I caressed her hip. “Nope. Keep it up, BB. I’ll pay you back one day.”
She winked. “I’m looking forward to it.”
We stopped to listen to a street musician playing his violin on the corner. His bow flashed as he wrung out notes I didn’t know a violin could play—he was wickedly talented. I finished the last of my ice cream, then polished off Becca’s. As the music continued, I stood behind her, linking my arms around her waist, tugging her close. I rested my chin on her head, letting the spirited music drift over me. Becca’s fingers tapped out the beat on my arm, and I tightened my grip. It felt right standing with her, and I enjoyed the feel of her warmth. After the music faded, I reached into my pocket and tossed a couple of bills into his open violin case.
“Awesome, man.”
He grinned. “Thanks.”
We strolled away, getting closer to Becca’s place. At the corner where the coffee shop and corner store were located, the old woman was outside, fussing with her buckets, lifting them to carry inside for the night. I hurried forward, lifted the last two buckets, and followed her inside.
She beamed at me, her face a crisscross of wrinkles, like that of a well-worn map, a lifetime of smiles etched into her skin.
“Your girl?” she asked, tilting her head to the door.
I glanced at Becca who was watching, curious. She had a small smile on her face, observing me talking to the flower lady.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “My girl.”
She bent and searched the buckets with fingers knotted with arthritis, pulling out a rose in a deep red. The petals were full and lush, a perfect specimen of the flower.
“You give. One is romantic.”
“She will love it.”
In an odd gesture, she reached up and patted my face. “I think you good boy. You deserve.”
“Can I help you with anything else?”
“No. Flowers are inside. I close now.”
I stepped outside, hearing the door lock in place behind me. I handed Becca the rose. Delight spread across her face, and she burrowed her nose in the blossom, inhaling deeply.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She stepped closer, gazing up at me. “For someone who claims he has little experience, you are very good at this dating thing.”
“Yeah?”
She slid her arm around my waist, tipping up her head. “Yeah.”
“I think it might have something to do with the person I’m with,” I replied. “You make it easy, Becca.” I ran my fingers down her cheek. “It’s all you, BB.”
She pressed her mouth to mine.
“I’m good with that.”
I was as well.
Reid
It was difficult to leave Becca. But I knew if I stayed, things were going to progress and fast. She was right when she said there was no rush, but still, being alone in her apartment and close to her was too much of a temptation.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I asked and picked up my bag, stalling for a few more minutes of her company.
“Laundry, some grocery shopping. Then I’m meeting Cami and Emmy for coffee in the afternoon. They’re going to show me a couple of places to shop.” She smiled. “You?”
“A few errands and I’ll probably go into the office.” I lifted the bag to my shoulder with a shrug. “I have lots of stuff I can work on, and I wasn’t there today. In fact, I’ll probably do some work when I go home. I like to work at night.”
“You work a lot. Do you go in every weekend?”
“Typically. I’m a night owl. I don’t need much sleep.”
“Usually, I go to bed early. I need a good eight hours. I always have.” She chuckled. “I think I was the most boring student at university. Everyone was partying or up late watching TV, and I was asleep.”
“I don’t think you could ever be boring.”
“I’ll remind you of that when you’re playing video games to keep yourself entertained while I nap.”
I didn’t know how to tell her that idea pleased me. With her curled up next to me as I played games or worked on code. I liked the idea, a lot.
“Sounds good.” I flashed her a grin.
“I don’t want to keep you from your work, Reid.”
“Don’t worry about it. One reason I worked so much was that I had nothing else to occupy my time. I’m sort of hoping that’s changed.”
“It has, but I don’t want you to fall behind.”
I laughed. “That won’t happen. Plus, Aiden and Maddox will be thrilled. They’ve been telling me to get out and live.”
Her brow furrowed. “What, ah, what are we going to do about the office?”
“Whatever you’re comfortable with. I know you’re a private person, Becca. I won’t embarrass you at work.”
She captured my hand. “You could never embarrass me. But I think we need to keep our relationship between us. At least for a while.”
“So, you don’t want me to say anything to the guys?” I asked, brushing my hair off my forehead. “They know me pretty well and have been sort of helping to push me in your direction. I don’t think I can lie that well.”
“No, I know they’re your friends and you confide in them. I meant no PDA in the office or preferential treatment.”
“Too late. They already told me they know you’re my priority at work. They tease me about it all the time.”
She chuckled. “Okay, then. Maybe watch you don’t go overboard.” She bit her lip. “Maybe no, ah, really personal stories?”
I had to laugh at her request. “I won’t say or do anything to humiliate you or us.” I lifted one eyebrow, teasing. “At least, I’ll try. Aiden says I am the king of overshare.” At her look of worry, I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “My relationship with them isn’t conventional, Becca. They’re my bosses, but also my friends. The closest thing to family I have. I do promise anything I tell them is between us, and I can be discreet when it comes to you.” I sighed heavily, my breath moving the tendrils of hair that fell over her brow. “You mean too much for me to be flippant or careless with our relationship. Trust me when I say that.”
