Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,49

sounds like intrigue.

The man nods.

Chelsea stands back.

“What are we talking? Murder? Robbery? Armed robbery?” I’m not sure if Chelsea is hoping he was there for a misdemeanor or a felony.

“You should move it along.”

Reed’s stern voice has him taking the suggestion and he winks, his brown eyes almost promising Chelsea that they’ll have fun another time. Then he crosses the street to the sound of brakes slamming and horns honking at him.

“Did you see that chiseled jaw?” Chelsea’s head circles around like she’s about to pass out.

“I saw that he’s unfamiliar with a crosswalk,” I deadpan.

Reed raises his eyebrows at me. “I better get going so I can stay on schedule this morning.” His warm body stays close to me.

“Thank you for the ride.” I smile politely.

“You’re welcome.”

His teeth bite down on his bottom lip and I wait for whatever else he wants to say.

“Standing date next Monday,” he says.

“Not a date.”

He’s smiling before he even says the word I know is coming next. “Yet.”

“Never,” I singsong like the joke is getting old and roll my eyes.

He glances down the road to the courthouse and then back to me. “Tell Chelsea that guy isn’t the guy for her. Remember I’m the ADA. It’s my job to be able to tell the good from the bad.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” It’s one of the reasons I’m keeping him at arm’s length.

“I know you haven’t.” He frowns for a brief moment. “Have a great day, Victoria.” He runs his hand down my arm, a path of goose bumps chasing behind his touch.

“Bye.” The word comes out needy and breathier than I intended.

He grins then steps off the corner, raising his hand as he continues to look down the one-way street and reaches the other side without one squeal of brakes or honk of a horn. Stopping on the other side, he circles around and a case-winning smile crosses his face when he sees that I’m still watching him.

“Lovesick puppy!” Chelsea calls out from the entrance of the building. “I thought you were playing hard to get!”

I swivel on my heels and dodge the people walking along the sidewalk like I’m in a game of Frogger until I reach Chelsea.

“I’m not playing hard to get.” We step through the doors and I press the up button on the elevator.

“Sure, you are.”

We get on the elevator, and I’m thankful no one else joins us. Chelsea isn’t good at keeping her mouth shut in front of others.

“I am not. I just don’t want a relationship,” I say as I press the button for our floor.

Her face morphs to a stone-cold serious expression. “The man I just met practically has a sticker on his forehead that says, ‘I’m excellent in bed. Use me, abuse me, and toss me aside.’”

Diagnosis confirmed—Chelsea is nuts.

“No, he doesn’t. He has a ‘I’d be a devoted husband, fun dad and love you forever’ sticker.”

The corners of her lips tilt up until she notices I’m watching her and then she tempers her reaction. “Just sleep with the guy and get it over with.”

“He’s not that type of guy, plus—”

She rolls her eyes. “Every guy is that type of guy, Vic. What is it really?”

The bell dings, and the doors slide open, leaving us in the RISE foyer in front of the glass doors. We step off the elevator and I turn to face her.

“I haven’t dated anyone since the divorce. You think I don’t see what a wonderful guy he is? I do, and that’s why he can’t be my rebound guy.”

I walk through the glass doors and into my work area, Chelsea following behind.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. I thought we weren’t going out with him because he’s a lawyer and was the best man at your wedding? Now you’re bringing in a third reason?” Chelsea sits down in the chair across from me as I boot up my computer.

“There’s a host of reasons. Lawyers lie, yes, but technically he works for the public interest to put the bad guys behind bars, a noble profession. The best man thing is bound to cause trouble, but it really would be a great fuck you to Pete if I did sleep with his best man. Not that I would because of that.”

She leans forward in her seat and points to me. “He deserves it.”

“I’m not against ever getting married again, or dating, or living with someone, but right now I need to finish school. I need to make it, so my mom lives with me, not the