Reid: Vested Interest #4 Read online

  She grinned. “I do. No doubt Cami and Emmy will pump me for information about you, and they’ll share with Aiden and Bentley.”

  I laughed. “Bentley won’t comment, but Aiden will. And he’ll fill in Maddox. They’ll probably be in my office waiting to pounce on Monday wanting deets.”

  “This is unconventional.”

  I looked down at her. “Is it too much?”

  She studied me, then cupped my cheek. “No, Reid. Not too much. We’ll figure it out, together.”

  I liked that word.

  “Yeah.” I grinned. “Together.”

  When I was in prison, time had no meaning. My days were an endless loop of repetition. Wake up, eat, study, read, eat, do assigned chores, eat, study more, sleep. I didn’t think, I didn’t plan, and I didn’t hope.

  When I became part of BAM, some things changed, while others remained the same. My life was still on a loop, but it was one that I chose. I slept and worked, but the additions of Bentley, Aiden, and Maddox gave my life meaning. The work I did mattered. I mattered. Still, time had no meaning. The days flowed into each other, time flying by as the days and nights blended.

  Until Becca came along. Time took on a completely new relevance.

  Normally, a Sunday flew by like every other day—filled with computers, words, codes, and graphics. Monday would arrive, another workweek ahead, broken up by moments of laughter and friendship.

  However, this Sunday dragged. I couldn’t concentrate on work. I prowled my small apartment, then headed to the office, hoping for distraction. It never came. Instead, all I did was think of Becca. How her mouth felt on mine. The way her body fit to me when we were close. The way she listened to my every word. Her tears because she felt my pain. Her laughter because I made her happy.

  Everything about her.

  I tried to resist contacting her. I told myself to chill and be cool. I would see her in the morning. It was not a big deal. But my mind kept wandering. Finally, I gave up, deciding I wasn’t at all cool, and Becca was well aware of that fact.

  I dialed her number, smiling at her breathless greeting. From the sounds behind her, I knew she was outside. I wished I were with her.

  “Reid, is that you?” She giggled. “It’s your number, so it has to be—hi!”

  I relaxed, hearing her enthusiasm. “Hey, BB.”

  “Everything okay?”

  I reclined in my chair, tucked my phone between my shoulder and ear, and stretched my arms upward, shutting my eyes. “It is now.”

  “Now? It wasn’t before?”

  “I wanted to hear your voice, and I didn’t know if I would look needy calling you, so I tried to resist.” I sighed with a laugh. “But I’m not cool, and I decided you already knew that, so I’m calling to say hello and see how your day is going. Make sure you’re okay.”

  There was a muffled sound, and the noise in the background dimmed. Her voice was soft. “You wanted to hear my voice?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And check on me?”

  “Yeah,” I repeated. “I’m lame, I guess.”

  “No,” she murmured. “You are anything but lame. I think you’re wonderful.”

  I grinned so wide, my eyes shut again. “Yeah?”

  Apparently, I could only say one specific word to her right now.

  “Yeah,” she responded. “To answer your question, my day is good. Not as good as yesterday, but still nice.”

  I sat straighter, holding the phone close to my mouth. “Yesterday was better?”

  “Yesterday was awesome,” she breathed out.

  “Even the part where I tried to give you a concussion with your stripper pole, and then screwed you in the totally wrong manner on the floor?”

  “Ahem.”

  My eyes flew open, meeting Aiden’s amused gaze. He was standing in the doorway, his arms folded over his massive chest. I felt the heat of my embarrassment stain my cheeks.

  Becca giggled, bringing my attention back to the phone. “Well, part of that was good. But what happened after was even better.”

  “I agree.”

  “Are you okay?” she asked. “Are you at the office?”

  “Yes, I am. Aiden just arrived in my office, in fact.”

  “Oh.” Her breath hitched. “Just now?”

  “A few minutes ago, I think.”

  “Oh. Oh.”

  I was back to my one-word answers. “Yeah.”

