The Whole Package, page 20
After dealing with the details, they left and headed home.
“So what’s with you and the redhead?” Cash asked out of the blue.
“What?” Reid’s heart raced at mention of Naomi, which made him feel stupid. It wasn’t like he planned to lie about their relationship. But sharing it with others felt intrusive. Plus, with the boyfriend ruse Naomi had created to satisfy her mother, he wasn’t sure where they officially stood.
Cash turned in his seat to study Reid, life coming back to his eyes as he watched him. “You heard me.” As Reid tried to decide what to say, Cash whistled. “So it’s like that, eh? You and the redhead a thing or just bangin’?”
Reid groaned. “We’re not ‘just bangin’.’ And Jesus, don’t say that around Naomi, okay?”
Cash chuckled. “Sure, Bro. So what’s the deal? You dating her or what?”
“Kind of. We’re taking it slow.”
“Slow can be good.” Cash wiggled his brows, and to his mortification, Reid’s cheeks heated.
Which caused Cash to laugh at him, long and loud.
“So glad I’m the cause of your good mood.”
Cash punched him in the arm. “Oh man, I needed that. Thanks.”
“Not to change the subject or anything, but how did it go with Mannie the other day?”
“Okay, I guess. He did his job. Martin never shut the hell up, so at least Mannie was there as a buffer. I still sense something off about the guy, though I can’t put my finger on it.”
“So keep pairing him with you or one of the Jacksons until we’re sure.”
“Yeah. Maybe it’s just because he’s Army. We already have too many of them.”
They both had a good laugh over that. “Speaking of Army, how’s Jordan doing?”
Cash shrugged. “Good, I guess. Haven’t seen much of her lately.”
“You were just out with her last week.”
“Well, yeah. But she’s been distracted.” Cash frowned and stretched out his legs. “Personal problems, I guess. Unlike Martin, she doesn’t talk me to death. I kind of miss her quiet.”
“She didn’t seem all that quiet to me.” Reid shot his brother a look before concentrating on the road once more. “Seems like she tells you where to go about once a day. I like her.”
Cash grinned. “Me too.” His smile faded. “Doesn’t it feel weird to laugh when Mom just died?”
“Cash, man, I don’t think she’d notice what we did if she was here. What makes you think her spirit would care now?”
“You believe in spirits?”
Reid shrugged, a little uncomfortable with the conversation. “I believe in an afterlife, I guess. Spirits, ghosts? Nah. But I have a hard time thinking when you die you just disappear.”
“Yeah, well, I hope wherever she is, she’s not hanging with the old man. Talk about hell.”
Reid didn’t say anything, because he agreed. Conversations with Cash about family usually devolved into bitter diatribes about their father. They both knew their mother had been little better, but it felt somehow disloyal to call her on it. Until now, apparently.
Yet Cash obviously felt something, because he was calling Angela “Mom” again.
They didn’t speak as Reid parked and they walked inside their house. Once in, he ordered some takeout and changed into sweats and a T-shirt. Cash did the same.
They crashed on the sofa, sitting next to each other.
“Same old shit,” Cash said.
“Different day,” Reid finished.
Then they watched the Mariners win while they waited for their Chinese food.
And Reid wondered if this wouldn’t be as bad as he’d feared, that Cash would be able to deal. He saw a text from Naomi and smiled.
Cash saw him and grunted. “Naomi, right?”
Another ding. Her asking if she could do anything for them.
His heart grew fonder. Alarmingly fonder.
Reid shrugged. “She’s just being nice, asking how we’re doing.”
“Yeah? Tell her we could use a couple of beers to go with the lo mein.”
“You want me to invite her over?”
Cash shrugged. “Why not?” He planted his big feet on the table and kicked back. “Don’t worry, Little Brother. I have no designs on your girl.”
“Please. Like she’d look twice at you when she has me to fawn over.” Naomi hadn’t given off any vibes she liked Cash like that.
Nah. The one and only time he and his brother had had an issue over a woman, it hadn’t been Reid’s girl having second thoughts. It had been Cash’s. But then, Mariah hadn’t been too particular about men, sad to say…
Reid teased his brother about the harem Cash was building at the gym. Cash gave him shit back, and they spent the rest of the night sharing insults and egg rolls in between cheering on the team.
Yet Reid could never quite forget Naomi’s kindness or the fact he wished he’d had the stones to ask her over. But what kind of douche made a move on a woman the night after his mother died?
He blinked away tears, handling Angela’s passing just fine, and taunted Cash some more. And if he saw his brother’s eyes looking a little shinier than usual, he didn’t say anything.
Chapter 17
Naomi had been beside herself, needing to see Reid yet not wanting to intrude on his grief. But sitting next to him at her brother’s banquet felt weird.
She leaned in to whisper, “Are you positive you’re okay being here?” They sat at a large table with her family, including Ben and his wife.
Reid whispered back, “If you ask me that one more time, I’ll go down on you in the middle of this crowded dining room. I’m fine.”
She flushed and pulled back, glaring at him.
He grinned, and she sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just… I don’t know how I’d act in your place. I should be here for you, not the other way around. This is just a dinner. You’re dealing with serious stuff.”
