Page 109 of Smooth Moves
Chapter 21
Cash couldn’t believe the change in Reid. Before, he’d had to beg his brother to help him with the house. This time Reid arrived with a box of donuts and coffee, a smile on his face.
Cash grunted, not pleased to be up and moving on a Sunday morning before ten. “Must have gotten laid last night, eh?”
Reid smiled. “Apparently you didn’t. Guess Jordan wised up about you.”
Cash smirked. “Oh, I’m a happy man. I just hate mornings.”
“Too bad. I like Jordan. Thought she was smarter than that.”
“Ha ha.” Cash could see his brother was yanking his chain. Reid liked Jordan. “So, ah, we’re gonna move in together. Here. Her, me, and her brother.”
Reid paused in the act of biting into a sugar bomb. “Moving in together?”
Cash hated the tension he could feel growing. “Well, I mean, I know you and Naomi are moving in together soon. You’re just waiting to pull the plug on our place because of me.”
“That’s not exactly true.” Reid bit into his donut, studying Cash, and took his time chewing.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, spit it out.”
“The donut?” Reid said with his mouth full.
“No, asshole, why you’re not ready to move out.”
Reid finished chewing and swallowed. “Well, part of it was keeping the place for you. With two of us paying rent at Chris’s low rate, it’s a steal.” Their buddy Chris had kept the rent low, helping out two old Marine buddies. “But Naomi and I have been talking, and we want to be smart about our relationship. I mean, Bro, we just started dating not long ago. I love her like crazy, but slowing down a little is working for us. I hadn’t realized she was as nervous as I was about this. We still want to live together, but we’re not rushing it.”
“But you’re over there all the time.” Cash never would have guessed Reid to be anxious about moving in with the woman he loved.
Reid sipped his coffee. “Frankly, I’m surprised Jordan said yes to moving in with you. Wow.” Reid paused. “Is she desperate?”
“Ass. Yes, she is.” Cash sighed. “I maybe rushed her, ’cause I can’t stop thinking about her. And it’s the answer to all our problems. I figured you’d be moving out soon. I have this place, free and clear. And Jordan needs a place to stay.” He’d already explained to Reid about the landlord situation.
“I still can’t believe she beat him up then you beat him up. It’s like you’re the perfect couple to both attract lawsuits and do jail time together.” Reid shook his head. “I was hoping she’d be agoodinfluence on you.”
“Hey. That fucker put his hands on her. She was defending herself.”
“Relax. I’m teasing. Well, kind of. She did the right thing. You, on the other hand, had better hope Alvarez is so scared he doesn’t realize he can press charges.”
“I think we’re good. Besides, I had witnesses.”
“Jordan and her brother. Oh great. Because they’re impartial.”
“You know, I’m sensing some sarcasm.”
Reid’s eyes narrowed. “You’re sensing a lot of it, yes. But you know what? Who can blame you? If it was me, and some douche tried to hurt Naomi, I’d have been all over him. Not you. You let Jordan kick his ass then you finished.”
“Hey, he was breathing and unbroken when I left him.”
“Well, there’s that.” Reid shrugged, rubbed his hands together, then nodded to the living room. “So tell me what you’re thinking of doing to fix all this.”
Feeling a strange sense of enthusiasm for the project—he’d never been a house-and-home kind of guy—Cash walked his brother through the place, putting his own stamp on things. “I think the structure’s sound, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a professional take a look. Other than that, paint and maybe some new appliances, and the house is solid.”
“You need furniture. Factor that in.” Reid followed him into Angela’s bedroom. “What do you call this color? Puke green?”
“I’d go with puke. Or maybe pea soup or sour lime.” Cash hated the damn color, especially because it matched that shitty rose wallpaper in the hall. “I was kind of thinking Jordan could help me pick out furniture. You know, get a woman’s touch.”
“What does her place look like?”