  She laughed. “Well, I’ll let you go explain that to him. I’ll join Cami and Emmy. Would you-would you call me later?”

  “If it’s okay.”

  “Reid, you can call me anytime. I like to hear your voice too, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Have fun.”

  I hung up as Aiden walked in and flung himself into the chair across from my desk. He leaned back, crossed his arms behind his head, and stared at me.

  “Mission accomplished?”

  “Which one?”

  “Project B?”

  I smirked—you’d think we were planning a strategic mission. “Stage one is complete.”

  “Sounded to me like it went further than that from where I was standing.”

  Knowing it was Aiden, and he’d find out from Cami anyway, I told him. I gave him the short version, but it was enough to send him into gales of laughter. I described vaulting over the counter and what happened after I grabbed Becca. He leaned forward, his shoulders shaking as he guffawed. My lips twitched and I had to laugh. Listening to myself as I retold it, I also found it amusing.

  I slouched in my chair with a sigh. “It worked out. We talked and cleared the air. I told her my story.”

  He frowned. “All of it?”

  “Yes. I told her my history. What I did, why, and the consequences. She knows I was in jail and how I came to work here.”

  “She’s okay with it?”

  “As okay as she can be. I’m not sure her father will agree. He sounds like a black-and-white sort of guy. I was in jail, therefore I’m bad news.” I rubbed my face. “But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Meanwhile, I get Becca in my life. I’ll worry about him later.”

  “So, she’s your girlfriend now?”

  I grinned. “Yeah, she is.”

  He held up his hand for a high five. “Finally.”

  I was in the server room on Monday morning when Becca arrived at work. I heard her voice as I made my way down the hall. She was speaking to Sandy, laughing at something she said. I rounded the corner in anticipation of seeing her and stopped cold. She wasn’t alone at Sandy’s desk. Colin, Sandy’s grandson, was there, leaning on the tall granite counter that surrounded Sandy. He was smiling and chuckling at whatever Becca was telling him. He stood too close to her, and I didn’t like the intent expression on his face as he talked to her. I watched as he scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to Becca. My hands became fists, and I had to take a couple of deep, calming breaths as I approached the desk.

  “Morning.”

  Three sets of eyes shifted to me. I only cared about one, and the intensity of Becca’s bright blue gaze made me smile.

  “Hi,” she breathed out.

  I smiled back, but that was all I could do, once again tongue-tied when it came to her.

  “Hey, Reid,” Colin greeted me, extending his hand. “Just the man I need to see.”

  I tore my gaze from Becca’s and shook his hand. “Oh?”

  “Could I see you in private?”

  “Sure.”

  He pushed off the counter, stopping to kiss Sandy. “Later, Nan.”

  “Behave.”

  “Always.”

  She snorted. “Right. Come to dinner on the weekend.”

  “I will.”

  He smiled at Becca. “Great to meet you. I hope to see you again soon.”

  She smiled in return. “You too.”

  “Be sure to use the number I gave you.”

  “I will.”

  I headed to my office, muttering under
my breath. The only place he was going to be seeing Becca was beside me. He could stop smiling at her that way and giving her his number. She wasn’t available.

  In my office, I tossed my phone on my desk and sat down. Colin followed at a leisurely pace, sitting down and crossing his legs. I studied him with narrowed eyes. He was good-looking and confident. Sandy was proud of him and all he had accomplished. He was an ER doctor, and until this very moment, I had always liked him. Now, he was annoying the hell out of me by simply breathing. Because he was breathing the same air as Becca and I didn’t like the way he looked at her.

  She was mine.

  “What’s got you all hot and bothered?” he asked.

  “Nothing.”

  He chuckled. “Right.” He relaxed in the chair. “Becca is a pretty girl. Nan is very fond of her.”

  “She won’t be using the number you gave her.”

  One eyebrow rose. “Oh? And you know this because . . . ?”

  “She isn’t available,” I spat.

