Page 48 of Word to the Wise

We’re soaked through, and our clothes are dripping.

Stepping inside, she pulls her hood off her head, and her hair is damp from the water that drenched her sweater. Her mascara is smeared the slightest bit under her eyes, and she’s gorgeous.

Dressed up. Dressed down. I’ve got no preference when it comes to her because one smile and she can pull off anything.

“That rain is intense.” She wipes her hair off her face, shrugging out of her hoodie so she’s standing in front of me in a tank top.

Even with her bra, she must be cold because her nipples peak, and it takes everything in me to pretend I’m not noticing that the sight of her is tugging every nerve in my body. I’d give anything to grab her and plant my mouth on those strawberry lips.

The sight of her has me anaphylactic, so I can’t imagine what one touch would do. There’s no coming back to life after getting a taste of Reed Jackson.

Something her asshole ex-boyfriend seems to also be realizing as he gets bolder in stalking her.

For the first couple of weeks, we assumed he was too chickenshit to be in LA. But then Sage caught word that he’d come to town a couple of times quietly. And when he’s not here, I have no doubt he has men lingering around keeping an eye on her for him.

He’s trying to find an opening because I’m sure he’s convinced that once he can talk to her, she’ll go running back. It gives me all the more reason to never let that happen.

“This winter is wild.” Reed laughs.

“Tell me about it. I didn’t realize LA was so wet.” I pull off my hoodie and catch her gaze dropping to my chest when I do.

Her eyes quickly dart away. “It’s not always. Depends on the year.”

We’re talking about the weather.Wonderful.

Everyone knows the way to a girl’s heart is droning on about storm cycles.

“How was it with the girls?” I change the subject.

“Fine.” She shrugs, but I get the impression she’s hiding something when her lashes flutter, and she sinks her teeth into her lower lip. “How’d it go with my brother?”

“Fine.”

We’re both avoiding the question, but I really can’t answer her even if I want to. She has plenty on her mind without worrying about what Sage is planning for Carter.

I spent most of the afternoon with Blaze, Sage, and the rest of the members of the council. We had a callwith some guy named Ghost, who’s on Steel’s crew in Vegas. They’ve been watching my dad’s operations for some time now because apparently, he’s been causing issues for the Twisted Kings-owned businesses on the Strip.

And as much as I’d like to care and worry about taking down my father, that’s not what I’m focused on at the moment. All I care about is Carter.

Luckily, those dominos are falling into place already.

Carter took on a silent partner recently. He’s been struggling, but he must have kept it quiet with Reed. He needs the Zane Hotel project, or he’ll likely go bankrupt. So as much as I’d like to destroy my father’s entire empire, right now, tanking this singular investment is more important.

“Did you know Candy is pregnant?” Reed asks.

“No.” I dip into the bathroom for a second and grab two towels, coming back out and handing one to her. “Babies are spreading like wildfire over there.”

“That’s what I said.” Reed dabs the towel through her hair, trying to dry it off.

Her sweatpants are splotched with water, and her nipples strain against her tank top. It’s torture trying not to look at her.

Turning to the kitchen, I search the fridge for a beer. “So that’s what you talked about? Babies.”

“And how you make them.” Her tone has me glancing back at her.

Reed’s cheeks turn the prettiest shade of pink, and I think she’s embarrassed she said it. But it has me wanting to know how exactly that conversation went.

“How you make them, huh?” I pop the top off my beer.

---