by Behon, Susan
Ben had a quiet, watchful demeanor that was a bit off-putting to the other guys. He never said much, but that didn't really bother Reed. They worked well together, and between the two of them, Reed usually did most of the talking anyway.
He entered his office to find Ben sitting at his desk with a perplexed look on his face. He was staring down at a file, tapping his pen against the blotter in an agitated rhythm.
“Ben?”
Tap. Tap. Tappity Tap.
“Ben?”
Tap. Tap. Tappity Tap.
“Ben!”
Tap. Tap. "What?" He looked up at Reed as if he'd interrupted a musical masterpiece.
“What's going on, man?”
“Nothing. Why?”
“You look weird.”
“Screw you.”
Being a guy, and being fluent in Ben Speak, Reed knew “screw you” was Ben's version of “Why, yes, Reed. Come sit down and let's talk about it.” Even if Ben honestly meant, “screw you,” Reed disregarded it and sat down anyway.
“What's going on?”
In response, Ben held up an estimate request for work needing done at the Donaldson Building.
“So, what about it?”
Ben quietly stared at him.
“It's a legitimate request. Sophie Brandon came yesterday.”
Ben raised an eyebrow. Reed hated when he did that! Probably because he couldn't do it too. It was annoying anyway.
“Sophie Brandon…and Tracy King,” he emphasized, “need a wall built.”
Over the last few weeks, Reed suspected that Ben had a thing for Tracy or an overwhelming addiction to her cupcakes.
Ben started tapping the pen again.
“I know our crews are spread a little thin right now with the Falls Condos going up, but I figured you and I could do the job.”
Ben's other eyebrow went up. Show off.
“It's a small job. Probably only take a few days.”
More like a week if they took their time.
Ben looked thoughtful. He stared at the pen as if weighing his options, then shrugged in agreement. Reed didn't miss his quick flash of a smile. It was there and gone, but he caught it.
“Okay, then. We have an appointment there tonight. I'll pick you up about six.”
The pen started tapping again.
Chapter 4
Tracy stared at Sophie like she had a third eye.
“What?”
Tracy rolled her eyes.
“What?” Sophie looked down at herself innocently.
“Overdress much?”
“I cleaned up a little bit. What's wrong with that?”
“Is cleaning up a little bit the same as driving home, taking a shower, redoing your hair, applying makeup, putting on a sundress, and wait, are those high heels? Sophie, you're going to break an ankle.”
“I left some paperwork at home. After I took Max out, I got muddy when he dragged me around that stupid hydrangea. I had to take a shower!” It sounded good when she'd practiced it in her head.
She tried her best to look truthful. Tracy still wasn't buying it. Sophie's last-ditch effort at dignity was to turn the tables. “You're one to talk. Is that lip gloss?”
Tracy licked her lips self-consciously and glared at Sophie.
“My lips were chapped!”
She leaned in and sniffed deeply next to Tracy's hair. “Do I smell the perfume I gave you for Christmas?”
“A woman's not allowed to smell good?”
They stared at each other for a good ten seconds before giving in and laughing at the ridiculousness of it. Tracy put her arm around Sophie and gave a gentle side hug. “We're a pair aren't we?”
Sophie agreed. “You would think we were waiting on our gentleman callers instead of our builders.”
Tracy snorted. “Gentleman callers? Good Lord, woman. Has it been that long since either of us has had a date?”
“You mean a good date?”
“Hey, we can't help it if we're choosy.”
Tracy applied more lip gloss and smiled.
“Damn straight, sister-friend. Damn straight.”
* * * *
Reed drummed his thumbs on the steering wheel while he waited for Ben. He hummed, whistled, and sang the entire length of “American Pie” before Ben finally opened the passenger door and hopped in.
He glanced over and did a double take. “Did you get a haircut?”
Ben gave a one-shoulder shrug.
Reed inhaled. “Holy shit! Are you wearing aftershave?”
Ben glared at him.
