He sat forward and checked the row of notifications. “It’s sale updates from Bath & Body Works. See?” He showed me the screen where it had messages talking about 50 percent off all body lotions and sprays. Plus another notification saying he had a ten-dollar-off coupon. “You thought a bunch of guys were hitting me up, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
Reed blinked. “I didn’t expect you to admit it. As you always say… impressive.”
I pulled him back against me and nuzzled his cheek. “I trust you. It’s just them I don’t trust. Because you’re way too beautiful.”
Reed giggled and turned his face toward me, his lips seeking a kiss. I didn’t deny them. We kissed as the credits rolled on the movie. It had ended happily of course.
Would Reed’s and my story end the same?
After a lifetime of failed relationships and heartache, it seemed like I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for something to take this happiness away.
“When are you going to tell me what’s on your mind?” I asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When he tried to move, I held him in place. He sighed. “Daniel.”
“Reed.”
He crinkled his nose and held eye contact with me for a few seconds in silence. Then, he caved. “Fine! But you have to promise not to get mad.”
“Why would I get mad?”
“Because it puts us both in a tough position,” Reed said, softer this time. “I don’t want to ruin what we have by bringing up shit that’s hard to talk about.”
“Tell me.”
Releasing another sigh, Reed unwound himself from my arms and stood from the couch. “I just… I’m happy with you, Daniel. Like really fucking happy.”
“Then why do you look miserable?” I asked. Seeing the tears in his eyes felt like a knife digging in my gut.
“Because I don’t know if we can ever actually be together,” Reed said, his voice cracking. “Not in the way we want to be. It’s easy for us to be together right now, like this, but the fantasy can’t last forever. We can’t keep our relationship a secret. And I don’t want to. I hate having to sneak around.”
“Okay. So, let’s come out.”
“Are you crazy? You’re about to get a huge promotion. What if you lose the promotion because of this? Hell, what if they fire you? Do you really want to put your career on the line for me?”
I stood up and closed the distance between us. He was trembling as I gripped the side of his neck.
“I’d risk anything to be with you,” I told him.
“That’s stupid,” Reed said, his expression hardening. “You’ve worked your ass off to get where you are. I’m not letting you throw it away.”
“What are you saying? Are you breaking up with me?”
“What? No.” Reed closed his eyes and released a shuddering breath, pressing his cheek against my palm. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I don’t wanna lose you, but I don’t want you to get fired for being with me either.”
“Seems like we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.”
“Exactly.” Reed stepped away from me and walked toward the kitchen. “Want a glass of wine?”
He always drank wine to calm his nerves. Which told me he was really struggling.
“Sure.” I followed him and stared out the patio doors as he poured us each a glass and handed me one. “Thank you.”
He stood beside me, looking at the same beautiful view of the moonlight bouncing off the dark water. My house had a different view of the harbor than his did. From mine, you saw less of the businesses and boats and more of the mountains and water as far as the eye could see.
“I hate this shit,” he said before taking a sip of wine. “I finally found a good guy, but the world is against us being together.”
“The world isn’t. Just the company.”
“But still. It sucks.”
“Do you regret this?” I asked, keeping my gaze on the dark water. “Us?”
“Not even a little bit.” Reed leaned his head on my shoulder. “Do you?”
I kissed the top of his hair and shook my head. No matter what happened between us, I would never regret the weeks I spent with him. All the laughs we’d shared, both in and out of bed.
“So.” Reed sipped his wine, then cocked his head back and shot me a sly grin. “Wanna fuck?”
I had just taken a drink and nearly choked. It was like he intentionally waited for me to be eating or drinking before he said shit like that.
“Don’t die on me, big guy,” he said, still grinning.
Behind the grin, I saw something else, though. Shadows in his eyes.
It was impossible to keep things going as they were for much longer. Even if we were out to our families, we still couldn’t be 100 percent open about our relationship. Anytime we went out to dinner or to a movie, we’d constantly be looking over our shoulder to make sure we didn’t run into anyone we knew from work.
“Finish your wine,” I said, stepping toward him. He tilted his head up to meet my gaze, his lips parting. “And then I’m going to fuck you until you scream Daddy’s name.”
That did it.
Reed howled with a laugh and set his glass on the counter. He then wrapped his long arms around me and kissed my chest. I felt him smiling even through my shirt. Whatever happened in the future would happen, but for now, we enjoyed the moment we were in.
This… my life with him… I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Chapter Seventeen
Reed
“I think I’m about to piss myself,” I said, staring at the Victorian manor in front of me. Plants hung from the porch, and the flower beds were filled with a beautiful assortment of white and yellow flowers—definitely whatever kind could bloom in winter.
And yeah, I’m thinking about flowers to distract myself from what I’m about to do.
“My mother is going to adore you,” Daniel said, squeezing my leg. “I don’t see how she couldn’t.”
“She knows we work together, right?”
“Yes. She knows you’re my assistant.”
“And she’s okay with it?”
“Come inside and ask her yourself.”
Daniel opened his door, but I remained sitting in the passenger seat, unable to budge an inch.
“Did I ever tell you that I’ve never met a boyfriend’s family before?” I asked, feeling a tingling in my body that spread from my scalp to the tips of my fingers. “To be honest, I haven’t had a real boyfriend since I was in college. But even then, we never got so serious where he invited me home, you know?”
“Reed?”
I turned toward Daniel and was met with a kiss. I grunted against his mouth and felt my whole body relax. His touch calmed me.
“Stop obsessing and get out of this car,” Daniel said, his breath tickling my lips.
“What would you do if I said make me?” I taunted him.
Blue eyes gleamed with mischief. “I could always carry you over my shoulder like I did at the bed-and-breakfast. That would be an interesting way for my mother to first meet you, me hauling you over my shoulder and you kicking and whining like the brat you are.”