Reid: Vested Interest #4

by Melanie Moreland

  “I won’t. I didn’t. We had words, and we cleared the air. Everything is fine,” I soothed. “You can retract your claws now. No need to go for the kill.”

  She huffed out a snarl, making me laugh. She flung her arms around me, pressing her lips to mine. Surprised, I yanked her close, kissing her enthusiastically. She was breaking one of her own rules when it came to heavy petting in the workplace.

  I was good with that. So good, I decided I needed to shuffle over to the sofa, and get rid of those boxes, then put it to a far better use. Namely, Becca under me, moaning my name. It would ease the tension of the morning.

  Becca, however, had other ideas. She eased back, pressing one final kiss to my mouth.

  “What was that for?”

  “For being you. For putting me first. For being so . . . manly.” She growled the last word.

  I punched my hips into hers. “Why don’t I show you how manly I am?” I reached behind me, flicking the lock. “The sofa is very comfortable.”

  She watched me, her brow furrowed in contemplation. I could feel her indecision.

  “I can be fast, baby.”

  She slid her hands up my arms. “That would be so naughty.”

  I nodded. “I like naughty.”

  She rose on her toes, and I lowered my head eagerly just as the door behind me shook with fierce knocking. “Reid! Pizza is here, and Bentley is out for blood. You didn’t get him any goat cheese.” The door handle rattled. “Come on, dude!”

  “I’ll be right there!” I bellowed, hoping he would go away. But I knew the moment was broken.

  Becca’s wide eyes met mine. “I guess I’ll have to give you a rain check.”

  “Yes. You owe me.”

  A grin curled her lips. “Maybe a private dance later? I learned a new move on the pole I haven’t shown you.”

  I loved watching Becca dance using her pole. She made every fantasy I had come true, and sex was always wild with her after she was done.

  If I allowed her to finish a routine. I wasn’t sure I had ever seen one in its entirety.

  She was too sexy for her own good. Or mine.

  I bent down and kissed her.

  “Deal.”

  Reid

  THE SOUND OF the engine in the plane was a muted hum. For the second time in a month, I was on a trip. I glanced around the interior of the private plane in awe. Leaning over, I grinned at Becca. “Good thing we didn’t fly private the first time. Commercial would have been an extreme letdown after this luxury.”

  She laughed. “Don’t get used to it. I don’t think we can spring for this ourselves.”

  “Probably not.”

  Once again, I pulled my passport from my pocket, still amazed at how a small booklet could make me feel so joyful. I could travel now, and once Bill finished the work needed to expunge my record, I would be free to travel anywhere Becca wanted to go. My past would no longer restrict my life.

  I met Sandy’s caring gaze. Maddox and Dee had offered to put off their wedding, but she insisted they keep their plans. They agreed as long as she came to the wedding, since it was important to both of them to have her there. After some consideration, she decided to join us. Still grieving, she had sadness about her, although she did better when surrounded by people. I continued to go over a couple of nights every week, with Becca often accompanying me. We knew no matter how happy Sandy was for Maddox, she would find it difficult, and we planned to stay close to her as much as possible. I smiled at Sandy, and she winked, returning to the book she was reading.

  I gazed past Becca at the vast, blue sky.

  “What kind of wedding do you want?” I asked quietly. Marriage was a topic we spoke of frequently in passing. We’d talk and ask questions, and then move on to another subject. It was our way of feeling each other out with no pressure. I wanted to marry Becca. I liked the idea more all the time, and I was certain she felt the same. We had never discussed details, though.

  She pursed her lips. “Small, intimate. I’d like my dad there. Friends. A pretty dress and some flowers.”

  I thought of Bentley’s wedding. “Cake?”

  She chuckled. “Yes, cake too.”

  “So, in BC, then?”

  “I don’t think my dad could travel, so it would have to be.”

  “Okay.”

  She peeked up at me. “Yeah?”

  “As long as you’re my wife at the end of the day, I’m good with that.”

  She looked confused. “We’re just talking, right? You’re not asking?”

