“No.” He puts his bowl back down. Turning his body towards me, he pulls my feet into his lap and his green stare burns into mine. “I have a huge f**king problem with guys putting their hands on you or making you feel uncomfortable. Don’t ask me not to react to that.”

I lean forward and grab his bowl, seeing one side of his mouth curve up as I get a fork full and hold it out to him.

“You’re not going to fight me on this?” he asks suspiciously before taking the bite off the fork.

“No I get it. I would slap a bitch if she put her hands on you or made you uncomfortable.” His mouthful muffles his laugh as he grabs his bowl from me. “But just so you know, I can handle ass**les like Bryce. I just didn’t want to have to run into him when I come see you at work. If I come see you at work.” I grab my bowl and pull another bite into my mouth, wiggling my feet in his lap.

“If? No, I don’t think so. I like when better.”

“You only say that because both times that I’ve been there, you’ve gotten off. It must be nice to have orgasms during your work hours.” I move my foot and rub it against him, feeling him twitch under me.

He arches his brow. “You know damn well that if I could escape my office to make you come behind that bakery counter of yours, I’d do it. And I don’t just like you coming to my work to blow me or get f**ked against my door.” I loudly slurp a noodle into my mouth, making him laugh. My ringtone sounds through the condo and I hop up, grabbing it off the kitchen table and exhaling noisily at the name on the screen. Oh great.

“Hey, Mom.” I plop back down on the couch and squeeze the top of my nose. I have an awful feeling that I’m going to regret answering this call right now.

“Sweetheart. How are you? I’ve been meaning to talk to you since the wedding but your father---”

“Her father what, Helen? Her father what?” Oh Lord help me. My parents are notorious for both staying on the line during our conversations. “You know damn well what, Bill. Anyways, dear, are you home because we’re only five minutes away.”

“Mom, I’m fine. The wedding was fine but no, I’m not home right now.” It has been a few weeks since I’ve seen my parents and I did want to catch up with them, but now is not the time. Not while I sit next to Reese.

“Just fine?” he asks beside me, earning himself a right shove. “I’m sure when you were screaming my name it was more than just fine in that moment.”

“I’m going to murder you,” I mumble through clenched teeth as he eyes me up with his wicked grin. I can feel my heart beating rapidly and curse myself for not letting this shit go straight to voicemail.

“Well where are you? We’re in the neighborhood and want to see our only child. Are you at Juls’ house? We know where that is,” Mom says and I hear the sound of traffic through the phone.

“No, Mom, I’m not at Juls’ house. I’m at…” My eyes flick to Reese who is anxiously waiting for my explanation, devouring his spaghetti with a playful grin.

“Would you like me to tell your mother where you are?” he asks, reaching for the phone.

I quickly turn away from him and get out of his reach. Well this is just perfect. “I’m at a guy’s house. Can I call you later?”

“A guy? What guy? Oh, hunny, did you meet someone? What’s his name? Can we meet him? Is it serious? What does he do, Dyl? Oh I’m so glad you found a new boyfriend.” “He’s not a democrat is he?” My dad adds and I want to crawl into a hole and die. My mother has been trying to marry me off since I was nineteen. She wants grandbabies and she wanted them yesterday.

“Oh my God, can I please call you back?” Before I can comprehend what’s happening, Reese grabs the phone out of my hand and stands up, placing it to his ear. Oh God, no. My eyes widen and my jaw hits the couch as I slowly watch my world implode.

“Mrs. Sparks? This is Reese Carroll, your daughter’s boyfriend.” I run at him and knock him off his feet, sprawling him out on his back as he holds me at arm’s length. Does the man have a death wish? He seems completely unaffected by my move and just gives me a sly grin. “Oh and Mr. Sparks. It’s so nice to talk to you both.”

“Give me the phone, Reese.” I grunt and try to move around the arm that is holding me away from him. Jesus Christ. Why does every male in my life think it’s okay to take the phone away from me? “Give it.” My efforts are useless, only making me out of breath while he beams up at me like the gorgeous god that he is.

“Yes she is very special, isn’t she?”

“You are never getting laid again.”

“That sounds wonderful.” He laughs into the phone. I glare at him and he winks at me. Jerk. “I’ll tell Dylan to set it up. I look forward to meeting you too. Okay here she is.” He smiles in his minor victory over me and holds out the phone. “Here you go, love.”

Snatching it away from him with one hand, I give him the finger with the other, as I stand up and begin to pace. He stays on the floor, tucking his hands behind his head and follows me with his eyes.

“Hello?” I ask and brace myself for my mother’s rant. I sit down on the arm of the couch and rub my temple with my free hand.

“Oh my. He sounds lovely, sweetheart. And so polite.”

I shake my head. “Well I wouldn’t get too attached if I were you. I’m plotting his slow death as we speak.” Reese stands up and moves towards me, brushing his hand over my chest before he walks down the hallway. I shudder at the contact.