Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,225

tip up my lips, but I’m able to control it enough to stop myself.

“I’ll pick you up Thursday at seven pm.” His arm extends out and wraps lightly around my waist and for some reason, I don’t swat it away like I should. His lips press to my cheek and once again I let myself down by not fighting him off.

I tell myself it’s because I don’t want to make a scene but who am I kidding? I want to know what it feels like to have his hands on me.

His musky cologne acts like a vibrator right between my legs and I have to squeeze my thighs together. His soft lips only deepen the ache. “Think about changing the date. I’d love to stand out here and watch fireworks with you in my arms.”

I stiffen. “We’re almost half done with the favors and I still don’t want to date you.”

He chuckles, his body leaving mine. “Don’t worry. You will.”

Walking past me, I force my gaze to remain glued to the slow rippling waves washing up against the edge of the wall. “Bye, Sonya. Thanks again, ladies.” He waves goodbye to them and then he’s gone.

A whole weekend away with only him. Me at his mercy.

I spin on my heel and face my pregnant employee. “Chelsea, I need to borrow your pepper spray.”

Chapter Twelve

On Wednesday evening, Lucy and I exit the Uber in front of Victoria and Reed’s new place beside her mom’s house. She must have been waiting for us, because I’m barely out of the car before her daughter Jade is running down the sidewalk jumping up and down in excitement.

“Hi, Hannah.” She claps and falls to her knees. “Hi, Lucy girl.” She runs her hand through Lucy’s thick fur.

“Hey.” Victoria jogs down the steps, her hands outstretched. “Let me help you.”

“This dog does come with a shit load of stuff.”

Jade’s hands stop moving and she looks up at me.

“Sorry,” I cringe.

Her shoulders shrug and she continues petting Lucy as she falls to her back, signaling that she wants Jade to rub her stomach.

“She’s heard worse. Pete,” Victoria references her ex-husband. “Come on in. I know you’re probably eager to get back to your condo and prepare for this weekend.”

“Oh yeah, can’t wait. If I wasn’t wearing a dress, I wouldn’t shave my legs.” I haul Lucy’s bed under my arm and her bag of food with her leash over my shoulder. “You sure about this?”

Jade runs up the sidewalk to their front door, Lucy at her side. “REED!” she screams.

He comes to the door, smiling tentatively at Lucy. “Hey, Lucy,” he says, patting her head like she might infect him with the rabies virus.

“Are you sure Reed’s okay with this?” I ask as we make our way up the path to the house.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t he be? It’s all Jade’s talked about. Since she leaves for California next week, it will be nice for them to spend time together,” she says.

I forgot Jade is going to stay with her father in Los Angeles for a month this summer.

“How are you doing with that?” I ask Victoria.

She shrugs. “I’m fine. It will be fine. I met the nanny over Skype and I’ll see her face-to-face when we get there. Reed and I are staying the weekend in a hotel just in case. Then, we’re taking Henry back with us and staying longer when it’s time to bring her home.”

Henry is Jade’s little friend from school. “You sure have your hands full.”

“Welcome to my life.” We step up into the house, Reed taking the dog bed from me.

“Hannah,” he says, kissing me on the cheek. “Excited?”

My lips dip and I stare at him like someone just said I have to get a root canal.

He chuckles to himself sliding the bag off my arm. “That bad, huh?”

“Do you know Roarke Baldwin?” I ask.

Reed places the bag of food on the dog bed in the corner of the room.

“Only a little bit. Obviously, I know his reputation, but it’s not like we work in the same field of law.”

“He knew you were dating Victoria,” I say.

Victoria picks up the bag of food and heads to the kitchen where I hear her pour the food into a dish.

“Can I take Lucy out back?” Jade asks Reed.

He gives her a fleeting look. “Yeah, but we’re going to have to walk her you know. We only have a postage stamp square of grass back there.” His gaze shifts to mine. “City life.”

“Well, she’s used