Page 17 of Unbearable Player
As Reid finished his story about the koi pond incident, Brianne leaned in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “So, what you’re telling me is that you’ve always been a troublemaker? I’m shocked, Mr. Security Expert. Shocked and appalled.”
Reid’s lips quirked into a half-smile that made Brianne’s heart skip a beat. “I prefer to think of it as... creatively interpreting the rules.”
“Oh, is that what we’re calling it now?” Brianne teased, unconsciously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “And here I thought I was the only rule-breaker in this dynamic duo.”
“Dynamic duo, huh?” Reid raised a brow, his voice lowering slightly. “I like the sound of that.”
A blush crept up her neck. “Well, you know, every good game needs a balanced team. You’re the brawn; I’m the brains.”
“Is that so?” Reid leaned in closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “And here I thought I was bringing some intelligence to the table.”
“Oh, you definitely are,” Brianne said, her voice a bit breathier than she intended. “But let’s face it, with arms like those, you’re definitely the muscle of this operation.”
As if to prove her point, she reached out and gave his bicep a playful squeeze. The moment her hand made contact, a jolt of electricity ran through her. Reid’s muscle tensed under her touch, and for a split second, Brianne forgot how to breathe.
“I, uh,” she stammered, quickly withdrawing her hand, “I mean, you know, metaphorically speaking. Because of the whole bear thing. Not that I’ve been thinking about your arms or anything. That would be weird, right?”
Reid chuckled, the sound sending warmth pooling in Brianne’s stomach. “I don’t think so,” he said with a wink. “Although, for the record, I wouldn’t mind if you had been.”
Brianne’s eyes widened. Was he... flirting back? Two could play at that game.
“Well, in that case,” she said, putting on her best coy smile, “I might have to admit that I’ve been admiring more than just your... security expertise.”
Reid’s grin widened, showing a hint of teeth that reminded Brianne of his predatory nature. It should have been intimidating. Instead, she found it thrilling.
“Is that so?” he murmured, leaning in even closer. “Care to elaborate, Ms. Ellis?”
Brianne’s heart was pounding so hard, her shirt bounced. “Well,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “let’s just say that if you were a video game character, I’d definitely be trying to unlock all your special features.”
For a moment, Reid looked stunned. Then he threw his head back and laughed, a full, rich sound that made Brianne’s insides melt.
“That,” he said, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, “might be the best pickup line I’ve ever heard.”
Brianne grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. “What can I say? I’m a woman of many talents.”
“So I’m learning,” Reid replied, his voice warm with admiration. He reached out, gently brushing a crumb from the corner of her mouth. The casual intimacy of the gesture made Brianne’s breath hitch.
“You know,” he said softly, his hand lingering near her face, “I’m starting to think that this prototype theft might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Brianne raised an eyebrow, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach. “Oh? And why’s that?”
Reid’s eyes softened, a smile playing on his lips. “Because it led me to you.”
As cheesy as the line was, Brianne couldn’t help the goofy grin that spread across her face. “Wow, Reid Parker,” she said, shaking her head in mock disapproval. “Who knew you were such a smooth operator under all that gruff exterior?”
“What can I say?” Reid shrugged, his eyes never leaving hers. “You bring out the best in me.”
The air between them crackled with tension, and for a moment, Brianne thought he might kiss her again. But then a group of noisy teenagers walked by, breaking the spell.
Clearing her throat, Brianne sat back, trying to calm her racing heart. “So,” she said, her voice only slightly shaky, “about this hacker den...”
As they slipped back into discussing their plans, Brianne couldn’t help but steal glances at Reid. The way the sunlight caught his dark hair, the strength in his jawline, the intensity in his eyes when he looked at her...
She was definitely in trouble. But as Reid’s hand brushed against hers, seemingly by accident, Brianne decided that some kinds of trouble were worth getting into.
NINE
Brianne stood in front of the full-length mirror in her brownstone, barely recognizing the woman staring back at her. Gone were her usual casual-chic jeans and graphic tees. In their place, she wore a black crop top adorned with neon circuit board patterns, paired with high-waisted leather pants that hugged her curves like a second skin. Her blonde hair, usually styled in loose waves, now sported electric blue streaks and was pulled into a messy, edgy updo.