  His head fell back, and he laughed. “Nan didn’t say it was you.”

  “What are you talking about? Something amusing you?”

  “You are, Reid. You need to chill, my man.” He chuckled again. “I wasn’t giving her my number. Becca asked me if I knew of any doctors accepting patients. I gave her my girlfriend’s number since she is about to open her own GP practice and will be accepting new patients.” He snorted. “I never thought of you as the jealous type. I only said she was pretty.”

  “I’m plenty chill,” I retorted, his explanation taking the wind out of my sails. “She is pretty,” I added.

  “Nan mentioned in general conversation that she thought Becca was seeing someone. I know who that someone is now.”

  I shifted in my chair. “We’re sort of new.”

  “Good for you, man.”

  “Sorry about the misunderstanding.”

  He shook his head. “I get it. No worries. But given the way she was looking at you, the girl isn’t interested in anyone’s number but yours.”

  I grinned, my humor restored. I had always liked Colin.

  “Good to know. Now, what’s up?”

  His expression changed to serious. “A case came in last night. Third time she’s been in the ER in six months.”

  “Domestic violence?”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “She talked—finally—and wants out, but she has nowhere to go and no money to try. We kept her in. She had her daughter with her, and the cops arrested her husband.” He met my eyes. “I don’t think she’ll survive a fourth visit.”

  “I’ll make the arrangements. The fund will set her up.”

  Colin knew about my underground fund. With my permission, Sandy had told him. On occasion, he brought a case to me, and I let the people I trusted help them. The woman and her child would find a safe haven with a shelter and financial help to start a new life.

  “Can she leave the hospital today?”

  “Yeah, she’s okay to leave, but I told her we had to keep her another night in case you could help.”

  “She wants this?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll make the arrangements, and they’ll take her in today.”

  He slid a piece of paper my way. “That’s her info. The head nurse knows.”

  “Okay.” That was how it worked. Colin needed someone he trusted to make sure the right people got to the woman before her husband did. She would disappear along with her child and be safe before he got out of jail. My people would help her get free.

  He stood. “I’ll go back to the hospital and tell her.” He shook my hand. “Thanks, Reid.” He stopped at my doorway. “Remember what I said. Chill. You have nothing to worry about.”

  I waved him off. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  I heard his chuckles all the way down the hall.

  Reaching into my drawer, I pulled out my personal computer. It was time to do some good.

  There was a knock on my door.

  Glancing at my watch, I was shocked to see it was almost two. I looked up, smiling when I saw it was Becca. “Hi.”

  She entered and took a seat in front of my desk. “Hey.”

  “What’s up?”

  She frowned. “I haven’t seen you all morning. You didn’t come to the staff meeting.”

  “Oh. Yeah. Something came up.”

  “You’re not avoiding me? You seemed out of sorts earlier.”

  I ran a hand through my hair and pushed my glasses up my nose. No matter how often I had them adjusted, they slipped down. It might have something to do with the way I tore them off my face several times a day and tossed them onto my desk.

  Maybe.

  “No, I’m good. Could we maybe talk about it over a late lunch? If you haven’t eaten yet?”

  A smile played on her lips. “I haven’t. Are you asking me out, Mr. Matthews?”

  “Would you say yes if I was?”

  “Try me.”

  “Would you have lunch with me, Becca?”

  She leaned closer. “Yes, I would. On one condition.”

  “Anything.”

  “The lunch should be somewhere you can kiss me.”

  I swallowed. “I can arrange that.”

  “Okay.” She stood, crossing her arms. “I’m waiting.”

  “Oh.” I jumped up from my chair. “You mean now.”

  She chuckled. “If it’s a good time.”

  “Yes.” I wanted to be alone with her. “Definitely a good time.”

  We walked to a small place off the main road. It looked like a grocery store out front, but in the back, behind the deli and hot plate counter, was an unoccupied, small, covered patio with a few tables. “You grab a table, and I’ll get lunch. The pasta is homemade and awesome.”