“Hey, I got a free steak out of the deal. We’ll call it even.”
She glanced at their plates, now empty of filets, and had to admit they’d been well fed. Ben stood at the podium thanking his family and his peers for having nominated him for the clinic’s award. She tuned out her brother, glanced at her family glued to his speech, and let herself slide closer to Reid.
He’d met her at the banquet looking dazzlingly handsome in a suit and tie. Good lord, but had she seen him dressed like that from the first, she might have embarrassed herself by jumping the man. Talk about tall, dark, and gorgeous. She wasn’t the only woman to think so either. Reid had gotten second looks from many of the women, and a few men, in attendance. Had her sister-in-law, Donna, not been so happily in love with Ben, Naomi might have socked her one.
Reid clasped Naomi’s hand resting on his knee. The warmth of that weight comforted, and she didn’t know how it was that he was the one bolstering her through this evening. She’d been waiting to talk to him alone, but between work, giving him space, and her visiting family, she’d had no opportunity to talk to him before they were seated at their large table.
“Thanks again for doing this,” she whispered and turned to watch him, enamored with the twinkle in his eyes. The color seemed so light, in direct contrast to his dark hair and naturally tan skin tone.
“My pleasure. Really, Naomi. This thing with Mom was coming sooner or later. She’s no doubt happier where she is now. And so am I.”
“Okay. I’ll stop bugging you about it.” She caressed his hand with her own.
“I like that you care.”
“I do.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother watching her. “Can we talk after this? It’s too hard now with everyone around.”
His eyes narrowed. “Sure.”
“Nothing bad,” she said to reassure him.
“That’s what they all say.”
“Shh,” Naomi’s mother hushed them.
Put in her place, Naomi turned back around and watched her brother finally step down from the podium. They all clapped and congratulated him, and as Ben returned to the table, she realized what a spectacular family she had. Yes, she hated feeling inferior, but that was on her, not them. Ben’s big grin made her eyes fill with happy tears.
She wasn’t the only one moved either.
Donna wiped her eyes. “Oh shoot. My mascara’s running.”
“Better catch it then,” Ben teased.
“God, that was terrible,” Harley said. “You might be an outstanding surgeon, but your sense of humor is on par with Gabe’s.”
To Reid, Naomi explained, “Gabe, their son, is seven.”
Reid chuckled. “It’s good Dr. Ben excels in other areas.”
“Dr. Ben?” Ben took a seat next to his wife. “Seriously, Naomi. I hate when you call me that.”
“Why? You’re a doctor. Your name is Ben.”
“Yes, but I’m Dr. Starr. Dr. Ben sounds like some dippy celebrity schmuck. Like Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz, Dr. Drew.” He grimaced. “Don’t get me started.”
“Hey now, you’re in good company, Dr. Ben,” Naomi said. “Don’t forget Dr. Who. And what about Dr. Dre? He’s amazing.”
“What about Dr. Dolittle?” Reid added. “Animals love him.”
“Or Doc Holliday.” Naomi was doing her best not to burst out laughing at her brother’s pique. “He had such a cool mustache.”
“Even closer to home, there’s Dr. Scholl’s. He seriously helps people walk, everywhere,” Reid chimed in.
“You two are hilarious.” Ben’s expression said otherwise.
The others laughed though, and the conversation and drink continued to flow freely. A live band started playing, and couples gathered on the dance floor. When the medical people at the pricey clinic where Ben worked went big, they really knew how to celebrate.
“Would you like to dance?” Reid asked her.
Flushed with pleasure, she accepted, still aware of her mother watching her. The blasted woman had been studying her with Reid all night.
“You can dance?” she asked. “I thought macho types didn’t like dancing.”
“I’m macho?” He blinked in surprise as he led her to the dance floor and gathered her close. They swayed to a slow song, and Naomi sighed, feeling like she was dancing on clouds. They fit together so well. She wondered if she was the only one to notice it or if Reid felt the same.
“I guess not,” she amended, staring up into his beautiful eyes. “I’ve never had a boyfriend who liked dancing.” That hadn’t come out the right way.
He lifted a brow.
She felt her cheeks get hot but ignored her embarrassment. “I’d planned to talk to you about this later, but I need to say something.”
His amusement faded. “Go ahead.”
The hand against the small of her back felt hot.
“It’s just… I don’t need to pretend anything for my mother. I’m thirty years old, and I’m not ashamed of how I live my life.”
“O-kay,” he said slowly. “So you want me to leave?”
“Wait. What?” She dragged him closer when he started to draw back. “No, you idiot. I’m telling you I’d like us to date, for real.” She closed her eyes when she heard herself. “Ack. I’m not saying anything well tonight.”
He chuckled and kissed her.
She blinked her eyes open.
“Baby, you’re just fine. You can call me an idiot anytime you like. It might even fit now and then.”
She smiled. “Just now and then?”
He kissed her again. Nothing inappropriate about the kisses, but they started giving her very inappropriate thoughts. And by the stiffness wedged against her belly, he felt the same.
“Now let’s talk about something normal so I can manage to get back to the table without embarrassing myself.”
She laughed. “This is all my fault, I take it?”
