by Lynn Burke
I relaxed back into the couch, allowing my muscles to go lax. The apartment around us sparkled and smelled like citrus from my weekly cleaning. All I had left to do was to put Skye down and finally shower the stench off my own body. Then a glass of wine or two—
Someone knocked on the door, and I frowned. I hadn’t buzzed anyone in. Must be one of the neighbors, I thought while sliding from beneath Skye. “Mommy be right back.”
I made my way into the kitchen and pulled open the door.
Reid.
My breath left in a rush as heat swept over my skin.
“Hi,” he said, eyes twinkling.
God, that smile … those eyes. I tightened my grip on the door knob as his woodsy cologne assaulted my senses. “How did you get in here without the key code?”
“Waited for a neighbor to get home from wherever the hell it was they’d gone.”
The knowledge of him slipping into our secure building made me feel … insecure. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you.”
“Why?”
He stared at me, his smile fading. “I can’t get you out of my mind.”
“Sounds like a song lyric,” I said, peering up at him, unsure of how to feel.
“Can I come in?”
“I can’t afford you.”
His brow drew down. “I’m here as plain old me, Jessica, not Elite’s man whore extraordinaire.”
Extraordinaire indeed. “I considered calling, you know,” I said, keeping my firm stance in the doorway.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I can’t get involved with anyone—even just for a good time. My focus is Skye”—Reid glanced over my shoulder toward the living room where a new tune blared—“and I refuse to take a chance with falling for someone only to have my heart broken again.”
His dark eyes focused on me. “You’re too young, too beautiful and sweet to be alone. I’ve never met someone so easy to talk to, so comfortable to just be with.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek as temptation tugged on my heart strings and the moisture-makers inside my vagina walls.
“You deserve more, Jessica Lindy.”
Staring up into his twinkling dark eyes sure as hell didn’t help the rational side of my brain. The need for more, the desire to experience what he’d given me the weekend before loosened my grip on the door handle.
“Mah!” Skye called from the living room.
“I-I can’t do this.”
“Jessica, wait.” Reid put his palm on the door to keep me from closing it in his face. “Please.”
“I can’t.”
We stared at each other in silence while my heartbeat pulsed in my ears.
Reid took a step back and shoved his hands in his pockets, never once taking his gaze off of my eyes.
Inner lip between my teeth, I shut the door and leaned against it, tears stinging my eyes. Reid Sullivan was all that and then some, but I couldn’t trust again enough to take a chance.
Chapter Eleven
Reid
“Goddamn mother-fucking piece of shit!” I tossed my jammed nail gun aside.
“The fuck is your problem?” Blake asked, sunlight glinting off his shades as he turned toward me, two-by-four in hand.
“Goddamn piece of shit,” I said again while motioning toward the gun with my chin.
Blake chuckled while I grabbed my cold Dunks and guzzled down the last of my morning’s coffee. “Jessica, huh?”
I shook my head, pissed that I couldn’t get past her. “Can’t fucking get it up because of her. Had to cancel with EE’s clients twice last weekend.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah.” I threw my empty Dunks cup toward a barrel and grabbed the nail gun again. Took me a few seconds, but I pried the jammed nail lose and turned back to take the stud from Blake.
“So what are you going to do about it?” he asked.
I banged a few nails into place and held out my hand for another two-by-four. “Nothing I can do about it.”
“Hound the shit outta her until she gives in like I did with Wren.”
“My situation is a little more complicated.”
“Because of the kid?”
“And the fact that Jessica’s ex hurt her to the point where she doesn’t trust anyone.”
“Sucks for you.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.”
“I proposed to Wren.”
The nail gun slipped from my hand and bounced off the plywood floor. I turned to face him. “What?”
He gave me a sheepish grin. “We’re getting married this September.”
“No shit.”
“Yep.”
I couldn’t help my own grin while pulling him into a back-slapping man-hug. “Congrats, Harper.”
“Thanks.” We stepped apart, still grinning like a couple of fools. “If you think Jessica is worth the effort,” Blake said, grabbing another two-by-four, “don’t give up. Find ways to let her know you’re thinking about her—that you care. Maybe you’ll get lucky in love for a change like I did.”
****
“Gemberling Insurance,” a soft, feminine voice said. “How may I direct your call?”
“Is Christine available?” I asked, grabbing my cooler out of my truck.
“One moment, please.”
I wasn’t sure how to approach the coming conversation. Christine knew who I was—remembered me from high school—or so Jessica had told me over dinner, but could she be schmoozed into giving me what I wanted?
“This is Christine.”
I recognized the smooth, sexy voice from years past, but her tone didn’t do anything to my limp dick. “Hey, Chris. This is Reid Sullivan.”
“How can I help you, Mr. Sull—” She coughed. “Wait. Sully?”
“One and the same,” I said, grimacing at my childhood nickname.
She chuckled into the phone. “How the hell are ya?”
Fuck it, I thought. Might as well give it to her straight. “I’m not sleeping worth a shit, and it’s all your fault.”
More laughter. “How’s that?”
“I met your little friend, and now I can’t think about anything else.” I sat on my tailgate and propped open my lunchbox lid. “She tell you I showed up at her place last weekend?”
