Chapter 6
Reid couldn’t decide what to do: take Rhonda up on her offer of no-strings-attached sex for the night or keep an eye on Naomi, who seemed way too distracted by the douche sucking up to her.
The guy looked like her type. A polished, smartly dressed, white-collar professional who would say all the right things. Not like Reid, who somehow sent Naomi messages that he didn’t respect her and wanted nothing more than to do her and split.
Not that he didn’t want to sex her up, but he’d never been an asshole when it came to women. Even Cash, as much of a Neanderthal as he could be, treated a woman like she mattered. They hadn’t learned too much from their parents, but the respect women part had stuck.
“Oh wow. You’re so built.” Rhonda sat with him, singing his praises. She’d bought two rounds of drinks and continued to ask him personal questions. What did he like? Was he dating? Didn’t he think blonds had more fun? And yeah, Rhonda was blond.
Sure, it felt good to know a woman liked the look of him. But Jesus, what was with all the groping? Cash would laugh his ass off if Reid complained about feeling like a piece of meat, but just because Reid was a guy didn’t mean he didn’t have personal boundaries.
He gave Rhonda a strained smile, doing his best to focus on her and not on Naomi and bright-white-teeth guy at the bar. He didn’t normally do bars on the weekends, but this particular Friday night was packed, which made it difficult to keep an eye on Naomi.
He’d started to think of this bar as his go-to. He and Cash had ventured to Ringo’s a time or two after work, and some of the others had joined them. It was close enough to be convenient and a decent enough place to relax. Not too expensive, and he didn’t stick to the floor when he walked or worry about getting rolled when he left.
He glanced around, saw Cash and the twins with Jordan, and didn’t need to worry about Jordan being taken care of. “Little Army” would likely throw a fit to know Cash was looking out for her. Naomi, though, needed help. He didn’t like the look of her “date.”
“Would you like a refill?” Reid asked Rhonda. “On me this time, I insist,” he said before she demanded to pay again.
Rhonda nodded.
“Be right back.” He left and made his way to Naomi and the slobberer.
“Yeah, Ted is now trying to muscle in on me. I can’t believe he thinks he can do a better job,” the guy was whining.
“I agree. He’s a weatherman. Why would he want to segue into upper management?” Naomi asked, her voice smooth, sultry.
He inwardly groaned, grateful for jeans that masked most of his arousal. Damn. He needed to get it together around the woman. He muscled in next to her, jarring a drunken frat boy out of the way. When the kid glared at him, Reid glared back, and the wannabe scary guy left in a hurry.
Reid gave the bartender his order, including a seltzer for himself. He was done drinking, trying to clear his head for what the rest of his night might look like. More desk work and part of the Mariners game at home if he could manage to stay awake long enough.
“Hey, I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back,” Toothy said to Naomi, who nodded.
Once he left, Reid cleared his throat and leaned toward her to be heard over the noisy bar. “Your date for the night?”
She turned and blinked at him, and he wanted to stare into her eyes forever. They were so…blue. “Who? Morgan?” She laughed. “Nah. We’re old friends.”
The tension he hadn’t been aware of carrying lightened.
“What about you?” She glanced over at Rhonda. “Enjoying yourself?”
“Eh. She’s nice. But Rhonda’s a little touchy-feely for my tastes.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Oh?”
Naomi didn’t seem to like that. But was that because she saw him as a client to protect or as a man she might consider something more than a friend?
Her respect speech had thrown him. He hadn’t realized he’d made her feel uncomfortable, so he resolved to maintain his distance. Which made coming over here to talk to her a very bad idea. As were his thoughts about getting her naked and doing wicked things with her. So stupid, yet he couldn’t keep himself from looking out for her.
I’m just taking care of my people. Naomi’s nothing special, he told himself. Lying so very, very badly.
He let out a sigh.
“Do you want me to tell her to back off?” Naomi asked, her gaze hostile and centered on his table.
“Nah. I’m sorry for unloading. I don’t want to ruin your date.”
“It’s not a date.”
“Your meeting up with an old friend, then.”
She shrugged. “It’s no problem. I was getting ready to go home anyway.” She stood from her bar stool and faltered on a heel, and he wondered just how much she’d had to drink.
Her date, Morgan of the Teeth, returned and frowned at Reid.
Naomi flashed a smile. “Morgan, meet Reid Griffith. Rhonda interviewed him tonight.”
Morgan’s frown left him, and he smiled. “Oh, hi. You know, your interview is going to generate a lot of business for you. That was terrific the way you guys helped Reva’s grandson. We interviewed them as well.”
