Reed (Allen Securities) (13 page)

“It’s just a weak vodka and pink lemonade,” the waitress said in her ear when she sat the drink in front of her.

Olivia smiled at her, grateful for the consideration.

“Jess said nothing too strong, and it was all I could think of,” she said. The woman was so short a cute pixie cut for her blonde hair. Olivia had a hard time not liking her instantly.

“That will be all,” Finn said coldly.

The woman’s face fell as she gathered her tray and scurried away. Olivia watched her go and turned back to glare at Finn.

She had met men like him. The ones that felt anyone serving them must be lower, that the only people worth looking at were the ones who had model good looks and legs that went on forever.

“Something bothering you?” Finn leaned back. The smirk on his face made her want to lean forward and smack it off him.

“She’s a person.”

The surprise on his face was almost worth it. It was clear he wasn’t a man who was spoken to like that often.

“Who’s a person?” he said leaning forward. The expensive suit he wore wrinkled at the waist.

“Liv,” Reed spoke behind her ear. The warning was there, but she had never been one to back down.

“The waitress,” Olivia said.

“Was I rude to her?” The cat and mouse game was back.

“You were dismissive,” she shot back.

“Liv, let it go,” Reed rumbled in her ear again.

“No.” Olivia turned to him, anger burning in her veins. “She didn’t deserve that. He’s an intimidating person, and it was likely very hard for her to serve our table.”

She turned back to look at Finn. “Being in charge isn’t a license to act how you want.”

“So I’m finding out,” Finn said, the smirk from before back in place.

“Forget it,” Olivia said. She stood and gathered her purse. She turned sharply to Reed. “He isn’t going to help. This is all just a power trip for him, and I’m not playing.”

She jumped when a hand grabbed ahold of her arm. “Please, Ms. Cross, don’t go. I would actually like to help you out.”

Olivia turned back to Reed for help and was surprised to find him standing. Anger raged through his face as he stared at Finn’s hand on her arm.

Taking a breath, she placed a hand on Reed and forced them both to sit. Finn returned to his seat, the smirk long gone.

“I’m actually quite aware of what has been going on,” Finn said and took a large drink of the amber liquid in front of him. “Carson came to me first because of my family’s connections to some of the public officials.”

“What’s his angle with all this?” Reed asked.

“Greed. Pure and simple greed.” Finn took another smaller drink. “He thinks that if he has the right amount of money, then that will open the doors to other offices. Quite frankly the man is a tool and not a very good one. The only reason he ever got a shot is because his uncle had a few connections.”

Reed shifted and placed a hand on her hip, pulling her back slightly. “So you turned him down?”

Finn leveled his gaze just over her shoulder to Reed. “We don’t work in the slave business.” Finn leaned back and stretched his long legs out. “Actually we’re trying more legit business. My father’s generation still tries to fight from time to time, but there are just so many expenses and headaches with guns and drugs.”

“Our father’s generation is full of dumbasses,” Finn’s associate piped up.

Through the whole exchange, she had nearly forgotten he was there.

“That they are,” Finn said and drained the rest of his drink.

Olivia was a little surprised when the two men stood. “I’ll help you if I can. Let me see what I can find, and I’ll get back with you,” he said to Reed. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Cross.”

She nodded, not really certain what else there was to do.

“Oh, are you leaving already?” Olivia turned to see Jess flash her best professional smile. Mild Irene skirted around her to sink into the chair just vacated by Finn.

“You’ve done a lovely job, Jessica,” he said warmly.

“Thank you, Mr. Kelly. Have a great night.” Jess beamed at the men.

Olivia paled. Bile rose in her throat.

“Mr. Kelly,” she said, turning to Reed. “As in THE Kelly family?”

Reed stared back like she’d lost her mind. And maybe she had to talk to a crime boss like she had. She swallowed and watched the two men cross the room. As they came to the door, Finn stopped and motioned for the pixie waitress to come over.

Her stomach turned as she imagined what he would say to her after Olivia had made such a big deal. To her surprise the woman smiled, a blush crept across her pretty face. To top it off, he reached in his wallet and dropped a few bills onto the tray pointing to the table.

