Read My Mind

by Natasha Preston

  Reid chuckles. “Turn left. You’re the first door on the right, and you have an en-suite.”

  I stop by the open door. “And what about you?”

  “We needed to turn right at the top of the stairs for me.”

  “You’re definitely going to be the one doing the sneaking around. I’d get lost.”

  He steps closer, his toes almost touching mine. “I don’t think my parents would appreciate the wakeup call. The room I’m in is next to theirs.”

  “I’d die if I accidentally snuck into their room.”

  His fingertips glide up my arm. “I’m coming to you.”

  God, those four words do stupid things to me. After spending the last year doing all of the chasing, it’s rather satisfying to have someone want me enough to come and get me.

  “Reid,” I whisper. “Your mum is downstairs.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “We can’t start something right now.”

  He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me flush to his body. “You should have thought about that before you started talking about the night I snuck in your room.”

  “I love how sneaky you are, and I really love how hard you get for me.”

  His nostrils flare.

  “Down, boy. Your mum is in the house.”

  I wink and wheel my bag inside the room, closing the door, and leaving him open-mouthed.

  Thirty-Nine

  Reid

  I leave before I open her door and do something that I won’t regret at all. She’s here, at my parents’ home, and I couldn’t be more excited for the weekend ahead.

  I take my clothes out and hang them in the wardrobe. Every year, Dad asks for me to wear a dickhead knitted vest for golf, but that will never happen. I’ll continue the tradition from him and his dad, but I need to draw the line somewhere.

  When I’m done, I head back to Mila’s room because she brought a considerable amount of clothes with her.

  She’s lining shoes up when I reach her door.

  “Are you staying longer than one night?”

  She looks up, smiling guiltily. “I wasn’t sure what everyone was wearing tonight. Is it more casual or formal? So, I brought a choice.”

  “You’ve brought four choices.”

  “Same thing.” She flips her case shut and stands. “What is your mum making? It smells so good, I’m drooling.”

  “Pastries. Lots of them. Bacon, eggs, and sausage. She’s probably chopping fruit, too, so she can say it’s a healthy brunch.”

  “We should help her.”

  “No, we shouldn’t.”

  Mila nods. “Ah, that’s where you get your ‘no help in the kitchen’ from.”

  “We don’t like people meddling.”

  “I would have helped.”

  We walk downstairs and into the kitchen. Mum refuses to put any Christmas decorations up until after my birthday, but there are balloons and presents on the side table.

  I place my hand on her back, and even that small touch is enough to make my pulse race.

  “There you two are. Phoebe’s just pulled up.”

  “Do you need me to do anything?” Mila asks, despite knowing she’ll be turned down.

  “Oh, no, dear. You relax. Reid can make coffee. I know he’s quite… particular when it comes to how it’s made.”

  Mila grins up at me. “Particular sounded a lot like anal freak there.”

  “Anal?” I whisper.

  She shakes her head with a scowl. “No, thank you.”

  “Mila!” Phoebe says, rushing towards her with Lexie on her hip.

  “Hey.”

  They hug, and Phoebe whacks me.

  “What was that?”

  “You didn’t tell me Mila was coming. But happy birthday.”

  I shrug. “Sorry.”

  Mila scowls playfully. “As if you’re trying to keep me a secret.”

  Callum walks in holding two massive bags crammed with everything Lexie needs for the night… and probably the following twelve.

  “She’s getting big now,” I say, stroking Lexie’s cheek.

  Lexie instantly pulls her whole body away from me, tucking herself into Phoebe.

  I think she’s about ten months old now, and she clearly still hates me.

  “Oh, don’t be silly,” Phoebe coos. “That’s your uncle Reid.”

  Lexie looks up and spots Mila. Her four-toothed smile is instant. She holds her chubby arms out, and Mila takes her from Phoebe.

  “Great, the kid prefers you, too.”

  Mila laughs. “Hey, pretty girl. You’re going to like him eventually; he has so many books. All those shelves are going to make the most awesome climbing frame for you.”