“Great.” Reid shook the guy’s clammy hand. So not impressive. Reid had two inches on the guy too. Pathetic that that made him feel better, but, hey, he’d take what he could get. Morgan had a big job with a television station. Reid owned a floundering moving company.
“I’m going to save him from Rhonda.” Naomi clutched Reid’s arm for leverage, and he steadied her.
“Oh.” Morgan frowned. “I can talk to her.”
“I don’t know that you should,” Naomi said and bit her lower lip. “If you do, be careful.”
Reid wished she wouldn’t do that, because he was dying to kiss the sting away.
“Why shouldn’t I talk to Rhonda?” Morgan asked.
Naomi leaned toward him and whispered something.
Morgan brightened. “Yeah?”
“Jill’s been throwing out hints too.” She pointed to Rhonda’s assistant nearby. “You’ve been warned.”
Before Morgan could hustle to the table, Reid stopped him. “Could you take Rhonda her drink and apologize for me? I’m going to head out. My head’s killing me.”
“Sure, sure. No problem. Nice meeting you, Reid.” Morgan grabbed the drink and left them both without a backward glance.
“What did you tell him?” Reid asked.
“That Rhonda, who he’s had a massive crush on forever, is into him. I might have hinted that Jill wants him too, in case he strikes out with Rhonda.”
“Really?”
“Really. Morgan’s a popular guy at the station. And in my defense, though I like Rhonda, she can get a little clingy.” Naomi glared at him.
“Hey, what did I do?” he asked, conscious of her hand wrapped around his forearm.
“She shouldn’t have been all over you.” Naomi sighed. “But that’s Rhonda. She’s a great journalist but a sucker for a pretty face.”
He wondered if she realized what she was saying.
She continued, “I happen to know she really did used to like Morgan. Jill follows whatever Rhonda does, and she’s had a thing for Morgan for years. The TV station is a little crazy, where everyone is sleeping with everyone.” She grinned. “It’s a hotbed for drama behind the cameras.”
He laughed with her.
“Besides, Morgan is a nice guy. If Rhonda tells him no, he’ll back off.”
“Good. You know, if you ever told me no, I’d do the same.” Hell. That had come off a little stronger than he’d intended.
“A gentleman too. Who’d have guessed?”
“Ha ha. Funny. Come on. I really do feel a headache coming on. Let me walk you out to your car.”
They went first to his brother’s table and watched Finley’s antics while Jordan pointed out all his tricks. Finley pretended to be crushed that she’d caught on to him. Cash and Lafayette were having some deep discussion, and when Hector tried to butt in, they both told him to shut up. They smirked at him while Hector flipped them off before heading to the bar.
“I’m taking off,” Reid announced. “Just wanted to say you guys did a great job. Cash has the schedule for this weekend. I’ll be in and out if you need me.”
Cash looked from him to Naomi. “You guys going home together?” Blunt as always.
The table grew quiet.
Naomi laughed. So much for Reid’s ego. “Your brother thinks I need help to my car. So I’m letting him be a gentleman. It’s good for his image.”
Lafayette raised a brow. “Uh-huh. Sure. Image is key.”
Jordan snorted. “Then maybe you should let Cash help you out. God knows he’s one step above a troll. Reid though, he’s cool. I don’t think he’s flipped anyone off all night.”
The group found that amusing, though Cash didn’t look so pleased with Jordan or his brother.
Reid had to laugh. “See? Jordan fits in perfectly. I made a good decision to hire her.”
To which Cash replied, “I made the decision to hire her.”
Jordan stared between the pair. “Cash did?” She snorted. “No way.”
Cash turned back to her with a growl. Reid’s cue to make his escape. He refused to get into an argument with his brother when he had a sexy redhead to take home. He just hoped she wouldn’t give him too much crap when he insisted on driving. The take-charge types could be so touchy when a guy tried to do right by them.
* * *
Lafayette said something Naomi couldn’t make out, but before she could ask, Reid turned them toward the exit with a backhanded goodbye to the others. Her damn heel had cracked, and she had the hardest time walking. The half beer she’d downed didn’t help, not on an empty stomach, but it took a lot more than six ounces of pilsner to affect her sobriety.
“Evan’s not here?” she asked, realizing she hadn’t seen him since the interview.
“Nope. Poor guy had to head back to work at his real job. He’s an accountant with McNulty, Campbell, Associates. And his boss is constantly busting his bal—ah, tail. Evan’s always tired lately.”
“You can say ‘balls,’ Reid. I’ve heard the expression before.”
To her bemusement, he flushed. “Sorry. I was taught not to swear in front of women.”
