Charity Case - The Complete Series - Piper Rayne Page 0,92

happened and here’s me trying to figure out how to keep everything I love together. When in reality, the call might never come.”

I stare down at our joined hands in my lap. Sensible Reed has made his appearance and talked me off the ledge.

“It’s Jade’s birthday. Let’s enjoy it. Worry about this shit later.”

I smile, and he wraps his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his chest. Calm quickly replaces the tension with just the scent of his cologne.

“One more thing.” I stare up at him, shooting him my best innocent eyes. “Pete’s coming to dinner.”

He rolls his eyes. “Great.”

He stands, takes my hands and pulls me up. “Now, let’s enjoy the day.”

“Okay. I should get in there before Chelsea decorates Jade’s cake all by herself.” I head to the door, his hand in mine.

“That’s a bad thing because?”

“Because I make her cake. I’m her mom.”

He nods, but I can tell he clearly doesn’t understand a mother’s right to complain about having to do something while insisting on doing it herself at the same time. It’s a mom thing.

Chapter Thirty-One

“Do you want me to grab Henry?” I ask Reed, staring at his ass bent over in the bathtub.

“No, I’m almost done. It wasn’t that hard.” He stands up, pulling on the bar. Then he pretends to sit down in the tub and pull himself up.

“I never would have thought you could do that.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “You thought I was too white-collar, did you?”

He steps out secure in the fact the grab bar will hold my mom’s weight if she needs it and stalks toward me.

“A lawyer. Winnetka. Rich boy.” I flip up my fingers counting the reasons off.

He reaches me, tickling my ribcage until he gets me right where he wants me, in his arms.

“Maybe I should have worn my tool belt?”

I wiggle to get free. “That and no shirt. You’d look much manlier. Maybe Ned can help you out.”

His fingers dig deeper until he’s got my hands over my head and his body has me pressed against the wall. He trails his nose along my neck and up to my ear—back and forth, a painful arousal building deep inside me.

“I think you know how manly I am,” he whispers sliding his other hand up my shirt, cupping my breast over my bra.

“Someone could come,” I whisper.

“Tell me how manly I am.”

“You’re manly.”

“You don’t sound convincing.” His fingers pinch my nipple and I push into his touch, unable to stop myself.

“Your manhood is so manly I’m sore for days.”

He hems and haws. “I need more information.”

“Well, counselor, I’m not sure what you’re looking for.”

Another tweak of my nipple and I moan.

“Shh… you’re going to get us caught. Now, where were we?” His fingers pull down the cup of my bra. “Tell me.”

“You’re so manly that I bet you can fix my bed.”

“What’s wrong with your bed?” he asks while he rolls my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, like he’s playing a game.

“It doesn’t squeak.” I pretend to pout.

“I do believe I can fix that for you, ma’am.” His lips land on mine.

“Ew, keep your kinky shit to yourself.”

At the sound of Chelsea’s voice, Reed doesn’t let go of my hands, but he does pull his other one out of my shirt.

“Way to kill the mood,” he says over his shoulder to her.

Chelsea laughs. “I like you. Now get out of the bathroom. I gotta go.”

Reed lets go of my hands. “We’re going to get the kids anyway.” He walks out of the room and down the hall.

“Well, aren’t you guys just like June and Ward Cleaver?” she yells down the hall at us.

“I don’t think June bites Ward,” Reed says without even turning around.

“HA! She said she was a biter.”

“And I have the scars to prove it,” Reed and Chelsea continue their banter until we reach the kitchen.

“We’ll be right back. Getting the kids.” I wave to my mom and Hannah who are admiring the job Chelsea and I did on the cake. I let her help a little, but she’s going to need to have her own kids if she wants to do it again.

Reed and I head down the sidewalk, holding hands, the crap from earlier pushed to the back of my mind, as I choose to focus on Jade’s birthday.

“So, Pete’s coming tonight?” Reed asks, which I knew was coming.

“He’s her dad.”

“I know and if this is going to work, we’d have to face him together. The bubble was nice for a