CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Reid
The orange juice goes down nicely after demolishing an egg, sausage, and bacon sarnie. I needed the fuel after this morning.
Speaking of... The drop-dead gorgeous woman who, only an hour ago, agreed to ‘more’ sits glaring at me. I smirk, wiggling my eyebrows at her. “Sunshine, get over it already.”
“No,” she grumbles, her cheeks flushing once again.
“She didn’t see anything,” I remind her, but like the first time I pointed it out, it doesn’t help.
Makayla clears her throat. “Unless you count his arse and your leg over his shoulder.”
I chuckle when Summer turns even redder.
In all fairness, she is the one who suggested we take the shower.
She practically dragged me in there. And it was entirely her fault that I couldn’t keep my hands off her.
If I had known showering with a chick would be such a fucking turn on, I would have been doing it all along.
Because fuck me, the suds of soap that ran over her tits, and the way her back arched when she rinsed soap out of her hair, had all sorts of images running through my head.
And the only complaint she made when I got to my knees and ate her out was that she wanted more.
She should have locked the door if she didn’t want an audience. Makayla had gotten quite the surprise when she walked in on us. Summer had been mid-orgasm, so her cry had been from a couple of things.
I chuckle at Makayla as Summer glares her way. “Not helping.”
“I don’t know why you’re embarrassed. Seemed like he knew what he was doing. Last guy who went down on me, I felt embarrassed for him. He had no idea what he was doing but acted like he was a pro.”
I pour another glass of orange juice before holding the glass up to Makayla. She clinks hers with mine. “I definitely knew what I was doing. Been practicing for this moment my whole life.”
My phone beeps in my pocket and I pull it out. It’s eight in the morning, and whilst Jaxon already confirmed it was okay for me to arrive late today, my stomach still clenches when I see his name on the screen. I promised I would stop disappointing him, and I meant it.
JAXON: We may have a lead on Black. Come to the offices.
REID: OMW
Shit! I glance up at Summer. Sensing something isn’t right, her face turns pale. “Everything okay?”
“Um, yeah. Jaxon needs me to go into the office. Family meeting,” I tell her, feeling the tension rise. It’s clear by my tone that this isn’t a meeting about everyone needing to pull their weight or contribute to the company.
Summer scrapes back her stool as I get to my feet, and it suddenly feels weird between us because I have no idea what to do.
“Walk me to my car?” I ask, and her shoulders relax.
“Yeah.”
As we walk through the house, I take time to ruffle the kid’s hair. “Thanks for feeding Hunter for me.”
“She didn’t. I did,” Malia snaps. “Along with the dog we now have.”
I arch my eyebrow. She doesn’t seem to mind the dog. Not really. Otherwise she wouldn’t be letting him lay his head in her lap right now.
I glance at Summer. “Is she always this bitchy when people do something nice?”
“Reid, fucking leave,” Malia warns. “I’ve found my fucking bat.”
I take Summer’s hand without thinking and guide us out of the house. We walk in silence to the car, and I enjoy the slight breeze in the air. It’s not cold, but it’s the coolest it will be for the rest of the day according to the weather app.
“I can’t wait for rain next week,” Summer states as we reach my truck.
I open the car to let Hunter in before reaching for Summer, pressing her against the side of the car. “Can I see you later?”
She grins big, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Are you asking me out on a date?”
Fuck. No, I hadn’t been, but I guess I should since we are doing the more thing.
“Yes. Yes, I am,” I answer without hesitating. “I don’t know when I’ll be finished today though.”
She runs her finger along the flesh between my eyebrows. “That’s okay. How about you just let me know.”
My fingers clench on her hip. “I don’t like that you’ll be waiting around for me.”
She chuckles and taps my cheek. “You are so handsome.”
I grin, but then it falls flat. “Wait, that feels like an insult.”
“I have shit to do. I’ll be at the bed and breakfast going over some more things, and then I’ll most likely look into things more when I get home so I can be efficient at my new role. So just let me know.”
I lean down to kiss her because God, she’s fucking amazing. My dick begins to harden against her stomach. “I should go before I rip your shorts down and fuck you here.”
“See you later,” she murmurs against my lips. “You can fuck me then.”
Yep, definitely getting hard.
“Bareback?” I whisper.
She flicks her lower lip with her tongue. “Yes.”
“I’ll bring the towels.”
She smiles, her eyes glistening with mischief. “Romantic.”
I shrug a shoulder. “I try to be.”
She laughs. “Get to work. I’ll see you later. Looking forward to seeing what you consider a first date.”
