“But with all that being said, I DO know what the right thing is. I will try to get Reed to meet with you, or at least talk to you. But if you have any respect at all, wait to contact him until tomorrow. His first pre-season game is tonight and we are all going. This is a big deal for so many reasons, it’s his first time back since last fall, and he has a fan club that now includes his son. So, if you have any decency at all, let him have that without your drama.”
“It’s one of the reasons I drove up here today. I wanted to show him my support.”
“You’re going to the game?” I ask nervously.
“Yeah, I bought a ticket. He won’t know I’m there.”
“I’ll talk to him tonight and let him know you will be calling. That’s all I can do.” I stand up hoping she follows.
“Thank you, Arianna, I mean it. I am really sorry for everything I have done and even if you never forgive me, I am lucky to have you join our family. You make my brother happy and he really loves you.” She gets up and walks towards the back door. We don’t say anything else, but I watch her through the glass as she walks through the house and leaves through the front door.
“Miss Ari?” Darius says behind me.
“Hmmm?”
“I have the guard gate on the line; I have requested the permanent list to review with you and Reed. They need your permission.” He hands me his phone.
I approve the request and tell the gate to stop all access until we give them a permanent list. They promise to email immediately.
After Davis is settled for a nap, I take Reed’s financial file and go to the pool. I’ve been looking over his investments and see several changes to suggest. The hardest part for me was when I got his files and realized how rich Reed really is.
“Ari!” Reed yells from the back door.
I wave my hand in the air because I’m surrounded with papers and don’t want to get up and risk them moving out of order. When he gets to me, there’s worry on his face.
Shit! Darius must have told him about Cara.
“Hey, baby, how was your day?”
He bends over and brushes his lips across mine softly and then moves everything around and slides in the lounger behind me. His hands settle on my hips and the familiar tingle starts from just his touch. I put the paperwork back in the folders and put it on the ground.
“My day was fine until I got the call my sister showed up uninvited.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ve got other things on your mind.”
“What did she say?”
“The same thing she says every time she texts you. She wants you to talk to her, blah, blah.”
“What’d you tell her?”
“That I’d try to have you answer her call tomorrow.”
“Why’d you do that?” His hands tighten.
“Because regardless, she’s still your sister. It’s been a while since she showed up on your doorstep; maybe she’ll give you a real apology.”
“Even so, I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive her. Are you ready to forgive her?”
“Nope, but she’s not asking for my forgiveness. She wants yours. I personally don’t care if we ever have a relationship, but she’s about to be family. We can’t avoid her forever. I’d be willing to put my feelings aside for you and Amy.”
“Why are you so calm about this?”
“Because my life has done a one eighty in a period of almost four months and I’ve got more to worry about than Cara. For example tonight, my public image isn’t exactly stellar right now since people still believe I’m a home wrecker.”
“Angel, don’t let idiots get to you. People in our close circle know the truth. The other hype will die down.”
“Ummhmm.” I respond and lean back into him. His smell fills the air around us.
“Did you just sniff me?”
“Yep, I love the way you smell.”
“How much time do we have before Davis wakes up?”
“Maybe an hour why?”
He shifts and stands pulling me with him then bends and throws me over his shoulder. Walking into the house, he goes straight to the bedroom and lays me gently on the bed.
He nuzzles against my neck and I instantly feel the moisture pool between my legs. His knees nudge between mine and his thickness presses against my core. He props on his elbows and frames my face with his hands. I lift up and kiss him, gently at first, then increase the pace. Leaning back slightly, I peel his shirt off then run my fingernail against the defined ab muscles. His stare heats up and there’s fire in his eyes. Bucking up slightly, I roll us over and situate myself on top of him. Kissing every inch of exposed skin, I grind my pelvis into his creating a delicious friction. My body is screaming at me to slam down on him hard but I want to make him squirm for once.