“Are you looking for spontaneity? I thought you hated him?” Victoria asks with her usual half-cocked grin saying she knows the answer, but she’s enjoying putting me in the hot seat.
“I do hate him, but if he wants to win me over—his words not mine—then why find out about my friends and all the personal stuff? Half the fun of dating someone new is discovering who they are.”
Victoria pulls out a wine bottle from the fridge, holding it up at me with her eyebrows raised.
I nod because, hello, I’m wound tighter than a spool of fishing line and I need something to relax me.
“Roarke Baldwin strikes me as the type who doesn’t like surprises,” Victoria says.
Without testing the pasta a second time, Reed grabs two hot pads and picks up the pot, taking it over to the sink. A rush of steam erupts like a volcano as he pours the pasta out into a colander.
My eyes focus in on the wine splashing into the two glasses. “But what would be the point of finding out about you guys?”
Reed turns around bringing the colander back to the other pot with the sauce and shrimp inside. Seriously, Victoria should be thanking the heavens above every night for bringing her Reed.
“I think he only knows about us because I’m the Assistant DA. It wouldn’t take a whole lot of digging to find out. When a guy stops pulling all-nighters and starts cutting out early on Fridays questions get raised. Assistants talk and rumors circulate. Everyone knows I found my dream girl.” He winks over at Victoria.
A lovesick smile overtakes her face. “Here.” She slides the wine glass across the table to me.
Tension fills the space and I wonder if I’m keeping these two from fucking on the counter with my presence. Lucy barks from outside and then I don’t feel so bad, remembering that Jade is here, too. Not to mention Victoria’s mother lives right next door. Reed must be used to having multiple cock blocks around at this point.
“He knows Victoria works at RISE,” I say.
Reed’s casual demeanor continues. “I know he has this reputation around the divorce court, and Vic told me how he represented your ex, but honestly, I thought he was a pretty cool guy when I met him at your party.”
My party. I snap my fingers. “That’s where he figured it all out.” Irritation sets in as I remember a couple months ago when a woman I’d invited to a gathering at my place brought Roarke as her date.
Reed’s eyebrows furrow. “Hannah, you seem to think this guy is still out to get you.”
Victoria hands Reed plates and he dishes out the meal on each then places them on the breakfast bar. Wanting to earn my dinner, I slide from my stool and carry the plates to the already set table.
“Can you blame me?” I sigh.
There’s no arguing with Reed. But the fact that he knows more about me than he should, puts me on edge because I’m at a disadvantage when it comes to him.
Victoria brings Jade’s smaller plate over to the table. “I’d say just do what you have to this weekend. Retire to your hotel room saying you don’t feel well. Try to mingle with whoever you think will talk your ear off so he can’t wedge himself into your conversation. Whatever you do, don’t be alone with him.”
I nod like she’s the Dalai Lama giving me advice on life.
Reed’s deep chuckle interrupts us. “You guys are horrible. The man is trying to win her over. You act like he’s plotting her murder.”
We both whip our heads over to him.
“He’s not trying to win me over. He’s trying to get up my skirt.”
Reed’s face turns a nice shade of red. “Well, I can’t say I wasn’t trying to get up Vic’s, but I wanted more than just that.”
Victoria glances over her shoulder out the patio door to find Jade and Lucy running around the small backyard. Well, Jade’s hopping on all fours and Lucy’s pouncing back not really understanding the game.
“Roarke Baldwin doesn’t exactly scream carpool man.”
Reed shrugs, filling a cup full of milk. “No offense, Hannah, but you don’t exactly scream carpool woman.”
Victoria smacks him on the chest. “Reed!”
I wave her off with my hand. “No, he’s right.”
“Do you ladies want my opinion?” Reed sets a cup down in front of Jade’s plate.
“Not really,” Victoria says, patting his cheek as she walks by.
“I don’t need to hear bullshit. Marriage is off the table for me. If Roarke is expecting more than to get up my skirt he’s going to be disappointed.”
It’s not until the words fall from my mouth that I realize what I just said.
The two of them are staring at me and my eyes widen.
“Not that he’s getting that either.” I shoot them a look that dares either of them to say any different.
“Well, then I’d go with Victoria’s plan because I’m not sure Roarke Baldwin is used to not getting what he wants.” Reed grabs a beer and heads to the patio door. “Jade, it’s dinner time.”
She looks up and heads back inside.
“Why do we keep referring to him by his full name? Like he’s the president or someone important,” I grumble.
Victoria sits down at the table, her eyes focusing anywhere but on me.
“What?” I ask.
Jade points to Lucy and dictates for her to sit before she’ll give her a treat. With any luck, that dog will be fully trained when I return.
“Nothing,” she says and shrugs.
“Vic?”
She looks at Reed and they exchange a look. “I just think he’s like a five-year-old with a candy bar.”
“Meaning?”
Jade begins to walk toward the table, but Victoria directs her attention over to her daughter. “Wash your hands, sweetie.”
Once we hear the hall bathroom faucet start, Victoria sets her eyes on me.
“I’m just suggesting that he doesn’t seem to have a lot of willpower when it involves you.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Reed asks, bending over her chair and kissing her neck. “I had no self-control when it came to you.”
Her hand lands on the side of his head and his lips never move. “I guess it depends if Hannah wants the attention. I did.”
He whispers something I can’t hear and his lips don’t stop devouring her neck.
“Ew!” Jade screams. “Not in front of the kid.”
Reed doesn’t stop though and Victoria doesn’t move away.
“Love is a beautiful thing,” Victoria mumbles to her daughter.
Jade meets my gaze and she rolls her eyes. “I don’t agree. I love Henry, but neither one of us will ever be doing that.” She twirls her finger in a circle near her temple.
Reed sits down in a chair between Victoria and me. “We’ll see about that.”
Jade rolls her eyes again, something I notice she’s gotten very good at.
“Watch it,” Victoria warns and I can’t believe they’re already at that age. Jade having an attitude.
“Don’t you think so, Hannah?” Jade picks up a fork and waits for me to respond.
“Totally. I never want anything like that.” I smile over my forkful of food, purposely dodging Victoria’s look. “One and done is my motto.”