I’ve known Reed all my life. In second grade, he stuck up for me when a bully pushed me down on the playground and told me I was ugly. Then, when I was a freshman in high school, he protected me from a guy at a party who got a little too handsy. He saw me cry, wiped my tears away, and vowed to always be my best friend.
What he didn’t know was being his friend was last thing I wanted.
A friend.
The word itself causes an ache to form in my chest and trying to push the painful thought out of my head, I check the time on my computer only to see it isn’t even noon. The thought is depressing because I’m ready to go home. Back to my apartment and read a book...maybe even chug an entire bottle of wine too.
And it’s not just because Reed doesn’t see me the way I want him to. This whole week has been shit. Honestly, the entire year has been shit. I’m twenty-five, in love with my best friend and desperately wanting to start a family of my own, not to mention stuck in a job I don’t really like because it’s the only way I can be close to him. My only problems? I can’t feel anything for anyone that’s even close to the way I feel about Reed and he’s completely oblivious.
Every guy I date is a douchebag, an asshole, or a self-centered jerk that only cares about his looks or his money. None of them are anything like Reed. Nibbling on my bottom lip, I try to envision us as a couple, but it’s impossible.
I want him to want me like I want him.
I want him to kiss me like I want to kiss him.
I want him to do unthinkable things to me, things I know he’s done with other women.
I want to be his first and his last even though I know that isn’t possible.
An incoming email pings, and I pull myself out of the daydream and back into reality. Clicking open, I read it, blinking as I stare at it in confusion. It’s an invite from Reed’s father, Clark, calling a business meeting for all the executives. Why am I being invited? I’m just a lowly secretary.
Thinking about Clark makes me smile though. He’s a very sweet older man. In fact, because he and my father were close friends before the accident that took both of my parents’ lives, Clark took me in and treated me like the daughter he and his wife never had.
His three sons, Reed, Remington and Ryker are my closest friends.
Reed is the oldest and has big plans for his father’s company. He brought me on as his personal assistant three years ago when I needed a job to help finish paying for college. His dad would have paid my tuition since my parents didn’t have a life insurance policy, but I wouldn’t let him. I wanted to do it on my own, or not at all, and didn’t want to owe anyone.
Ryker is the classic middle child, always doing whatever he can to get attention. He’s the clown, and makes me laugh daily.
Remy, he’s the youngest. He’s also the sweetest. He’s the one who lets me cry on his shoulder when Reed does something stupid or thoughtless and hurts my feelings.
They’ve all been there for me through thick and thin, and I don’t think I’ll never be able to repay them for everything the brothers have done for me. Not that they would let me.
It’s different with Reed. He doesn’t notice my desire to be everything he needs. Then again, maybe he does and he’s too afraid to cross that very thin line between friends and much more.
That’s not something I want to think about, so I close the email and force the thoughts out of my head with a shake, then go back to working on the spreadsheets Reed asked me to comb through. The numbers are never-ending and the more I stare at the computer screen the more my head starts to hurt. Math is not my strong suit.
“Good morning, Fal.” Reed’s deep voice vibrates through me, and I lift my eyes from the screen to meet his. His blue eyes are brighter than usual today and he gazes down at me, concern darkening his features as he studies my face.
“Morning,” I mumble back. Reed is handsome as hell and he knows it. He’s tall, lean but somewhat athletic, and has a face that looks as if it was carved out of stone. He is lick-worthy and I spend too much time wondering if he still has the eight-pack abs like he did back in high school.
He gives me a half smile, making him seem more boyish than manly and my heart flutters in my chest. Looking at him and knowing I can never have him hurts… it hurts a lot. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” I say with a shrug, hoping he will let it go. “Just a migraine.” The words barely pass my lips before he’s putting his stuff down on my desk so he can slip behind my chair, his huge hands gripping me by the shoulders as he starts to slowly massage my tense muscles.
“Where are your glasses?” Reed leans down and whispers the words into my ear, his woodsy scent filling my nostrils while his breath fanning against my ear sends a flurry of goose bumps across my skin.
“I left them….” I sigh, losing my train of thought as his fingers works the muscles into goop. It’s times like these when he touches me that I fantasize about what being his would be like.
He finishes the sentence I forgot I was saying with a hint of laughter in his voice, “At home, right?”
“Yes, they’re next to the paperback I was reading last night.” He knows me well. I’m forgetful, and I hate wearing glasses.
“Bring them tomorrow or else…” There is a note of danger in his voice and it makes me clench my thighs together with need.
My voice wobbles as I think about the possibilities. I want to ask if he’ll spank me, but I’m not that brave, so all I say is, “Or else what?”
Reed stops massaging the muscles and grips the top of my arms tightly, his full lips pressing against the sensitive flesh below my ear. “Or else you’ll get another headache.”
I blink, realizing he is messing with me, and not really about to threaten to spank me ... or fuck me against the desk like I wish he would.
Clearing my throat, I try to cover my disappointment with a small smile and agree. “Right…Yeah another headache.”
“I’m assuming you got Dad’s email?” He pauses in the act of grabbing his things off my desk but doesn’t wait for my response before giving me instructions. “I’ll need you in the boardroom in thirty minutes to take notes.” Looking down at his phone, he continues, “I need to talk to him beforehand.” He startles, looking down at me like he’s just remembered something. “Oh, and after that I’m leaving so please cancel all my meetings for the day. If anyone asks, just tell them I’m out of the office. They don’t need to know specifics.”
I swallow hard, finally finding my voice now that his hands aren’t on me. “Of course, Reed. I’ll let everyone know.”
Sadness tightens my chest as I watch him walk away and into his office, his perfect butt beckoning me. God, why does he have to be so handsome and so fucking off limits at the same time?
I shake my head, making mental note of all that he said and try to turn my focus to the stupid spreadsheet he wants me to work on.
Falling in love with your best friend shouldn’t be this hard.