Page 65 of Tell Me Something True

He didn’t move. At all.

Verity’s hands went to her hips. “Seriously? Am I invisible? Or just easy to ignore?”

Reed couldn’t help it. He snorted yet again.

When she slid him a narrow-eyed glare, he wanted to tell her she was far from invisible. That this summer it seemed like she was all he saw. Even when she wasn’t around.

But while he might not be nearly as smart as her, he wasn’t always a complete dumbass.

“Nothing easy about you, princess.”

She opened her mouth, probably to lay him low with some big words and snooty attitude, but then she snapped her mouth shut. “You know what? I’m just going to take that as a compliment.” She turned back to the porch. “Ian!” Still nothing. “Ian Joseph Jennings!”

The kid slowly lifted his head. But it took him another five seconds before he turned toward them. “What?” At the look Verity sent him the kid, scrambled up to his knees—smart kid. She could be scary. “I mean… yes?”

“Could you come down here? And bring the treats, please.”

Everything the kid did was in slow motion. Getting to his feet. Picking the bag of treats off the floor. Walking down the steps.

When he finally reached them, Verity put her hand on his shoulder and nodded toward Titus. “Ian, this is Titus.” She looked at Reed. “Can he give Titus a treat?”

He shrugged again.

“That’s actually a yes or no question. As in you literally have to answer either yes or no.” She paused and pursed her lips. He quickly dropped his gaze so his dick didn’t get any more ideas. “And grunts don’t count.”

Hadn’t he just said there was nothing easy about her?

“Yeah,” he grunted.

Her eyes narrowed.

Fuck, but he liked pushing her buttons.

Just one of the many, many problems he had when it came to her.

Ian held out the back of his hand and Titus sniffed it politely before nudging it with his snout. The kid patted his head then dug into his bag and held out a treat. Titus gently nipped it from the kid’s fingers.

Reed couldn’t help shooting a smug look Verity’s way.

He’d told her Titus was a good boy.

Verity watched Ian pet Titus, his dog vibrating with excitement over the attention, her expression dark, mouth pinched.

Like this whole scene wasn’t entirely her fault for stopping to talk to him then calling her nephew over here.

“We’ll watch Titus while you’re unloading the truck,” she said, like she was doing him and his dog a favor.

Which she would be.

And that was the last thing he needed.

“He’s fine in my truck.”

“You’d really let your dog suffer just because you don’t like me?”

He didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Better to let her believe what she wanted.

“We’ll take good care of him,” she continued, soft like a promise. “He’s safe with me.”

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