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.How didshe do it? Her bubbly energy was inhuman.She d done her part by decorating the whole damn place,which even Reed had to admit looked pretty damn spiffy.Now she had to go around making sureeveryone felt warm and cuddly, too?Reed slid out of the booth and crossed the room to lean against the bar next to Brock, who sippedhis beer pensively as he watched Regan on the other side of the room. Seems I might have to make an effort with that one, he said sourly. Welcome to my world. Blondie causing you trouble? Reed grunted as he tipped back the beer the bartender placed in front of him. I wouldn t call ittrouble, so much as an ulcer. Brock laughed. Sounds promising. I guess we ll see, Reed responded, grimacing as he heard himself repeat Julie s earlier words.He didn t like their ring of uncertainty.It had been a long time since he d been uncertain of anything.Perhaps it bothered him even more at that very moment, surrounded as he was by some of the onlypeople in the world who knew so much about that uncertain period of his life.When, as a kid, hehadn t known where his next meal would come from.Whether or not he d make it through to nextweek.If his father would come up with the rent money gambling, or they d once again be forced into ashelter until he hit another lucky streak.Brock nudged him with an elbow, dragging him from his dark reverie.He jerked his chin toward acorner of the lounge where large poster boards had been set up, cluttered with pictures of Kady andColton, encompassing their lives from birth to the present.Staring up at them was Sophie, Colton slittle sister and thus, their surrogate sister, looking lonely and out of place in workout pants and anoversize T-shirt.Nodding in unspoken agreement, he and Brock made their way toward Sophie,coming up on either side.She jumped at their sudden appearance, and tugged self-consciously at her shirt. Oh boy.You guysaren t going to give me a noogie, are you? Brock smiled and tapped her on the nose. Rest assured.I m on my best behavior.I can t speak toReed s intentions, mind you. He felt a smile threaten when Sophie quirked a censorious eyebrow at him.He d always had a softspot for the shy, slightly pudgy girl who d shadowed them during those hot summers in Manchester allthose years ago.She d lost the pudge sometime since he d last seen her, but the shy had stuck around.Like her brother and Brock, she d never judged him or made him feel like he didn t belong with the well-raised children.Even though he probably hadn t belonged, despite their assurances. I ought tonoogie you, Miss Sophie.I thought we had a deal.You don t tell anyone about that issue of Penthouseand we let you come swimming at the lake on Tuesdays. Her face broke into a pretty smile. Haven t you heard of a statute of limitations? Look at you, talking real fancy now, Brock drawled. Besides, I thought it was a Hustler. Does it honestly make a difference? Sophie asked. Yes, the men replied emphatically.Sophie said something else, but Reed became distracted by a picture pinned to the poster board.Front and center stood Kady, wearing a crown in front of a mechanical bull.In the background,looking fresh and innocent, Julie smiled brightly at the camera.Posing in jean shorts and cowboyboots.Long legs dangling on either side of the damn mechanical bull.Without a second thought, Reedreached up and snagged the picture off the board, stuffing it into his jacket pocket.If the sexy photomade him hard, he d be damned before he left it around to have the same effect on someone else.Hefelt a prickle move over his neck and turned to find Julie watching him through narrowed eyes,obviously having witnessed his thievery.He winked at her.&Julie steadied a tipsy Mr.Wilcox on his feet and waved him out the door. Now you get back to yourroom safe, understand? No getting fresh with Mrs.Wilcox in any dark stairwells.There are cameraseverywhere now, you know.Eyes in the sky.It s not just the good Lord you have to worry aboutjudging you anymore.These resort folks will call the police faster than you can spit.They don trealize we grow our men friskier in the South, do they, Mrs.Wilcox? No ma am, they don t.Thereyou go, one foot in front of the other.You ve got the agility of a cougar.Not that kind of cougar, Mrs.Wilcox.Now who s getting fresh? The jolly couple disappeared at the end of the hallway, marking the last guests to leave.As soon asthey left her field of vision, Julie slumped back against the wall, already reaching down to slip off herhigh heels.She gave in to the urge to sit right down on the carpeted floor and she ran her thumb up thearch of her foot, moaning at the sheer pleasure. Careful, pixie.You keep making those sounds, I might have to join you on that floor. Julie jolted to her feet as Reed strode through the double doors of the kitchen holding a tray ofcovered dishes.She hadn t seen him in half an hour and had assumed he left.Had been simultaneouslyglad and disappointed when she didn t see him reclaim his seat in the darkest corner of the restaurant.Glad, because the heat of his constant regard made it difficult to concentrate.On anything.Disappointed, because the heat felt so darn good.It wrapped itself around her, sliding up and downher thighs, belly, and breasts like a living, breathing thing.Throughout the night, she d found herself positioning herself where he could see her, lest she lose the heady buzz of his attention for onesecond.At one point, she d found herself wishing the room was empty, save herself and Reed, so shecould join him where he sat in the dark, straddle his lap and& dance for him.Put those secret lessonsshe d been taking to good use in a way he d probably never see coming.Let him look at her up closewhile she moved.Feel his penetrating stare trace a path up her writhing midsection.She wanted toopen his shirt and look at his tattoos while she performed for him.Since starting the classes, she dhad fantasies about dancing for a man, but he d never had an identity before.Now, in her mind s eye,Reed looked up at her in awe, lust a living thing on his face.When Julie realized she hadn t spoken once since Reed s entrance, she shook herself from herfevered thoughts, ignoring the look of amusement on Reed s face. What are you carrying? Your dinner. Pardon? She slipped her heels back on. I already ate dinner. Hadn t she? No.You didn t.Believe me. He kicked out a chair with his foot, indicating that she should sit. How can you eat when you never stop talking? Julie shoved the chair back under the table. As opposed to you, who wouldn t say two words ifsomebody was on fire. I m talking to you right now. It must be my lucky day. All right, fine.You leave me no choice but to play hardball. He kicked the chair out once more. Back home, when someone goes to the trouble of making you a meal, what is the polite thing to do? She gasped.Reed shook his head. Where are your manners, pixie? Julie sat with a scowl. Probably poisoned it, she grumbled
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