Page 82 of The Grumpy Billionaire
When I peeked back into my room at Reid, who was now sitting propped up against my headboard, he smiled at me widely.
“You are such a liar,” I said. “I’m a disaster.”
Turning on the water, I grabbed my toothbrush, not sure which aspect of the disaster to address first.
Reid’s happy voice called out. “You’re stunning. In fact, I want to take you out to breakfast exactly as you are. Don’t change a thing.”
My response was garbled by bubbly toothpaste foam. “Yeah right.”
I took a washcloth from the vanity then leaned back and looked at him again. “Only if you go just asyouare.”
Reid rolled out of bed and strolled toward me, completely naked and looking unbelievably hot. In the light of day, I was actually in awe that I’d had sex with this tight, powerful body in front of me.
“I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “Oh wait, I should put something on.”
Stealing the washcloth from my hand, he draped it over his front, creating the appearance of a flag flying in all its high-mast morning glory.
He started toward me. “Okay, I’m ready to go. Butyouare a little overdressed, Miss Neely.”
I backed into the small bathroom, squealing as he grabbed me. “Leave me alone, idiot. I’ve got to clean up.”
Reid ignored my protest and grasped the bottom of the t-shirt I’d slipped on before going to sleep last night. He pulled it up over my head, leaving the two of us facing each other, naked except for the silly washcloth dangling between us.
“I’ll help you clean up,” he said in a low, sexy voice.
Lifting the washcloth, he rubbed it softly over my exposed body, bending down to kiss me. He stopped before his lips made it to my mouth.
“Hey, can I use that toothbrush?”
I took the opportunity to slip out of his reach and climb into the shower. “I don’t know. I might get your cooties.”
Reid gave me a mock-threatening grin. “You might get more than that if you keep flashing me that sweet little ass.”
With a giggle, I yanked the shower curtain closed. “No. We can’t. I have to get ready. I’m going to see Mom this morning at the clinic, and I don’t want to miss morning visitation hours. I need to make sure she’s okay there, and her afternoon’s filled with appointments and meetings and stuff.”
As I turned on the water, I could hear the sounds of Reid brushing his teeth.
“Want me to go with you?” he offered through a mouthful of foam.
I answered a bit too quickly. “No.”
Purposely making my voice less frantic, I added, “Thanks anyway. I should go alone. And don’t you need to go to work? Your company’s probably falling apart this week while you’ve been ‘preparing for your interview.’”
“It’ll survive a few days of neglect. Why start your own company if you can’t take some time off every now and then? And by that I mean I’ve never taken any time off before now.”
The hot water ran down my body, which was growing warmer for a whole different reason. Reid was acting different.
The man with a workaholic reputation had just admitted blowing off work. To be with me. And he’d offered to go with me to check on my mother in a mental health clinic.
What did he think was happening here?
Being with him last night had been amazing, but I wasn’t sure it should go any farther than that.
Obviously, we were still into each other, but that didn’t change the same basic problem that had led to our breakup in the first place.
My feelings for him ran too deep—just like my mom’s had for my dad. That gave Reid the kind of power over me I’d sworn I’d never allow any man to have.
Crazy, desperate love had led my mom into a depression so deep she could no longer function. Because you couldn’t count on it to last. In fact, how could it? It hadn’t lasted for my parents. It hadn’t kept Dad from changing into a near-stranger who pursued power and fame over family.