“Sure isn’t mine. I was trying to behave.” He leaned closer and murmured, “Your family has been staring at us all night. Isn’t this Ben’s big evening?”
She pulled him closer to talk into his ear, brushing his nape and reveling in his tiny shiver. “They haven’t seen me with anyone but Tanner in a while. And it was six months ago the last time I saw them, and then I made excuses for being alone. I don’t date much.”
“Fair warning. Neither do I.” Reid sighed into her neck, the warmth of his breath sweet with alcohol. “I might suck at this.”
“You seem to be good at everything you do.”
“Yeah, right.” He sounded amused again. “Well, in truth, I am, but only because I work my tail off all the time. It’s exhausting, let me tell you.”
“I know. I do the same.” She and Reid seemed like halves of a whole. They had family they cared about, jobs that sucked up a lot of time and effort, and a need to take care of others.
“I like your family,” he said and pulled back as the next song sped up a little.
“Me too. It was nice to remind myself of that fact.”
“Yeah, sometimes you don’t know what you’ve lost until it’s gone.” He caressed her cheek. “And I’m not talking about my mother.” He stared into her eyes, and as they danced, she felt as if only the two of them existed.
It took her sister cutting in to remind her to let go of her boyfriend. Reid.
“My turn.” Harley pushed Naomi into Kyle’s arms.
Over her shoulder, she saw Reid laughing at something Harley said and ignored a stupid twinge of jealousy. As if Reid would make a move on her pregnant sister.
That simply, the jealousy vanished. She had a lot more to learn about Reid Griffith, but one thing she didn’t question—his core of integrity.
He winked at her and turned back to Harley.
“We like your boyfriend,” Kyle said.
“I’m so glad. Now I get to keep him,” she responded, her voice syrupy sweet.
Kyle chuckled. “Still such a smart-ass.”
“You bet.” She watched her sister and Reid dance. “How’s Harley doing, really?”
Kyle sighed, and she studied him, aware he seemed…tired. “She’s pretending everything’s fine, but she’s having trouble.”
Naomi stared. “Harley?”
“Yeah. She’s under a lot of pressure, you know.”
“But she thrives on that.”
“She pretends she does,” Kyle said. “Truth is, your sister is handling a promotion, a wedding, and a tough pregnancy, and it’s starting to wear on her. But she’d never tell you or your mother that because Harley always thinks she has to stand taller than everyone else.” He sounded exasperated. “She’ll only lean on me so much. I’m worried about her.”
“She does look a little thin.” And tired, but Naomi had assumed that was due to being pregnant.
“She’s had awful morning sickness.” Kyle paused, and they danced in silence for a few steps. “I think she’s missing David and thinks she should have had kids with him.”
Naomi almost stopped right there on the dance floor. “Kyle. Why would you say that?”
Mr. Perfect suddenly looked downright miserable. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have—”
Naomi pulled him off the dance floor while trying to act as if she wasn’t dragging him away. They reached a corner by one of the small bars, and she faced him, keeping the rest of her family in sight. “Okay, buster, explain that.”
“I shouldn’t have—”
She poked him in the chest. “Kyle Proctor, you will tell me what the heck is going on.”
He ran a hand through his hair. Not even mussing it a little. “I saw her looking at their old wedding photos. She was crying and saying his name.” He looked sick. “She had her hand over her belly.”
“Oh, Kyle. Of course she misses David. They were soul mates.” Great, now Kyle looked even more dispirited. “Until she met you. I’ve never seen my sister so happy. I mean it.”
“You think?”
“I know. I can’t believe she managed to find not one but two perfect men when it’s hard enough to find even one that’s passable.”
Kyle seemed to revive. “You don’t think she’s just settling for me since her ‘soul mate’ is gone?”
Naomi punched him in his rock-solid arm. “No, you doofus.” Yes, men were stupid. “My sister has never settled for anything in her life. She sets impossible standards to live up to. Let’s not even get into all my issues with being the loser of a little sister.”
Kyle blinked. “What? That’s nuts.”
“Hey, we all have crosses to bear. In this family of overachievers, I’m constantly trying to keep up with everyone else. And the one I’m always behind is Harley. She’s beautiful, getting to marry the second great love of her life—her words, not mine—and so incredibly happy to be having your baby. Kyle, she’s going to mourn David. But that’s natural. You are a real, vital, new beginning. Frankly, I’d be surprised if my sister hadn’t snapped with all that’s going on in her life.”
“Naomi, you’re the best.” He hugged her until she squeaked.
“Hey, you have your own woman. I want mine back,” Reid said from behind them.
Kyle let her go, laughed, and swept Harley into his arms. They moved away and danced together. Naomi could feel the love from where she stood, watching as Harley placed her head on Kyle’s shoulder.
“God, I want that.”
“Kyle?” Reid wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“If I call you an idiot again, will you be offended?”
“Nah.” He chuckled and placed a kiss to her temple.
“I meant that. That whole lovey-dovey feeling they have for each other.”
“It is nice.” He watched them, rubbing her arm with his hot hand, distracting her. “So what were you and Kyle talking about? Harley was concerned.”
“She was?”