  I kissed her hand. “I can do better than asking en route to another wedding surrounded by people. So, yeah. Just talking.” I bent low to her ear. “But ‘yes’ is looking pretty certain now, isn’t it?”

  She kissed me. “Yes, yes, it is.”

  I sat back and relaxed, not hiding my grin. “Good.”

  Dancing with Becca on the sandy beach was a little trickier than dancing on a smooth floor, but somehow, we managed. Maddox and Dee exchanged vows under the bright sun, then we spent the afternoon enjoying the island. Dinner happened at sunset, followed by a short speech by Maddox himself, before the real party started. There was champagne and music. Laughter and stories.

  And love. It saturated the entire day.

  I look down at Becca, holding her tight in my arms. Luckily, she was content to sway to the music, happy simply to be close. Looking at the moon glimmering on the water, I squeezed her hand lying on my chest. “Wanna take a walk with me?”

  With a smile, she agreed, and we slipped away. The air was warm and sultry. We were both barefoot, and we walked along the edge of the water, letting the cool waves brush against our skin. From behind us, we could hear the faint strains of music and the laughter of our friends.

  I tucked her into my side, enjoying the island breeze and her closeness. When we came to the outcropping of rocks, Becca stopped and sat on one of the large, flat boulders and patted the space next to her. We watched the waves kick up on the beach, the silence between us easy. I entwined our fingers, lifting her hand to my mouth for a kiss.

  “You want children,” she stated unexpectedly.

  “Yes, I do. I want a family.”

  “How many?”

  “Well, I think it’s easier when they come one at a time.” I nudged her playfully. “But I would like a couple of them, I think.”

  She chuckled. “How soon?”

  I frowned. “I hadn’t thought much about that, to be honest. We’re young still, so there isn’t any rush. In the next few years, I guess?”

  “I want to establish my career, and I want to work after I have kids. I went to school for a long time to get my degree, and I want to learn my craft.”

  Her words made sense. “I get that.”

  “You wouldn’t mind getting married and waiting a while for kids, then?”

  “No. It makes sense in many ways. If we have kids, we’ll need a bigger place. We can save and be ready for them.” I squeezed her fingers. “We could live in my new place. It would be big enough for the two of us until we’re ready to move on.”

  She stared out at the water, nodding slowly. “Yes, that would work.” She slipped from the rock, and I stood to join her. I glanced down and brushed the sand off my pants. Looking up, I expected to see her waiting for me. Instead, she was down on one knee. In her hand was a slim silver band.

  My heart rate picked up. “Becca . . . what are you doing?”

  She smiled up at me, tears already in her eyes. “Reid Matthews, I love you. We’ve shared a lot of firsts together, but I wanted to add something you weren’t expecting.”

  “BB . . .” I breathed out her name.

  “My mom gave my dad an engagement ring. He wears it with his wedding band. I wanted to offer you one.” Her voice quivered. “I want to marry you, Reid. Will you let me be the first for the rest of your life?”

  I stared at her, shocked. With a grin, I joined her on the sand, then pulled the ring I had brought for her from my pocket. �
�I would love to, Becca Holden. As long as you’ll be mine.”

  She laughed as we slid a ring onto each other’s finger. “I can’t believe we both planned this.”

  “I can. We’re made for each other.”

  She stared down at her ring. It wasn’t huge and wildly expensive like the one Bentley or Aiden purchased. Sandy had taken me to see Darlene, who helped me pick a simple setting and a beautiful diamond. It suited Becca. Becca suited me. It worked.

  My hand felt strange with the addition of the thin band. But it felt right.

  My entire life finally felt right.

  I kissed her. “I love you, Becca Holden, soon to be Becca Matthews.” I grinned. “Or since you asked me, am I going to be Reid Holden?”

  She laughed. “No, I guess I’m old-fashioned in that sense. I want to be Becca Matthews.”

  “Nothing would make me prouder.”

  Her smile lit my world.

  “I love you, Reid Matthews. I can’t wait to be your wife.”

  I grinned.

  I was good with that.

