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My brain was foggy with lust, but even so, I knew I’d berate myself tomorrow if I gave in to more. I was fairly certain Reid could sense that, and he was letting me off the hook. Did I mention how much I loved that about him?
We were silent as he drove, which unnerved me. I always felt the need to fill silence with chatter, but I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t focus enough to bring up the article, and I didn’t want to bring up the other topic either. I could tell that he was completely at ease with the silence. After all, he lived in a five-thousand-square-foot penthouse by himself because he liked his space and quiet. I would go crazy. I loved that my two-bedroom house had no fences and I could hear the neighbor’s kids play in the backyard. I loved that other neighbors played music late into the night. Sometimes I sat on my porch, in the armchair I’d propped there, and just people-watched.
When we arrived, he walked me to my door, looking around with a bewildered expression.
“Are those kids supposed to be out there alone?”
I laughed. “Yup. It’s their yard. Sometimes they even come to play in mine. And before you ask, the music doesn’t bother me either.”
“I think I’d walk around wearing noise-canceling headphones. Your neighbors are insanely loud.”
He grinned, and I returned it. Oh, Reid. What was I thinking, already imagining our next date? He couldn’t fit in my crazy life, and I couldn’t fit in his either. We were just so different.
“Hey! Do not pick on my neighbors. I like them. They’re fun. We often get together to grill in each other’s yards, or just chat with a glass of wine.”
Reid whistled. “Wow, just when I was starting to think you’re okay.”
“Okay? Ouch.”
I laughed again, not ready to bid him goodbye yet. He was, well, adorable.
Hmm... a few seconds later, I thought of a more appropriate description. His eyes turned molten. He was looking at me as if he wanted to kiss me senseless. I was all for that, but surely he wouldn’t, here with all the neighbors—
He did.
Hmm... maybe we did have one or two things in common after all. His mouth came down on mine, both hands gripping my waist. Oh, this man’s kisses were just exquisite. The brush of his lips was hot, demanding. We moved until I felt the door behind my back and his hips pressing into mine. He brought his hands up to my face, his thumbs pressing gently on my skin, urging me to open up more, give him more. I moved my fingers through his hair, all the way to the back of his head, tugging and pulling. Guess I’m demanding too. I just couldn’t get enough. I was so tempted to run my fingers all over him. He had far too many clothes on.
“Wow,” I whispered. “You’ve made an art form out of a good
night kiss.”
“Won’t you invite me in for a nightcap?”
“After you’ve mocked my neighbors and my outgoing nature? You, mister, absolutely do not deserve a nightcap.”
If I invited him in, I’d want to keep him, and that just wouldn’t do. He laughed without moving his hands from my torso. I felt every single finger splayed on my rib cage as if I weren’t wearing anything.
“I’ll do better next time.”
Next time. My breath caught as he unabashedly looked at me. I was so close to inviting him in, but instead, I wiggled out of his grasp. I fumbled for my keys in my purse while Reid descended the steps of my porch, looking over his shoulder with a wicked expression. I realized exactly what his smile meant.
Next time would be sooner rather than later.
Chapter Eleven
Hailey
Despite going to bed late, I woke up as usual, just a few minutes before my alarm rang at six o’clock. Running would do me good. The effort of pushing myself for one more mile, then one more block, then finally just one more step had always gotten me so exhausted that in the aftermath, while I drew my breath, I could clearly see the solution to a problem I’d been analyzing for days, sometimes weeks.
Today, I wasn’t lucky enough to get a breakthrough, even though I was breathless by the time I arrived back home. I stood there for a few minutes, just soaking in the warm sun, admiring my house.
The façade was all plastered with red faux bricks, and the interior was an explosion of color—not all of it intentional. While the black furniture contrasted beautifully with the orange carpet, the mix of paint on the walls... was a story for another day.
When I stepped in my shower, sweaty and on shaky legs, I still had Reid on my mind, and I was as torn about everything as ever. I knew one thing for certain though: the attraction I felt for him wasn’t fading. If anything, each time I was close to him, the pull grew stronger. I sighed, rinsing my hair thoroughly, not bothered in the slightest by the fact that I was smiling from ear to ear just thinking about him.
I grabbed my favorite pancakes on the way to work, to reward myself for the arduous run. Most of my coworkers were horrified by my diet, but I loved my carbs and my gluten and most everything else that was considered a mortal sin in Los Angeles.
I’d never been naturally thin, even as a kid. I might be petite, but my ass and thighs had always been on the full side.