Reid, a gentleman at heart. She liked him more because of it. “Evan seemed fine earlier. Heck, he charmed everyone around him. I saw a few of the ladies in the crowd trying to get his attention.”
He shrugged and steered her from a large man who nearly plowed into them. Having Reid by her side helped a lot. One, because she had trouble balancing in her stupid shoes, and no way she planned to take them off to walk around in the bar. And two, because he shielded her from the crowd. She felt safe with him.
Until she started thinking too hard about her handsome client and the fact that her heart refused to stop racing when near him.
The crowd thickened, and a rotund man jostled her, then apologized. Then a woman near them did the same.
Before she knew it, Reid had guided them to the exit, using his body to part the sea of people, and they left the bar. The crisp bite of the May evening had her shivering, and Reid pulled her into his side.
“I’d give you my jacket, but I didn’t wear one.”
“I’m fine.” Her heel shifted, and she nearly tripped again. “Damn it.”
He stopped them next to a dark-blue Charger.
“Nice car.”
“Get in.”
She looked up at him, saw the resolve on his face, and realized he intended to take her home. “Wait. What?”
“Naomi, it’s late, and you can barely walk in those things.”
“The heel’s a little wobbly, but I can make it back to the office. My car’s there.” With any luck, it would start on the first try.
Reid frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not letting you walk by yourself in the dark.”
“You’re not letting me?” Was she a toddler that needed permission?
“Besides, I overheard you on your phone earlier. Something about your car not starting yesterday and again today? Even if you do manage not to kill yourself on the walk back, you’ll end up waiting on a cab to take you home if the car doesn’t start.”
She glared. “You sure do seem to like listening to other people’s conversations.”
“Just get in.” When she didn’t, he glowered. “I can wait all night.”
She stared back at him, a little alarmed when he closed the distance between them.
Then he shocked her by pressing her up against the car, full-body contact. The heat of him singed her. Suddenly, instead of feeling annoyed or scared, she wanted him in the worst way. Whoa, momma.
Reid ran a finger down her cheek. “I’m not letting you drive home.”
His implacable resolve surprised her. “Seriously, Reid. I’m a big girl. I know how to get home without getting mugged.”
He didn’t move, and she didn’t want to think about him pressed so firmly against her.
She didn’t see herself winning this battle, and though it was ridiculous to think she needed rescuing from herself, she had to admit it felt nice to have someone looking out for her. “If you really need to drive me home, go for it. But you’re going to feel stupid tomorrow when all that testosterone in your system wears off.” She added in a lower voice, “Let me go. Please.”
“I’d rather feel stupid than regret not helping you out.” He moved back to unlock the car and opened the door for her, then waited for her to settle in. After joining her, he followed her directions home.
Naomi could have been angry about it, but his need to protect softened something inside her. Something she’d need to firm up before dealing with the man again. Reid sat far too close. She could smell alcohol and the faint scent of cologne on him, and it went straight to her head. Hell, maybe she was a little loopy. She really needed to get something to eat.
They arrived at her home in Greenwood, a cute little bungalow she’d refused to sell, even after losing her job with PP&R. She’d worked so hard for her home and had finally gotten the house exactly as she’d wanted it.
“You okay?” Reid asked as he parked.
“Yes, fine. You’ve done your duty. Go home.”
“Keys.”
Her purse was in his hands before she could grab it back.
“Damn it!”
He had her keys out and had already left the vehicle when she’d thrown open her door, only to have him help her out and up the sidewalk. A domineering yet polite gentleman.
He nodded at the house. “Nice place.”
“Thanks,” she said grudgingly, loving the homey two-bedroom Craftsman. Dark purple with white trim and a tidy little porch, the house had plenty of room for her and Rex, should he deign to come home. Probably out catting around like half the men in this town, she thought…cattily.
She snorted. “I suppose you want to come in.”
“Just to make sure you’re okay.”
She rolled her eyes at him, but he ignored her. She heard his car beep, locked up tight, and she glared at him. If he had any intention of staying, she’d disabuse him of that notion right away. She watched him unlock the front door, then step back to hold it open for her.
Since Rex didn’t greet her right away, she figured he was probably touring the neighborhood. With a little huff, she took the keys from Reid and walked inside. He closed the door behind them while she flicked on a light.
“It’s you,” he said. “Same blue in here as your office walls.”
Huh. He’d noticed. What did that mean? That he had good recall or actually possessed an interest in her? And why did she care?
She nearly tripped again and swore, then kicked off her stupid heels.