Olivia locked eyes with the crime boss and couldn’t seem to look away. Irritation rose up as he smirked and winked at her. Not even trying to hide it, Olivia rolled her eyes and turned away. A smile crept on her face when she heard him laugh loudly across the room.

“I think you made an impression on him,” Reed said in her ear. His hot breath stirred the hair around her neck causing the skin to prickle.

“Well it’s a good thing I didn’t know who he was. Otherwise I would have likely thrown up on him.”

Reed threw his head back and laughed hard. “I would have liked to see that.”

Olivia wrinkled her nose at the thought.

“Jess,” Irene said, finally seeming to find her voice. “You sure you should be working for a man like that?”

Jess shrugged. “Nothing I haven’t dealt with before. At least he isn’t trying to play grab ass with me.”

“Is he going to help?” Ryder’s deep voice from the corner startled the woman.

Reed nodded as Ryder took the chair farthest from the rest of the group. Even when he didn’t need to be, he was always the outsider.

“Where are Liam and Meg?” Olivia asked.

Ryder turned with a funny look and shrugged his shoulders noncommittally.

“Irene and Jess, this is Ryder. He’s Reed’s brother and also works for him.”

Both women mumbled quiet hellos to the dark surly man. Olivia watched in fascination as his gaze lingered on Irene. Short, shy and curvy, it was not the match she would have expected. Apparently it wasn’t for Irene as well. She did her best not to look at him, and the unwavering attention caused her whole body to go red. Her long, sandy blonde hair hung over her eyes, offering shelter from his intense gaze.

“You did really well today,” Reed said quietly to her.

She blew out a breath and turned to him. “Not really how I expected it to go, but it seems like things might be working out.”

Olivia smiled and picked up her forgotten lemonade. Still cold, she chugged it down and enjoyed the warm feeling it created in her.

The steady strum of the dance floor made her toes tap a beat in her shoes.

“Uh oh,” Irene said. “Looks like dancing Liv is back.”

Olivia narrowed her eyes at her friend and stuck out her tongue.

“I’m not wasted. I’ve just found my happy place.” She turned to a surprised Reed and slipped her hand in his as she stood. “Dance with me.”

She tugged gently on his hand.

“I don’t really know,” Reed said, color on his cheeks.

She gripped his shoulders. “It’s easy,” she said as seductively as she could. “You just sway your hips.”

Keeping eyes on his, she shimmied her hips. Reed licked his lips, his eyes dark with desire. Olivia stood back and held out her hand. Without another word, he stood and pulled her toward the pulse of the music.

As they walked through the door, she caught sight of Liam and Meg dancing closely together. She smiled widely when Meg looked her way, which was quickly returned.

Reed wasted no time pulling her to a more secluded corner to dance. Despite his previous protests, he seemed to have no problem pulling her close to him and swaying to the beat of the music.

Olivia closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his powerful arms around her. It was amazing how wonderful one person could make another feel just by being held tight. His warm wandering hand lightly skimmed the bare skin at her back, dipping lower and lower until his hand was splayed across the upper part of her ass.

She gasped and slid her hand from around his neck, down his t-shirt-clad chest. The hard muscles flexed under her fingers. She reveled in the feeling. When he pulled her hips closer, she could feel the hard ridge of his cock and had to bite her lip to keep from moaning.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked into his. She didn’t just want him. She ached to have him. The feel of his body on her own, filling her up and then coming undone around him. She spun around and ground her ass into him, enjoying the delicious groan that followed.

“You’re killing me here,” he said in her ear. His hand snaked around her waist to keep her movements still against him.

He breathed hard as he planted open-mouthed kisses along her neck. When he reached her earlobe, he nipped it a few times before sucking it into his mouth. This time it was Olivia’s turn to groan.

Olivia turned again in his arms and wrapped her hands around his neck, drawing him nearer to her. “Fuck going slow,” she said and planted a searing kiss on his lips.

She could feel the surprise as she crashed into him, but Reed recovered quickly and was soon in charge of a commanding kiss. When his tongue started to fuck her mouth, she moaned. Her insides clenched with need.

Reed ripped his mouth from hers and looked down into her eyes, searching for something. She reached up and cupped his face, enjoying the feeling.

