Page 39 of Enticing the Enforcer
Pushing through the closest door, I find myself on the porch–only it’s not empty. Wrong turn. It’s Shelby’s room. She’s perched on Reid’s lap, and they’re making out like the world’s ending.
I freeze, then lean against the doorframe, watching. Not sure why–probably just to remind myself what it looks like when someone’s all in. Their relationship is still new, they haven’t had time to become tired of one another. And it’s well known that Reid was Shelby’s first. She’s still getting a taste of sex and love. I guess that’s why I stand still and track Shelby’s hand in Reid’s red hair, and he’s holding her like he’d fight off an army just to keep kissing her.
Reid breaks first, noticing me. “What the fuck, man?”
I shrug, lifting the bottle in my hand like it explains everything. “Didn’t want to interrupt.”
He’s already annoyed, adjusting himself as Shelby slides off his lap, cheeks pink. “Do you need something? Are you okay?”
“I needed a breather.”
“From who?” Reid asks, shooting daggers at me. I don’t blame him. I’m cockblocking him hard.
“The puck bunnies.” I rake a hand down my face. “Is it me, or are they worse since we won the playoffs?”
Shelby snorts.
“What?” I ask.
“They’re always awful,” she says matter-of-factly. “You just usually enjoy it.”
Reid barks a laugh, eyes narrowing. “Seriously, man, you’re usually balls deep by now, with another one on deck. What’s the deal?”
My shrug is stiff, defensive. I feel stupid even standing here. Should’ve just gone to my room. They’re both watching me, waiting. Pressure builds until I shove a hand through my hair. “I’m just not into it.”
Shelby’s grin is slow, knowing. “Because you’re thinking about someone else.”
Our eyes meet. Fuck. She knows. These girlsalwaysknow.
Reid sees the look pass between us, and he groans, already standing. “Alright. I’m going outside for some air. You two can have your girl talk in here.”
He drops one last kiss on Shelby–surely hard enough to aggravate the boner still straining his jeans–before he slips out the door that leads outside, muttering about how he’s going to pay me back for this one day, under his breath.
The door clicks shut, leaving me with Shelby’s sly little smirk and the truth she’s already pieced together.
“We don’t have to do this,” I say quickly, wondering how this turned so fast. “I will happily go out there and have a three-way and forget this ever happened.” I look around the room, anywhere but at her. Shelby still has clothes in here: dresses hung off the bike rack, her work clothes air-drying on hooks originally for plants. She spends most nights upstairs in Reid’s room now, but she never moved her things out. A peace offering to Axel, I guess. He can’t handle the idea of his best friend banging his little sister every night.
“Sit,” she says, patting the spot Reid just vacated. I don’t want to, but girls like Shelby make me nervous. She’s got that innocent, girl-next-door vibe that has never been my thing, which means I can’t sweet-talk my way out of this.
I sit and run my hands down my thighs.
“You’ve got it bad.”
I frown. “What?”
She flicks her gaze up at me, sharp and knowing. “Don’t play dumb. I’ve seen that look before. Same one Reid had when he was trying to pretend he was okay with me going back to Texas.”
Within twenty-four hours, he’d followed her home to get her back.
“I don’t know her, Shelby. I just met her and she’s cool, and yes, gorgeous, but she’s not even here. She never will be. So what’s the point?”
Well. That was a lot of truth vomited out all at once.
“Tell me something…” She sits up, tucking her legs under her, smirking like she’s already won. “Did you sleep with her?”
“Where? At her apartment? At the victory party?” I play it off like it wasn’t the second and third time we’d been together. Like there hadn’t been another opportunity. “I work fast, Rakestraw, but not that fast.”
She makes a face like she doesn’t believe that. Fair. Idowork that fast. When I want to.
