Page 25 of Reid

Mitch nodded. “Yeah, I can call him now.” He stood and walked toward the back door, Bono on his heels.

“We also need you to have Sophia cancel your commitments. Are there any that can’t be rescheduled?”

“I have a video shoot for my new fragrance but not until the end of next month.”

Reid nodded. “Hopefully we’ll be done by then.” His jaw was hard as he said the words and Callie wondered what had pissed him off.

“I’m sorry to be putting you all to this trouble. Please tell your boss that I’ll pay for your time.”

“The fuck you will.” He stood from his chair and walked to the sink with his plate, the water splashing suds at him as he dumped the plate in.

She stood and walked towards him, standing beside him as he looked out the back window and off into the night. “Reid, I’m taking up three of his men.”

He slowly turned his gaze to her, and she saw heat and desire burning in his eyes but also something else she couldn’t place. “Clay is my oldest friend and has saved my ass more times than I can count over the years. I need to do this for him.” He paused for a second. “And for you, sunshine.”

Callie heard the door close behind her and guessed Liam had left the room. Reid angled himself so he was fully facing her and lifted his hand to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her skin tingled where his fingers brushed against her. “I’ve never met anyone like you.” His words were spoken softly as if he was surprised by his own admission. “You care about everyone you meet. You make people smile or laugh and never let the tension get to you. Even now, with everything that’s happening to you, you still care about others.”

“Kirk,” she said his name as a plea, his words making her heart and body ache for him.

“Let me do this, Callie. Let me protect you and keep you safe.”

Callie watched the emotions play over his face. He needed to do this for whatever reason, and she needed him. Because despite what he thought, she was scared, and she didn’t trust any man as much as she trusted him. It made her wonder how she was going to let him go when all this was over. “Okay, but I want to pay for Liam and Mitch’s time.”

Reid smiled at her, and his dimples deepened, softening the stern handsomeness of the man. “Good luck with that, sunshine,” he said and then went back to washing the dishes as if the last few charged moments had never happened.

Picking up a tea towel, she began to dry them, a smile on her face.

After a few minutes of companionable silence, she spoke. “Can I tell Sophia and Mel where I’m going?”

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t. The fewer people who know, the easier it will be.”

“Sophia won’t like that. Shit, she even has a key to my house, so she has full access to me.”

Reid’s head snapped to her. “Does she indeed.”

“It isn’t Sophia if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Maybe, maybe not, but it is someone who knows your schedule and habits.”

She shivered at his words knowing someone she knew—had spoken with—was doing this to her.

“I don’t get it though. Why haven’t I had direct contact with this person? There’s been no demands or threats, just a few gifts or misplaced items and then the break-in and now Tina.” Her throat clogged with emotion on the last word.

Reid took the plate she was drying from her hands and placed it on the side before drawing her into his arms and holding her tight. Her head rested against the steady beat of his heart, her senses overwhelmed with his unique scent that she was fast becoming addicted too. His big hand on the back of her head holding her steady as his cheek rested on her head made her feel safe, protected, but more than that, she felt as if she was home.

Callie closed her eyes and drank in the sensation of being held by Reid, wondering what a lifetime of belonging to a man like him would look like and knowing in her heart it would be beautiful beyond her imagination.

“Nobody knows how the minds of these sick bastards work, sunshine, but we will find them, and they will pay. That I can promise you.”

Callie stayed that way until she heard the door to the back open and looked toward the sound.

Mitch tipped his head, but Reid didn’t let go of her straight away. “Brant good?”

Mitch blew out a breath. “Yeah, the family have been informed, and he said we can release a statement but keep the details to an absolute minimum. I told him we’re taking Callie to Hereford and he agreed it’s the best option.”

Reid released her, and she stepped back, feeling stronger for his touch. “I’ll make the calls to Mel and Sophia. Where will I be staying? Also, I have no clothes or anything with me, except the overnight bag from our trip, but it only has a few essentials in it.”

“You’ll be staying with me unless that’s a problem for you? If it is, I can ask Jack if you can stay at the compound.”