“Cute,” Reed replied, tapping my nose with his finger.
Relief continued to pulse through me, and then my eyes were drawn to his injuries.
Looking him up and down, I raised my hand towards his cheek, “What did you do to your face?”
He pulled his head back as I went to touch his skin, looking down his nose at me as I added. “And don’t say you did it on the field. I saw the highlights with my father, and your face was fine when you collected your trophy.”
“OK, I won’t. I slipped,” he replied, his face straightening.
“Onto someone’s fist?” I snarked. “You're supposed to be on probation with the Patriots and not fighting, remember.”
“I know. Look. Forget about my face for now, I…”
And then the atmosphere shifted as the front door started to open. Reed glanced over my shoulder and then lowered his head. “Do you trust me?” The weight of ‘us’ hung heavily in that small space between us. I could see Jasper peeking through the doorframe. He had his cell phone to his ear but was looking right at us.
My brow threaded, and I dashed a hand down my face.
Do you trust me?
What the hell was that supposed to mean? This man had my heart in his hands; he’d been the one to breathe life back into it the day I found out he was back. Of course, I fucking trusted him.
“Storm,” Reed barked, his hand lifting my chin.
Our eyes tangled, and I spoke the truth. “Of course I do,” I blurted with a clipped nod.
Reed released me and then glanced towards the door of my house, where Jasper was still standing with a huge frown on his face. Oh fuck, this was so not good. That sick feeling in my stomach came back.
I watched as Reed’s face dropped, his nose catching the cuff of my ear as he instructed. “Keep Jasper busy this afternoon.”
“How?” I placed a hand flat on my chest. Was Reed asking me to sleep with Jasper as a distraction?
His head lifted as he added with a grimace, “Not like that. Just get him to take you for a drive or some shit like that. A bogus meeting with the wedding planner? Lunch? Anything.” The words left his mouth like a bullet.
I searched his features, feeling confused about what he was asking. “Why?”
Reed released a snort of frustration. “I just need you to keep him busy for a couple of hours, tops.”
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“I’ve left you a voicemail. It explains some stuff.”
My mouth opened and closed like a fish. “But he’ll be going into the office today.”
A cloud of darkness fell over his features. “But it’s Sunday?”
My curiosity doubled as I explained. “I know it is, but Jasper and Theo have been working on something together. They’ve been putting in extra hours.”
“Fuck. Then manipulate the fucker. Be needy. Say you're stressed with work.”
“I’m not that Storm anymore, Reed.”
“Bullshit. One flutter from your eyelashes and any man would be on their knees.” Of course, Reed didn’t know my fiancé was immune to those types of charms. I was the wrong gender. He’d probably have a better chance of doing that himself.
I flicked my gaze to Jasper, who was now trotting down the path towards us with a not-so-impressed look on his face. He was wearing a pale pink shirt. God only knew how people didn’t guess the guy was gay. With that outfit, he had pretty much stamped his sexuality onto his chest.
“Please do it.”
Running nervous hands over the Lycra encasing my thighs, I nodded. “OK. I’ll think of something.”