  “Okay.”

  As she sidled past me, I slipped my arm around her waist and tugged her close. I pressed my mouth to hers, moaning when she opened for me right away and flung her arms around my neck. It was a kiss of hello and I missed you. One still full of new feelings and discovery.

  She smiled as I drew back before I got carried away. The thick bushes behind us suddenly looked inviting. As if she knew what I was thinking, she grinned and sat down.

  I gazed at her, mesmerized by her natural beauty. Her dark hair was in a braid today, off to one side. Her face glowed, and her eyes sparkled with happiness. She wore a deep teal-colored dress that set off her skin tone. She met my gaze with one of her own.

  “You stare at me a lot.”

  “I like what I see. It makes me happy.” I paused. “You make me happy, Becca Holden. It’s a rare feeling for me.”

  Her smile was one of her shy ones. Probably my favorite. It was different from the businesslike smile she used in the office and the confidence she exuded. It said I pleased her, and it showed her softer side. One I knew few people saw.

  “There you go, saying the perfect thing again.”

  I bent low, kissing her again, hard and deep. “You make it easy.”

  Leaving her gaping and flustered, I went to get us lunch.

  “So you arranged to help this woman?” Becca asked, her eyes wide with surprise. “You make a call and it gets done?”

  I had explained why Colin wanted to see me and why I hadn’t been at the meeting. I knew I could trust her. Aiden had known and made sure I knew what had occurred and what items I needed to follow up on. Luckily, there wasn’t much. My department was too well organized.

  I finished a mouthful of pasta and shook my head. “No calls. I have a computer I only use for that purpose. It’s untraceable and unhackable. I have contacts in different organizations. I get in touch, arrange the money, then I’m out of it. The person who benefits has no idea where the money comes from.”

  “Do the people you contact know where it comes from?”

  I shook my head. “It took me a long time to set it all up. All they know is the money is clean and they can help those in need with it. Sometimes, I distribute the money myself. Othe
r times I use these people. But it isn’t traceable back to me. I’m not putting Bentley at risk or his company. He knows what I do. They all do. They know the precautions I take and why I do it. I have their full support.”

  “You’re like Robin Hood.”

  I laughed and finished my pasta. I pushed her bowl toward her. “You need to eat while I talk. You never finish your food.”

  She chuckled self-consciously. “I get so caught up in listening to you, I forget.”

  “I’m not Robin Hood, Becca. It’s part of my amends toward my past. Some would argue the money isn’t clean. It’s tainted.”

  She chewed, looking thoughtful. Patting her mouth with her napkin, she met my gaze. “Like my father, you mean?”

  I shrugged. “Others as well, I’m sure.”

  “I disagree. You went to jail. You did your penance. You paid them back the money plus the interest they lost. You owe them nothing, and they took four years of your life.” Her voice shook.

  I was shocked to see the glimmer of tears in her eyes. I reached for her hand and squeezed it. Her emotions got me every time. “It’s okay, Becca. It’s in the past.”

  A tear ran down her cheek. “I feel as if you were the one robbed.”

  I wiped the moisture from her skin. “I like to think it happened for a reason. Because of being in jail, I worked hard to learn everything I could. I got a job with an amazing company. I get to help people who need it. People, who, like me years ago, get overlooked.” I wrapped my hand around hers, stilling her fidgeting fingers. “I got to meet you.”

  I met her gaze. “I’d do it all over again if it meant I got to meet you.”

  She sniffled, offering me a watery smile. “You say the best things.”

  I winked then indicated her half-eaten bowl of ziti. “Are you going to finish that?”

  She pushed it my way. “No.”

  I polished it off in about five minutes. I had gained a new appreciation for food when I got out of prison after four years of bland. The textures and spices. The smells and nuances of different cultures. I loved trying new dishes. Becca enjoyed experimenting as well, and Toronto was a melting pot of ethnicity. I looked forward to discovering lots of new places with her.