When Reed laughed, Ben finally spoke. “You're one to talk, idiot. This cab smells like a French whorehouse.”
Reed quit laughing. “It does not! Besides, you've never been to a French whorehouse.”
Ben raised that damned eyebrow at him and shrugged again.
“Wait, have you?”
No response.
“Seriously, have you? Let's hear it.”
No response.
"You're not going to tell me?"
Ben shook his head in exasperation and stared out the window.
“You suck. You know that, right?”
Ben remained quiet, as usual, so he started singing along with the radio. Reed was glad that Ben didn't notice the new shirt he was wearing. He looked down at himself and sighed. Nothing wrong with a guy taking pride in his appearance, right?
For a construction job? Damn. He was an idiot. Even so, he consoled himself, if he was an idiot then so was Ben.
* * * *
Tracy checked receipts while Sophie did inventory. She hated to admit it, but she wasn't that steady walking barefoot, much less in heels. Tracy was right.
What the hell was I thinking? I really am going to break an ankle!
She wobbled back to the storeroom, tottering stiff legged as if she didn't have bendable knees. Sophie didn't know how women could wear these torture devices daily. She wanted to take the shoes off and throw them out the window. Then she wanted to run them over with her car. Then she wanted to run over the person who invented high heels but figured he or she was probably already dead.
She blamed her animosity on sore feet and sexual frustration. Reed holding her hand was the most action she'd gotten in what felt like forever. If he would have kissed her, she might have melted into a puddle of blissful goo. She had a feeling he would be a great kisser. A man wasn't blessed with lips like that without knowing how to use them, right?
Sophie would love to find out if he lived up to all of her fantasies of him. Even if he were only half as good, he would still be twice as good as any of her ex-boyfriends. Sad but true. Finding out was on her wish list. It would be wonderful to scream in ecstasy and not aggravation.
As Sophie reached up to grab a bag of powdered sugar, she muttered, “You are such a ho.”
“Who's a ho?”
At the sound of Reed's deep voice, Sophie yelped and lost her balance. The seal gave way and powdered sugar came down with her in a cloud of white dust. When the heel of her left shoe snapped off with an audible crack, Reed lunged to catch her. Instead of kissing the floor, a pair of strong arms grabbed her and pulled her into a wall of hard muscle.
Instead of her life flashing before her eyes, all Sophie could think about was how often Reed worked out. He was definitely solid and she was pretty sure her breasts were pushed up against the top of a six-pack.
Holy hell, if I died now, I could go a happy woman.
Reality intruded when Sophie realized she was covered in powdered sugar, the heel of her shoe was jammed under a shelf, and Reed hadn't let go of her yet. The bad news was that her chance at wowing him with her frilly, green sundress had bit the dust. The good news, obviously, was that Reed hadn't let go of her yet.
She looked up to see that he was covered in powdered sugar too. Nothing to do now but brazen it out.
“Hi, Reed.”
“Hello, Sophie.”
Reed stared down at her with such a serious intensity t
hat she began to stammer an apology. “I…” was all she managed to get out before he pulled her tighter, dipped his head, and pressed his lips to hers.
Okaaaay. This works too.
His lips were soft and hot and moved against hers with such precision that she wanted to climb him like a tree for greater contact. He pulled away, licked his lips, and murmured, “You taste so sweet.”
She gasped out, “I'm pretty sure that's the sugar.”
Against her lips, he breathed, “No, it's you. It's all you, Sophie.”
Reed closed the distance and kissed her again, this time using his tongue to sweep inside and taste her more thoroughly. Sophie touched her tongue to his in a tentative swipe and he seemed to lose all restraint.
His hands moved from her back down to her butt, to first squeeze gently and then to pull her flush against his hard lower body. When they made contact, she got hotter knowing just how much he wanted her. Reed's strength surrounded her. Sophie got lost in the wet glide of his tongue and the sensual pressure of his lips against hers.
