Page 4 of The Very Naughty List

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HAILEY

“I’m sorry, what?”Dylan asks as he stares at Reid in visible surprise. “You’re dating Hailey?”

I’m grateful that he spoke before I could blurt out the same question, since it was on the tip of my tongue too. I’m also glad that he’s looking at Reid for an answer, because I’m pretty sure my mouth couldn’t form words right now even if I tried. I’m much too busy trying to think straight under the weight of Reid’s muscular arm wrapped around me.

In all the years that Reid has been one of my brother’s best friends, I don’t recall ever having been in such a close proximity to him.

Sure, he and his brothers were always hanging around our house while I was secretly crushing on all three of them from afar, but he never touched me. None of them did—not like this.

“Yes, I am.” Reid’s answer is filled with unwavering confidence as he holds on to me protectively, dropping his arm down from my shoulder to hook it around my waist.

I blink up at him in shock.

“Isn’t that right, babe?” he adds, looking down at me with a smile that makes heat rise in places I really hope no one can notice.

“Yeah. I mean, uh, yes.” I stumble over my words. “We’re dating.”

I’m a completely shitty liar, but thankfully Reid has already taken the lead and all I need to do is go along with it.

“I’m so happy you’re home.” Reid sweeps a strand of my blonde hair away from my cheek. “God, I’ve missed your face.”

I feel like my legs are going to give out from under me. It’s a good thing he has an arm wrapped around my waist, or they just might.

“But I thought you just got back into town.” Dylan eyes me skeptically, making my stomach tighten. I swear this man cansmellweakness.

“She did, and not a moment too soon.” Once again, Reid saves me from having to say anything. “Long distance is tough, especially when our chemistry is off the charts. I’m sure you can understand that, Dylan. Or maybe not.”

The dig is an obvious one, meant to knock my ex into place.

I watch as Dylan seems to squirm in his own skin. He’s not used to being shown up by another man. He still wants to think that I’m pining away for the relationship that he destroyed. And as much as I can tell he’s trying to hide it, the tightened muscles in his jaw and the way he keeps glancing down at Reid’s hand on my waist give away that his ego is bruised.

Good.

“Well, congratulations to the both of you, then,” Dylan says through a thin-lipped smile. “Hope to see you around town some more, Hailey.”

I don’t say anything as I watch him walk away. Reid doesn’t remove his hand right away either.

But when he finally does take a step back and releases his arm from my waist, the Montana winter air suddenly feels colder than it ever has before.

“Thanks.” I feel the warmth in my cheeks against the kiss of chilly air. “You didn’t have to do that. It wasn’t your problem.”

“You’re always my problem.” Reid shoots me a dimpled smile that could melt snow. “I’ve got your back. And you don’t have to thank me. I’m more than happy to take that fucker down a peg or two. Dylan is an ass.”

His smile melts into a scowl as he speaks, and he crosses his arms over his chest, making all the muscles in his shoulders and chest shift in defined lines under his long-sleeved shirt.

How is it that he’s not freezing out here without a thicker jacket on?

For a moment, my mind plummets down a rabbit hole of all the ways we could stay warm together. But then I quickly shake the thoughts away and remind myself that he was obviously just doing this as some sort of obligatory favor to look out for his best friend’s geeky little sister.

I like to think that I don’t fit that description anymore, though. Despite the bumps in the road that I’ve faced, I’ve grown up a lot since I was the dorky little kid he and his brothers used to look out for.

“So, are you really back?” Reid continues, tilting his head as he gazes down at me. “Are you staying in Chestnut Hill?”

“No,” I answer too quickly. “No, I’m only here temporarily. Just clearing my head for a bit before going back to LA.”

“Clearing your head? Aren’t things going well for you out there in the big city life?”

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