Step Brother: Off Limits (13 page)

Wait … kinda like you’re pissed at Reed because he didn’t tell you about his father?

I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head. I went back and reread Stanford’s message. Who did he think he was bringing up my relationship with Reed? And how could he even begin to think the situations were the same?

I paid the cab driver, headed inside, and threw my purse onto the couch, so pissed I wanted to punch someone. I got ready for work, muttering to myself about how my personal life was absolutely none of Stanford Boyle’s goddamn business.

Was that out of line?

I wasn’t even going to respond to his text. He could cool his heels until I was ready to deal with him.

At the office, I worked like a crazy person, keeping busy and focused so I wouldn’t have to think about the truth in what Stanford had said. Finally, a little after five o’clock, I’d completely exhausted all the work I could possibly scrape up to occupy myself. I looked around the mostly empty office and realized it was time for me to get out of there and face the music.

I texted Stanford back, finally.

You weren’t out of line. Dinner?

At Donald’s. Join us here?

K.

Stanford was completely right, of course, and I just didn’t want to admit it. I gathered up the files I was working on, locked them in my file cabinet, turned off my desk light, and headed out, sliding the folder with Tina’s secret account information into my purse. I had decided I had to tell my father about what I’d learned. I could hear a group of people in one of the meeting rooms, so I knew I wasn’t the last one out of the building and wouldn’t have to make sure the doors were locked.

Fumbling with my keys, I looked up and saw Reed leaning against my Jetta.

“You ever going to replace this POS?”

Why did he have to look so good? The perfect combination of bad boy, alpha male, and sweet, sexy lover. He was irresistible, and I was tired of making myself push him away.

“I’ll have you know that POS has been absolutely reliable. She ain’t pretty, but she’s been a good car. I’m going to miss her if I ever get around to trading her in.”

“Who knew you’d be sentimental about an automobile?”

I laughed. “Is there something I can help you with, or did you just stop by to harass me about my car?” I kept my tone light, making it clear I wasn’t genuinely irritated.

Reed’s gaze made my stomach flutter.

“Oh, there are lots of things you can help me with.” The overtly sexual tone was clear. “But I just need to talk to you about Mom and Donald.”

“Have you talked to Tina?”

“Have I ever. She showed up late last night drunk off her ass. She’s been nursing a hangover today, and she’s just a mess. She’s pissed because Donald won’t return her calls, and she’s being too big a pussy to go over to the house and confront him. She’s still wearing the clothes she had on last night.”

I thought about the thousands of dollars in her secret account, and I refused to feel too bad for Tina. “What’s she going to do?”

“Well, she got an email from Donald’s attorney this afternoon, asking her to come to a meeting tomorrow.”

“On a Saturday? Dad’s gonna pay through the nose for that.”

“Apparently, he’ll have papers for her to sign to get the divorce done as quickly as possible.”

“Does Tina have an attorney?” The question was practically a reflex, not the result of my tender feelings for the woman.

“No. I told her she probably needs to get one.”

“I’d like to tell you I feel sorry for her, but I don’t. Dad’s not just pissed and embarrassed. He’s hurt, too. I think he really loved her.”

Reed shook his head. “She has no one to blame for this mess but herself. I’m letting her stay with me, but she asked if maybe I could go pick up some clothes and things from Donald’s.”

“I’m actually on my way there now to see Dad and Stanford.”

“Mind if I tag along?”

“No. I guess that’s fine. I’ll shoot Stanford a text so he can let Dad know you’re coming too. I think he’s had enough surprises to last him a while.”

“I’m sure he has.” Reed looked down at the parking lot before meeting my eyes again. “Think we can get together and talk sometime soon?”

I just didn’t have it in me to keep pushing him away forever. “Yeah. That’s probably a good idea.”

His slow, sexy smile made me melt. He held out a hand, and though I was afraid the kiss I anticipated would end up with us naked in the parking lot, when he finally kissed me, it was sweet and soft. I was starting to think Reed really had been telling the truth about being in love with me, and even though the prospect scared me a little, I was excited too.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said, finally pulling away. “Everyone at the firm already thinks I’m a slut. I don’t want to give them any more of a show than they’ve already seen.”

