Page 66 of Dirty Rival

He’s silent several beats and then says, “I’m headed to one of the stockholders’ offices to head off a problem.”

“About Elijah?”

“Yes,” he confirms. “About Elijah.”

“Are you going to tell me what’s between you two?”

He’s silent another two beats and then he says, “We’ll talk,” and moves on. “I won’t be in until after my meeting at the DA. How are things there?”

“Good. I got a meeting set up with a big prospect.”

“You can tell me all about it tonight, naked, in my bed or anywhere in my apartment that suits you. Location is optional. Being naked is not. Did you look around?”

“No. I wanted to wait for you. I want you to show me what you want me to see.”

“Did you now?”

“Yes. I did. I do.” I hesitate. “Reid.”

“Don’t swing this conversation back to Elijah.”

“What if I can pull him out of revenge mode?”

“No.”

“Reid—”

“No, Carrie. I need to go.”

“I’m not done with this topic.”

“But I am, at least, until you’re naked.”

“You’re obsessed with me being naked.”

“I’m just obsessed with you, Carrie.”

My stomach flutters again. “You are?”

“Yes. I am. Everything about you. One partial obsession you’ve stirred in me comes to mind.”

“What obsession?”

“My desire to cuff you to my bed, with the very cuffs you cuffed me with the night we met. You’re going to let me.”

Heat rushes over me. “No.”

“Why? You don’t trust me, Carrie?”

The words tease, but my brow furrows with the certainty that there’s more beneath their surface. “Actually, Reid, I do trust you.”

“Those words will be tested, Carrie. I have to go. Call me if you need me.” He hangs up.

Those words will be tested. He’s not talking about the cuffs. He’s talking about his certainty I will soon hate him again and I want to know what that means. Actually, I want to know a lot of things. Like what’s the story with Elijah and what does everyone but me know about my father. Maybe I’m the one who needs to cuff Reid Maxwell again, but this time, he’ll be naked first, and I won’t be leaving.

Chapter thirty-one

Carrie