Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,48

asking for five minutes, not a lifetime which is exactly what your client is going to get if this goes to jury because you keep me from saying goodbye to my girlfriend.” He doesn’t wait for a reply and clicks the phone off.

“I’m not your girlfriend.”

“Yet.”

“Never.”

“I got it from here. See you tomorrow morning, Abe. Thank you.” He opens his door and steps out of the car.

“Thank you, Abe.” I slide toward the open door.

“See you next Monday,” he answers.

“Oh, no. This was a one and done.”

I accept Reed’s hand but before I clear the interior of the car Abe speaks. “Whatever you say. But I’ll see you Monday.”

I shake my head. Even this Uber driver thinks Reed will get what he wants. Well, I’ve dealt with lawyers before and I don’t fall for their case winning, persuasive closing arguments—anymore. It’s all bullshit sprinkled with a few big words.

“You must be the steak.”

My hand’s not out of Reed’s when his gaze shoots from the woman he doesn’t know back to me. I close my eyes wishing I would’ve fled the car moments earlier because Chelsea will not make this easy on me.

Chapter Fifteen

“Steak?” Reed asks, his eyes lighting up because I’m sure he’s figured out it’s not a bad thing to be compared to.

“Chelsea.” My tone is curt and displeased.

She straightens her computer bag over her shoulder, her gaze taking in every inch of Reed. He’s looking exceptionally attractive today. A gray suit instead of his usual blue. His jacket hangs open displaying a buttoned-up vest underneath which his tie is tucked into. His usual mop of hair is gelled to perfection and a satin-mustard handkerchief that matches his tie peeks out of his front pocket.

“Who dresses you? A Nordstrom’s personal shopper?” Chelsea asks the question I was just wondering.

Reed chuckles, holding his hand out for Chelsea. “Reed Warner, and I take pride in the fact that I’m a big boy now and can dress myself.” He gives her a playful wink.

She accepts his hand, her eyes still roaming over him like he’s too much for her to take in all at once. “Definitely a steak.”

“Chelsea, I think you have an early morning call, right?” I say and nod toward the building.

Her gaze flickers to mine. She could say anything at this moment and that scares me more than Reed’s close proximity.

“Yeah, I’ll leave you two alone. Very nice to meet you, Reed Warner.”

“You too…Chelsea?” he questions since I never properly introduced them.

The sidewalk is filling in with everyone rushing off to work before the start of the day.

“Sorry. Chelsea Walsh,” I point to her. “Reed Warner.”

“Nice to meet a friend of Victoria’s,” Reed says. “Tell me, what’s the secret to getting her to accept a date with me?”

My cheeks heat as Chelsea pretends to think about it. “She’s a tough one for sure.” She taps her lips with a newly manicured nail. “Bribery is probably your best option.”

“Bribery?” Reed questions and glances over at me.

“You just need to figure out what it is she wants most.” She gives me a meaningful look and then looks back at Reed.

“I am a lawyer, so that should be somewhat easy.” The smug grin on his face says he’s playing.

“I better get upstairs before the boss comes in. See you up there, Victoria. I hope to see you again, Reed.” She nods in his direction.

“You’ll see me again. I’m relentless when I want something.”

“That’s for sure,” I mumble.

“Refreshing to see a man who doesn’t give up on what he wants.”

I clear my throat and they both look over at me. “Bye, Chelsea.”

She waves her fingers in the air. “Bye.” She turns on her heels, running right into a man. He grips both her arms to allow her to find her footing again.

He’s wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a black leather jacket, his hair mussed in multiple directions. Not in an I-don’t-care way, but in a sexy, I-just-got-fucked kind of way.

“Hello, there.” Chelsea’s voice oozes seduction. “Care to escort me to my building?”

The man laughs, staring down at her with a promise of reckless, casual sex that will surely leave her legs wobbly. Huh. Maybe I get the bad boy obsession a little bit after all.

“Didn’t I see you in the courtroom just last week?” Reed says next to me.

“Huh?” The bad boy stares over at Reed and it’s clear the moment he recognizes him.

Chelsea turns, the guy still holding her up. “You’re a criminal?” she asks him, half with disgust, half with what