Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,227

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.”

I place my hand up in the air and Jade high fives it. Sad that the only person who gets me in this room is the eight-year-old.

Chapter Thirteen

At seven pm on the dot, a grey SUV stops alongside the curb of my condo building downtown. The low hum of energy surrounding my body that seems to be ever present whenever he’s near, tells me it’s Roarke.

“See you Sunday, Nate,” I say to my doorman. “If I don’t