  Five months later

  Reid

  I GLANCED AROUND my desk, making sure everything was in order. All that remained were a few files of things I had been working on over time—nothing that anyone had to take care of while I was gone. The system was in top form, and I knew my staff would maintain it while I was gone for two weeks.

  Honeymoon or not, I also planned to check in. Becca knew me too well; she asked that I limit it to once every couple of days, and I do it while she slept. I was still a night owl, and normally, she was out by eleven, so I had no issues with that. I was sure she’d sleep well after days spent on a hot beach and exploring the ruins in Mexico that she wanted to see. Plus, I planned to wear her out by making love to her as often as possible.

  Just the thought of sex with my wife got me going. I was looking forward to exploring her as often as possible.

  A gentle knock on my door brought me from my thoughts, and I looked up. Sandy smiled at me. “The boys want to see you in Bentley’s office.”

  I frowned. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes. I think they want a last word before you go.”

  “Okay. You have everything, right?”

  Leaning on the doorframe, she crossed her arms. “Reid Matthews, of course I do. I have all the paperwork, the rings, and everything else you need.”

  I winked. “That is why you’re my best lady.”

  She laughed. Our wedding was going to be very small, and Becca and I decided against a traditional wedding party. Her dad would give her away, and Sandy would accompany me. They would be our witnesses. It was what we wanted, and it felt right for us. The rest of our friends were guests.

  I glanced at my phone. “Do they really need to see me? They’ll all be with me on the plane tomorrow.” As a surprise, they had chartered a private plane, so I knew the journey would be a comfortable one with lots of time for talking.

  She lifted one shoulder. “They’re waiting.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right there.”

  I shut down the laptop and made my way to Bentley’s office. Emmy walked toward me, slowly trudging down the hall, one hand resting on her rounded stomach. Bentley was leaning against his doorway, trying to look nonchalant and failing miserably. He watched over her zealously.

  Stopping, I grinned at Emmy. “How you doing?” I winked. “Need some help?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Is he watching?”

  I cut my gaze to Bentley. “He’s pretending to be busy on his phone, but we both know he’s crap at typing without his eyes on the screen, so unless it’s hieroglyphics he’s sending, I would say yes.”

  “What does he think is going to happen in the hall?” She huffed.

  “Well, you are rather top-heavy now. Maybe he’s worried you’ll topple.” Emmy was petite, and her “baby belly,” as she called it, was rather prominent. She had begun wobbling around four months, and now it was a pronounced waddle. She complained constantly about not remembering what her feet looked like anymore, and she still had weeks to go before the due date. We had made sure to schedule the wedding date so she could join the celebration.

  “He is driving me crazy.” A mischievous look crossed her face. “I can make him run down the hall fast by making one noise. Wanna see?”

  I chuckled. “I think he heard your plans.”

  “Not funny, Freddy,” he called.

  She looked over her shoulder. “Whatever, Rigid. You can stop stalking me now.”

  “I’m observing. Carefully,” he corrected her.

  She muttered something under her breath about overly protective CEOs and blew him a kiss. She disappeared into her office, and I hurried down the hall to Bentley’s office, following him inside.

  They all greeted me with a smile, but the atmosphere felt serious.

  I sat down. “What’s going on?”

  Bentley smiled. “Ready for the next step in your life? Big changes.”

  “I think so,” I replied with a small shrug. “Becca’s been living with me the last couple of months. I don’t expect a piece of paper will change my life that much.”

  All three of them laughed, making me wary. Something was going on.

  Bentley slid a folder my way. “Maybe this piece of paper will change your mind.”

  Curious, I pulled the folder close and opened the flap. It was fat with legal documents, and I scanned the first several pages, unsure if I was reading the documents properly.

  “I-I don’t understand.”

  “This is our wedding gift to you, Reid,” Maddox spoke. “We’ve each given you a share in the company. You are now a part owner of BAM.”

  I blinked, shock rendering me speechless.

  Maddox grinned. “Your share, albeit small, is worth a fair bit of money.” He threw out a figure that almost made me fall out of my chair. “It is a valuable asset for you.”

