That Secret Crush (Getting Lucky #3)(36)

“Yes,” I agree. “Please don’t talk about sex in front of your sister.”

“We’re an open family. Aren’t we, Jen?” Reid pulls his sister into a hug and rubs his knuckles against her head. She swats at him and attempts to push him away, but he has at least a good fifty pounds of muscle on her, making escape impossible.

“Reid, quit it.” She cocks her arm back, but before she can hit him square in the crotch, he releases her, and she flips her head up, her long brown hair a complete mess. Anger in her eyes, she takes off toward the back of the Landing, muttering something I can’t quite make out.

“Real mature,” I say as he turns to me with a huge grin.

He shrugs and leans on the counter, his eyes like pools of blue shining from beneath the bill of his hat. “Besides fudge, what do you have planned for tonight? Want to celebrate with me?”

“From the glint in your eyes I’m going to guess you want to get naked.”

“Is there any other way to celebrate?”

I hold the fudge up. “Yup, with confectionary sugars.”

I take a few steps backward as he says, “Your place, after your shift tonight. I’ll be on your bed, butt-ass naked, legs spread, showing off the goods.”

A laugh pops out of me, and I shake my head, still headed for the exit. “Please don’t have your legs spread.”

“Oh, they’re going to be spread so fucking wide that you won’t know what to do with yourself.”

“That’s terrifying.”

“Get ready to celebrate, Eve. The party starts in our pants.”

“I hate you right now. That is so lame.”

Griffin steps out from the back of the store and pats Reid on the shoulder. “Party in your pants, bro? That’s lame.”

Reid shrugs him off. “No one asked you. This is a conversation between me and Eve.”

“Listen to your brother,” I call out when I reach the door. “And think of some better lines.” I give him a quick wave and then head outside, the bell ringing above me as I tuck the fudge under my arm.

This shift at the Inn is going to be the longest of my life. Even though the whole legs spread thing is kind of weird, I can’t deny the excitement that’s bubbling up inside of me at the thought of seeing Reid naked in my bed when I get home.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and without looking at the screen, I know exactly who it is.

Reid: No kiss?

Smiling, I text him back.

Eve: You did enough kissing in there. I’ll be shocked if there isn’t a write-up about us tomorrow morning.

Reid: Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, especially since I’m suffering now, being deprived of your lips.

Eve: Pretty sure you’ll survive.

Reid: No way I’ll be able to wait until tonight. You looked so fucking good.

On a whim, I turn back to the shop and text him back.

Eve: Trying to get on my good side?

I open the shop door and spot Reid leaning on the counter, looking down at his phone. When he glances up, pure joy spreads across his face. He rounds the counter and quickly pulls me into an embrace. Lifting my chin up, he presses his lips against mine, his hold strong, his mouth desperate, but before we get too lost in the moment, I pull away.

“You’re a fucking tease.”

“You said you wanted a kiss, so there you go, Knightly. I’ll see you tonight, and for the love of God, keep your legs closed. You didn’t lose the key I gave you?”

“Never, babe. You’re getting the full show when you get home.”

Why is that terrifying and thrilling all at the same time?





CHAPTER ELEVEN





REID


“There you are.”

I shut the fridge, and my dad appears on the other side, wearing his classic black-and-red buffalo plaid flannel shirt tucked into a pair of dark-washed Wranglers. Seeing him in anything other than plaid and Wranglers means either someone’s getting married or someone passed away.

Guess I should be glad he’s wearing plaid and Wranglers right now, especially with the irritated look on his face.

I take the Tupperware of chili to the counter and start serving myself a decent bowl to heat up. “What’s up, Dad?” I place a paper towel over the bowl and nuke it for two minutes.

“Did you get my text the other day? That I want to talk to you?”

“Yeah, I did.” I put the Tupperware back in the fridge, carefully avoiding eye contact.

“Were you going to respond?”

“I was, but I’ve been a little busy.”

Dad crosses his arms over his bulky chest, his posture as familiar as my own. Tall and broad, my brothers and I all inherited the Knightly physique, but we’re not nearly as sensitive as my dad. Intimidating as he is on the outside, once you get to know Clint Knightly, you soon realize you could make him cry at just the mention of his grandchildren or children. He’s a giant teddy bear who spends his days coming up with fudge flavors and spoiling everyone he loves—me included.

It’s why when he crosses those arms I don’t cower. I know it’s just a front.

“Heard you and Eve Roberts have become close.”

Of course he has.

“Who told you?” I ask as the microwave beeps. I reach in, grab my bowl, and take it to the dining table, where Dad joins me with a basket of cornbread and a bowl of tortilla chips.