by Piper Rayne
“You got all that in the split second he walked by us?”
He laughs and stands outside one of the rows, motioning for me to go in first. Following behind, he sits next to me, thigh to thigh.
“He told you not to act like you knew him?” Pete whispers.
“It’s none of your business.” I wish Pete would stop asking questions about Reed and me.
“Good boy. Glad to know that all his bullshit about being on the good side of things, didn’t make him naive.”
“Okay, you can stop talking now.” I roll my eyes.
“If he’s going to be a permanent fixture in your life, I have to make sure he can protect you both.”
“I can protect us. Me. I’ve done a good job of it for the last seven years.”
His hand pats my knee and I slide it over, so it drops off. “Relax, you’re drawing attention to yourself.”
I scowl in his direction just as the judge enters the courtroom. Everyone stands, Reed glancing over his shoulder to spot Pete and me. There’s no recognition or emotion in his gaze.
“You may be seated,” the judge says and we all sit down.
“Your boy is threatened by me. Funny. You divorced me,” Pete continues to talk even though I ignore him.
The head juror hands a piece of paper to the sheriff who hands it to the judge. She reads it and my focus is on Reed. He’s sitting straight, his arms resting on the table, waiting for the verdict. The defendant stands.
“Here’s the big moment,” Pete whispers and I elbow him in the ribcage.
“We the jury find the defendant…guilty.”
The juror continues talking but I watch as the tension leaves Reed’s shoulders. He glances to his partner who helped him, and they share a satisfied look.
A few people on the defendant’s side cry out and the judge bangs his gavel to get everyone under control. The defendant’s head falls into his hands as he weeps. It’s all very dramatic and it isn’t until a woman on the other side tries to jump the separation to stop them from taking the defendant away that I understand why Reed was so adamant about not letting anyone here know we’re together.
Once it’s all said and done, Pete and I stand.
“Well, now your boy has his pick of DA offices in the country.”
I glance back to see Reed’s gaze on me as I leave the courtroom with Pete. I want to raise my hand, but I follow his instructions and tuck my head down, leaving without acknowledging him.
“What are you talking about? And would you please call him by his name instead of ‘my boy,’ it’s getting old.”
Pete follows me outside. Like Mother Earth knew it’d be a day to celebrate, the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and people are littered across the courtyard enjoying the weather, ignorant to what just happened in that courtroom.
“You think after winning this case, he’s going to stay an assistant district attorney, emphasis on ‘assistant?’”
“He doesn’t want to go into the private sector. Not everyone is a money grubber.”
“That money grubber supports our daughter. Well, I may add.” He lights up a cigarette.
“Fifteen feet rule,” I singsong and he takes a few giant steps away from the front doors.
That’s the difference. Reed follows the rules while Pete disregards them.
“People are going to want him, Vic, he won’t be in Chicago long.” He pats me on my back, smoking his cigarette and heads to a taxi. “See you tomorrow night.”
He flicks the cigarette to his side and a woman screams at him since it almost hit her. He ignores her and gets into the cab probably instructing the driver to run her over.
Why is Pete always like the cloud on an otherwise beautiful day?
Chapter Thirty
Hannah has been so understanding. Needing a day to regroup, I took off Jade’s birthday because not only do I have to make her the grumpy cat cake she requested, but I’m just not in the mood to deal with people. Especially after Pete’s comment about Reed not staying in Chicago. It’s been eating at me since the words left his lips.
“This is cute.” My mom comes in and sits on the breakfast stool, turning the picture and directions toward her.
“I’m pretty sure Moe is her inspiration.”
“He is a grump.”
“You think?”
She watches me for a few minutes, as I add the eggs and oil into the box mix and whisk it together.
“How are things with Reed?” she asks.
The doorbell rings and I crinkle my eyebrows at my mom. Neither of us are expecting anyone and I swear if it’s Pete, my mom might drop kick him on the spot.
She walks to the door and opens it.
“You must be Mama Clarke.”
Chelsea.
“Chelsea, right?” My mom laughs knowing she got it right from the way I’ve described my co-worker.
I wipe my hands on a dishcloth and walk to the doorway between the rooms, spotting Hannah there, too. They each hold colorful gift bags stuffed with tissue paper.
“I’m Hannah.” She puts out her hand for my mom, but my mom pulls her into a hug.
“This is an unexpected surprise,” she says to both of them. “Are those for Jade?”
“We’re crashing the birthday shindig and just note, we’re highly offended we weren’t invited.” Chelsea points to me.
“I didn’t think—”
“You thought wrong. We love that girl, too.” Hannah comes to my side. “And we love you. Since when do you need a personal day?” She tilts her head. “You can’t come to us, we come to you.”
She holds out her arms and I step into them hugging her body to mine.
“Don’t forget me.” Chelsea runs over and the three of us are in a huddle.
“I feel left out,” my mom jokes.
“Come on, Mama Clarke.” Chelsea waves her hand and my mom comes over.
By the time we all part, they look at me like they’re waiting for instructions.
“You want to help with her cake?” I ask.