Goosebumps raced up her arms when he changed direction and kissed along her neck and shoulder. She angled her head back to give him better access. Nothing ever felt this good. Sophie was preparing to throw Reed down and rip his clothes off when she heard a throat clear in a very loud “AHEM.”
She tried to spring away from him, but Reed hadn't gotten with the program yet. He leaned in to kiss her again. Noticing her stiff posture, he raised his head to look at her.
“A-hem once again.”
* * * *
Reed turned at the sound of Ben's voice and nearly wanted to throat punch him. He'd interrupted what was shaping up to be the best day of his life.
Ben, impervious to Reed's death glare, glanced knowingly at Reed's hands, which he still hadn't removed from Sophie's delectable butt. He might need a minute here.
Sensing Sophie's embarrassment when she pressed her face against his shoulder, he regretfully let go and told Ben to get lost. No way in hell was he letting him get any more of an eyeful.
Ben smirked and said, “Thought we were here for work.”
For what might have been the first time ever, Reed glared at him and said, “Shut up, Ben.”
His former friend turned away and laughed as he went back up front.
* * * *
Sophie was mortified. She was hot and bothered and covered in sugar! They'd just gotten caught making out like sex-starved love bunnies and she was clueless as to what to say to Reed now.
She tried to step back, but Reed kept one hand on her when he realized she had to balance on the shoe that still had a heel. Before she could speak, he placed his finger against her lips and whispered, “Don't you dare say you're sorry because I'm not.”
Sorry was the last thing she was feeling. She amended that thought after pulling back more and getting a good look at the amount of white powder covering his clothes.
“Oh, my God! I'm so sorry! Not about the kiss, but look at what I've done to your shirt! It wasn't new, was it?”
Reed shrugged noncommittally, not wanting to hurt her feelings with the truth.
“It's only sugar.” He dusted most of it off his dark blue shirt and angled himself so she could see it wasn't a disaster. “See? No big deal. The rest will wash out. No problem.”
It might have been no big deal to Reed but Sophie could feel the powdered sugar pooling in her push-up bra. Her storeroom looked like Christmas gone wrong and she was stuck with only one working shoe.
“If I could make it upstairs to Tracy's apartment, I could borrow some of her clothes and,” gesturing at her hair, "fix this mess."
Reed swept her up in his arms and started for the back door. Sophie gave a token protest but enjoyed being in his arms a little longer. She couldn't hobble on one shoe and wouldn't walk through the parking lot barefoot. The hot asphalt would blister her feet in no time.
He carried her up the wrought iron steps without even breathing hard. She marveled at his strength.
“You work out a lot, don't you?”
“Not as much as I should. Why?”
“You carried me across the kitchen, over the parking lot, and up a steep set of stairs. You're not even breathing hard!”
He gave her a wicked grin. “Would you like me to?”
Yes! No! Well, maybe.
As Reed said that, he stopped in front of Tracy's door. The summer air was hot but less humid. The sun was low is the sky, lit in hues of rose and orange. He looked gorgeous in this light.
She realized they were just standing there staring at each other. Well, he was standing there; she was held aloft like a bride about to cross the threshold. Some signs of strain were starting to show on his face.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, uh, where's the key?”
He twisted left and right, searching for the key, swinging her body along with him. Sophie held on tighter for a moment and then regretfully asked him to put her down so she could open the door. She balanced against the railing and told Reed that the spare key was under the mat.
Reed frowned. “You realize that's not safe, right?”
She placed a hand on his chest to halt his next words of warning. “Preaching to the choir, here. Tracy forgets her keys a lot, so this is her backup plan. I keep a spare in my purse, but we sort of took off before I could grab it.”
Reed still looked concerned. “Tracy needs a new plan. Any yahoo could get in here.”
Sophie took the key from him and unlocked the door. Turning around to face him, she couldn't stop her smile. “Yahoo?”
He braced his arm against the side of the doorframe and grinned down at her. “Yeah, yahoo.” With the smile still lingering on his lips, he kissed her on the forehead. The forehead! “See you downstairs, Sophie.”
