Reid smiled at her, and his dimples deepened, softening the stern handsomeness of the man. “Good luck with that, sunshine,” he said and then went back to washing the dishes as if the last few charged moments had never happened.
Picking up a tea towel, she began to dry them, a smile on her face.
After a few minutes of companionable silence, she spoke. “Can I tell Sophia and Mel where I’m going?”
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t. The fewer people who know, the easier it will be.”
“Sophia won’t like that. Shit, she even has a key to my house, so she has full access to me.”
Reid’s head snapped to her. “Does she indeed.”
“It isn’t Sophia if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Maybe, maybe not, but it is someone who knows your schedule and habits.”
She shivered at his words knowing someone she knew—had spoken with—was doing this to her.
“I don’t get it though. Why haven’t I had direct contact with this person? There’s been no demands or threats, just a few gifts or misplaced items and then the break-in and now Tina.” Her throat clogged with emotion on the last word.
Reid took the plate she was drying from her hands and placed it on the side before drawing her into his arms and holding her tight. Her head rested against the steady beat of his heart, her senses overwhelmed with his unique scent that she was fast becoming addicted too. His big hand on the back of her head holding her steady as his cheek rested on her head made her feel safe, protected, but more than that, she felt as if she was home.
Callie closed her eyes and drank in the sensation of being held by Reid, wondering what a lifetime of belonging to a man like him would look like and knowing in her heart it would be beautiful beyond her imagination.
“Nobody knows how the minds of these sick bastards work, sunshine, but we will find them, and they will pay. That I can promise you.”
Callie stayed that way until she heard the door to the back open and looked toward the sound.
Mitch tipped his head, but Reid didn’t let go of her straight away. “Brant good?”
Mitch blew out a breath. “Yeah, the family have been informed, and he said we can release a statement but keep the details to an absolute minimum. I told him we’re taking Callie to Hereford and he agreed it’s the best option.”
Reid released her, and she stepped back, feeling stronger for his touch. “I’ll make the calls to Mel and Sophia. Where will I be staying? Also, I have no clothes or anything with me, except the overnight bag from our trip, but it only has a few essentials in it.”
“You’ll be staying with me unless that’s a problem for you? If it is, I can ask Jack if you can stay at the compound.”
In truth, Callie wanted to relish every second with this man and perhaps staying in his home would unlock some of the secrets he kept hidden and help her unravel the mystery that was Kirk Reid. “With you is fine. I can ask Sophia to send me some clothes.”
“No, I don’t want her or anyone else knowing where you’re staying exactly.”
“Oh, all right but I can’t wear the same clothes for weeks on end, Reid.”
He grinned at her and picked up his phone. “Don’t worry. I know just the woman to sort that for you.”
For some reason, his words caused an arc of jealousy to spear through her. The smirk on Mitch’s face didn’t help either.
“Pax?”
“Pax,” Reid agreed and lifted the phone to his ear.
Callie stepped back, pretending to fuss with Bono as she listened and discreetly watched Reid on the phone.
“Hey, Pax, darlin, how you been?”
Callie watched a huge smile stretch across his face and then silently fumed at the soft look that followed. He’d mentioned Pax before, and she wondered who she was to him. An ex-girlfriend, current girlfriend, fuck buddy? She hated her jealously but couldn’t seem to stem it.
“That’s good, darlin, that’s really good. Listen, I need a small favour. I have a friend coming to stay, and she needs enough clothes to last her a few weeks. Can you have some sent to my place?”
Callie watched him nod, and his eyes moved to her a knowing smirk on his face. “No, it ain’t like that, Pax.”
Callie had heard enough of this conversation and walked from the room. He could flirt with the woman as much as he liked, but she didn’t have to listen to it. She was halfway up the stairs when she sensed him behind her. Callie ignored him and went to the room she’d slept in, intending to do what, she had no clue. She tried to shut the door but found herself pinned to it instead.
The heat and hardness of Reid’s body pressed against her. “Like it when you get jealous, sunshine.” His handsome and arrogant face loomed above her as every nerve in her body responded to his close proximity.
Callie glared at him, hating that she was so transparent. “I’m not jealous, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Liar. It’s burning you up to think I might have been talking to a lover, asking her to get you some clothes.” Callie kept her mouth shut, not trusting herself to speak. “Do you really think I would do that to you?”
The truth was she didn’t, but the green-eyed monster wasn’t a reasonable thing.
“I care about you, Callie, and would never disrespect you like that. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I know it’s something I want to pursue. I won’t and can’t make you any promises about the future, but I do want us to get to know each other better and see where this goes.”
His statement was unexpected, and she didn’t know what to say. She wanted that too, but she wasn’t prepared to share him. “I don’t share,” she bit out, still feeling a little out of sorts.
“Good, because neither do I. Unless you want too that is.”
His smile told her he was joking, and she slapped his arm lightly. “Jerk.”
“Yeah, maybe I am, but just for the record, Pax is Blake’s woman and probably the most organised and efficient person I’ve ever met. I swear she could arrange a coup within an hour and do it while still running the gallery where she works.”
“Sounds like an amazing woman. I can’t wait to meet her.”
“So, we going to do this?” he asked.
“I don’t want to tell Clay just yet. Can it be just us for little while?”
Reid rubbed his lip as he gave it some thought, but eventually nodded. He had a feeling there wasn’t a lot he wouldn’t do for this woman. “Yes, for a short time. You good with that?”
“How about you stop talking and kiss me?”
Her heart thudded in her chest at her boldness but then his lips were on hers, and all she felt was a barrage of pleasure as he kissed her until she was clawing at his back, her leg wrapped around his thigh.
He pulled away and looked at her through hooded eyes as he wrapped her hair around his fist and tipped her head back. Callie was in a daze of desire as she looked at him.
“I want nothing more than to fuck you until neither of us can move, but we don’t have time. When I get inside you, I want to take my time and savour every inch of this delectable body.” Her clit throbbed at his words, her pussy clenched, and a needy mewling sound came from her throat.