Page 121 of Smooth Moves
Chapter 23
Cash had royally fucked up. But he was so damn happy Jordan hadn’t broken things off he felt giddy.She loves me.
“Easy, guy. Come on back with me.” Evan put a shoulder under his good arm and walked him back to Reid’s office.
Naomi waited until he sat then pecked Cash on the cheek with a chaste kiss. “Get well, sweetie. Maybe your painkillers can help with all the male stupidity.” She waved at Reid and Evan then left.
Cash sat staring at his brother and cousin. “Did Jordan say she loves me?”
“Yep, he’s an idiot. Definitely your brother.” Evan shook his head and sighed. “Cash, what happened to you?”
Cash slowly explained the whole of it, ending with, “So I wasn’t trying to be a superhero. One of the assholes nailed me with a pipe before Ritter and his cop buddy showed. I just wanted to save Rafi some hassle. The poor kid has been through a lot.”
Reid nodded. “Jordan told us. But why didn’t you ask one of us to back you up?”
Cash looked from Reid to Evan and laughed until he had to stop from rib pain. “Sorry. That’s like taking a virgin into dragon territory. They’d have roasted you alive. Besides, Evan looks like a cop.”
Evan perked up. “I do?”
“Evan.” Reid shook his head. “It’s like trouble just finds you, Cash.”
“I know.” Cash eased into his seat. “Think she’ll forgive me?”
“I don’t know if I forgive you for not having me there to help, but you can pay it out in trade.” He cleared his throat. “Naomi and I are going to live at her place starting in September. So I need your rent until the end of August.”
“Wow. That’s only two more months.”
“I know.” Reid groaned. “I have to tell Chris we’re moving out. I don’t know if I can do it yet. Moving in with Naomi… That’s a big step.”
“One Cash already decided to make with Jordan, apparently,” Evan commented. “And then he questioned her commitment by not telling her about the situation her brother was in. Interesting way to show her how much you care, Cash.”
Cash swore and asked the question a second time, “Think she’ll forgive me?”
Evan nodded. “But it’ll involve a lot of groveling.”
“I don’t know.” Reid looked pensive, and Cash tensed. “She was really mad. Worse, she was hurt. She thinks you didn’t trust her about something that involved her own family. And sometimes women don’t forgive stuff like that.”
“Fuck. Really?” Cash had figured he’d try charming her out of her anger. Maybe let her pick out their new dining room table or something. That’s if she still wanted to move in together.
“Look, the woman agreed to live with you,” Reid said. “She tolerates you on your worst days. You guys have worked well together from the first, and anytime anyone tries to talk bad about you, Jordan is there defending you.”
Evan agreed. “You should have seen her handle Smith after he insulted you. It was awesome.”
“Then you take her family problems and decide to handle them yourself because you don’t think she’ll handle them the right way.” Reid emphasized, “Herway.”
“Yeah, but—”
“But nothing. It’s her brother, her family. How would you feel if she’d seen Mom’s journal, read it, then decided to make peace between you and Smith because that’s how she thinks you should handle it?”
Cash’s gaze darted to Evan.
“Cash, I’ve suspected the whole ‘other dad’ thing for a long time. I don’t care either way.” Evan grinned. “But, man, can you not see how alike you and Smith are? It’s weird.”
Reid shrugged. “I see it, but it could also be a big coincidence.”
“Take off the blinders, Reid.” Evan shook his head.
Cash dreaded the idea of Smith as a brother. He didn’t like the guy. “Damn. You think he knows?” Even worse. “Does Jordan know?”