Stanford had called down to the security guard, so we had no trouble getting through the gate and leaving the horde of reporters behind. I’d answered a few questions through my open window, and they respected my space, backing off and not shoving cameras in my face.

We pulled in front of the house, and Reed got out of his car, shaking his head in disbelief. “Wow. I wouldn’t have recognized you as the same girl who was terrified of the press a few months ago.”

“I told you I’ve been working on it.”

“You handled those reporters like a pro.”

“Nothing to it,” I said, acting like it was no big deal.

He laughed. “What the hell am I gonna do with you?”

I smiled and lifted my eyebrows. “Oh, I can think of a few things,” I said suggestively.

His eyes widened, and I knocked and opened the front door, leaving him standing outside. I turned to wink at him through the open door.

“You coming?”

His answer was so quiet no one else could hear it. “I certainly hope so.”

Dad’s chef, Brooke, walked into the foyer, drying her hands on her apron. “Tatum and Reed. Good to see you. I think Donald’s glad to have company for dinner. You’re staying too, Reed, right?”

Reed looked at me and shrugged his shoulders. “I would love to, as long as Donald’s okay with it. I mean, he might not want me around right now.”

Brooke shook her head and laughed. “He’s in surprisingly good spirits, and I think he’d enjoy blowing off a little steam. He spent most of the day on the phone with accountants and attorneys, and now Stanford is talking his ear off about polls. My guess is he’s going to bellow for cocktails any second.”

“I know I’m ready for a cocktail. You?” I looked over at Reed.

“Definitely.”

Brooke headed back toward the kitchen. “They’re out back. Let Donald know I’ll be out shortly, if you don’t mind.”

We walked through the dining room and before we stepped out onto the sunny terrace, I turned to look at Reed.

“You know, I will never forget bumping into you—literally—the day I came over to meet Tina for the first time.”

“If I remember correctly you had a bit of a hangover,” he answered, reaching out to run a finger down my arm.

“And I was deliciously sore in a couple of places as well.” I could feel my heart rate picking up as I stood closer to Reed, remembering the sexy details from our first night together.

“I thought I was hallucinating for a second. I hadn’t been able to get you out of my head all day, and then here you were, standing right in front of me. You looked like all my wishes come true.”

Looking up at Reed, standing close enough that I could feel his body heat, I knew at that moment, it was all over for me. He was it. “I didn’t know you were so poetic.” I wished we were alone, rather than about to emerge onto my dad’s patio.

“I’m just saying what I felt. I love you, Tatum, and I want to be with you. No one else. Just you.”

“What do you say we get your mom’s shit, eat a quick dinner, and go back to my place?”

“I say you’re a fuckin’ genius.” Reed bent and kissed me, a deeper, more passionate kiss that flooded me with warmth and anticipation.

“Looks like the two of you should get a room,” Stanford said, startling the both of us.

“How’s Dad?” I asked, not wanting to get into my love life with him.

“He’s going to be okay, I think. I’ll let you fill him in, but he’s settled on an offer to Tina that he thinks she’ll sign so he can get the divorce over with, and once he’s settled whether or not he’s going to stay in the mayoral race, I think he’ll be ready to move on, one way or another.”

“I’m sure he appreciates all you’re doing for him,” I said, smiling at the man I never expected to actually like.

Stanford turned to Reed. “Donald asked me to walk you upstairs. He’s set out some things he thinks Tina will want right away, and he’s going to have the rest packed up in the next few days. He’ll deliver her things wherever she’d like.”

“While the two of you go upstairs, I’ll head on out and check on Dad.” I could see Brooke heading out from the kitchen with a tray of drinks. “I’m going to follow the booze.”

“We’ll continue this discussion later,” Reed said, and I’m sure I was blushing as I walked outside.

Brooke poured from a pitcher of mojitos, straining out the fresh mint as she filled four glasses.

“That looks amazing,” I said, taking a sip. “And tastes even better.”

“Brooke, honey, we could have just slammed some whiskey,” Dad said, eyeing the drink skeptically.