She slides out from in front of me and begins her walk back to the house. Hunter barks inside the truck, pulling my thoughts away from her. I jump inside and turn the ignition.
As I do a U-turn, my blood runs cold and I stare at Hunter for a moment.
“Where the fuck am I supposed to take her for a date?”
*** *** ***
I’m not the last to arrive at the offices, which is kind of a relief. Isaac is behind me, typing on his phone.
As I walk inside, I notice Evie isn’t at her desk.
It’s another reminder that soon, all this will be gone.
The factory was due to be torn down months ago, but since the Black situation hasn’t been resolved, Jaxon wants to hold off and stay closer to the house and bed and breakfast. I’ve not voiced this, but I’m actually going to miss the place. It’s a part of us.
I take a seat in the chair next to Wyatt. Jaxon is on the phone in the corner, Liam is sitting at Jaxon’s desk, and Isaac sits at his own, frowning down at his phone.
“Is Isaac okay?” I ask Wyatt quietly. He didn’t even say hello when I greeted him when we were walking in.
Wyatt shrugs. “Probably messaging some chick he’s seeing.” He glances at me. “What are you doing with the neighbour? Mum said you stayed out again last night.”
I flash him a grin. “Wyatt, Wyatt, Wyatt... you want the dirty deets?”
His nose scrunches up. “Fuck no.”
I lose the smirk. “Good. Because you won’t be getting told shit.”
He twists fully in his chair to face me. “Hold up. Is Reid Hayes territorial about a woman? We’ve begged you so many times to shut up when you get into details.”
“Fuck off,” I grouch.
“Kidding. About the first thing anyway. I’m... I’m surprised. And happy for you.”
I roll my eyes. “We aren’t getting fucking married. I... I just like her.” A lot.
“Good for you.”
I expect more ribbing, but he says nothing more. Which prompts me to ask, “Where do you take a girl on a first date?”
“I don’t fucking know.”
“Where did you take Evie?”
He arches his eyebrow. “Reid, I love you, but you need to figure out that shit on your own.”
I pull my phone out of my back pocket. “Should I Google it? I don’t want to be cliché and take her to a restaurant.”
“You’re going on a date?” Luke asks, dropping down beside me in the empty chair. “Where were you thinking?”
“I don’t fucking know. I’ve never been on one before. Unless you count the time I pissed Hayden off by hijacking a dinner with her.”
Wyatt glances at me so quickly, I’m worried his head might spin. “You went out on a date with Hayden?”
“You did fucking what?” Max snaps, and a squeal escapes my lips when his hands slap down on my shoulders hard, pushing me down into the chair until it feels like my shoulders may snap.
I twist, eyes wide in horror. “It’s not what you think. I swear. I was helping her with her job.”
“Is that what you’re calling it?” he growls.
“I swear,” I choke out, holding my hands up. “It was me or some random stranger. On my life, I’m telling the truth.”
“We’ll be talking about this later,” he warns, and I quickly pull up Hayden’s number.
REID: Remember that time I hacked your dating online thing?
HAYDEN: I was just about to wake my boyfriend up with a blowjob and you interrupt with this shit?
I grin at the screen because seriously, Hayden is fucking awesome. I will never admit that to anyone, but she is.
REID: Listen. Your dad just sort of found out. I told him I was helping you, and I know you don’t owe me shit, but please tell him that so he doesn’t take out my kneecaps whilst I’m asleep.
I had gone to say she owes me, but Hayden will take that as a threat and do the opposite of what I want. I knew this years before she became tangled up in our family.
HAYDEN: You’re right. I don’t owe you shit. But...
REID: But...
HAYDEN: But I want to get to my hot boyfriend and blow him, so I will do this if it means getting rid of you.
REID: Thx. And lucky guy.
I go to put my phone away, but it vibrates with another message.
HAYDEN: Wait, my dad should be at work.
HAYDEN: Why is he there?
HAYDEN: You’d better fucking tell me, now.
Oh fuck.
Max’s warning months ago back in Mina’s flat comes rushing back to me. Wyatt clears his throat. “You’d better think of something quickly.”
REID: He’s talking to Liam.
HAYDEN: Really?
REID: Really!
HAYDEN: Reid...
REID: Why would I lie? Well, unless you count the bag of clothes he handed over. I didn’t mention that.
HAYDEN: Why were you talking about me?
REID: I wanted to know where I can take Summer out on a date, and I said I’ve never been on one, unless I counted the one I hijacked with you.
