Reed (Allen Securities)

by Madison Stevens

  On the other side of him, Ryder sat, very solemn. He had been a little surprised at his attitude at the club. After dropping his gloves on the ground, he turned to Ryder.

  “We good?” Reed asked.

  Ryder was a difficult man to read. Most had found asking outright was the best option.

  “I like her,” he said, his voice low.

  “Olivia?” he choked out. This was a problem.

  “No, her friend.” He turned and stared at Reed like he’d lost his mind. “I mean, Liv is great, and you’re an ass, but she’ll set you right.”

  “You think so?” Reed leaned back to think about it. Maybe she would. “So you like Jess? She’s a firecracker.”

  Kace stopped in front of the bench. “The one that runs that criminal’s club?”

  “Irene,” he rumbled.

  Reed’s eyebrows nearly shot through the roof. This was big.

  “I scare the hell out of her,” Ryder said.

  “Well,” Kace said, shrugging off the sweat soaked shirt. “Try not to be so damn scary.”

  Ryder shot him the bird.

  “Don’t listen to him,” Reed said. “She owns a bakery. Go there and have a coffee and pastry.”

  “I hate sweet shit,” he mumbled.

  “Well fake it,” Reed laughed.

  Ryder stared at him surprised and then let out a laugh.

  “Well I’m not so sure I should be taking advice about a woman from you,” Ryder said. He laughed even harder when Reed flipped him off.

  The sound of Reed’s phone echoed through the great room. He jogged over to answer. A unknown number flashed on the screen.

  “Hello?”

  “You want to tell me why your woman was trying to negotiate a new deal?” Reed nearly fell over at Finn’s words.

  “She what?” he barked.

  “I’ve talked her down, but you’re creating a situation with all this,” Finn said firmly.

  “And how is that?”

  Finn sighed into the phone. “She’s open. She might decide to just take off with her brother. Are you ready to let her go? Not to mention, it would fuck up the whole plan.”

  Reed took in deep breaths. He wasn’t ready for that.

  “Besides,” Finn said. “I’m sick of seeing you two eye-fucking each other. Keep the fucking to the bedroom, so we can concentrate on this shit. The Russians are serious, and my protection only goes so far. If you want to keep her safe, you better keep her as close to you as you can.”

  Reed felt his legs go weak at the thought of her being harmed. He gripped the bench in front of him and sank down.

  “Get you shit together and be ready by tonight. When Ben docks, we need to be ready to go, or we need to be ready to fight.”

  The click of the phone echoed in his ear. He was putting her in danger by not being with her. Everything in him screamed that couldn’t be true but not to look a gift horse in the mouth and run with it. If everyone around him said it was right, it must be, and he wanted it to be. Life without her was miserable, and he’d spent too much time being miserable.

  ***

  Olivia hit the gas on Meg’s truck, loving the feel of the power as she surged forward. She’d called about her little four door, but they were still waiting on a part. She would have been more irritated, but with everything that had happened in the past week, it was just one thing she didn’t have to worry about dealing with.

  When Meg had come out and tossed Olivia the keys to the truck, she’d been grateful. It was just one less thing she had to rely on Reed for. It had also given her the chance to go pick up a new outfit. After her unproductive call with Finn, she thought she was due. Not only was he all male macho bullshit but had the nerve to ask if Reed knew she was calling. Like she had to run it by him.

  Olivia took in a deep breath to steady her emotions. Instead, she focused on the new outfit. The black pleated skirt came to just above her knee and offered just the right amount of twirl when she swished her hips. She had looked at several shirts but eventually settled on a tight-fitting sleeveless one. The look was sexy but still worked for a family function.

  Her stomach flipped as she thought about what the afternoon would be like. She’d never had been to a function like this. A family function for her was one where she was in the same room with her mother and brother. The extended family had made it more than a little clear that she and Ben weren’t a part of their family.

  She wondered what life would have been like for them if they had been taken in by one of her relatives. She shook her head. No sense in thinking about it since it wasn’t going to change anything.

  Olivia looked at the directions on her phone again and knew the moment she saw the house. Cars lined the sidewalk on either side of the street.

  The house was exactly what she had always pictured as a hopeful child. White picket fence with rosebushes and trellis outside the door. The large picture window showed the happy family, and she froze in her tracks. Maybe she couldn’t do this. She had no idea what a family dinner meant, and maybe it was too late to learn.

  She jumped when Marilyn opened the front door wide. The swallowed hard. There was no running now.

  “Oh, Olivia, I’m glad to see you. Is Meg not coming?” Marilyn glanced at the truck parked on the street.

  “She’s not feeling so well, so I drove myself,” she said, following the older women into the warm home.

  “Six shots of vodka will do that to you,” Cage said.

  Marilyn whirled to face him.

  “As if you boys didn’t have your moments.” She crossed her arms over her ample chest.

  Cage ducked his head and turned back to the game on the television.

  “James, come meet Olivia,” Marilyn said sweetly.

  When he stood, she could immediately see the resemblance between him and all the children.

  James whistled low.

  “Which one of my boys is lucky enough to get you?” She looked to Marilyn who was rolling her eyes.

