Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,164

me underneath you.

Me: You do know I don’t have to ride you every time, right?

Dean: I like having your tits in my hands. We’re both winners.

Me: Are you going to feed me?

Dean: Unless you want a very vulgar response, I suggest you use that smart brain of yours and figure it out.

I laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Victoria hollers from her desk. She’ll be in here any minute with her stealthy mom P.I. skills.

“Nothing.”

Me: I’ll be there at noon. Don’t make me wait.

Dean: I think that’s my line. Clark has a key for you.

Me: A key?

Dean: Too soon?

I drop the phone on my desk. Is it too soon? I don’t really know.

Me: Don’t expect one from me.

Dean: I expect nothing from you.

Dean: Strike that. Just a wet pussy.

My cheeks heat just as Victoria stops at my door, coffee cup in her hand like she’s just stopping on the way to the break room. That move might work on Jade, but not me.

“Who are you texting?”

I glance up at her and then quickly type out another message.

Me: Then we’re on the same page. You better be hard by the time I get there.

Dean: I’m already hard thinking about you bent over my couch.

A shiver runs through my body and I squirm in my seat.

Me: Okay, I need to work. To be continued…

Dean: I was just unzipping my slacks :(

Me: Use your imagination.

Dean: Just send me a pic?

“Chelsea!” Victoria’s loud voice pulls me from my internal debate over whether I’d actually send him a pic.

Me: In your dreams Rico Suave. Noon.

I shut off my screen, placing my phone face down on my desk. Knowing Dean, he’ll send me a picture of himself.

“Sorry, what?” I say, realizing Hannah’s there now, too.

She and Hannah walk in and sit down.

“So, things are good?” Hannah asks, crossing her legs.

“They’re progressing, yes.”

“Are you taking him to Vegas with you?” Victoria asks, sipping out of her coffee mug. See, she’s a con artist.

“God, no. I don’t want to end up married again,” I joke.

“You think you would?” Hannah asks.

“No.” Then I frown while I think about that for a second.

“Jade adores him,” Victoria says. “Said he’s the best dancer. She brags about him so much, Reed was trying to choreograph his own dance last night.”

“Reed’s got no competition, but I have to admit he was good with her. He started breakdancing for her at one point.”

“She showed us.” Victoria smiles, silently giving me her blessing should I want to jump back in the Dean pool again.

“You’ve fallen for him again, haven’t you?” Hannah asks.

I shrug.

If I told them the truth, I’d be admitting it out loud. And that makes it more real. I’ve been dodging my family for the past few weeks because I know they’ll see it on my face.

“We aren’t going to judge you,” Hannah says, dipping her head to catch my eye.

I look up through my eyelashes and nod.

Hannah smiles.

“Am I the stupidest woman in the world?” My forehead hits my desk.

“No.” Victoria sets her coffee cup on my desk and comes around to my side. She puts her arm around my shoulders, propping herself up on the arm of my chair. “Not at all.”

“But Hannah said people don’t change.”

Hannah laughs. “What do I know? I barely know the guy except for the fact he’s a good tax lawyer.”

“What if he destroys me?” I voice my biggest fear.

“What if he doesn’t?” Victoria says, her lips pressing against the top of my head. “I know it’s scary, but if you’re already scared of being hurt, it’s too late. Now you have to jump in with both feet.”

“I’d rather put my toe in.”

Hannah laughs. “You already did. You’re going to feel the hit if it doesn’t work out anyway. Don’t stand in the way of working out yourself. Understand?”

“Kind of.” I shrug.

“If Dean called you right now and said he met someone else, how would you feel?” Hannah asks.

Her words send an adrenaline rush through my body and my chest constricts. “I’d be crushed.”

Hannah raises her shoulders, her lips pursed in a ‘see, you’re invested’ mannerism. I know she’s right. I felt it Saturday night. The pit of my stomach said I crossed the line. That he won and weaseled his way into my heart again.

“So both feet huh?”

Victoria squeezes my shoulder. “Yep, but don’t worry, Jade’s a really good judge of character.”

“She loves Pete.” I look up at her and roll my eyes.

Victoria laughs at me bringing up her ex-husband. “Every girl has the hero complex for her