“She also said she shut the door in your face.”
I grabbed my ham sandwich. “Do I have any chance at all?”
Silence met my ear for a few seconds. “Well,” Christine finally said, her voice muffled. “Jessica has been day dreaming between calls and customers. I’m pretty sure she’s as equally enamored with you.”
Something like hope woke inside of me as I stared at the sandwich in my hand. “Really?”
“Pretty sure, yeah.”
“What’ll it take for you to give me her number?”
“Hmm.” I swear I could hear the gears turning in her brain. “How well do you know your co-worker Jarod?”
Some things and people never change, I thought with a grin. “Not good enough to get him into your bed for free, but I’ll gladly pay for an evening of his time if that’s what you’re hoping for.”
“God, yes.”
Time for me to chuckle. “So no one has gotten you shackled to a ball and chain yet, huh?”
“Hell, no. Too many flavors to choose from and not enough time to sample them all.”
Yep. Christine Gemberling hadn’t changed one bit since high school. “So, for one night with Jarod, I get Jessica’s number.”
“Serve up that pretty boy on a hot platter, and I’ll pretty much do whatever the hell you want, Sully. Hurt Jessica, though, and I’ll rip your testicles out through your throat.”
My knees inadvertently pressed together. “Still a tough bitch, I see.”
“Tough enough to inflict serious damage if you screw this up.”
I sobered, my mind filled with Jessica and the knowledge I couldn’t promise to not hurt her in the long run. “I’m going to try like he
ll not to.”
Chapter Twelve
Jessica
On the weekends, I might get a dinging notification of a text or two, but during the week? Hardly ever. I finished up a call for a quote, hopeful they’d be in the following day as they’d said, and pulled off my headset.
I grabbed my purse from beneath my desk and tapped the screen. I didn’t recognize the number but didn’t need to.
R: I had a dream about haunted eyes last night
Tingles of warmth swept through me, and I smiled. A quick glance up revealed no one watching so I quickly turned my phone’s volume to silent and replied.
J: How did u get my #
R: Easy enough to do when u know where to look
The pleasant buoyancy of my mood flattened, and my smile faded. I’d kept my cell number private out of fear Devon would get ahold of it
J: Seriously, how did u get my #? I keep a tight hold on personal info because of Devon
R: I bribed a little birdie into telling me
The only person we both knew … Christine. I shot a glare behind me. She chatted into her headset, oblivious.
J: My only friend betrayed me
R: I’d like to think WE r friends
Friends. With a man whore extraordinaire. He was easy to talk to.
J: U did say u were the kind of person that was good to have in a back pocket
R: So u kept my card
Warmth heated my face. I kept the damn thing on my bed stand, a nightly reminder of the best night of my life. Not that I’d tell Reid that.
J: It’s stuffed in my purse somewhere
R: Well, I won’t keep u from work. Just was thinking about u and wanted u to know
My fingers flew in response before I gave my reply a second thought.
J: What was the dream about?
It took a few for his next text to come through.
R: I sat in the front row of an auditorium and listed to a whiskey-colored-eyed woman give a lecture on parenting
I sat back in my chair and stared at his words. Not what I expected at all. I had no clue how to reply, and he sent another before my brain moved.
R: I was crushing on your passion for being a mom
My smile returned.
J: I don’t think I’ve ever had someone crush on my mind before
Reid’s reply was an emoji with hearts for eyes.
J: I have to work
I hit “send” and dropped my phone back into my purse, unsure which thoughts to focus on—giddiness or the glass-half-empty ideas I usually walked alongside to keep me and Skye safe.
****
R: *poke poke* U still awake?
The pleasant tingles returned as I burrowed under my blankets, phone in hand and disregarded book on the bed stand.
J: Yes
I bit the inside of my lip, waiting.
R: I can’t sleep.
J: How come?
R: Can’t stop thinking about u
The tingles turned to downright heat, and I rubbed my thighs together.
J: More lectures?
R: Not when I can control my DAY dreams
His wink emoji didn’t have the same twinkling eyes I expected he did at that moment.
J: There needs to be an eye-rolling emoji
R: Ha! U really ought to go out with me again
J: Pretty sure I’ve answered to that enough times to get the point across
R: *knife in my heart* How was the rest of your day?
Surprised he turned our conversation toward friend zone so quickly, I settled in to tell him about the two sales I’d made—which meant I would almost be caught up with my bills. When I mentioned the silent phone call from who had to be Devon, he sent a red-faced, scowling emoji. Strangely, I felt comforted by his show of emotions.
****
Reid and I chatted on and off over the next two weeks—by text and phone calls. Even though I hadn’t seen him since our “date,” I knew him better than my own mother. He started every conversation by asking me about my day and how Skye was doing. I went on and on about Mini-Me finally using the potty like a big girl. He seemed just as excited about the milestone if his emoji use was any indication. The man seriously didn’t hold back with his feelings.
R: I got Skye a present for being such a big girl
A shot of anxiety and excitement kicked me in the stomach. I chewed on the inside of my cheek and made my way into the living room to join Skye on the couch for the last few minutes of her favorite cartoon.
