Chapter 22
W e’ve been driving for about two hours before Reid pulls off the highway into a sleepy town for a pit stop.
I may or may not have fallen asleep and only realize we’ve stopped when I feel Reid’s warm bear paw gently squeezing my thigh—I can feel his heat through my car blanket.
I blink sleepily and catch his soft gaze focused solely on me.
“Mornin’ sugar. You want anything from the gas station or need to use the bathroom? We’ve still got another two hours on the road.”
The way he calls me sugar sends chills down my arms. Every. Single. Time. It makes me feel so treasured.
“Yes please. I’ll come with you.” I can’t take my eyes off Reid. He's so ruggedly handsome. He’s got his hat on today, but it suits him. It’s not pulled super low today, and I can see the flecks of amber in his eyes.
It’s just a few steps to get to the gas station so I don’t bother with my coat.
I sprint across the parking lot like my ass is on fire to get out of the cold.
His deep chuckle trails behind me. I make a beeline for the restrooms first and then meander the aisles looking for car snacks.
I haven’t noticed Reid eating in the truck much, whereas I eat nonstop unless I’m asleep.
I think back over our past trips trying to decide what candy he might like.
He’s the “I’ll eat anything” type of guy. But I do happen to know he likes cherry. I grab every cherry candy I can find. Swedish Fish, Twizzlers, gummy cherries, and one of those packs of Starburst with only the red and pink flavors.
Happy with my selection, I grab my usual suspects—M&Ms and Skittles. I always get the two holy pillars of candy, chocolatey and fruity. I like having the tiny little sugar bombs on hand because I can stretch out my enjoyment of them and occupy my hand and mouth while I work.
My birthday is tomorrow, so I also grab a two pack of those waxy Hostess cupcakes with the chocolate frosting and swirly white icing across the top.
I don’t see any candles, but maybe Reid will share a cupcake with me after dinner tomorrow.
Twenty-five will be the year I take my life back from my past and change my reputation for good.
Delilah’s bummed I'll be gone on my birthday, but I assured her it was ok. I have no qualms with celebrating this birthday in a questionable mountain rental property with my broody, hot as sin boss, and gas station cupcakes.
Back in the truck, I take his candy out of the plastic bag and hand it to him one by one. He’s taken aback by my sugar laden offering.
“No one’s ever done something like this for me. Thank you, Isabelle.”
“It’s just candy.” I giggle.
“It’s not just candy. You noticed. And you thought of me.” He intensely scans my features with his green and gold eyes. I think he might say something else, but he puts the truck into drive, and we're off.
Miles later, Reid asks, “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?”
Daydream? Um, because you’re a god among men, and I can’t keep my head on straight around you.
“Pick through your candy like that. Do some taste better than the others or somethin’?”
I laugh. Because my reason is dumb.
“Don’t judge me.”
He raises an eyebrow like, mmhmm, sure.
“I don’t ever eat the green ones.”
“Ok, so you don’t like lime. But that doesn’t make sense for the M&Ms, they all taste the same.”
“I like lime just fine, and the M&Ms do all taste the same. But I’ve always had this weird thing about the green ones. Candy shouldn’t be green. Vegetables are green. Plants are green. It’s wrong!”
A pause is followed by boisterous laughter. He has an incredible laugh. Deep and throaty—I wish he’d let me hear it more often. It’s now my life’s mission to get Reid Andersen to laugh as often as possible.
“Ok, I’m judging you a little bit. That's fucking weird, Isabelle.”
He continues to chuckle. He looks so different when he's happy or relaxed. He's always gorgeous, but he's irresistible like this. I’m all for a broody alpha-hole, but I love happy Reid.
Like.
I mean like happy Reid.
Not love.
Holy crap that was a weird slip of the tongue. Mental tongue? Mind tongue? Whatever.
All the little things I notice about Reid keep piling up. A stack of growing evidence pointing towards the verdict that I really like him. But for every addition to the “pro” column, there have been two added to the “con” column, with as poorly as he’s historically treated me.
This only ends one way, with me getting hurt.
But I can’t stop the head-on collision.
The property we're visiting is the corner unit of a townhome building in a small subdivision. We're in the heart of this small mountain town but the unit itself backs a small river. The river is frozen over, but the scene is idyllic. I imagine it’s gorgeous in the summer and fall.
The townhome is regularly cleaned and maintained by the on-site property manager, but each unit is privately owned or rented by Swift.
Reid and I spend a solid three hours going room to room, assessing every detail in the unit.
From updating the kitchen to changing out closet door pulls—our list of fixes and updates fills at least ten pages in my notebook.
We work in comfortable companionship, holding pleasant conversation.
It’s the most natural things have ever felt between us.
I rapidly wear down through the afternoon, apparent that I'm fighting the onset of a migraine.
“I think I'm going to call it an early night and go to bed, if that’s ok. Unless there's more work we need to do today?”
Reid’s resting expression turns immediately concerned.
“Are you ok? Are you sick?”
“No, no. I’m fine. I think I might be getting a migraine, but I can fend it off if I get some extra sleep,” I try to reassure him.
“I’ve got all the different over the counter pain pills in the first aid kit. I can run out to the truck and get it for you. Or I can make you an ice pack. Does cold help? Or does heat help? Shit, I don’t have a heating pad or anything.” Reid’s rambling and getting increasingly agitated.
I stand before him and place my hands against his wide chest. He feels so good beneath my palms.
“Reid. Look at me.” His eyes snap to mine. I can see the worry flooding his.
“I just need some sleep. I'll be ok.”
He scans my face for any trace of dishonesty but ultimately relents.
“I’ll be right here. And my room is just on the other side of your Jack-and-Jill bathroom, so come in if you need something overnight.”
“I appreciate it. But I don’t think it’ll be necessary.” I gather my things and head for the bedrooms. “Goodnight, Reid.”
“Goodnight, Isabelle,” he responds, scowl still firmly engraved in his face.
I wake the next morning feeling brand new.
Thank goodness sleep did the trick because I’d hate to spend my birthday with a migraine.
I tap my phone for the time—holy shit—it’s almost noon?
I way overslept. Grabbing my phone, I see a full screen of notifications.
Both Delilah and Olivia have each texted me a birthday novella.
Rather than texting back and forth, we hop on a video call.
“Happy birthday babes!” Olivia exclaims.
“Happy birthday sissy, I miss you!”
“I miss you too.” A scoff from the fiery redhead has me adding, “I miss you too, Liv.”
“Damn straight you do. Will you have to work your whole birthday?” she asks.
“We did the walk through yesterday and it’s going to be the biggest overhaul I’ve planned. But today I plan on sketching out some ideas and adding to my lists.”
“What's loverboy going to do? Sit at your feet like a puppy?” Olivia jokes.
I chuckle. “No, remember, Livy? His name is pronounced R-E-I-D. Not loverboy.” I roll my eyes lightly. “He has a laundry list of minor repairs that’ll take him all day. And considering I slept until lunch—I have no idea what his day looks like.”
“Good for you, you deserve the rest,” Lilah says. “Do you think he'll do anything for your birthday?”
I don’t want to tell the girls how desperately I hope he will. It’s foolish, we aren’t even friends, but my silly heart flutters at the thought.
“I don’t know. I mean, I mentioned my birthday was this week when I was at his ranch on Monday, but who knows.” I shrug, trying to keep the true depth of my feelings from my face.
“Hey, I hear him moving around, I’m going to let you go.”
“Ok babes!” Olivia replies.
“Love you!” Lilah says, frantically waving at the phone camera.
“Love you too!” I end the call and get ready for what's left of the day.