  Mum dries her hands and walks around the kitchen island.

  “Oh, look at her with Mila.”

  I know exactly what that means. Look at Mila with a baby. Give her babies, Reid.

  My mother wants a thousand grandchildren.

  “Hey, Reid. Happy birthday,” Callum says, whacking my back.

  “Thanks.”

  “Eric mowing that bloody grass again? He does it every three days.”

  “Have a word with him, Callum,” Mum says. “He’s addicted.”

  “There are worse addictions,” I say. “Could be prostitutes.”

  Mum is the only person who doesn’t laugh. She holds it in while slapping my arm.

  “I’ll call him; brunch is ready. Phoebe, I have the highchair for Lexie next to me.”

  Phoebe rolls her eyes. “Of course. To be fair, it’ll be a nice change from me wearing Lexie’s food.”

  “There’s prosecco on the table,” Mila says as Lexie throws herself at Callum.

  He takes her to the highchair. Phoebe picks up one of the bags and follows him.

  “I’m surprised it took you this long to notice,” I say.

  She turns to me with her arms folded. “If you let me get drunk over brunch…”

  “If I let you? Wow. Funny to think about you asking permission.”

  “Hey, I ask permission.”

  “When?”

  She purses her lips. “I’m sure I asked to read your manuscripts.”

  “We’ll use the term ‘ask’ loosely.”

  “Use it however you like. Shall we go and celebrate you turning twenty-five? I’m not giving you your present until later.”

  “Please tell me it’s wrapped in lace.”

  Closing the distance, she places her hands on my chest. I’m not sure if she’s forgotten where we are, but I don’t care.

  “The other present is currently wrapped in white lace.”

  I groan and lower my head. “You’re going to make this day drag.”

  She laughs. “But think how good it’s going to be when you slide under the covers tonight and peel that lace off me.”

  I clench my jaw, and she steps back.

  “Let’s go and sit down.”

  I look over her shoulder. Phoebe and Callum are still fussing around with Lexie, and Mum and Dad are just walking into the house.

  Mila and I take a seat opposite Phoebe and Callum. Dad sits next to me, and Mum is obviously at the head of the table with Lexie. That used to be the birthday person’s seat, but now everything belongs to Lexie. Good thing she’s cute.

  “Prosecco, Mila?” I ask, picking up a bottle.

  She looks at me, open-mouthed. “At this hour?”

  “Don’t you drink?” Dad asks her.

  “Erm…”

  He laughs. “We’re all having one. Kelly and Phoebe will have more than one.”

  I fill her glass, and then work around everyone else’s.

  Mum looks at Mila then me.

  Yeah, I get it. She belongs here.

  Forty

  Mila

  I already love Reid’s family. I wish I’d got to know them more when they lived near us. They’re all smiles and laughter. It’s infectious.

  “How are you still going?” I ask as Reid piles up another plate.


  He shrugs. “It’s a birthday breakfast. You’ve not done it right unless you feel ill after.”

  Eric laughs. “He’s right. Do you want another pastry?”

  I hold my hand up. “No, thank you.”

  Callum raises up the last remaining bottle of prosecco. “Can I at least tempt you with another glass of this?’

  “Well, that’s different.”

  Reid shakes his head, smirking as he picks up his coffee.

  Callum fills up mine and Phoebe’s glasses. Kelly has deserted us and switched to coffee, claiming someone needs to be sober for Lexie. That someone is Callum, but I think she likes hogging her granddaughter. I think Phoebe likes that, too. She gets to have a break from running around after a tiny person for a while.

  “We’re going to walk this off afterwards, anyway,” Kelly says.

  My eyes widen. “I’m expected to move after this?”

  “You’ll be fine,” Reid replies.

  “I don’t think I will. Where are we walking to?”

  “There’s a stream running from the back garden to a pub.”

  “We’re going to the pub next?” He nods in reply. “I really shouldn’t drink this fourth glass then.”

