Page 34 of Word to the Wise

My comment probably pushes the boundaries a little too far, but it gets me a smile in return. And it changes the subject from her insecure ex-boyfriend, so I take it for what it is.

“I’m sure you don’t.” Reed shakes her head, and I like that she seems at least a little curious. “So, is that it then? I’m fascinating because I have random, odd skill sets from being born and raised by bikers. That’s what you think about me?”

“Well, that and the obvious.”

“Which is what?” She takes a bite of her burger.

“You’re beautiful.”

She pauses with the burger still in her mouth, slowly sinking her teeth into the bite before setting it down. Her golden-brown eyes watch me, and I can’t figure out why she looks so surprised as she chews slowly.

Swallowing her bite, she dabs her mouth with her napkin. “Now you’re just being polite because I’m nothing special.”

“Are you kidding me, Sticks?” I hitch an eyebrow. “You’re fucking stunning. From when you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night. It’s honestly not fairto the rest of the female population. And when I think about you, my thoughts are anything but polite.”

Blood rushes to her cheeks, and I hate myself for wondering if I could make her blush like that in my bed. For wondering how far the rosy rush would climb across her chest if I spread her thighs and worshipped her like she deserves.

She clearly hasn’t been getting it. And I’d do anything to be the man who sets that right.

Maybe then, she wouldn’t hesitate before she smiled, and she wouldn’t apologize for every little mistake.

The physical scars Reed carries are nothing compared to whatever Carter did to her on the inside.

If she was my girl, I’d fucking worship her. I’d make sure she knew every day just how beautiful she is. Because it’s not a lie. She’s stunning. Every curve, every blink of her lashes. And then there’s what can’t be seen on the outside. She’s so fucking sweet; one taste of her would never be enough.

She’d heal the rot that’s spent my life festering.

Reed sets down her napkin, and I brace myself for her to say I’m taking this playful flirting too far when she’s still healing. But instead, she leans forward a little more, glancing around like she’s worried someone’s going to hear us.

“Can I ask you a question, Mason?” Something about how she says it feels like she’s baiting me. And fuck I want to bite.

So bad.

I want to answer all her questions.

“Anything.”

“Do you think if I figure all this out and get myself together, a guy will be able to look past all my baggage? Like, if they know everything. Do you think I’d still be worth the trouble?” Her eyes are glossy, but she holds back her tears. “Carter said—”

I plant my hand over hers on the table, cutting off her sentence. Because I don’t give a fuck what Carter said. If it came out of his mouth, it’s bullshit. And she doesn’t need to repeat his lies to me—much less to herself.

“You’re worth it now, Reed. Any guy with his head on straight would be able to see that.”

“You mean it?”

“I do.” More than I can say out loud.

She’s priceless. Sitting here a month after escaping hell and not letting it destroy her. I can only imagine what she’s gone through these past six years, but I’m sure it wasn’t pretty.

Still, she walked away. It might sound small, but it’s the biggest thing.

There’s no measuring Reed’s worth when it surpasses anything.

Reed blinks at me, and she makes me ready for things I haven’t been before. She makes me want to tell her exactly how I feel when it’s the worst idea. She makes me wish I was the kind of man who deserves her because then I’d show her just howworth itshe is.

Instead, I squeeze her hand once and then pull back, appreciating how her shoulders relax at my touch. Howshe was stressed and on the verge of tears, but now she’s not.

I did that.