Scalded (5 page)

Wrapping his arms around her he kissed her temple and her cheek before resting his chin on her head.

“Halli?”

“Mm?” She was almost asleep.

“Don’t think the night is over.”

34

Scalded

Halli didn’t ever remember feeling so thoroughly well used as she climbed out of bed two weeks later. Reed, who had been there every night since that first one, slept on while she showered and pulled on a t-shirt and shorts. And no wonder. They’d made love—no, Halli, fucked, don’t let it get personal—against every wall and on every surface in her tiny apartment, trying out different toys. Reed was like a kid in a candy store, wanting to use this thing and that since the first night he’d opened her case.

Finally they’d passed out from sheer exhaustion.

Grateful it was Sunday and her shop was closed for the day, Halli hit the button for her coffee and impatiently waited for the dark nectar to appear. Her brain whirled all the while, confusion gripping her in its painful claws as her stomach churned with nerves.

What the hell was going on between them? Sure, they both swore up and down that they weren’t in a relationship, but this thing they had sure felt like one.

Reed called her if he was going to be late. She’d text him about dinner. They both took turns cleaning the kitchen. More and more of his stuff found its way into her tiny cramped closet and drawers. Granted she’d never been to his place, but she knew he lived with his brother and couldn’t fault him for grabbing whatever privacy her tiny space afforded them.

Why did Reed keep coming home with her and to her? Sure she had a ready supply of fun sex toys, but so what? Any woman could get her hands on them, Halli would be happy to make sure of that.

Maybe he’d just been horny and knew Halli was a sure thing. Not that she liked to think of herself as easy, but after the amazing sex of the past couple weeks she couldn’t find it in her to say no.

35

Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer

And she needed to. Needed to learn to say no to Reed Brody before her emotions became any more tangled up in him. Halli didn’t want her heart broken. She didn’t want to suffer, scream and cry over a man’s betrayal or disinterest. She’d lived the movie, a home video she didn’t need.

So the only smart sensible thing to do would be to break things off with Reed. Tell him, “It’s been fun, but so long.” Do it now and there would be less pain later. All the nights spent lost in his arms would comfort her years down the road. As would the walls of her dream home. A fair exchange, right?

Overwhelmed with the need to seek out her private sanctuary, Halli grabbed her keys, shoved her feet in a pair of old sneakers and almost made it to the door when his voice stopped her.

“Honey, have you seen the new blades for my razor? I swore I left the in the bathroom yesterday.” His voice sounded cheerily confused and amazingly right coming from behind the door of her small bedroom.

Maybe it would be better this way. Maybe he’d be relieved she walked away first.

Maybe she should quit thinking about everything else and just get it over with it.

First she needed him out of the bedroom. Granted no wall had gone unmolested in her tiny space, but the bed screamed, “Do me!” Halli didn’t need any more temptations when it came to Reed.

Get it over now, she urged herself. “Reed, I need to talk with you a minute.”

His dark sexy head poked out the door, a sleepy smile curving his too-tempting lips. “What’s up, Hal?” Noticing her dressed state and the keys jingling nervously in her hands, one brown brow shot up. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be ready to go, honey.”

Without giving her a chance to reply Reed’s head disappeared behind the now open door. He’d given her little choice but to wait.

36

Scalded

She couldn’t imagine having this conversation through the bathroom door. So she waited and her heart raced and her mind collected all the plausible reasons they would never work as a couple.

“Okay, sexy, I’m all yours.” The fiend pressed smattering kisses along the back of her neck scattering her already shaky nerves.

“Reed, stop.” She cursed mentally as her voice came out low and husky instead of firm and steady.

With a last lingering touch of his lips, he stepped away. “What’s the matter, sexy?

You look a little sick.”

Great, she thought with a touch of disgust with herself, from this moment on Reed would remember her as the woman with the sickly face. “I’m fine, but we need to talk.”

“I’m all ears,” he promised, snagging her small hand in his large one. He pulled her down on his lap as he sat in one of the kitchen chairs.

“I need up, Reed.”