  “Who are you kidding, Mila?”

  I bring the glass to my lips and take a sip. “You might have to carry me home after dinner.”

  He shrugs like it’d be no big deal. I bet he’d do it, too. I might make him, even if I’m not that drunk, which will be a miracle if these people don’t stop plying me with alcohol.

  “I love birthdays here.”

  Reid glances my way. “Me, too.”

  When we finish, Eric and Callum tidy up. Reid is apparently excused because the birthday person doesn’t clean. I offered but Kelly and Phoebe wouldn’t let me get up. I’m staying in their house. The least I could do is clean some plates.

  “Lexie,” Kelly says. “You want to try a grape?”

  “Make sure it’s sliced, Mum!”

  “It’s sliced, Phoebe. Did you die?”

  Reid laughs and turns to me. “I’m glad you came this weekend.”

  “So am I.”

  “You don’t seem so nervous anymore.”

  Huh. “Oh. No, I’m not at all.”

  “Did you forget to be nervous?”

  “I guess I did. It’s like home here. You’re insane for staying back.”

  “I like my job. The view from my house isn’t bad either.”

  “Mrs Mathews directly opposite you. Reid, she’s in her sixties.”

  “But she only looks forty.”

  “She’s still sixty on the inside.”

  His eyebrows shoot up, and he starts laughing.

  “No!” I shake my head. “That’s not what I’m talking about. I don’t mean that she has an old… oh, my god, don’t laugh. That’s not how I meant it.”

  He laughs harder, throwing his head back.

  “Okay, you’re a child. I’m going to help your dad and Callum.”

  Kelly and Phoebe look over, smiling as I walk away.

  I hear them asking Reid what he’s done, and then I’m too far away to catch the rest.

  Well, they weren’t fibbing. We’re on a bloody long walk ten minutes after eating our bodyweight in brunch and Reid opening his gifts. My stomach is stretched, but hopefully the exercise will knock off a few calories. Probably about three.

  I might need a whole week of training with Jason to really put a dent in it.

  Lexie is strapped to Kelly’s chest in a carrier. Eric walks beside her, intermittently tickling Lexie’s cheeks. Callum and Phoebe walk closely behind, hand in hand, pointing out random things like birds and ducks.

  It’s so pretty here, even if it is a little chilly.

  “It’s gorgeous, Reid. Even though I’m in a food coma, I can still appreciate how pretty it is.”

  “I’ll bring you back in late winter. It’s even better when it’s coated in a blanket of snow.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  I sigh.

  God, I hope he invites me back.

  I bump his arm with mine. “Are you having a good birthday?”

  “The best.”

  “Birthdays when you’re a kid are way better. All those presents and the parties.”

  “They were good. I’d always insist on going to soft play when I was little. Looking back, I can see that Mum’s smile was concealing dread.”

  “My best party was a pool party. My parents hired a private pool, and then we had cakes, ice cream, and sugar in just about every form. It rocked. It’s actually where I had my very first kiss.”

  He chuckles. “Go on.”

  “I was seven.”

  “Early start.”

  I nudge him again and breathe in the smell of damp grass. “He was called Louis, and everyone in my class wanted to marry him. Our friends said he had to kiss me because it was my birthday. It was the quickest kiss, and I ran away—jumped straight back in the pool after.”

  “Lucky Louis.”

  “You’ve had my mouth for way longer than he ever did.”

  “I’m keeping it now. Louis will have to scare some other girl into jumping in a pool.”

  “How long are you keeping it for? I’ll have to let him know.”

  “Indefinitely. Tell him not to wait.”

  We pass a huge willow tree with a blanket of leaves hiding its trunk.

  “We used to swing from that tree when we were kids. This is the one I fell from and sprained my wrist. Phoebe accused me of doing it to take the attention from her.” He chuckles. “She was so mad that Dad took me to the hospital, which meant we missed half of her birthday.”

  “Where did you live before?”

