Stalking His Claim - Lucy Darling Page 0,6
Reed.” If only he would see that. Hopefully these little moments we have will eventually make him realize it.
“Right.” Again the phone goes quiet. I know he never wants me to feel like I’m a bother so he’s never the first to end a call.
“I’ll let you get back to your busy work life. I’ll see you tonight, birthday boy.”
“Tonight, Tinsley,” he says. He still doesn't hang up. I end the call for both of us so I can get back to grocery shopping. One of these days I'm going to challenge him to a phone-off and see how long he’ll go without hanging up after we say goodbye.
I grab everything I’ll need for cupcakes and more icing than one person should ever own, but there are so many different colors that I can’t only choose one. What do you buy for a man who can buy anything he wants? Nothing. Your only real option is to make him something. One thing I do know about Reed is he never indulges when it comes to food unless I’m pushing it on him. I’m the reason he needs it. At least that’s what I tell myself.
When I exit the store I once again run into someone. My heart drops for a second. “Sorry about that,” a tall blond woman says as she keeps on half running down the sidewalk. Probably late to wherever it is she’s trying to get to. I let out a breath. No one is going to jump you in the middle of the city, Tin. Get it together.
“Home,” I call when I enter the condo twenty minutes later, dropping my bag at the front door.
“You do know an alarm sounds anytime someone comes in.”
“I do. But this is more personal.” I kiss Rita on the cheek.
“It is. How were classes? I thought you’d be home an hour ago.” I follow her into the kitchen.
“I had to make a stop.” I place the bags on the kitchen counter.
“More sweets?” She laughs, looking through my bags. “You know you're the only one who has ever gotten Reed to eat this crap.”
“It’s good for him.” I start lining up all the different icings. “It’s his birthday.”
“I know.” She gives me a sad smile.
“Why is this sad?” Is there something I don’t know?
“Reed’s mom died on his birthday.” My stomach drops. No one ever talks about Reed’s mom. I don’t know why. I’d never known her. For as long as I can remember it was only Reed and his father. “He was five.”
I look back down at all the stuff I got. This might not have been such a great idea after all. “Don’t do that.” Rita rests her hand on my shoulder. “Make him celebrate. God knows I could never get him to do it. I do know one thing. His mom would be pissed if she knew about all the birthdays he's been missing.”
“All I’ve gotten so far is cupcakes. The man is impossible to get a gift for.”
“I think he’ll enjoy just spending time with you.”
I snort. “Should I invite anyone else over? James? Any friends?” I only know James and that’s his cousin. Then the people he works with. I’ve never met his friends. I’ve never met that one girlfriend either. I start grabbing some of the things I’ll need.
“I think the two of you will be fine.”
“I don’t know his friends.”
“He doesn't go out much. You see how much the man works.”
“But he’s dated,” I point out. Am I being obvious?
“So I’m told.” She rolls her eyes.
“He didn't let you meet her either?”
“Nope.” She hands me a carton of eggs.
“Maybe he thinks we’ll embarrass him?”
“I don’t know why men think or do a lot of things.”
I burst into laughter because I couldn't agree more. I don’t understand anything Reed does anymore. The only thing that I do know is that I want to.
5
Reed
“He’s fired.” Robert takes a calming breath. “I’m not joking. Get a woman this time. This isn't open for discussion.” Robert turns without saying another word, knowing that he’ll get nowhere. No one ever does when it comes to Tinsley.
The man should be fired. His undercover skills are obviously lacking since she saw him. That isn’t the only thing that has me all fired up. The fact that he scared her has me ready to lose it.
The whole point of the bodyguard was to keep her safe. I would have told her that I had someone protecting her from the beginning, but I know