That Secret Crush (Getting Lucky #3)(68)

Reid takes the tape. “I’ll have a hand in everything—that’s if Griffin can find someone to cover my shifts at the Landing.” He looks over to his dad, who laughs.

“We can surely find some backup.”

“Good,” Giselle says, collecting the design boards. “I’ll find samples of everything you want and bring them in over the next few days. I think we can have this place up and running in a few months. The bones are here, and since you’re keeping the layout open and exposing the natural architecture, there won’t be much we have to do building-wise beyond making everything pretty. Permits are set, so now you just need to settle on a name.”

“Any ideas?” Reid asks as his dad nods slowly.

“Knight and Port. Knight for the family, Port for the town. It’s a combination of the two things I hold closest to my heart.”

Knight and Port—I can see it.

I press my hand against Mr. Knightly’s arm. “I love it. It has so much meaning but feels modern. It’s perfect.”

“Yeah, it is, Dad.” Reid glances around the space, unable to contain his grin. “Looks like we have a menu to create.”

“And I have just the place to start,” Eric says, pulling a notebook from his back pocket. “Let’s get to work.”



One hundred items.

One, zero, zero—that’s how many things the boys have on the menu. At least that’s how many they had when I left.

A little prolific when it comes to the ideas.

I don’t even know how they could think of that many recipes, though they kept reassuring me they were going to pare everything down.

With a headache looming, I cash out the bar at the Inn and bring the money to the back, thankful it hasn’t been a busy night. I’m exhausted from the sleepless night I had with Reid. He wanted to get in as much sex as possible before Eric came to crash on my couch, and after all the excitement and planning today, I can barely move one leg in front of the other.

I crash into the office chair just as my phone rings. I dig it out of my pocket to find Harper’s name crossing the screen. I answer quickly.

“Please tell me you have a masseuse at your house and are inviting me over for a rubdown.”

“That’s one way to answer the phone.” She chuckles. “I don’t have a rubdown ready for you, but I do have some wine and the biggest charcuterie board you’ll ever see. Rogan is out for the night, and Ren is coming over—thought you could help us take down the cheese and crackers I overindulged in.”

“Sounds amazing. I’ll come straight there if you tell me I can borrow a shirt and sweatpants.”

“Done. Hurry up, we’re waiting.”

That puts a pep in my step. I shoot a quick text to Eric, letting him know the apartment is his for the night, and then finish up my business in the office.

It’s officially Eric’s first night back in Port Snow, and yeah, maybe I should spend it with him, but then again, I need some girl time. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Harper and Ren. Eric will be fine on his own.

I’m out the door in record time, and Walter, one of the town’s Uber drivers, is waiting for me out front. During the drive, he drones on about the town gossip floating around—Franklin has a mole he’s getting checked out, Caleb’s seeing some girl over in German Town, and Tracker had an apparent pregnancy scare with a tourist—but I couldn’t care less. I tune Walter out and text Reid, letting him know I’m hanging with the girls and reminding him just how sexy he looked during the design meeting today with his backward hat and tight jeans.

The man has been my fantasy for longer than I can even remember. It’s still a bit surreal, being able to text him things about his tight ass and how I wanted to stick my hands down his pants. He’s always been a pipe dream kind of guy—someone who could never see me as more than a friend. But with each encounter, each interaction over the past few years, something was growing between us until finally he made a move, right on the dance floor. Probably one of the most epic moments of my life, having Reid Knightly look at me as more than just a friend, more than just his friend’s sister—as someone he couldn’t keep his hands off of.

These past few weeks with him have had their ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade the roller coaster for a steady carousel any day because the ups and downs have helped me come to the realization that I love this man. He’s it for me.

My phone rings again, and I see it’s Eric.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“You’re really not coming home?” The whine in his voice makes me laugh.

“Are you lonely?”

“A little.” We both laugh.

“Work on the menu. I need some girl time.”

“What about some bro time? We have three whole years to make up for. I know you like to say that things are cool with us, but I can still detect some tension, Eve. Are you trying to avoid me tonight?”

Yes, there’s tension and maybe a little bit of awkwardness, but that will go away with time. The more we work together and mend the open wound in our relationship, the more we’ll get comfortable again. After all, we’re family, and family always sticks together.

“I’m not avoiding you, I promise. Harper just offered me wine, cheese, and crackers. What can you offer?”