  “Not far from their house now. We still walked this track to get to the pub.”

  “You were happy here.”

  “I’m happy back home, too. Mum missed the people here, though. They’d both spent their whole married life around here. Moving away was never the same for them.”

  “Well, I’m glad you guys moved.”

  “So am I.”

  “You’re thinking that because we’re now having awesome sex, too, right?”

  He grins. “I think about that a lot, actually.”

  Join the club.

  “Come on, you two!” Phoebe shouts over her shoulder.

  We’ve slowed down a lot. Good thing really. I don’t want his parents to hear how much he’s pleasing me in the bedroom.

  “I can’t walk fast. I have about ten servings of brunch inside me.”

  Reid laughs and grabs my hand. “You can make it.”

  He pulls me along, but he doesn’t let go when we catch up with the others. I guess he’s keeping my hand, and that’s just fine by me.

  Forty-One

  Reid

  Dad, Callum, and I get the drinks and take them into the pub’s conservatory.

  Mila is laughing with Phoebe when we approach the table.

  “Reid, your sister was telling me about the time she hid your Lord of the Rings book and you cried.”

  “Was she now?”

  Phoebe presses her lips together and shrugs.

  “Oh, I think it’s cute. If anyone touched my books, I’d scratch their face off,” Mila says.

  “God, Reid, marry her,” Callum jokes. “No other woman is going to get your book obsession.”

  “Plenty of women would, believe me,” Mila replies. She scoots over on the bench so I can sit down.

  Callum shakes his head. “Weird.”

  Mila turns to my sister. “You married a non-reader, Phoebe?”

  “He has abs.”

  “Got it.”

  Dad scowls and turns to Lexie. I don’t know why he’s going there. The baby is undeniable proof that they sleep together.

  “Happy birthday,” Mila says, clinking her prosecco glass against my beer.

  “Thank you.”

  She holds my gaze, and just when I think she’s about to come to
me, Mum calls her.

  Mila bites her lip, as though holding something in. At least she’s thinking about what she says around my parents. Not that I would care, but she would want to die if something inappropriate slipped out.

  “What was it like working with Reid?” Mum asks.

  She puts her drink down. “Oh my gosh, he’s so bossy.”

  I roll my eyes, and the girls continue their conversation.

  “Got your vest for tomorrow, pretty boy?” Callum asks, lifting his pale eyebrow.

  “No, have you?”

  “One year, we’ll have to do it for a joke.”

  “Dad will have a fit. Let’s do it for your birthday in the spring.”

  He nods. “Are you bringing Mila tomorrow?”

  I’ve said she can come, but she’s not giving me a definitive answer yet. Plus, she’s currently listing every example of how I’m bossy in the workplace.

  I bet she’s also making a mental list about how bossy I am in the bedroom.

  “I’m not sure yet. She doesn’t know what the girls are doing.” Mila’s head is slightly tilted towards me, like she’s keeping tabs on my conversation with Callum as well as talking to Mum.

  Callum snorts. “She’ll definitely not come to whack a tiny ball when she does.”

  “What is happening?” Mila asks.

  “Finished bitching about me?”

  “Midway. I’ll continue in a minute. I heard you talking about tomorrow.” Mum and Phoebe laugh. “What’s my other option? You seem to think that it’ll be better than golf.”

  “Oh, it’s undoubtedly better than golf. Phoebe and I are going to the spa. You’re welcome to join us. In fact, we’d love it if you ditched Reid to come with us.”

  I bet Mum would love that. She’s just waiting for her chance to get Mila alone so she can pounce. I cringe at the thought of Mum’s less than subtle questions she must be dying to ask.

  Mila’s eyes light up. “I’m not golfing, Reid.”

  “No? What changed your mind?”

  “Technically, I hadn’t made my mind up yet.”

  “The spa sells cocktails,” Phoebe adds.

  “There is absolutely no chance of me going to golf.”

  “I’m so shocked. You’re going to have a hangover tomorrow and not want to drink.”