Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,60

a rich kid.”

He says it as casually as you’d tell someone you love pizza.

“Am I to assume you have a trust fund?”

He glances at me again and that smirk hasn’t left his face. “You assume correct.”

I move to look straight ahead out the windshield, leaning back in the seat. This would be another difference between Pete and Reed. Pete’s parents though rich, didn’t save. They spent and continue to spend what his father makes. They were nouveau riche and my guess is that Reed comes from old money. Pete knew if he wanted to continue his lifestyle, he had to earn the money himself. Reed went the opposite route.

“From your grandfather?” I ask.

“Grandmother.” He winks. “My mom’s mom.”

“So, your dad…”

“My dad is a successful businessman. A CEO of a major food industry company, but my mom’s family money goes back generations.”

“And your dad doesn’t like you being an ADA either?”

He huffs. “Right? I guess money can change people. Here’s a guy who worked his way up through the ranks and he thinks his money was wasted on my degree.”

My mom would have been ecstatic if I’d become a lawyer.

“I wasn’t brought up to do what makes me happy, Victoria. I was brought up to do something that had a lot of money and prestige attached to it so that my parents could brag.”

“But being an assistant district attorney is a noble profession,” I insist.

“Don’t feel bad for me, I’ve had a good life. So, what if my parents don’t like what I do? I learned a long time ago, that’s their problem, not mine.”

“You sound so sure. I mean parent’s expectations have the capability of really messing up a kid.”

He nods before checking his blind spot to change lanes. “Believe me, I think my dad hates the fact that I started mentoring at Big Brothers because that’s when I found out the real world was far from the reality inside the tiny enclave I’d been raised in. On one hand, I was grateful for what I had growing up, but on the other hand, I wanted to help those who didn’t have the same opportunities.”

“You’re like a noble prince.” The sentence falls from my lips without filtering through my brain.

Shit. My filter must be soaked in red wine at the moment.

The car rolls to a stop and for a moment, I think he didn’t hear me. His gaze is set forward, his hand wrapped around the gear shift, feet poised over the two pedals. Then he glances over, and his tongue is sliding over his bottom lip. “I love that you see me that way, but I don’t want to set some unrealistic expectations for you. I have plenty of faults.”

“I need details.”

“Well, I don’t cook. I order in every night. If you went to my condo right now, you’d only find a gallon of chocolate milk and a million takeout containers and condiments in my fridge. A cleaning lady comes twice a week because I am in no way domesticated. She washes my clothes, takes care of my dry cleaning, cleans the place. I stay up insanely late every night, usually crashing on my couch with a case file in my hand.”

I smile, thankful that he’s not perfect. Because perfect is an illusion. And I want the real thing.

“Sounds like you’re a typical bachelor to me.”

He shrugs, the light turns green and he accelerates back onto the highway.

“If I continue living this way, I’ll be single forever.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

He chuckles. “I’m kind of hoping I might be off the market soon.” He glances over at me and winks.

I melt into the expensive leather seat. If it wasn’t for my sweet Jade, I’d wish I would’ve met him before Pete. But taking Pete out of the equation takes my Jade away and there’s no way I’d be me without her.

“Can I ask you a question?” His eyes focus back on the road.

“Sure.”

“I know the rules of dating state not to talk about ex’s, but what happened with Pete? If you don’t want to answer just tell me to mind my own business.”

My gaze veers out the window. “No, it’s okay.” I pause for a second. “I think Pete just wasn’t ready to settle down. I think he thought he wanted it. His parents wanted it. I guess like your parents, they wanted to brag about him. But it just wasn’t for him. He’s a decent dad, I will say that. I mean he could be more involved and