Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(35)

“Everyone told me to stay away from her. They said she was bad news and that she’d bring me nothing but misery, but I was young and naive. She’d come from a questionable past, and she had broken a dozen hearts by the time we found each other. The attention she gave me was hypnotizing and addictive, and I swore she was the one I was meant to be with forever.

“I thought I was the special one because she’d stayed. We dated through college and lived together. Shortly after graduation, she told me she was pregnant. I was ecstatic, but she was less than thrilled. It wasn’t great timing, but I knew we’d figure it out. I bought her a tiny diamond ring and promised to marry her after our son was born. When I saw the hesitation in her eyes, I told her that my father had given me a large sum of money. I thought she would be happy.”

“Oh, please tell me she didn’t—”

“She did,” I said. “Being the trustworthy dumb f*ck that I was, I gave her access to the account. She was my fiancée, and she was carrying my child. I wanted her to know that I would take care of her. Weeks after Noah was born, she was gone—along with the money.”

Liv’s hand touched mine, and I felt her warmth seeping into me.

“Were there any clues? Or were you completely blindsided?”

I shook my head. “I knew something was amiss. She hadn’t been happy for months—basically since she’d found out she was pregnant. Toward the end, she was on the phone a lot. I tried to tell myself that she was just adjusting, but now, I don’t know. There was probably someone else.”

“Amazing,” was all Liv said.

“Yeah,” I answered. “An amazing bitch.”

“No—I mean, yes, I guess. But I was referring to you. Think about what you just told me, Jackson, but fast-forward eleven years to now and include everything you’ve accomplished. That one event could have crushed you, but instead, you became stronger.”

“I had to. Noah needed me to.”

“There are always going to be people in our lives who will ruin us and pull us down into our own personal hell, but then there are the ones who will build us back up and help restore us to what we are meant to be.”

“You’re very wise, Miss Prescott.” I smiled.

“I know. Lots of education.” She winked. “We suck at this game. Quick, ask me something embarrassing. Better yet, give me a dare and even the playing field.”

“I thought we weren’t doing dares,” I said, feeling my mood improving.

“Didn’t anyone teach you that it’s okay to break the rules every once in a while?”

“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” I grinned.

“Lay it on me, counselor.”

“I dare you…to strip down…right here and let me take a picture of you.”

She laughed, her eyes immediately darting to the warm glow within my house, knowing Noah was inside.

“He’s glued to the TV. Don’t use him as an excuse,” I challenged.

“Need something for your spank bank, Mr. Reid?” she asked, her fingers moving down to the hem of her tank top.

“Something like that.”

With a quick whoosh, her top was on the grass next to us. Black lace covered her beautiful round breasts, displaying a deep valley where I wanted to dive in and never come back.

“Now, the shorts, Liv,” I instructed.

She stood up as I watched from below. She slowly unbuttoned them and slid her fingers underneath the denim before sliding them over her hips. When they fell to the ground, she kicked them aside. Thin lace panties barely covered her most intimate parts, making my mouth water as I yearned for a glimpse of what was hidden beneath.

She sank back onto her knees, spreading her legs as wide as they would go and leaned forward on her palms. “Well, are you going to take your shot or not?” she asked with a smirk.

“Right!” I nearly barked, shoving my hand into my pocket to grab my phone.

The pose she was in—covered in a few scraps of lace, her breasts jutting forward, as mountains of ebony dark hair cascaded down all around her—was enough to make any man forget his own name.

At that moment, I’d forgotten everything, except for the woman in front of me.

I clicked as many photos as I could get in quick succession, and then I dropped the phone to the ground.

I needed to touch her.

“Dear God, you’re gorgeous,” I whispered, moving closer until I was kneeling before her. My hand found the curve of her ass, as I pulled her heated body against me. “I can’t wait to be inside you, Liv. I want you so bad.”

“I’m right here.” She nearly moaned in my ear. “Unfortunately, you didn’t include that in the bet.”

Wait—what?

I pulled back to find her smiling. Then, that smile led to a devilish giggle.

“Pictures only, remember?” she teased. “That means the clothes have to go back on.”

She made a pouty face as she grabbed her tank top and shorts. Not bothering to put on either, she stood in front of me. I still couldn’t move. I was in complete shock from this crazy woman.

Liv skipped across the yard without a care in the world even though she was half naked. She unlocked the gates separating our yards. “Good night, Jackson.”