Page 65 of Smooth Moves
“As in letting everyone know how wild you are for me? Sure. To keep you safe from lechers like Hector, Finley, and that asshole Smith, it’s my duty to let them know you’re mine.”
“Duty, huh?”
He tried to joke it off, but the newness and depth of his feelings made it tough. “Want me to tattoo your name to my forehead?”
“Nah. Enough you know you’re taken.” She just had to tack on, “For now.”
“Oh, you mean until I get bored of all your clinginess and desperation? I’m a total catch, you know.”Great way to keep her, you idiot! Not by insulting her!
But Jordan being Jordan laughed. “We’ll see. I’m pretty sure I have you hooked on my stunning wit and amazing body.”
“Don’t forget that mouth.” He meant that. The woman had skills.
“Yep. Don’t forget it. Because if you do, I’m sure someone else out there would be happy to—”
He didn’t like “someone else” at all and staked his claim. He kissed her until neither of them could breathe and only stopped when someone cleared his throat.
They broke apart and looked to the open doorway to see Reid staring at them in astonishment.
“Gotta go,” she said in a singsong voice. On her way out the door, she added, “And Reid, your brother has a concussion. So make sure to keep waking him up throughout the night. Bye.”
* * *
Reid stared at his thoroughly bemused brother, taking note of the details. Cash wore casual clothing, not for entertaining a woman, for sure. Though Cash didn’t go for more than jeans and a nice T-shirt, Reid didn’t think his brother would try to seduce a woman in lounge pants. Cash also seemed…happy. Something he hadn’t been in a long time.
“What the hell did I just see? Your tongues down each other’s throats?” Reid wanted to be more annoyed that his brother had disregarded the rules concerning Jordan. No fraternizing and no messing around with their employees.
But the gang were like family, and Jordan had seemed more than enamored with Cash. “This isn’t just a fuck and run, is it?”
“Hell, no. Besides, any guy who would try to run from Jordan is not only stupid but suicidal. That woman would string up a user by his balls.” Cash grinned.
“Ah, okay.” Reid sensed something serious between the two but decided to tread carefully, doing his best to mend fences. “I was with Naomi tonight only because I wanted to give you some space. I mean, I know I’m with her a lot. I would have talked to you except you bailed on me.”
Before Cash could respond, Reid plowed on, knowing he needed to get his words in before his brother tuned him out. So far, Cash was listening. “I’m sorry about Mom. I just…I can’t get my head around it. Yeah, we had our problems, but she never treated me like I didn’t matter.” He flushed, knowing Cash had felt that way for a long time. “Dad was always hard on you, but Mom did still know you, Cash. Until the end, she knew me too.”
Cash sighed and went around him to the couch, where he sat, crossed his ankles on the coffee table, and put his head back. “Dude, I know. Angela had plenty of issues. But you were a good son, always treated her right.”
“I still feel guilty for being away so many years. I used the Marine Corps as an excuse,” Reid admitted and sat next to Cash. “I could have visited her more on leave.”
“Instead you spent time with me when we caught breaks. You blame me for that?”
Reid stared at his brother’s slack face. Though Cash didn’t seem to care much about his answer, Reid felt the subtle tension between them. “Hell, no. None of this is your fault. Not any of it. This is about me being a bad son and hating the fact she must have known because she totally cut me out of her will.” A hard knot settled in his chest. “I don’t care about the house or her stuff. It was never about her things.”
Cash settled a hand on his shoulder and turned to face him. “Bro, you’re not a pussy if you cry. Go ahead, let those tears fall.”
Reid angrily wiped his cheeks.
“Well, maybe a tiny pussy.”
Reid couldn’t hold in his laughter. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah, I am.” Cash sighed and gripped Reid’s shoulder. “It’s been you and me against the world for a long time, Reid. That Angela for some reason left me everything doesn’t change that. She wasn’t a good mom, but you’ve always been a better son than me.”
“No, I—”
“Yes, just accept it. I’m good with that.” Cash sounded as if he was. “The house, her shit, none of it matters. What matters is you and me.”
Reid didn’t know why, as Cash had said it all before, but a huge weight seemed to slide off him, unburdening him. “Yeah?”
