“I’m so screwed.” I lean against the brick wall and rest my head as I stare up at the pink and orange sky. It’s after seven o’clock, but it stays light until late this time of year. If it were a tad darker, maybe no one would’ve seen our faces. Now, I’m pretty sure we’re going to be on every social media site known to man. At this point, I’d wager to guess even a few intergalactic ones.
“It’ll be fine. The lake houses are in great shape and there’s constant demand. We’ll find another buyer.”
“We,” I laugh, “or me? Last I checked, you weren’t the one on the front lines here.”
“If you need help finding a buyer, I’ll ask around too.”
I love the way he makes everything sound so simple. It’s like he’s a master at everything and just moonlights as a guy who screwed this whole thing up.
Reed steps forward, his giant frame towering over me, the scent of pine and cedar emanating off him. “I’m sorry, kitten, but I don’t like it when men touch you. It makes me crazy.”
I don’t know how many words he just said, but by the time his sentence is finished, my muscles are loose, my breathing has slowed, and my body has shifted into the safe, parasympathetic state I’m usually in when he’s around.
“I appreciate that, but I have to go find Mulligan. I can’t lose this sale.” I stare up at him a moment longer before turning toward my car parked on the opposite side of the busy street.
Thankfully, we’re no longer the center of attention, a pair of elk moving in from the far pasture to graze on the side of the road are. It’s actually kind of majestic. There’s a bull elk and a single female grazing with the sun on their backs. I’ve lived up here the better part of my life, but I never tire of seeing nature up close like this.
“Not a chance.” Reed grips the back of my arm and holds me in place. “You’re not chasing some asshole down and begging him for anything. You’re better than that.”
“Am I?” I twist back quickly, my hair flying to the side in the evening summer breeze. “Every other realtor on the team is selling places left and right. Brenda has sold fourteen houses so far this year. Tim, has sold twenty.” I pause for dramatic effect. “I have five, Reed. If Mulligan pulls out of the lake house sales, I have two.Two sales.Oh, and one isyourhouse, which I haven’t technically sold yet.”
“Maybe that’s because you’re doing something you’re not meant to be doing.” He shifts forward, his hand on my shoulder. “Your talent is in photography. Let me help you turn it into a business. You could sell your artwork at the market and take new portraits in your free time. Make it work for you.” He smiles. “There’s demand everywhere. Clint was telling me he and—”
“I’m a realtor, Reed. I sell houses. Taking pictures is a hobby. The same way I love baking cupcakes and sewing little skirts. None of those things are jobs. They’re just for fun.”
My phone buzzes in my purse and my chest tightens. I’m sure it’s my father, and I don’t know what I’m going to say to him.
“You’re far more than whatever it is your father wants you to be, kitten. You’re sweet and creative, and you have a real talent for taking pictures. I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”
Despite everything that just happened, why do I want to fall into his arms? Why do I want him to carry me back to his place and hold me all night while I pretend this day never happened? I should be pissed. Protective is one thing, but he’s gone too far.
And yet… I’m over here wondering which way is the quickest to his bedroom.
My phone rings again. This time, I pull it out of my purse to check the screen.
“I’ll talk to him.” Reed’s calloused fingertips brush my wrist.
Usually, the slightest touch of his body against mine comforts me. Right now, though, the world is spinning and my knees feel weak.
What the hell?
I reach toward Reed to steady myself, but I tip forward and land against his solid chest like my body had been planning the move all day.
“You’re having a panic attack again, aren’t you?”
I nod slowly, my thoughts racing with the various forms of punishment my father could dole out given that I’ve lost his biggest sale of the year. Last year he held my pay for months because I lost a much smaller one. I want to leave, but I still depend on him for so much. That and there’s a lot of invisible pressure to follow in his footsteps. So much that I could probably spend years in therapy, and I still wouldn’t fully understand it all.
I’m midway through circling a thought when I feel Reed’s giant arms wrap around my waist and lift me from the ground. My hands reach for his shoulders as the center of gravity moves to my chest.
God, I feel safe here.
“Where are we going?” My voice is nearly a whisper.
“You’re coming up to the cabin with me tonight. You can see all the work I’ve done, and I can keep an eye on you.”
“Really, I’m okay.” My mouth is dry, my heart is pounding, and I know I’m not okay, but I don’t want to be alone with Reed. When I’m alone with Reed, weird things happen to my body.
“Then you’ll be even more okay at the cabin.” He clicks the unlock button on his keys as he carries me toward his truck. “I’ll bring you back to your car come morning.”