“I know you could, but you hired me to class things up around here, and the mint the last owner planted is still doing surprisingly well for this time of year. I figured a mojito would brighten some spirits.”

“You are a gem. How long before dinner’s ready?”

“Just under an hour. I just need to finish up the avocado cream sauce, assemble and warm the enchiladas, and make the salsa.”

“If any of my friends offer you a job, you let me know. I’ll renegotiate your salary on the spot.”

“Good to know,” she laughed, heading back to the kitchen.

Dad and I settled at one of the poolside tables.

“So how bad does the campaign look?” I asked.

“Stanford gives me about a thirty percent chance of winning.”

“Wow. That bad, huh?”

“Yeah. If we could find some way to turn this publicity around, we still have a shot—there’s enough time before November—but Stanford thinks we need something big.”

“Like what?”

“Oh, for my opponent to be busted for drugs or soliciting a minor for sex—something like that.” Dad laughed, and I was surprised at how fair his spirits actually were.

“So what are you going to do?”

“I think I’m done. I really did have some great ideas for ways to make the city even better than it already is, but I don’t need this gig. I have plenty to keep me busy with the construction company, and it just seems foolish to fight a battle I know I can’t win.”

“I’m so sorry, Dad.”

“Don’t be. I’ll come out just fine. And truly, having connected with you again makes it all worthwhile—even having married that bitch will be worth it since you and I mended fences.”

“Well, I’ll stand behind you no matter what you do.”

“That means more than you’ll ever know.”

We lapsed into silence, each of us lost in our thoughts, when Brooke came outside again.

“Um, Tatum.”

“Yup?” I turned to look at her and noticed her odd expression right away. “What’s wrong?”

“Well, nothing’s wrong, exactly. It’s just that … um … there’s someone at the door for you.”

“For me? Who is it?”

She shook her head. “I think you should just come see.”

I had no idea why she was being so mysterious, but I followed her back inside, heading for the front door. A man stood in the foyer, and when he turned to face me, I nearly tripped over my jaw.

“Gordon Gentry?” I breathed. “What on earth are you doing here?”

“You must be Tatum,” he said, walking toward me with his hand extended. “You’re even prettier than Reed described you.”

I shook his hand, dumbfounded.

Brooke slipped out of the room, leaving us alone.

“So, first things first.” Gordon put an arm around my shoulder. “Can a man get a drink around here?”

“Um, yes. We’re actually having cocktails by the pool.”

“Perfect. While I have you all to myself, I have something to tell you. My son’s crazy about you, and he doesn’t think you believe he managed to fend off all the chicks on tour. He kept his promise to you, but if you don’t want Reed, then I could probably divorce my wife and take care of you myself.” Gordon’s blue eyes sparkled. “You’re probably far too good for Reed, anyway, right?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, and I fell prey to Gordon’s legendary charm in seconds.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I walked out onto Donald’s terrace and found him, Tatum, and my fucking father sitting around laughing like they’d known one another forever.

“Gordon?” I waited for an explanation.

“Hey, Reed.” He acted like his presence in Las Vegas was no big deal. “You didn’t tell me you were in love with a brilliant lawyer.”

Tatum blushed, and I shook my head. Just like Gordon to make himself at home everywhere he went.

“Saying I’m surprised to see you is an understatement.”

“Yeah, well, Laura threatened to leave me if I didn’t come make things right with you. What can I say? I’m a slave to the pussy.”

“Nice, Gordon,” I said, accepting the cocktail Tatum handed me.

“I told Tatum you’d practically been a priest on tour, and I was just talking about the show I’m going to do with Don, here.”

“You could have called and told me you were coming, you know.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Gordon held out his empty glass for a refill, which Tatum hurried to supply. “Besides, Laura said she’d kill me if I didn’t leave right away. You charmed that woman, that’s for sure.”

“I just can’t believe you’re here.”

“After being such a shitty father, I couldn’t very well say no when you asked me for a favor, could I?”

Donald waved me to a chair. “Gordon was just telling us he’s arranged to have the big theater at Mandalay Bay on Friday two weeks from now. Twelve thousand seats.”

“Wow.” I looked at Tatum, who just shrugged. “How did you manage that, Gordon?”