  Olivia floundered with what to say.

  Surprisingly, Ryder was the first to say something. “Don’t mess with her too much, Dad. You know how Reed is about what’s his.”

  Olivia could have fainted when Ryder gave her a lopsided smile.

  “Reed,” the older man barked. Looking her up and down, he seemed to be assessing her very character. Olivia squirmed under his stare.

  James smiled widely at her. “I can see it.”

  “What do you see?” Marilyn asked.

  “She’s not going to take his shit,” James said plainly to his wife. Several of the men stifled laugher. Olivia had to cover her mouth with her hand.

  “Well that’s good.” Marilyn turned to Olivia. “You’ve got to be firm with these men around here, or they’ll run you right over.”

  She looked back to James and saw the same devilish twinkle in his eye she’d seen on several of his children.

  “Or maybe I just let you think you have the upper hand.” James grabbed his wife by the waist and spun her in front of him. Marilyn giggled like a young girl.

  “Ugh,” Cage groaned. “There they go again.”

  Olivia had to admit this wasn’t what she thought most family gatherings were like, but it was nice they loved each other after so many years. Olivia looked around at the number of people who all looked very similar. Apparently, they had always had a good relationship if the number of children indicated anything.

  Blushing like a new bride, Marilyn linked arms with her and waved off her husband.

  “The girls and I are back in the kitchen.” She patted Olivia’s arm.

  “Oh I’d love to help,” Olivia piped up. It wasn’t often she got to cook, but she loved it.

  Marilyn smiled at her warmly. “Yes, you’ll fit in just fine.”

  Two women sat at the table. One about to give birth any day was rolling dough into biscuits, her blonde hair falling out of a pony tail. The other woman was more than well-manicured. She was nearly movie per
fect. Her black hair was curled in a 1940s fashion, framing her porcelain like face perfectly. A girl of about seven helped her mother place the biscuits on the pan.

  Two very small children toddled on the floor near the bombshell, their jet black hair a dead giveaway of their parentage.

  “This is Heather,” she said, pointing to the blonde. “She’s married to Jett. That is her daughter Candice.”

  Candice and Heather looked up with wary eyes. Olivia was a little off-put.

  “And this is Sarah Davis, Mason’s wife, and their twins, Tommy and Lucy.” The woman glanced up from the magazine she was looking at.

  “Oh I don’t think I’ve met Mason,” Olivia said quietly.

  Sarah looked up at her with disinterest. “He’s one of the cousins. We have to come over here because his parents died.”

  Stunned by the frankness, Olivia turned to look at the other woman. It was clear this woman was not liked and with just reason.

  Olivia jumped when little fingers touched her shoes. Little Lucy looked at her from the floor and then back at her feet.

  “Princess shoes,” she cried.

  Olivia couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up.

  “They are like princess shoes.” She slipped them off. “Maybe a real princess should try them on.”

  The little girl clapped and stood carefully. Grabbing on to the table, she stepped gingerly into the shoes. Holding the table, she made her way to her mother.

  “Look.” She grinned at her mother and tugged on her dress.

  The scene warmed Olivia.

  “Lucy,” Sarah looked up from the magazine. “What did mommy say about touching her dress?”

  “Bad girl,” she said and quickly moved her hands back to the table.

  Horrified, Olivia moved her hands behind her to keep from reaching out and ripping the hair off her perfect head.

  “Lucy, do you want to see something really neat?” Olivia asked standing next to the tray of biscuits.

  “Me too!” Tommy charged ahead, unhindered by high heels.

  “All right but first we need to wash hands.” She lifted the boy up with ease and propped him on her knee as they washed hands. Once he was clean and dry she pulled up Lucy, leaving the shoes on the floor.

  Heather and Candice watched as she came back to the table and took a seat, lifting a child on to each leg.

  Poking the closest biscuit, she made what looked like two eyes and a nose. She held it up to show them.

  “What does that look like?” Olivia said.

  “A biscuit!” The woman laughed at the funny reply from Lucy.

  “No!” Tommy studied it a bit longer. “Eyes and nose,” he said point on his own face.

  “What’s it missing?”

  “Mouth,” they said in unison.

  “When it’s cooked, we’ll be able to split the biscuit in two and make a mouth.” She showed them with her hands.

  Lucy clapped her hands and set to work poking biscuits randomly, but Tommy took his time, making sure the holes lined up nicely.

  “It’s not a good idea to let them play with their food.” Sarah’s sharp voice cut through the fun. Tommy froze.

  A bolt of anger ripped through her as the little boy froze in fear. Something she knew more than she wanted to about.

  “Actually, it’s been proven that young children have better cognitive development if they get hands-on stimulation. This is not just good for social and emotional growth but also for day to day learning. In the end, this could be the thing that sets them apart from their peers.” Olivia stroked the backs of the sweet babes on her lap.

  Sarah blinked a few times, and Olivia was certain that she’d not only outtalked her, but put her in a position that if she complained, she’d look like she didn’t care about their development.

  The woman narrowed her eyes at her and flipped the pages in the magazine with such force that they tore a little.

