Chapter 41
—Kasey—
The happy glint in Reed’s eyes and his exuberant smile faded with each step we took into his lakeside home. He released my hand then rushed into the living room, frantically scanning the area.
“Georgia? Arty?”
When no answer came from my parents, Reed ran into Posie’s room. A loud curse preceded the terror on Reed’s face when he returned.
“Where are they?” he accused, whirling and prowling toward me like I was the enemy. “Where have they taken her?”
My jaw dropped, and I stammered, “I don’t know!” It was the truth.
“You set me up,” Reed seethed, taking another menacing step forward.
I inched back to combat his nearness, yet I couldn’t escape the tension vibrating around us. “I didn’t. I promise. I would never—”
“Where did they take Posie?”
“I don’t fucking know! And stop fucking yelling at me,” I screamed, meeting Reed head-on, matching fire with fire since playing nice wasn’t getting anywhere.
Reed bared his teeth and hissed in irritation. Up until now, all he’d shown me was the chivalrous and sexy sides to his personality. Now I saw the possessive instincts of a father protecting his daughter.
I held firm and true to myself while he turned and gripped the back of his neck. “Can you call them, please?” eventually came his calmed request.
“Sure, I can do that,” I snapped, searching through my bag while fighting off the disappointment of today being ruined by a misunderstanding. “They’re not baby thieves,” I sassed while pressing the phone to my ear, waiting for Mom to answer the call.
“I didn’t say they were.”
“No, but you implied it.” When Mom didn’t answer, I tried Dad. He answered while Reed tried to plead his case, but I ignored his ass and flipped him off while addressing Dad.
“Hey, where are you guys?”
His happiness was evident through his tone. “Just out enjoying the sunshine with our little girl.” Mom’s voice murmured in the background, and Dad passed on her message. “She wouldn’t sleep so we took her for a walk. She’s fast asleep now, the little darling. How was your day?”
“It was okay. We’re done now,” I replied nonchalantly, hoping that it would piss Reed off. Judging by his scowl, I’d done well.
“We’ll see you back at Simone’s in about half an hour, then,” Dad said.
“Oh, actually, I’m at Reed’s place.”
Dad paused for a hot second. “Well, we will see you sooner.”
“Thanks Dad.”
“Bye now.”
We disconnected, and I busied myself in my handbag looking for lip gloss and ignoring the hovering ogre barely biting his tongue.
“Stop huffing,” I snapped.
He bit back immediately. “Well, where are they?”
“Out for a walk.”
Reed circled his hand. “And they’ll be back...?”
“When they’re back, that’s when.” I folded my arms over my chest and glared. “Are you going to apologize?”
His chin tucked back, and he scoffed. “Why?”
I threw my arm wide. “For completely overreacting.”
“I hardly o—”
“You did,” I interrupted. “So, either you apologize to me now, and make it decent, or I start walking back to Simone’s. The choice is yours.” I shouldered my handbag, preparing to leave.
I expected him to blow up at me. Lose his shit and bite back hard. Instead, he smirked.
My eyes narrowed suspiciously. If he was trying to make me uneasy, it was working. “I’m serious, Reed.”
The stupid smirk erupted into a shit-eating grin. “I know you are, Kase.”
“And that’s funny because?”
Reed shook his head and took a small step toward me with no malice this time. “It’s not at all, but it’s familiar. Welcome back, babe. And I’m sorry for overreacting before. Posie is my entire world right now and for her to suddenly be taken out of it would…” He swallowed thickly. “The thought of losing her makes me feel sick.” He rubbed the center of his chest as if soothing heartburn.
I huffed and set my bag on the kitchen island. “My parents love her to bits, Reed, but they aren’t going to steal her from you. Sure, they’re disappointed that she’s not in Denver with me, but they understand. They know you’re taking the best care of her... better than I could.”
My breath snagged as he ran his knuckles along my jawline. “You’d do great, Kase. Far better than me.”
“I wouldn’t. You’ve got yourself together and doing it with ease. You don’t need me to interfere with that.”
Pain sliced through his expression. “I’m struggling to keep my head above water, babe, and it’s only been a couple of months. I’m trying, but I still don’t think it’s good enough. I’m exhausted and a nervous wreck over going back to work.”
Guilt cut through me. I hadn’t realized. With Reed opening up and laying bare the truth, self-condemnation struck. A painful swallow didn’t rid the lump from my throat, and when I couldn’t bear to lift my gaze to meet Reed’s, his finger crooked under my chin to force it.
“I’m not blaming you, darlin’. I’m simply being truthful. This isn’t a guilt trip so please don’t take it that way.”
I picked at the side of my thumbnail. “I don’t want you to think that I don’t care, because I do. I just don’t know how to give more when I’m struggling to grow an attachment to her.”
A false sense of entrapment hit, and the walls of Reed’s kitchen began to close in. I glanced around for a quick exit, then stilled when his firm touch landed on my shoulder, immediately grounding me.
“That’s not what today was about. Today was about me and you getting to know each other again. I’ve missed hanging out with you, Kasey. I had no ulterior motives. Hell, I hadn’t even intended on kissing you today.”
A little smirk tipped one edge of his mouth, and I couldn’t help but return the smile.
“As for the apology, really, I am sorry.” He pressed a hand to the middle of his chest, splaying his fingers wide. “I normally don’t lose my temper, and I’ve never yelled at you like that before. I saw Posie was gone, and panic took over my rational thoughts.”
He released a heavy sigh and rounded the kitchen island. He opened the fridge door and looked over his shoulder. “Would you like a drink?”
“Water, please,” I whispered.
I accepted the offered bottle, then followed him to the couch. After tucking into one end with my legs folded under my bum, Reed spread himself across the center cushion, knees wide and the arm closest to me hooked over the back cushion.
As he took a long sip of water, I studied his profile until his eyes flicked sideways. They met mine. I refused to look away as I re-gave him another tiny piece of my heart.
“I can see why I fell in love with you last time.”