“You said nothing happened between you and Hudson,” Reed growled, taking a step forward and getting in my face.
I placed my finger in the center of his chest and pushed hard. “Just like you said, nothing happened with Tate.”
“How many more times. I never fucked Tate Parker!” he boomed, taking me by the wrist and lowering my hand. Reed didn’t like to be pointed at. “Stop trying to pick a fight. Especially one you know I’ll win.”
“I know nothing of the sort,” I fumed. I found it interesting that Reed used to own the concept of appearing unbothered. Well, not anymore.
A throat being cleared brought us back to earth. Phoenix took that moment as his cue to excuse himself. “I’ll wait in the car. You have five minutes to settle your lovers' tiff before I bang both your heads together.”
As we both watched a chuntering Phoenix stride towards the Bugatti, I realized that Reed was clearly there to pick Nix up. That meant he wasn’t there to see me. I wondered what message he’d left on my cell. There had better be at least some level of grovelling in it.
“Don’t touch anything,” Reed suddenly belted at Nix’s back. That got him the finger over his foster brother's wide shoulder.
As he turned back to me with a flustered expression, I pointed out. “You do know that he’s going to touch every dial in there now, don’t you. Phoenix always does the opposite of what you tell him.”
My comment seemed to clear the air as Reed chuckled. “Still?”
“Yes. Once an immature fuck, always an immature fuck.”
A genuine smile spread across his handsome face. “Did anyone ever tell you, you swear way too much?” Reed scolded, scratching his jaw. Fuck he smelled good. His cologne mingled nicely with the freshly cut grass of our estate.
The breeze blew a few strands of my hair into my face. As I went to push it back, Reed beat me to it, his rough fingers threading the locks behind my ear.
“You have such cute ears,” he said with a tender tone. My heart squeezed as I cast another wary glance towards the house.
He followed my gaze and then turned back to face me.
“I’m guessing your dipshit intended is in there?” Reed snorted with a wave of his hand. “Does he realize that you can probably see his car from space?”
Taking a deep breath, I ignored the comment about the garish color of Jasper’s car. “I think an apology is in order, don’t you?” I rasped, sticking my chin out.
Reed pursed his lips, dropping his hand. “Yes. Totally. Sorry about this morning. I overslept.” At least he had the decency to look slightly embarrassed.
Adrenaline surged through my veins. “And could I ask who youoversleptwith?”
“What?” he replied with a hint of challenge.
“Did you take someone back to your hotel last night?” My nostrils flared as I tried to appear like I wasn’t bricking the answer.
My focus shifted as he lifted his fingers and rubbed his temple. “My hangover is way too heavy to endure this type of interrogation. Why do you care?” His question hit me like a punch to the gut.
“I don’t care.”
“Yeah, now try saying that like you mean it.”
“Just answer me already,” I needed to know before my head exploded.
He strung out his reply for a beat longer, and my nails were digging into my palms. And then he gave me that sexy in-the-know grin of his, and my sex throbbed.
“No, sweetheart. I didn’t take anyone to my hotel last night. You’re the only broad who’s had that pleasure; several times if I remember it right.”
I ignored that he’d called me abroad. I was too relieved that he hadn’t slept with anyone.
“There, see. That wasn’t that difficult, was it?” I scolded. “Why do you have to make everything so complicated?”
Boyish dimples appeared on either side of his mouth. “I guess I’m a complex kind of guy. I have layers.”
I snorted. “Yes, of bullshit.”
