After a week of working nonstop, I went to Aiden, showing him some huge gaps in their system and ways to improve the performance and firewalls. He put me in charge of the project, and a month later, gave me the job as lead guy in IT.
With the pay increase, I found my little apartment and was able to begin to enjoy life. When Bentley’s girlfriend, Emmy, was kidnapped, Aiden came to me, asking for my help.
“Whatever you need to do, Reid . . . I know you’re banned from hacking, but forget it. Break any law—I will cover you. Do you understand? I need her home and safe.”
Once that happened, again, my life changed. Bentley’s gratitude knew no bounds. A corner office, a new title, and access to all the equipment and software I could dream of. Those alone made me happy.
The massive wage increase was the icing on the cake. But the best thing of all was the sense of finally finding my place. I was one of them. Not on a wealth scale, but as their friend. A trusted ally. It was their trust I valued the most. Their faith in me. They had my back as much as I had theirs. When Maddox needed my help, I was glad to be able to return the favor of his trust. We had gotten closer during my time with BAM, but it cemented our relationship. I felt as if I was no longer alone in the world. I had three brothers, whom I would do anything for, and I knew they felt the same in return.
Life was good.
I glanced at my watch, picked up the heavy bag, and slung it over my shoulder. It was time to go to Becca’s.
Now, if I could take my brothers’ advice and man up, life would be great.
Reid
On my way to Becca’s, I stopped to pick up coffee again. The old woman was outside puttering around her pails of flowers. When she saw me, her face creased into a deep smile.
“Your girl, she like the daisies?”
“Very much.”
“You see her today?”
“Yes.”
She plucked a single lily from a pail. “You give her this. Beautiful.”
I took the single stalk. It was heavy with blossoms, the deep pink and white color majestic. I dug into my pocket, but she held up her hand.
“No. Not today. I give to you, you give to her.”
With a grin, I leaned down and kissed her cheek. She patted my face with a smile so wide, her eyes disappeared.
“Good boy,” she muttered. “Go see your girl.”
I grinned and made my way to Becca’s. She opened her door, gasping in delight when I presented her the flower with a flourish.
“Milady.”
This time, I got the kiss on the cheek. Her lips were soft, and they lingered on my skin. I had to resist turning my head to feel her mouth on mine.
I followed her down the hall, once again admiring her pert ass. She had a towel flung over her shoulder, and I noticed the dampness on her skin. I thought she had just come out of the shower until I walked into the open area of her apartment and saw the pole.
Holy shit.
Becca had a stripper pole. A real, actual stripper pole. And she had been using it this morning.
“Oh God,” I uttered. “You weren’t joking.”
She slid the lily into a tall, slender vase. “No. It’s great for core workouts.” She indicated her laptop on the counter. “I take online classes. I ordered a new pole and it arrived yesterday, so I set it up last night after you left.” She laughed lightly. “I’m a bit out of practice.”
“Oh,” I croaked, trying desperately to stop the barrage of images floating through my head. Becca on the pole, graceful and sensuous, her body fluid and supple. Becca dancing for me. Me grabbing Becca off the pole and pulling down her leggings. Becca under me writhing and moaning.
Shaking my head to clear it, I had to turn away as my cock decided he liked the images far too much.
“I-I hope I didn’t interrupt.”
“Nope. All done.”
I cleared my throat and handed her a coffee, grateful the counter was separating us. I pointed to the pole. “Is it, ah, safe?”
“Oh yes. I can’t do every movement since it’s not anchored the same way as in a studio, but I use it more for the exercise than the extreme moves, you know?”
“Uh-huh,” I muttered.
“It’s not like anyone sees me, and I’m certainly not planning a career as a stripper.” She paused with a wink. “Unless, of course, my job at BAM doesn’t work out.”
I gaped at her, then realized she was teasing. I chuckled. “Well, let’s hope it goes well.”
She leaned on the counter, the damp cotton of her T-shirt sticking to her body, and her position mashing her breasts together. I swallowed, trying not to stare at the perfection of her tits.
“Would you come see me, Reid? If I did?” she asked, her voice pitched low.
“If you did?” I asked stupidly.
“If I had to pole dance for a living?”
The thought of her on a pole in front of other people—men—ogling her, made me stiffen with jealous rage. Nobody was seeing her on that pole except me.
“I’d buy every dance,” I said through gritted teeth. “Every night.”
She stood, lifting her cup to her mouth. A smile played on her lips. “Okay, then.”
I nodded. “Okay, then.”
“Shall we put up the shelves?”
I drained my coffee. “Yeah.”
Becca
Reid Matthews was a complete mystery to me. I had never met anyone like him. The day he stumbled into the boardroom, he had captured my attention. His wild hair, ragged T-shirt, and jeans were so out of place in the business setting, but I soon forgot about that when he began to speak. He had a low, deep voice that was hypnotic. He used his hands as he spoke, drawing attention to his long fingers and wide palms. He yanked off his glasses when making a point, his hazel eyes swirling blue and green under the lights. He was well-spoken and smart, and his knowledge of computer components, operating systems, and how everything worked together evident. When asked a question pertaining to anything business-related, he was brilliant. But when it became personal, he changed, drawing into himself. His smile was tentative, his words chosen carefully, and his demeanor guarded. I wanted to know why.
Often, I caught him staring at me during meetings, but his gaze would skitter away. Before I arrived in Toronto, he had been in constant contact, calling and texting me daily about the oddest things to do with my computer needs and things for my office. I found it endearing and always tried to extend our chats, but once I became personal, he shut down.
He was the first person I saw the day I walked into BAM to begin my job as a liaison for The Gavin Group. He was standing in his office doorway, his intense gaze focused on the door when I entered. The expression on his face when he saw me made my heart stutter. It was open and welcoming. He showed me around the office, excitedly presenting the incredible system he had set up for me, pointing out all the different features of the monitors and programs he had installed. He stood behind my chair, leaning over me as he tapped on the keyboard.
“It’s amazing, Reid,” I exclaimed. “Thank you for doing all this for me.”
Our eyes met and held. He was close enough I could smell his scent. It was clean and masculine. Fresh-cut cedar and pine. It suited him. The thick, dark glasses he wore emphasized his heavy brows and the beautiful color of his irises. His jaw was sharp, covered in scruff, and his bottom lip fuller than the top one. I wondered if it would be soft if I ran my tongue over it.