“Not really. Do you have any wine?” Hannah asks. “Sorry, but you don’t want my help. Trust me.”
“I’ve got wine.”
They follow me into the kitchen, my mom playing hostess and me finishing the cakes by putting them in the oven to bake.
“So, why the personal day?” Chelsea asks, sipping her wine.
“I was just asking her about Reed,” my mom chimes in.
“Something happen?” Hannah asks like she’d be heartbroken if it did.
I wipe down the counter where I was working. “No, we’re good. It’s just that big case he won.”
“I saw him on the news. The camera doesn’t add ten pounds to him that’s for sure.” Chelsea waggles her eyebrows my way over the rim of her wine glass.
“Isn’t it a good thing that he won? He gets to keep his job,” Hannah jokes.
“Or move to a different city. He’s the assistant district attorney and Pete seems to think he’ll get offers to be a district attorney and probably not in Chicago.”
“Fuck what Pete thinks,” Chelsea says, immediately covering her mouth after and looking toward my mom. “Sorry.”
My mom waves her off. “My sentiments exactly, Chelsea.”
Hannah falls back to her seat. “Oh. Well, that’s not good.”
“Have you talked to him?” my mom asks.
I mix the frosting because I want to do anything but think of this thing between us ending before it really gets started.
“No.”
“Then why are you so upset? Ask the man.” My mom talks like she’s one of the girls and inside I smirk. It’s good to see her vibrant.
My phone buzzes with a text and Chelsea slides it my way.
“I’ll finish that.” She comes behind the mixer. “Relax, I grew up with a big family who doesn’t eat store-bought anything.”
I smile and head down the hall for some privacy.
Reed: What time did you want us ton
ight?
Me: Whenever. I’m just making her cake and I’m going to order pizza.
Reed: Want some help? I’m about to leave work for the day.
I look at the time. It’s only one.
Me: Chelsea, Hannah and my mom are here.
Reed: So, I’d be invading girl time?
Me: No, you can come. I have some manly stuff I need done.
Reed: I do like when you make use of my manly skills.
Me: I need some grab bars installed in the bath.
Reed: Not what I had in mind, but I’ll be over soon.
Me: Okay and I’m kidding about the grab bars.
I head back into the kitchen, stuffing my phone in my back pocket. “I feel like the party is about to start without Jade.”
Chelsea already has one batch of cream frosting done and she’s on to the chocolate.
“Um, who are you? Betty Crocker?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I told you, big family.”
“Well then, I’ll work on the fondant face.” I sip my wine. “Reed’s coming over.”
All six eyes land on me.
“Talk to him.” Hannah pats my hand. “No need getting upset over nothing.”
“You’re a sensible woman,” my mom says.
“Not when it comes to the silver fox,” Chelsea adds, and I almost spit out my wine.
Hannah picks up a crumpled napkin and throws it at Chelsea.
“You know it and we know it. It’s only a matter of time before you sleep with him.”
Hannah balks, but it doesn’t escape my notice that she doesn’t argue against Chelsea’s claim.
* * *
A bit later the doorbell rings. We’ve got the frosting made and Chelsea’s demanding she spread it, but the cakes are still cooling.
I open the door to find him in a light sweater and dark jeans. Casual and edible.
“Good afternoon.” He grabs my hand and pulls me out onto the porch then shuts the door. “They’re all in there, right?”
He pushes me against the side of the house, his hands already on my cheeks, his lips millimeters away from mine.
“Yeah.”
“That’s why we’re out here.”
His lips crash onto mine, his tongue sliding in through my parted lips. His knee wedges between my legs and grinds into my center. If we weren’t on the porch and I didn’t have a household of friends inside, I’d suggest a heavy make-out session in his car. Then again, Abe probably dropped him off.
Closing the kiss, I drag oxygen back into my lungs. Luckily, he continues to hold me up before I crumble to the ground.
“Sorry, I missed you.” He leans in and kisses my forehead.
“Don’t be.”
He keeps me in his arms, staring down at me with the loving look I’m slowly becoming addicted to.
“Can we talk?” I ask.
“I knew something was wrong.” He leads me over to the bench on my mom’s porch, my hand in his. “What’s up?”
“The case you won. Biggest case you’ve ever had?”
Just the mention of the case, a look of exhaustion crosses his face. “Not the hardest, but the biggest spectacle, yes. The most televised one for sure.” His hand fiddles with mine. “Why?”
“Is there a chance you might become district attorney in Chicago?”
He huffs. “No. The DA spot isn’t going to be up for a while here.”
“Like how long?”
“Why all the questions?” He leans forward to look into my eyes, as if the answer lies there.
I shrug. “Just curious.”
“Remember, I like how forthcoming you are. Just spit it out, Vic.”
“Is there a chance that you’ll be offered a higher position somewhere else and you’ll leave Chicago?”
His head falls down and his hand grips mine even tighter. Looking up from the corner of his eye, he nods.
He fucking nods.
I want to scream NO and run down my street refusing to believe that he’ll be gone.
“There’s a chance, but I might not. I mean no one’s reached out yet.”
“The case just ended yesterday.”
