doesn’t have the experience. It’s my system. My responsibility. I’ll be there.”
I knew very well that Craig had done some installs. I looked down to hide my grin. “Okay.”
“Ten?”
“Actually, I have plans for later, so can you come at nine thirty?”
“Sure.” He paused. “Are you sure tomorrow still works?”
“Sure. You said it wouldn’t take long. It’s good.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
He left in a huff, and I covered my mouth as I chuckled.
Sandy was right. Even the dense ones were territorial.
Reid
I tossed my phone on my desk with a low growl and threw myself into my chair so hard it slammed into the wall.
I wanted to scream. Throw something hard. Storm back into Becca’s office and drag her from her chair, then kiss her the way I wanted to on Saturday. Hard, without restraint. Tell her I didn’t care what her father told her. That he was wrong.
Convict or not, I was the right person for her.
Craig makes me laugh.
Not fucking happening.
I dropped my head into my hands.
I fucking made her laugh too. I wanted to be the only one who made her laugh the way she did when she was with me. I wanted to be the only one she did a lot of things with outside of work.
There was no way in hell I was sending Craig to her apartment. No one was going near her on the weekend except me.
I lifted my head, glancing around my office, desperate for something, anything, to take my mind off Becca and her words.
For the first time in my life since I had discovered computers, nothing distracted me.
With a low curse, I pushed off my chair, grabbed some workout gear, and headed down the hall to Aiden’s office. He looked up as I walked in.
“Feel like sparring?”
He studied me briefly, then stood. “You’re on, kid.”
“I’m so taking you down, old man.”
He chuckled, reaching for his bag. “Oh, it’s like that, is it?”
“Exactly like that.”
“Then let’s go.”
* * *
Aiden shook his head, a smirk on his face. “Come on, kid. Where’s all your smack talk now?”
; I groaned, sweat running down my neck. My shirt was damp, and I had to wipe my forehead repeatedly. He was kicking my ass, barely breaking a sweat, and enjoying himself.
“You are such an ass,” I huffed.
“And you need to talk. What the hell is going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
In a second, he had my legs swept out and my body pinned to the floor. He grinned down at me. “We can keep going and I will work your ass until you collapse, or you can talk. Your choice. You’ve been sulking all week, Reid. Man up and get it off your chest.”
“I haven’t been sulking.”
He lifted one eyebrow, still holding me on the mat.
I pushed on his hold and rolled away, flipping him off.
He stood and grabbed a couple of waters, tossing me a bottle. “Talk.”
I gave in and told him everything that happened on the weekend. Including what Becca said about her father and his thoughts on convicts.
Aiden drained his water and shrugged his shoulders. “Good advice to his daughter. But you’re missing the point here, Reid.”
“Which point? Where Becca doesn’t like cons, or the fact that I am one?”
“The fact that, while her father is correct, you aren’t the usual leopard, Reid, so your spots can change . . . You haven’t made crime your career, which is what many of them do. You did something incredibly stupid, but you learned your lesson.”
He crossed his legs with ease, his arms wrapped around his knees. “I mean, it’s hardly a shock that a cop would warn his kid about dating anyone with a shady past—drugs, alcohol, or jail time. But Becca isn’t a kid anymore, and you’re not a convict.”
I didn’t say anything.
“You need to talk to her. Be honest, and go from there.”
I grunted, staring at my worn sneakers. I picked at the loose trim, thinking I needed to buy a new pair.
“So what got you all riled up and needing a beatdown?”
“She told me I could send Craig tomorrow to do the install—as if I’d send that fucker to her place.”
He laughed, falling back on the mat.
I glared at him. “Glad I amuse you.”
He sat up and wiped his eyes. “Not you, kid. Becca. She’s good.”
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 6