He must have seen something in her face, because he let her go without another word.

“Halli, you’re starting to freak me out.” He laughed out the words, but his eyes went flat and serious.

“Look, it’s no big deal.” She spat the words out. “I just don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

Silence filled the room except for the tick, tick, of her wall clock and Halli twisted her fingers together in nervous anticipation. Why didn’t he say something? Surely he had to agree with her. Neither one of them were in this for the long haul. He knew it had to end, she’d just been the first one to say so.

“I see.” His quiet voice startled her after the long stretch of silence. “No.”

“No? No what?” He could just say no, could he?

37

Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer

He stood in one swift graceful movement, strong hands clasped her shoulders in a firm, but unyielding grip. “No, I don’t think we should stop seeing each other.”

“You’re being unreasonable, Reed. Is this because I said it first?” She couldn’t believe the man she’d come to know would be so childish. “Fine, I’ll let you break things off with me. Keep your macho image intact and all that.”

Her generous offer was met with a snarl so primitive Halli expected to see hair sprouting out of the palms of his hands. “What part of no, don’t you understand? I’m not done with you yet. Hell, woman, there’s two whole cases of toys we haven’t even gotten to try. Nope, I’m nowhere near done with you.”

Just like that Reed dismissed her, their argument and the choice to walk away. Halli hated being tossed aside like some forgotten toy. The tether keeping her temper contained snapped.

“Just wait a damn minute, Reed Brody.” Halli grabbed his thick biceps and shook him for all she was worth. He didn’t move, but her arms certainly got a workout. “We are not done with this discussion.
I
am not done with this discussion. You will not walk away until I’m ready for you to leave. Do you understand me?”

While the bright light in his gorgeous eyes might have been humor, his voice came out steady and serious. “Yes, Halli.”

“Good.” Nervous now, she ran her damp palms up and down her shorts. “I appreciate the compliment, really I do. However we both knew going into this that nothing lasts forever. We’ve been having great sex. That’s what we agreed to, but not the rest of it.”

“Rest of what?” For the first time since walking out of the bedroom Reed looked genuinely confused.

Not sure where or how to start without sounding like a paranoid idiot, Halli waved a hand in the air. “You know, calling each other when we’re running late. Asking about dinner while we’re having breakfast and making plans for the weekend on a Monday.”

The last came out somewhere between a whine and shout.

38

Scalded

She needed out of there before whatever was left of her pride slithered to the floor.

“Let me get this straight, Halli. You’re trashing the best thing that ever happened to either one of us because you don’t like being polite?”

“Polite has nothing to do with it. If we were only about the sex you wouldn’t be spending the night. You wouldn’t have dinner over here every night. And your damn clothes wouldn’t be taking up space in my tiny closet.”

Anger darkened his cheeks as his eyes flashed temper. “Why are you so worried about my stuff being here? Scared some other guy might see? Is that it, Halli? You’re getting rid of me to make way for the new flavor of the week?”

“How can you think that much less say it?” Hurt colored her world as his words slammed home. He really didn’t have any respect for her if he’d think any of that.

“Fuck,” he cursed and tugged both hands through his already disheveled hair.

“How am I supposed to know what to think? When I got up this morning the only thing I had planned was breakfast with you and the game this afternoon. Now you hit me with all this bullshit. Forgive me if I haven’t dealt with it as neatly as you like.” The last words were bitten off as his temper came riding back.

“See,” she accused and pointed a finger. “This is why I wanted it over. We’re fighting.”

“Halli, we’re fighting over fighting to break up. If you hadn’t said anything we’d be eating right now and planning the rest of our day.” His laugh was anything but humorous. “God, if this wasn’t so unbelievable it would be funny.”

“So now it’s all my fault?” Logic fled under the pressure of intense emotions. She knew she didn’t make any sense to him. She didn’t understand herself right now.

“What do you want from me?”

“I want you to leave before you break my heart, dumb ass.” She slapped a hand over her mouth as the words tumbled from her mouth. Stupid, stupid, stupid she mentally cursed herself. How could she say the one thing she’d sworn never to say?