He nods again. “Yeah, but all I can say is that at this point, I haven’t been asked to go anywhere.”
“And if you are?”
He blows out a breath. “Honestly?”
I pull my hand from his grasp and tilt my head in a what-the-fuck-do-you-think, mannerism.
“I don’t want to think about it. I can’t stay assistant forever, there are things I want to achieve in my career but leaving Henry and you wouldn’t be easy.”
I can tell he’s thought about it which makes me think the possibility of him getting an offer is much higher than he’s implying.
“Did you sign those guardian papers for Henry?”
He shakes his head. “Not yet. I have a friend looking over them first. I told Ned I’d let him know next week.”
“And if you move?”
He turns directly to me, gripping both my hands. “I don’t want to discuss this, Vic. If the time comes, we’ll talk about it of course, but that time is not now, and I feel like this is all wasted breath. You’re getting upset when nothing’s happened and here’s me trying to figure out how to keep everything I love together. When in reality, the call might never come.”
I stare down at our joined hands in my lap. Sensible Reed has made his appearance and talked me off the ledge.
“It’s Jade’s birthday. Let’s enjoy it. Worry about this shit later.”
I smile, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest. Calm quickly replaces the tension with just the scent of his cologne.
“One more thing.” I stare up at him, shooting him my best innocent eyes. “Pete’s coming to dinner.”
He rolls his eyes. “Great.”
He stands, takes my hands and pulls me up. “Now, let’s enjoy the day.”
“Okay. I should get in there before Chelsea decorates Jade’s cake all by herself.” I head to the door, his hand in mine.
“That’s a bad thing because?”
“Because I make her cake. I’m her mom.”
He nods, but I can tell he clearly doesn’t understand a mother’s right to complain about having to do something while insisting on doing it herself at the same time. It’s a mom thing.
Chapter Thirty-One
“Do you want me to grab Henry?” I ask Reed, staring at his ass bent over in the bathtub.
“No, I’m almost done. It wasn’t that hard.” He stands up, pulling on the bar. Then he pretends to sit down in the tub and pull himself up.
“I never would have thought you could do that.”
He narrows his eyes at me. “You thought I was too white-collar, did you?”
He steps out secure in the fact the grab bar will hold my mom’s weight if she needs it and stalks toward me.
“A lawyer. Winnetka. Rich boy.” I flip up my fingers counting the reasons off.
He reaches me, tickling my ribcage until he gets me right where he wants me, in his arms.
“Maybe I should have worn my tool belt?”
I wiggle to get free. “That and no shirt. You’d look much manlier. Maybe Ned can help you out.”
His fingers dig deeper until he’s got my hands over my head and his body has me pressed against the wall. He trails his nose along my neck and up to my ear—back and forth, a painful arousal building deep inside me.
“I think you know how manly I am,” he whispers sliding his other hand up my shirt, cupping my breast over my bra.
“Someone could come,” I whisper.
“Tell me how manly I am.”
“You’re manly.”
“You don’t sound convincing.” His fingers pinch my nipple and I push into his touch, unable to stop myself.
“Your manhood is so manly I’m sore for days.”
He hems and haws. “I need more information.”
“Well, counselor, I’m not sure what
you’re looking for.”
Another tweak of my nipple and I moan.
“Shh… you’re going to get us caught. Now, where were we?” His fingers pull down the cup of my bra. “Tell me.”
“You’re so manly that I bet you can fix my bed.”
“What’s wrong with your bed?” he asks while he rolls my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, like he’s playing a game.
“It doesn’t squeak.” I pretend to pout.
“I do believe I can fix that for you, ma’am.” His lips land on mine.
“Ew, keep your kinky shit to yourself.”
At the sound of Chelsea’s voice, Reed doesn’t let go of my hands, but he does pull his other one out of my shirt.
“Way to kill the mood,” he says over his shoulder to her.
Chelsea laughs. “I like you. Now get out of the bathroom. I gotta go.”
Reed lets go of my hands. “We’re going to get the kids anyway.” He walks out of the room and down the hall.
“Well, aren’t you guys just like June and Ward Cleaver?” she yells down the hall at us.
“I don’t think June bites Ward,” Reed says without even turning around.
“HA! She said she was a biter.”
“And I have the scars to prove it,” Reed and Chelsea continue their banter until we reach the kitchen.
“We’ll be right back. Getting the kids.” I wave to my mom and Hannah who are admiring the job Chelsea and I did on the cake. I let her help a little, but she’s going to need to have her own kids if she wants to do it again.
Reed and I head down the sidewalk, holding hands, the crap from earlier pushed to the back of my mind, as I choose to focus on Jade’s birthday.
“So, Pete’s coming tonight?” Reed asks, which I knew was coming.
“He’s her dad.”
“I know and if this is going to work, we’d have to face him together. The bubble was nice for a while though.”
I nod. “The bubble was indeed very nice.”
We round the trees and the courtyard is packed full of parents. Darcie and Georgia along with all the other moms stare over at us with judgment in their eyes.
“Why does it seem like everyone’s staring more than usual?” Reed asks.