“You want some water? I know I’m parched. It’s been a long day.” Reid stepped past her into her open living room that led into a dining area and farther into her kitchen. She refused to follow him inside and instead massaged her aching toes.
He returned with a glass for her.
“Make yourself at home, why don’t you?”
He didn’t say anything and handed her the glass. She took a sip and handed it back. “There. Now go home, please. Because of you, I’ll have to get someone to take me to my car in the morning.” Though if she was feeling industrious, she could walk the short distance to get it herself.
“I’ll swing by and pick you up.”
His bossy attitude that had somewhat charmed her before now annoyed her. “No, thanks.” She watched him drink her water and grew even more steamed. “I’m not some silly little woman needing your help, Reid. I’m not drunk or impaired in any way. I’m tired and my feet hurt.”
“You find that amusing?”
He set the glass down on a coaster on her side table, and she hated that she couldn’t nag him about that either. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”
“And helpless, right?” She felt a little light-headed, which had nothing to do with exhaustion and everything to do with Reid. Around him, she felt more. Angry, annoyed, aroused. The three A’s of danger drawing nearer as he smiled at her distress. The bastard.
“Want me to help you, you poor, fragile thing?”
She could do without the smirk. “Yes, please,” she said, her voice sugary-sweet, then dragged him closer by the shirtfront, shocking him. “Isn’t this what you want? To take advantage of a helpless woman?”
“Hell no.” Finally, a bit of his anger. He glared at her. “I’m trying to help you out here, Naomi. Oh, forget it.”
“Oh, so now, because I’m a little aggressive, I’m not good enough for you.” She started to lose track of what she was saying, so close to Reid, to that firm chin with a hint of stubble, to that sexy smell of man and cologne, to the sheer breadth of him that seemed much bigger up close. Reid stood inches above her own height, their disparity even greater without her heels.
He tried to pry her hands free but stalled when he looked down into her eyes. “Y-you’re mad?” He sounded hoarse, his gaze moving slowly over her face and stilling on her mouth. “Fuck,” he muttered.
“Yeah, I’m mad. You’re a menace, you know that?” Out of control and stirred to an angry passion by the man who refused to know she had her own mind, she yanked him down for an angrier kiss. The touch of his mouth on hers brought everything to a halt. An instant connection turned their burning chemistry into an all-out inferno.
She heard him moan but couldn’t function past trying to get as close to Reid as possible. Her breasts ached, and she couldn’t breathe while she devoured his mouth. That bar in his pants, which she could feel pressed so tightly against her, made it worse because her girl parts reacted by doing somersaults and flooding her body with need.
He wrapped his arms around her waist at some point and backed her against the wall as they continued to kiss.
When she knew she’d soon go past the point of no return, she broke the kiss. “There,” she said after she remembered how to talk. “Now you’ve seen this ‘helpless’ woman back to her house safe and sound. Go home, Reid.” That probably would have sounded better if she could keep herself from kissing him in between reprimands.
And if she could stop herself from touching his broad, muscular chest.
He was breathing hard as he stared down at her. “I don’t think you know what you are.”
“Oh?” Yet again presuming to know her own mind better than she did? The ass. The sexy, hung-like-a-horse jerk.
Only a coma patient would fail to notice his arousal. And Naomi had never claimed to be a saint. Presented with that much temptation, she resolved to teach him a lesson.
Her rationalizations threw all her reservations about Reid out the window. She’d never wanted a man so much, and she needed him to see she remained in charge.
Yeah, sure.
“Well, then. I probably don’t know what I’m doing when I do this.” She slid her hand down his chest to the fastening of his jeans, staring into his eyes as she went. His stare had darkened, and he watched her as if ready to pounce.
“You don’t want to do this, Naomi.” Yet he made no move to stop her…until she slid his zipper down.
He grabbed her hand. “Seriously. You should—Fuck.”
She’d used her other hand to grip him, hard. “Let go. I wouldn’t want to hurt you.”
He quickly put his hands up on either side of her head on the wall. “Okay, now let go. Before I do something I shouldn’t.” He closed his eyes as she put her hands inside his underwear. “Jesus, Naomi. Stop.”
And he was big.
She paused. “Do you really want me to?”
“Fuck, no.” He gave an angry laugh. “But you don’t have to—”
She interrupted him by using one hand to drag him down for a kiss while she pumped him with the other.
He tried to hold back, but she gripped him harder and started jerking him off. Lost to everything but needing to own this man, she kissed him for all she was worth. She paused only to say, “I think maybe you’re the one who’s helpless. When it comes to me.”
Then Reid turned the tables and took charge.