Page 30 of Reid

Callie smiled at the man who’d kept her company for the last hour. “I absolutely will and thank you, Waggs.”

Waggs nodded and left without a word.

“What was that about?” Reid asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Waggs was telling me about this great shop in Ohio. I like to collect local art, and he recommended them.”

“You collect art?”

Callie smiled. “Yes, I love local art. Not the big named stuff but art by real people with a passion for what they do.”

Reid shook his head. “You never cease to amaze me.”

Callie didn’t reply to that not knowing what to say and changed the subject. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

Reid led her to a chair and sat down beside her, gathering her hands in his much larger ones. His face looked grave when he spoke. “The morgue that held Tina Pugh’s body had a fire. There’s not a lot left. It’s doubtful any evidence remains, especially DNA from the killer.”

Callie’s mind whirred as she tried to work out everything he was saying and exactly what it meant. Reid was silent as he let her process everything at her own speed, his hands holding her safe, not overwhelming her or trying to shield her like she was some weak female prone to fainting spells. Her father tended to treat her that way, not out of sexism per se, but because that was how he was raised.

Men protected the womenfolk and having a daughter with a successful international career so far away was a challenge for him. It was one of the reasons she didn’t want him knowing about all this.

“So we have nothing then?” She grit her teeth until her jaw ached, anger and frustration surging in her belly. Whoever killed Tina deserved to be punished not to get away with it.

“Not exactly, we have a lead, but I can’t really say more right now, as it’s linked to another case, we have which I can’t discuss with you. But we do have an idea that we—as in the Eidolon team— will need to talk about tomorrow.”

Callie wasn’t sure how she felt about being shut out and took a deep breath to steady her emotions. “Fine. I’ll accept that—for now. But if anything else comes up, I’d like to know about it.”

Reid’s responded with a devastating smile that would melt hearts and panties the world over if he was ever allowed on a magazine cover, and she was no exception. It was like a secret weapon. Callie knew he’d been HRT at the FBI, so the fact he was deadly and highly intelligent was a given. Add in his smile and a body that made her want to climb him like a tree, and she was doomed.

“Let’s get out of here. We can pick up some food on the way home. We have the best burger joint in the world here.” Reid held her hand as they walked to his car, and it felt natural.

Callie snorted at the comment. “Really? The best burger joint in the world is here? I find that hard to believe.”

Reid opened her car door with a smile. “Prepare to eat those words, sunshine.”

Callie settled into the seat and sighed. Today had been a totally shitty day, but somehow Reid had managed to make it so much better. Her mind moved to where she’d sleep tonight. The thought of spending the night in his bed filled her with a hum of desire. Would he want her too, and was she playing fair asking him to keep this from Clay?

Perhaps that was a mistake. Relationships built on lies and secrets never lasted, but then he’d never promised forever, and didn’t she deserve some fun too?

They picked up the burgers with a side order of baconaise fries and drove towards Reid’s home. Callie was curious to see if where he lived matched the image she had of the man himself.

They parked outside, close to a modern block of apartments overlooking the river. Reid walked around the hood, opening the car door for her, his body a shield to the outside world the entire time. He used a key to access the door and then the elevator as they rode it in silence. Nervous anticipation of what was to come circled in her belly, dipping low in her abdomen when she caught the sexy scent of his aftershave or the slight graze of his hand as he placed it lightly on her back as he led her towards his door.

Awareness seemed to hover between them, building and growing with every step closer to his personal space. Callie struggled to maintain her calm, using the sleek beauty of her surroundings to ground herself. Reid opened the door and ushered her inside, and Callie was no longer fighting to stay in the moment. The apartment was spectacular with an open plan living space just off a short hallway.

She could see a large kitchen with gloss black cabinets and stainless-steel appliances, including a massive American fridge to the left of the space. Directly in front were two cream leather couches spaced in an L shape with a polished oak coffee table in the centre. A large television was on the wall to her right, but it was the view from the windows that faced the river that took her breath away.

Callie moved towards the glass doors that led to a balcony but stopped when Reid placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I’d rather you didn’t go out there right now.”

His words filled her with disappointment, but she understood the logic. A balcony was open space, and she had learned from her brother that free space was the ideal spot for an attack. Callie shivered, her excitement dying a little as she thought of Tina and the life that had been snuffed out as if it meant nothing.

Callie turned and saw Reid watching her as he plated up the food she no longer wanted. She almost broke down at the sympathy and understanding in his eyes, but she’d shed enough tears the last few days to last a lifetime, and she wouldn’t cry again now.

Now she just wanted to be with this man who made her body feel alive, who made her feel safe and cherished, allowing her to be herself in every sense.

Reid placed the food on the island that separated the kitchen and living space. “We should eat these before they get cold.”