She grinned. “I do. No doubt Cami and Emmy will pump me for information about you, and they’ll share with Aiden and Bentley.”
I laughed. “Bentley won’t comment, but Aiden will. And he’ll fill in Maddox. They’ll probably be in my office waiting to pounce on Monday wanting deets.”
“This is unconventional.”
I looked down at her. “Is it too much?”
She studied me, then cupped my cheek. “No, Reid. Not too much. We’ll figure it out, together.”
I liked that word.
“Yeah.” I grinned. “Together.”
* * *
When I was in prison, time had no meaning. My days were an endless loop of repetition. Wake up, eat, study, read, eat, do assigned chores, eat, study more, sleep. I didn’t think, I didn’t plan, and I didn’t hope.
When I became part of BAM, some things changed, while others remained the same. My life was still on a loop, but it was one that I chose. I slept and worked, but the additions of Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox gave my life meaning. The work I did mattered. I mattered. Still, time had no meaning. The days flowed into each other, time flying by as the days and nights blended.
Until Becca came along. Time took on a completely new relevance.
Normally, a Sunday flew by like every other day—filled with computers, words, codes, and graphics. Monday would arrive, another workweek ahead, broken up by moments of laughter and friendship.
However, this Sunday dragged. I couldn’t concentrate on work. I prowled my small apartment, then headed to the office, hoping for distraction. It never came. Instead, all I did was think of Becca. How her mouth felt on mine. The way her body fit to me when we were close. The way she listened to my every word. Her tears because she felt my pain. Her laughter because I made her happy.
Everything about her.
; I tried to resist contacting her. I told myself to chill and be cool. I would see her in the morning. It was not a big deal. But my mind kept wandering. Finally, I gave up, deciding I wasn’t at all cool, and Becca was well aware of that fact.
I dialed her number, smiling at her breathless greeting. From the sounds behind her, I knew she was outside. I wished I were with her.
“Reid, is that you?” She giggled. “It’s your number, so it has to be—hi!”
I relaxed, hearing her enthusiasm. “Hey, BB.”
“Everything okay?”
I reclined in my chair, tucked my phone between my shoulder and ear, and stretched my arms upward, shutting my eyes. “It is now.”
“Now? It wasn’t before?”
“I wanted to hear your voice, and I didn’t know if I would look needy calling you, so I tried to resist.” I sighed with a laugh. “But I’m not cool, and I decided you already knew that, so I’m calling to say hello and see how your day is going. Make sure you’re okay.”
There was a muffled sound, and the noise in the background dimmed. Her voice was soft. “You wanted to hear my voice?”
“Yeah.”
“And check on me?”
“Yeah,” I repeated. “I’m lame, I guess.”
“No,” she murmured. “You are anything but lame. I think you’re wonderful.”
I grinned so wide, my eyes shut again. “Yeah?”
Apparently, I could only say one specific word to her right now.
“Yeah,” she responded. “To answer your question, my day is good. Not as good as yesterday, but still nice.”
I sat straighter, holding the phone close to my mouth. “Yesterday was better?”
“Yesterday was awesome,” she breathed out.
“Even the part where I tried to give you a concussion with your stripper pole, and then screwed you in the totally wrong manner on the floor?”
“Ahem.”
My eyes flew open, meeting Aiden’s amused gaze. He was standing in the doorway, his arms folded over his massive chest. I felt the heat of my embarrassment stain my cheeks.
Becca giggled, bringing my attention back to the phone. “Well, part of that was good. But what happened after was even better.”
“I agree.”
“Are you okay?” she asked. “Are you at the office?”
“Yes, I am. Aiden just arrived in my office, in fact.”
“Oh.” Her breath hitched. “Just now?”
“A few minutes ago, I think.”
“Oh. Oh.”
I was back to my one-word answers. “Yeah.”
She laughed. “Well, I’ll let you go explain that to him. I’ll join Cami and Emmy. Would you-would you call me later?”
“If it’s okay.”
“Reid, you can call me anytime. I like to hear your voice too, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Have fun.”
I hung up as Aiden walked in and flung himself into the chair across from my desk. He leaned back, crossed his arms behind his head, and stared at me.
“Mission accomplished?”
“Which one?”
“Project B?”
I smirked—you’d think we were planning a strategic mission. “Stage one is complete.”
“Sounded to me like it went further than that from where I was standing.”
Knowing it was Aiden, and he’d find out from Cami anyway, I told him. I gave him the short version, but it was enough to send him into gales of laughter. I described vaulting over the counter and what happened after I grabbed Becca. He leaned forward, his shoulders shaking as he guffawed. My lips twitched and I had to laugh. Listening to myself as I retold it, I also found it amusing.
I slouched in my chair with a sigh. “It worked out. We talked and cleared the air. I told her my story.”
He frowned. “All of it?”
“Yes. I told her my history. What I did, why, and the consequences. She knows I was in jail and how I came to work here.”