J: U didn’t have to do that
R: Wanted to
I flopped onto the couch and propped my feet up on the coffee table beside a few drops of spilled milk from Skye’s cereal snack. Unwilling to extend an invitation to visit, I waited.
R: Can I stop by?
J: How bout I meet you somewhere tomorrow?
R: Too late
A knock sounded, and I yelped, jumping to my feet.
Like the first time he showed up uninvited, I looked like shit in my ripped sweats and stretched sweatshirt.
“Damnit.” I stomped across the kitchen and yanked the door open, trying for a glare and probably failing.
“Hi.” He grinned, the warmth in his eyes sucking me in like fraps through straws on a hot summer day.
“How did you get in here this time?”
“Same as last time—waited for a neighbor to get home.”
Heaving a sigh, I glanced at the gift bag in his hand. “You really didn’t have to do that.”
He handed it over, and I fought the need to press my thighs together as our fingers brushed in the exchange. “I’m a firm believer in rewarding kids for taking big steps.”
“Mah! Phia over!”
I clenched my eyelids shut as little feet pattered close, Sophia’s theme song tinkling in the background.
Skye brushed against the back of my legs. “Mah!” she hollered again, tugging on my faded sweats, and I grabbed the waistband to keep her from yanking them to my knees. “Phia over!”
“Hi there.”
I opened my eyes to find Reid squatting, eye-level with my daughter.
“Hi.” Skye beamed at him. “Phia over.”
“Sophia’s over, huh?” he asked with a smile, turning my insides to goo.
Skye nodded.
“Who’s your favorite—Crackle or the blue-ribbon bunny?” he asked.
“Mimimus.”
“I like him, too.” Reid glanced up at me, that damn twinkle in his eyes. “Who doesn’t like purple flying horses?”
Good God. Forget goo. My heart puddled.
Skye grabbed Reid’s hand and tugged.
With a sigh, I stepped back and allowed my mini-me to tug him into what used to be my man-free safe zone.
I checked to make sure Reid’s back stayed toward me before doing a quick armpit sniff. I grimaced. Plain old Reid Sullivan shows up looking delicious in a tight t-shirt and ass-hugging jeans, and I was a frumpy, stinking, pony-tailed mess.
Skye pushed him toward the couch, and the second he complied, she climbed up onto his lap. Her thumb went into her mouth, attention once more glued to the TV.
Reid met my gaze, one brow quirked along with his smile.
I sat beside them, but not close enough he’d catch a whiff of my BO.
He appeared completely at ease, and I reminded myself he had six nieces and nephews. I didn’t know what to say—or as always in his presence—how to feel. While his gesture appeared friendly, the desire in his eyes suggested want beyond a mere platonic relationship. Why the hell would he want to get involved with me when he had countless women paying for his satisfaction-gifting skills? Not that I’d enjoyed complete satisfaction our one evening together, but damn. The thoughts of his hands on me again, the feel of his lips, the taste of his kiss…
Heat swept through me, dampening my old cotton panties.
I dared a glance over at him.
A small smile lay on his face like a sprawling cat—content, and eyes half
-lidded as he returned my stare.
“She’s beautiful just like her mom,” he whispered.
“Shush!” Skye barked and shoved her thumb back in her mouth.
One of Reid’s eyebrows quirked again. “Bossy,” he mouthed.
“You have no idea,” I whispered back. “Christine likes to call her bossy-boo.”
“Shush!” Sky said again, glaring at me. “Lena on!”
“Sorry, honey.” I reached over and smoothed her hair back as Elena broke into song.
Reid nodded toward the kitchen, a question in his eye.
I held up two fingers and mouthed, “two minutes,” knowing if we moved before Skye became a cartoon zombie, she’d only demand we stay right where we were.
Hands on my knees, I waited, my thoughts flitting from one to the other so fast I couldn’t complete one before another began.
With expert ease, Reid slid from beneath Skye and set her back against where he’d sat. She didn’t spare him a glance as he tiptoed around the couch. He laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
I followed him from the room, my heart thumping like mad.
Chapter Thirteen
Reid
I leaned against the counter and held out a hand. Jessica had paused just inside the kitchen, arms banded around her waist, gaze glued to my face. “Come here,” I said, keeping my voice low so as not to disturb Skye.
Jessica took a few steps and slid her hand into mine.
I tugged, and with an oomph, she flattened against my chest.
“I smell awful,” she whispered, turning her face away. Pink cheeks, a messy pony-tail, makeup-less face … I’d never seen anything so beautiful.
Also no bra, I noted while running my hands up her back. Her nipples hardened against my chest. “All I smell is your strawberry shampoo.”
She lifted her face. “Holding me like this seems a lot more than mere friendliness. Why are you here, Reid?”
“You know why.”
Her huffed snort reached my ears. “For the ten-thousandth time, no, I’m not going out with you again.”
“Why not?” I asked for at least the same numbered time, my thumbs running in circles on her back.
“What man wants a woman with baggage?” she asked rather than spouting off the usual excuses about trust and focus.
“You did not just call your beautiful little daughter a liability.”