“We’re going,” he said and pulled her through the crowd, back to the table in the back room.

Three sets of eyes looked back at them. Olivia flushed. Her lips were raw, and she knew it must be obvious what she had been doing.

“Did you drive?” Reed asked Irene.

She shook her head confused.

Reed turned to Ryder. “Take her home when she’s ready using Liam car. Then get him to take you and Meg home.”

“Leaving so soon?” Jess grinned at Olivia, and the heat on her cheeks spread.

Reed nodded and started to pull her back through the room. Just before she disappeared through the door, she saw her friend mouth to call her.

Olivia smiled. Hopefully, she would have something interesting to tell her friend.

Chapter Thirteen

Reed strummed his fingers on the wheel as they drove home. Olivia had been strangely quiet since getting in the car, and he worried she might be changing her mind. His foot punched the accelerator, and they surged forward.

“I don’t…” Olivia started and then stopped. Reed glanced over to see she was twisting the material of her dress, the hem of it rising dangerously high.

He sighed when his driveway came into view.

“I’m not…” she tried again. Her cheeks were bright red when he finally brought the car to a stop and turned to face her.

Reed took one hand in his own. “Are you changing your mind? I’ll understand if you do.”

“Hell, no,” she said with such conviction he nearly laughed with relief. One hand cupped her cheek while his thumb stroked her lower lip.

“Well what’s the problem?” he asked.

“I don’t have any protection.” The blush deepened. “I mean I’m not on anything.”

“Oh well I have loads,” he laughed.

Olivia pulled away. A look of revulsion on her face.

“Oh it’s not like that,” he said, taking her hand once again. “Cage thinks it’s funny to buy me condoms for my birthday every year.” Reed paused and debated what to tell her, but the truth was the only thing that came to mind. “It’s been a while. A long while actually.”

This wasn’t the conversation he expected to be having before all this.

“Me too,” she said quietly.

His eyes widened at the revelation. God, how he wanted to know this meant as much to her as it did to him but didn’t know if he was ready for this step. It had been a long time, and the last time hadn’t really worked out like he expected.

Without a word, he got out and moved to her side of the car. When he came around the side, she was already climbing out. She looked amazing all night. The low-back dress was driving him crazy. All that exposed skin was just begging for him to run his mouth over her.

He watched her back as she walked up the stairs to the porch. Once inside she turned to stare at him. Panic sparked in him at the determined look on her face.

“I’ve been thinking about this,” she said dropping her purse on the table in the entrance. “You know all of my secrets, and I don’t know any of yours.” She sighed and stepped closer to him. “I know something happened.” She furrowed her brow. “With Niki.”

Reed closed his eyes for a moment, shutting out the things he really didn’t want to have to rehash. Opening them, he tossed his keys next to her purse.

“It’s not important,” he said and stormed off into the living room.

No, this was not how the evening was supposed to go down. They weren’t supposed to be having a heart to heart.

“It is important,” she said from behind him.

“What do you want from me?” He glowered at her.

“What do I want?” Olivia folded her hands across her chest, frowning “I want to know you! I want to not be the only one who’s putting things out there.”

“Fine,” he said, crossing the room and slammed his hand on the wall behind her. “You want to know what happened? I killed her!”

The gasp from her was exactly what he expected. Heart racing and breathing hard, he squeezed his eyes shut.

“We met during a job. She was involved and needed our help.” He looked away. “Needed my help.” Reed laughed bitterly. “Well that’s what she said.”

He pushed away for the wall and turned away. Emotion still choked him up.

“She and Neil were involved at some point. Niki said she’d cut ties with him, but Ryder warned me she hadn’t. I didn’t believe him. Didn’t want to think she would hurt me like that.”

Reed grasped the back of the couch and leaned forward. Small hands circled around his back and came around to his chest. He let out a sigh and enjoyed the feeling.

“Ryder and I were casing a place. We’d been working with Niki on getting information about Neil. The owner of the warehouse thought that Neil was up to no good, but there was no proof.” He sucked in a shaky breath. “He was right. Niki said there would be a shipment that night. When we walked in, we were ambushed. Niki was there…with him.”