  “We’re all finished poking your biscuits. What’s our next chore?” She turned to the women with a smile.

  Candice leaned in slightly against her and pointed to the biscuit.

  “I think we should put cheese at the top to make hair.” She shyly looked at Olivia. Heather smiled at her warmly.

  “Oh that’s a great idea.” She laughed and looked at the twins. “What do you think of hair?”

  “Hair,” they cried in unison.

  Heather laughed. “I can see tonight’s meal is going to very creative.”

  Olivia grinned at her. Creative was fun.

  Chapter Eighteen

  As she chatted with Heather, she found they had quite a bit in common. Before Candice came along, Heather was an editor at a book review magazine. She always found talk of books to be easy. Not everyone loved a book, but those that did shared a special connection.

  The conversation flowed easily among Heather and Marilyn until a dark shadow filled the doorway.

  “I need to have a word with you,” Reed said darkly from the door.

  Tommy hit the table with his hand. “No,” he shouted at Reed.

  The surprise spread across his face at the boy’s reaction.

  “Not very popular?” Olivia bit her lip to keep from laughing.

  “Not usually an issue,” he said quietly.

  Her heart warmed at his explanation.

  “I’m just going to go talk with Reed for a moment. You be a good boy, and I’ll help you tackle him.” She winked at Tommy, who grinned in response.

  Olivia sat the children on the floor and followed Reed through the house. He stopped at the backdoor and picked up a light jacket on the hook.

  “Put this on,” he said gruffly.

  Olivia put on the jacket. It dwarfed her in size. She raced to catch up because of his long strides across the yard, but her princess shoes made it difficult.

  “Reed,” she called, exasperated.

  He stopped at the boating dock behind the house and waited for her. When she reached the dock, he took her hand and pulled her into the darkened shed. After flicking on a light, Reed leaned her into the door as it shut.

  “Did you seriously just give me your letterman’s jacket?” She laughed nervously.

  “Want to tell me why I got a call from Finn today?” His strong arms framed her head as he leaned dangerously close.

  Olivia breathed in the familiar woodsy scent. “I was just taking care of things.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  Reed narrowed his eyes at her. “You don’t need to take care of things. I’m doing that.”

  “Well, maybe I’m sick of you taking charge and then faulting me for not being strong enough.” She leaned forward, nearly nose and nose with him.

  “I’m not faulting you,” he said, his tone dangerously low. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”

  “So you can put me off again,” she breathed out hard.

  “No,” he nearly shouted. “So I don’t lose you.”

  His mouth crashed down on her as he pressed her into the door behind her. She moaned as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. He moved it in around in and out. Olivia threw her arms around his neck and quivered in his arms.

  She pulled back and looked into his eyes.

  “I can’t keep going back and forth like this,” she said quietly. “My heart can’t take it.”

  Reed leaned forward and kissed her lightly on his lips. “You’re mine,” he whispered.

  Olivia felt her panties get wet with his words. Hungrily, she launched herself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.

  Reed grunted at the pressure and met her hungry kisses with his own.

  Wild with need, he sat her on the tool bench and released himself from the confines of his pants. After yanking her roughly to the edge, Reed pushed aside the little scrap of lace and was fully seated inside her.

  Her muscles adjusted to the sudden intrusion. Never stopping, Reed slipped into her at a brutal pace. The table she was on banged against the wall with each thrust. Olivia
leaned back and lifted herself off slightly.

  The new angle put him in even deeper, and once again, he was nudging her cervix with each thrust.

  Groaning loudly, Olivia felt her climax building.

  “God, Liv,” he said between thrusts. “So beautiful.”

  Olivia breathed in loudly as he picked up the pace and nearly screamed as she came around him. Moments later, Reed slammed into her one last time and hot jets of cum pounded her cervix triggering another climax.

  One arm still around his neck, Olivia slowed her heart and reveled in the feel of him.

  “Move in with me,” he said quietly.

  Olivia leaned back in shock. “What?”

  “I know it’s quick, but I can’t spend my days without you,” he replied.

  It was about the most perfect thing she’d ever heard anyone say.

  “Do you love me?” she asked.

  “I…” Reed faltered. “I can’t live without you.”

  Her heart sank. It wasn’t a confession, but it was about as good as she got.

  She leaned forward and pulled him closer.

  “Okay,” she whispered in his ear.

  Reed shot back. The smile wide on his face almost made him look boyish.

  He kissed her hard on the lips.

  “We should get back inside,” she whispered.

  Reed nodded and pulled out. As he did, his eyes shot to hers.

  “I didn’t wear a condom.” He stared at her.

  Olivia thought about this. She wasn’t exactly a kid anymore, and she did want children. She looked at Reed and his handsome features. No, it wouldn’t be the best timing, but there were no reasons it would be a problem.

  Reed cleared his throat. “I’ll take care of you either way.”

  “Do you want kids?” she asked.

  A grin lit his face. “I’d like to get in a few more years of baby-making practice before that happens.” He winked at her.

  Olivia laughed. She liked this Reed, the one that was actually carefree. After fixing her outfit, she walked hand in hand with Reed to the house.