39

Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer

Instantly his face softened and his arms reached out to hold her.

She jumped back. “Stay back, Reed.”

“Halli, we need to talk about this. I want to tell you—” The determined ring of his cell phone cut him off. “Shit, I have to take that. I’m on call this weekend.”

She knew that. Just like she knew he’d have the next three weekends free if he didn’t swap out with one of the other guys in his unit. He liked Mexican food more than Italian, but seafood was his favorite. He watched football, but followed basketball.

He slept in the middle of the bed, but kept her tucked against him.

Too many things she knew about him to keep her heart safe. She needed out of there and needed it now. “Go answer your phone. This will keep,” she assured him and crossed her fingers behind her back.

“Don’t move, Halli. I mean it.” He ran into the other room.

When she heard the sound of his low voice Halli darted out of the apartment, down the stairs and out the door before he could let loose with his first bellow of rage. She was in the car and halfway down the street before her pulse dropped down from one hundred. It was important to leave before she caved in to him. She needed to go someplace safe, somewhere Reed had never been and knew nothing about. A secret place he’d have no way of tracking.

The perfect spot sprang to mind and for the first time that morning a smile curved her lips.

* * * * *

The red of her taillights gleamed brightly in the morning sun as Reed watched Halli’s car disappear down the street.

“Son of a fucking bitch,” he yelled and stamped his bare foot on the already hot concrete. She’d run away from him. Halli had really left him.

He didn’t know what to think or do. His mind spun uselessly out of control as he made his way slowly back into her small apartment. Everything she’d said had been 40

Scalded

true. Fuck buddies didn’t call, they didn’t discuss dinner or leave personal items at each other’s places. Yet Reed had done all those things and more. All without thinking about it. He’d been making space in Halli’s life and apartment for himself without even realizing it. It could only mean one thing.

Reed snatched the phone clipped to his belt and flipped it open. Punching one number, he waited impatiently while it rang. When it was finally answered on the other end, Reed’s heart pounded behind his chest in an unsteady beat.

“Sky, I think I’m in love and I’ve fucked it up royally.”

* * * * *

Halli had driven by the house so many times her car almost knew the way by heart.

Hours later, after driving around in a fog, she’d wondered if coming here would be the right thing to do, but it represented so much to her. Her entire life. Everything she dreamed about. And soon it would be hers. Just this week she’d added up the figures again. Two more big parties and she’d have the down payment plus all the closing costs. Not much left for furnishings but she didn’t need much to start. She’d furnish the house one piece at a time.

But you have no one to share it with.

The voice seemed to come out of nowhere and take up residence in her head. So what? she wanted to say. I don’t need anyone. People leave you. Houses stay. Forever.

Jolt was doing well enough to cover the additional monthly expenses. Maybe she’d even think about enlarging the place. Put a private room upstairs for parties and stuff.

Whoa! Maybe she could have her sex toy parties there and include refreshments in the costs.

But you have no one to share it with.

Shut up! Get out of my head.

And out of her heart. She knew she was lying to herself about her feelings for Reed.

He’d made her break all her ironclad rules about emotional involvement. For the first 41

Desiree Holt & Allie Standifer

time more than her body was involved and it scared the shit out of her. Not just because she didn’t know how to handle it. She was sure Reed hadn’t a clue what to do with a relationship, either. So she needed to dump him before her heart bled too badly and he rode off into the wind.

The house. Think about the house.

As she turned into the neighborhood where it was located, she rolled down the windows. The soft breeze blew the clean air through, bringing with it the scent of fresh-cut grass, blooming flowers and burgeoning oak trees. A lot better than smelling concrete and dust, she thought. She was caught up on the edge of excitement as she drew closer to it.

But when she pulled into the driveway she saw the real estate agent’s car in the driveway and her stomach lurched. Surely there couldn’t be a buyer today. The real estate market sucked so badly no one was buying and no one was selling. She checked with the agent at least twice a week to make sure. The woman was very nice to her, promising to let her know if anyone showed serious interest.