Reed took off down the steps without looking back. Sophie knew because she leaned out of the doorway and watched until he turned the corner.
Once inside Tracy's bathroom, she got a good look at herself in the mirror and groaned. She looked like she'd gotten into a fight with a case of powdered doughnuts and lost.
Chapter 5
Before Reed walked back in the bakery, he stripped off his shirt, shook it out, then put it back on. He ran his hands through his hair and dusted the rest of the powdered sugar off his jeans.
Heading up front, he heard Tracy's flirty voice before he walked into the room.
“You like that don't you, Ben? Did I blow your mind?”
Reed stormed in, praying they had their clothes on but fully prepared to interrupt any hanky-panky. Turnabout was fair play after all. He stopped so quickly the air might as well have been a wall of glass. Tracy sat next to a euphoric looking Ben, handing him a napkin.
“What the hell is going on here, Ben? I thought we were here for work, not…”
Tracy cut him off when she held up a cupcake. “Want to try one? It's my July special. I call it Red, White, and Blue My Mind. Almond flavored white cake, raspberry filling, and blue swirl buttercream frosting.”
Reed was so thrown off, it didn't even occur to him to ask her about the white cake. She nudged Ben, who was starting on his second cupcake. “It rocks, right?”
Ben might have been smiling, but it was hard to tell with his cheeks shoved full of cake. The bastard definitely had a twinkle in his eye. Reed politely took a cupcake and sampled it. Oh damn. It was moist, sweet, and delicious. White cake was better than yellow cake. Mystery solved.
Tracy got a good look at his clothes, which still had some traces of powdered sugar. “What happened?”
“That cupcake was awesome.”
Tracy waved that off. “Thank you, but what happened to your clothes?” She looked past him, just noticing Sophie wasn't with him. Her expression grew more worried and she frowned.
“Where's Sophie?”
Reed ignored Ben, who was looking pointedly at him.
“There was a little sugar mishap.”
Ben snorted. Reed chose to
ignore that as well.
“Sophie's upstairs borrowing some of your clothes.” He waved his hand in a vague, “whatever” gesture guys used when they didn't quite know what womanly things were happening.
Tracy rose out of her chair. “What did you do to Sophie?”
“Nothing!”
Ben gave him a knowing smirk. “You sure about that?”
“Seriously! The sugar got all over her dress so she had to change. Her shoe was broken too. I'm not sure what she'll do about that.”
Tracy narrowed her eyes. “Her shoe or her ankle?”
“Shoe.” He was positive about that.
She headed out of the room muttering, “I better check on her.”
Reed took her recently vacated seat and watched Ben watch Tracy walk away. When there was nothing left to see, Ben turned and faced Reed.
“So, a sugar mishap, huh?”
Reed kicked his chair. “Not another word, Ben.”
* * * *
Sophie was pulling on a pair of lavender colored drawstring shorts when Tracy poked her head in the room.
She let out a wolf whistle. “Woo hoo, little mama. Now that's sexy.”
Tracy eyed the equally baggy matching T-shirt with a critical eye. “Hmmm, but it seems to be missing something…oh, I know! How about a pair of high heels?”
Sophie laughed in spite of herself. “You just shut up!” She groaned and put her hands over her face. Talking through her fingers, she said, “God, Tracy, I think I made a complete fool of myself.”
Tracy sat on her bed and pulled Sophie over to sit on the patchwork quilt next to her. “Tell me what happened and start from the beginning.”
Sophie blew out a slow breath. "Okay, you know I was taking inventory while wearing those evil shoes."
“Yes, bad idea.”
“Reed came up behind me and startled me.”
“Uh-oh.”
“I tripped and broke the heel off of my shoe.”
“That's bad.”
“Reed caught me.”
“That's good.”
“A bag of powdered sugar came off the shelf and opened up on us.”
“That's bad.” Tracy paused. “On second thought, that has possibilities.”