“She’s okay with it?”
“As okay as she can be. I’m not sure her father will agree. He sounds like a black-and-white sort of guy. I was in jail, therefore I’m bad news.” I rubbed my face. “But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Meanwhile, I get Becca in my life. I’ll worry about him later.”
“So, she’s your girlfriend now?”
I grinned. “Yeah, she is.”
He held up his hand for a high five. “Finally.”
* * *
I was in the server room on Monday morning when Becca arrived at work. I heard her voice as I made my way down the hall. She was speaking to Sandy, laughing at something she said. I rounded the corner in anticipation of seeing her and stopped cold. She wasn’t alone at Sandy’s desk. Colin, Sandy’s grandson, was there, leaning on the tall granite counter that surrounded Sandy. He was smiling and chuckling at whatever Becca was telling him. He stood too close to her, and I didn’t like the intent expression on his face as he talked to her. I watched as he scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to Becca. My hands became fists, and I had to take a couple of deep, calming breaths as I approached the desk.
“Morning.”
Three sets of eyes shifted to me. I only cared about one, and the intensity of Becca’s bright blue gaze made me smile.
“Hi,” she breathed out.
I smiled back, but that was all I could do, once again tongue-tied when it came to her.
“Hey, Reid,” Colin greeted me, extending his hand. “Just the man I need to see.”
I tore my gaze from Becca’s and shook his hand. “Oh?”
“Could I see you in private?”
“Sure.”
He pushed off the counter, stopping to kiss Sandy. “Later, Nan.”
“Behave.”
“Always.”
She snorted. “Right. Come to dinner on the weekend.”
“I will.”
He smiled at Becca. “Great to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.”
She smiled in return. “You too.”
“Be sure to use the number I gave you.”
“I will.”
I headed to my office, muttering under my breath. The only place he was going to be seeing Becca was beside me. He could stop smiling at her that way and giving her his number. She wasn’t available.
In my office, I tossed my phone on my desk and sat down. Colin followed at a leisurely pace, sitting down and crossing his legs. I studied him with narrowed eyes. He was good-looking and confident. Sandy was proud of him and all he had accomplished. He was an ER doctor, and until this very moment, I had always liked him. Now, he was annoying the hell out of me by simply breathing. Because he was breathing the same air as Becca and I didn’t like the way he looked at her.
She was mine.
“What’s got you all hot and bothered?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
He chuckled. “Right.” He relaxed in the chair. “Becca is a pretty girl. Nan is very fond of her.”
“She won’t be using the number you gave her.”
One eyebrow rose. “Oh? And you know this because . . . ?”
“She isn’t available,” I spat.
His head fell back, and he laughed. “Nan didn’t say it was you.”
“What are you talking about? Something amusing you?”
“You are, Reid. You need to chill, my man.” He chuckled again. “I wasn’t giving her my number. Becca asked me if I knew of any doctors accepting patients. I gave her my girlfriend’s number since she is about to open her own GP practice and will be accepting new patients.” He snorted. “I never thought of you as the jealous type. I only said she was pretty.”
“I’m plenty chill,” I retorted, his explanation taking the wind out of my sails. “She is pretty,” I added.
“Nan mentioned in general conversation that she thought Becca was seeing someone. I know who that someone is now.”
I shifted in my chair. “We’re sort of new
.”
“Good for you, man.”
“Sorry about the misunderstanding.”
He shook his head. “I get it. No worries. But given the way she was looking at you, the girl isn’t interested in anyone’s number but yours.”
I grinned, my humor restored. I had always liked Colin.
“Good to know. Now, what’s up?”
His expression changed to serious. “A case came in last night. Third time she’s been in the ER in six months.”
“Domestic violence?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “She talked—finally—and wants out, but she has nowhere to go and no money to try. We kept her in. She had her daughter with her, and the cops arrested her husband.” He met my eyes. “I don’t think she’ll survive a fourth visit.”
“I’ll make the arrangements. The fund will set her up.”
Colin knew about my underground fund. With my permission, Sandy had told him. On occasion, he brought a case to me, and I let the people I trusted help them. The woman and her child would find a safe haven with a shelter and financial help to start a new life.
“Can she leave the hospital today?”
“Yeah, she’s okay to leave, but I told her we had to keep her another night in case you could help.”
“She wants this?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll make the arrangements, and they’ll take her in today.”
He slid a piece of paper my way. “That’s her info. The head nurse knows.”
“Okay.” That was how it worked. Colin needed someone he trusted to make sure the right people got to the woman before her husband did. She would disappear along with her child and be safe before he got out of jail. My people would help her get free.
He stood. “I’ll go back to the hospital and tell her.” He shook my hand. “Thanks, Reid.” He stopped at my doorway. “Remember what I said. Chill. You have nothing to worry about.”
I waved him off. “Yeah. Thanks.”
I heard his chuckles all the way down the hall.
Reaching into my drawer, I pulled out my personal computer. It was time to do some good.
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 10