The blood rushes from my face when I realise I’ve just blurted everything out.
REID: You did that on purpose.
HAYDEN: LOL. Don’t Google it.
REID: How the fuck did you know I planned to do that?
HAYDEN: I love being the one who gets to tell you this, but you are very predictable. Just use your imagination and don’t try too hard. You’ll just ruin it.
REID: Go blow your boyfriend.
HAYDEN: Always a pleasure, Reid.
Wyatt and Luke let out a breath. “That was fucking close,” Wyatt announces. “I think we have enough to deal with. We don’t need to add on Max fucking Carter.”
I nod, sliding my phone in my pocket. “Doesn’t help with my dilemma though.”
“Let’s concentrate on this one first,” he tells me, and looks up when Jaxon walks over with Maverick.
“What is the lead?” Luke asks when Jaxon gets close.
Jaxon clears his throat. “The files that, um, Magnolia found were sent to Liam too. He’s been going through them, and last night, he found this place.”
He lowers a map and a blueprint onto the desk, spreading them out. “What are they?” I ask, sitting up.
“I think it’s an old hospital. I’m not sure.
Early two-thousand, renovations began on the west wing of the building but got shut down in two-thousand and two.
Before that, it was a private hospital or home of some sort.
It’s unclear. The building was bought by one of Black’s alias corporations, but they never did anything with it.
He may be hiding out here. Either way, it’s worth a look. ”
My frown deepens as I look at Liam. “And Magnolia sent this? It was that easy?”
“Well no. The corporation was in the file she sent. When I was looking into this particular corporation, this came up as an asset. It’s not far away. Deserted. Has no close neighbours. It’s worth looking into, so I think we should go there.”
“And you think a man like Black will be laying low in an abandoned building?”
Liam straddles the chair. “Yes. Because I also found these.” He places a folder down. “The night his factory got burnt down by the twins and the two Carter kids, Black made orders for building materials. Spent a fortune actually. I think he had planned for potentially being caught.”
“It doesn’t make sense,” I surmise.
Max snorts. “And this is why you aren’t in charge.”
“Neither are you,” Maverick points out.
I roll my eyes. “I can’t be the only one who thinks it.”
“No,” Eli pipes in. “This corporation isn’t hidden. Rebecca came across it when she was snooping.”
Jaxon glances at him. “Do you think it’s a waste of time? This is the only lead we’ve had in months.”
“I’m not saying that. But like Reid, I feel like it doesn’t make sense. But then Black and his vendetta never have either.”
“What’s the harm in looking?” Max asks. “If he’s not there, we may find something there to give us a clue. It will at least be one more place ticked off.”
“No offence, and I mean this respectfully, but you’re new here,” I bravely tell him.
“Black has been one step ahead of us the entire time. What is to say, we get there and the building fucking explodes? I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m getting sick of it.
My headaches last for days, and at night, my ears still fucking ring. ”
Eli, once again, backs me up. “He has a point.”
“Jesus, are you all pussies?” Max growls.
“Someone really needs to find another phrase other than that because I watched my girlfriend give birth. There is nothing weak about a pussy,” Eli remarks.
“We don’t all need to go,” Jaxon announces. “Wyatt, Eli, and Luke can stay back. Me, Reid and Isaac will go check out the building.”
“It’s huge,” Eli points out.
“And what happened to sticking together?” Wyatt argues.
Jaxon lets out a heavy breath. “This is sticking together. I’m not leaving my wife whilst we all go chasing a maybe. We need to make sure everyone is protected.”
I pull out my phone whilst they continue to talk.
REID: Hey, are you still coming to the bed and breakfast today?
SUMMER: Yes. On my way. Why?
REID: Just checking. See you later.
Liam is frowning down at his phone, and then turns to Jaxon. “What about Malia and her family? They have no one there.”
“Landon suggested getting Maddox to go take measurements. He’ll be there before we leave. They are covered too,” Jaxon explains. “Teagan is staying with Lily today, and she told me Drew will be around.”
Liam’s shoulders drop, but he’s still staring at his phone, like he’s undecided about what to do.
“Surprised you didn’t jump in and ask about Summer and her cousins,” Wyatt whispers. “You need to work on that if you want to be a good boyfriend.”
I grin. “I already messaged Summer. So fuck you,” I smugly remark. “And I’m not her boyfriend.”
“Then what are you?”
I shrug, hoping like hell he doesn’t know how much the answer means to me. “More.”
I feel his silent questions burning the side of my face, which I happily ignore, instead trying to concentrate on what the plan is.