  Bentley cleared his throat. “The documents say it all, but I’ll give you the fast version. These are non-voting shares. If, at any time, you chose to leave BAM, they revert to the original owner at the price they are valued at today. Namely, the three of us. But until that time, which we hope is never, you have a stake here.”

  I shook my head to clear it. “Why?” I managed to get out.

  Maddox laughed. “You’ve earned it, Reid. We wanted to give you something tangible, something for your future.” He pointed to the folder. “Check out the second set of papers.”

  My hand shook as I flipped to the second set of documents. It was a pre-approved mortgage for the condo in Ridge Towers. My gaze flew to Bentley’s.

  “It’s yours, if you want it. If you prefer a house or another place, the mortgage is transferrable. Your shares make you wealthy enough that you can afford to live wherever you want. A mortgage is no longer an issue.” He sat back with a smile. “Your past is no longer an issue. This gives you the ability to move forward once and for all.”

  “Becca loves Ridge Towers,” I said, still in shock.

  “Then it will be yours.”

  “I don’t-I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you guys are doing this for me,” I mumbled, unable make my voice louder. “I never expected . . . Not in a million years . . .” My throat was thick with emotion. Gratitude filled my heart. Exhilaration hummed below my skin, making my hands shake. I stared down at the papers, the words becoming wavy as my emotions began to overtake me. It was too much to process all at once, and I didn’t know how to handle it.

  Becca’s hands slid over my shoulders and the press of her lips on my cheek calmed me. In a second I was on my feet, pulling her into my arms, needing her close. I buried my face into her neck, letting the feel of her calm me.

  “Did you know?” I asked quietly.

  “They told me this morning.”

  “Becca, this changes so many things. I can give you everything.”

  She cupped my face. “I have everything. I have you.” Her eyes glimmered in the
light. “This changes nothing, Reid, except to show you how much you are loved. You belong here, with the people you care the most about.” She smiled. “Your brothers.”

  Aiden stood and crossed the room, gripping my shoulder. “She’s right. You came to us a broken kid, Reid. Eager to learn and grow. You helped us in ways we can never repay. You’ve grown into a responsible man with a bright future. You’ve become a friend and brother to each one of us, and we want you to be a part of our future. This gift was a no-brainer for us.” His hand was heavy on my shoulder. “We’re proud of you.”

  I looked at Bentley and Maddox. They were grinning in agreement. Sandy had slipped in with Emmy, her smile wide. Emmy gave me a thumbs-up.

  “You three are my family. This place was the first home I ever had. Somewhere I was safe and welcome. Because of you, I met Becca.” I cleared my throat. “I can’t imagine not being here with you guys. I would be proud to be part of this company.” My gaze swept the room. “I love all of you.”

  I extended my hand to Aiden. “Thank you.”

  He laughed, yanking me in for a hug. His massive arms squeezed the air out of me. When he was finished, Maddox and Bentley stepped in, exchanging hugs, backslaps, and laughter. I never let go of Becca’s hand.

  I met Aiden’s eyes. He had taken a chance on me, and I would never forget it. “I won’t let you down.”

  “I know, kid. I know.”

  Three years later

  The office was quiet, the afternoon sun beaming into the room. Files, lists, and equipment covered my desk. I ignored it all, my focus on the small bundle in my lap.

  I watched my son, his tiny fingers as they gripped mine, his wide blue gaze flitting around the room.

  “New space, eh, buddy?” I whispered. My heart so filled with love for the small person I’d created with Becca, I could barely be away from him. “Today is our first baby and dad meeting. I get to have my own sidekick!”

  Theodore Rodney Matthews greeted my exciting news with a wide yawn, clearly not as thrilled as I was about being at work.

  Becca and I were married surrounded by our friends in BC, and we honeymooned in Mexico. Bill helped me, and with his hard work, I had my record expunged. For the next two years, we used every day of vacation and satisfied her desire for travel—visiting England, Greece, and exploring Canada.